Page 115 of Mark & Don't Tell

Humming, he flops onto his back and rolls onto his side, wrapping his arms around my waist and resting his forehead against my back. “I couldn’t sleep, either.”

I glance down at him. “Why?”

He shrugs. “Sometimes my brain is an asshole. I was going to my studio but could scent your trail heading to the nest. I wanted to make sure you were okay.”

“I’m okay.” I take another bite and smile softly at him. “Better now that you’re here.”

Squeezing me tighter, he simply clings to my body as I finish my snack, fingers gently running over my stomach and sides, caressing the curves like they’re something sacred. I set the tub between my legs and smooth my fingers through his loose hair. Unlike my curls, his dark brown strands are tangle free.

“Why is your brain an asshole?”

He sighs, air rushing over the small of my back. “So many reasons,” he says. “Everything will be going great, and then it’s like hey, don’t forget about this horrible memory from your childhood.”

“Ugh, I know that feeling. Do you want to talk about it?”

“Long story short. My parents were filthy rich, had a kid because that’s what was expected, only they were never around. I knew the nanny and the cook better than I knew my own blood.”

I smooth my fingers through his hair again. “I’m sorry. That’s shitty.”

He shrugs. “Yeah, it really is. I mean, I know I’m lucky to have had money and a house to live in and the opportunities I had. Sometimes I wish I could have had parents who gave a shit instead.”

Frowning, I think about my own mom. My dads are great. But Mom? “My mom left us when I was little. She ran away with some pack that was into bad shit, and everything spiraled from there. I feel like I remember her being nice, loving me and caring, but sometimes I wonder if I imagined it? She’s pretty terrible now.” I laugh, though nothing is particularly funny; it’s just a reaction to try to make light of something that cuts deep.

“Do you see her a lot?”

I glance away. “Only because my little brother, Marco, still lives with her. Otherwise, I don’t think I’d even try.”

“How old is he?”

“Fourteen.”

“Well, he has the best big sister in the whole world.”

“You’re only saying that because you like my vagina.”

“Don’t be silly, bunny. I like your mouth too.”

I giggle and shove his shoulder. “You’re such a jerk.”

“But you love me.”

“Maybe,” I confess, then suck in a breath. “Oh shit, sorry. I didn’t mean to say that.” Moving too fast has always gotten me into trouble before. Scent matches or not, I should know better than to go around professing my love.

Linc pushes off the bed, kneeling in front of me and holding my stare. “So, you don’t love me?”

“Um...” I trail off. Experience is telling me it’s way too soon to say these sorts of things, but the time I’ve spent with this pack has been life changing. It’s like we’ve known each other our whole lives. And fate says it was always meant to be. Fuck it. I’m not going to be scared to have a heart. “I think I might?”

The smile that breaks across his face steals my breath, then his hands are on either side of my face, and his lips claim mine in a deep, hungry kiss. I desperately try to answer the demands of his tongue, but Lincoln is in control right now, so I let go, let him taste every inch of my mouth until we’re forced to break apart to breathe.

“Wow,” I whisper.

“I think I might love you too,” he admits, kissing me again. “Can I show you something?”

“Always.”

Smirking, he plucks the tub from between my legs and grabs my hand with the other, drawing me out of the nest. We stop by the kitchen to discard the trash, then he leads me to the other end of the house, which holds the gym, spa, a library, and his studio.

I’ve been dying to go inside, but I wanted to be respectful of his space, so I’ve been waiting for permission. He glances back at me as he reaches for the doorknob, and a little thrill of excitement rushes through me.

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