Page 196 of Overcast

He bows his head. “I’m jacked up. Too many—” I reach to grab his face, pulling him to cover me with his body.

“You’re not. You’re everything.” I brush my thumb along his cheek. “And...” The words choke up again as though they refuse to leave because it’s the most dangerous thing I’ve ever done in my life.

I’ve never told anyone I’ve been in love with them. Not only is the emotion of love a complicated and powerful entity, but it’s tragic and all-consuming.

I’m not sure if I’m ready for it to overtake things. If it’ll make me blind and stupid to things I shouldn’t be. If it’ll suck all rationality out of me.

“What’s wrong?” Marty presses, brushing back wetness off my face. I hadn’t noticed I began to cry and inwardly cringe.

“I’m in love with you,” I blurt through clenched eyes. “Fuck...” His warm mouth hits mine immediately, and my embarrassment is quickly replaced with wanting him to just screw me and mess me up for anyone else.

As though he can read my mind, he positions himself and thrusts slowly inside me, separating our lips for a second with how good it feels. Like breaking apart and never wanting to be mended back together because this way, Marty will always be needed.

Wrapping my arms around his neck, I relish in how slow he’s working me into a frenzy.

How this is different than all the other times.

He doesn’t need to respond to my declaration, this alone is enough. It means something. This isn’t just fucking but feelings, dreams, and fears all mixed together.

“You’re too good for me,” he utters into my lips. “Way too good, baby.”

“Is it a death sentence to love you?” I counter as he trails kisses to my cheek and down the sensitive path to my neck.

“Yes—” he licks my flesh, sending goosebumps rippling down my arms. “—but I still want you to anyway.”

“We’ll protect each other. That’s what a team does.”

“I found out who was behind the attempt on Reagan’s life.” My eyes widen as he continues working wet kisses and nibbles along my shoulder.

“What?” I whisper.

“Mayor Holden Montgomery, well ex-mayor. Had a thing with Wade years ago. Someone sent a text message to that dude’s phone that I...killed.” He bites down on my body—angry, overwhelmed, I’m not sure, but he doesn’t seem happy about it?

“What did it say?” Marty begins picking up his pace, alluding to what I believed just a moment ago.

He’s shaken up about it.

“He’s dead, stabbed sixty-two times in prison where Wade sent him years ago. He wanted revenge, and the text said to call everything off.”

“That’s good, right?” He doesn’t respond but nestles his face into the side of my throat, continuing to fuck me steadily. “Is there more danger?”

He shakes his head. “No, I waited a few days to make sure that nothing else was going to happen and...not to get your hopes up.”

“Then why do—” He hurls himself deeper inside me, filling me to the hilt, and I gasp in surprise. My fingers pierce into his back, and I don’t care if I hurt him.

I want to.

I demand to leave a mark, something that he’ll never get rid of.

Even though scratches will fade in time, I’m desperate to bury inside him like he has me—physically and mentally. We both never knew it’d come to this—us in bed together, sharing moments and laughs. The contentment of being in each other’s company.

I never realized how lonely I truly was until I met Marty and his gang of crazies.

“God, how do you feel better every time I fuck you, sweetheart?” Rounding his face to meet mine, he kisses me deep and long. His tongue entangles with mine, needy, and anxious as does his speed.

Is he afraid now that I’ll want to go home?

Because the answer would be that I want to stay.

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