Page 79 of Marked

Without conscious thought, my hands slid up his neck, fingers tangling in the surprisingly soft strands of his hair. Each silky strand between my fingers sent sparks of sensation downmy spine, and the deep, possessive growl that rumbled through his chest had me melting even further. How had I gone my whole life without being kissed like this? Like I was something precious but also something to be devoured. Like I was his. The thought should have terrified me, but instead it just made me press closer, wanting more, needing more.

When I finally pulled back, breathless and trembling, I caught a glimpse of something dark and hungry in Marcus’ eyes. His usual icy blue had darkened to something deeper, more primal, and the way he looked at me made heat pool low in my belly. His thumb traced my lower lip, and for a moment I thought—hoped—he might pull me back in for another kiss. The tension between us was electric, his entire body rigid with what looked like barely contained restraint.

“We should head back,” Marcus said, his voice rough and deeper than I’d ever heard it. “Maria and Jorge will be… displeased if we’re late for lunch.” The way he forced out the words made it clear lunch was the last thing on his mind. His hands clenched and unclenched on the steering wheel, like he was physically stopping himself from reaching for me again.

I could have sworn I heard him mutter something under his breath that sounded suspiciously like “brothers” and “wait their turn,” but that couldn’t be right. The kiss must have scrambled my brain more than I thought.

Instead of giving in to what was clearly mutual temptation, he started the car and pulled back onto the road, his knuckles white on the steering wheel. The rest of the drive passed in charged silence, my heart still racing and my lips still tingling from our kiss. My whole body hummed with unfulfilled need, like a string pulled too tight.

I tried not to think about how I could still feel his eyes on me, watching, wanting—or about how much I wanted him to look at me that way again. How much I needed him to touch meagain. This hunger, this desperation—it wasn’t normal, was it? But then again, nothing about Cedar Grove, the Stones, or these feelings seemed normal anymore.

Chapter 17

STONE BROTHERS

Marcus Stone had faced down rival alphas, navigated hostile takeovers, and managed a pack of temperamental werewolves, but nothing had prepared him for the exquisite torture of having his mate inches away in his car, smelling of desire and innocence. Years of iron control were crumbling with every breath he took of Kai’s intoxicating scent. Even worse, his enhanced senses picked up every spike in Kai’s arousal, every quickened heartbeat when their eyes met, every heated thought his innocent mate tried to suppress. The way Kai’s eyes kept drifting to his hands on the steering wheel, imagining them elsewhere… Marcus had to bite back a growl.

His wolf’s rising interest must have alerted his brothers because Derek’s voice suddenly growled through their pack bond, straight into his mind.Don’t you dare, the warning clear even mentally.We agreed to wait.

You’re breaking protocol, Caleb’s voice joined in, though his mental tone held more whine than warning.I had plans for our first kiss with him!

Marcus ignored them both, his fingers tightening on the steering wheel as they drove through the forest. He washyperaware of every tiny movement Kai made—each shift in his seat, every quickened breath, the way those delicate fingers fidgeted with his borrowed suit. The suit that made him look so perfectly small, so temptingly breakable. Another wave of desire rolled off Kai as his mate snuck another glance at him, this one accompanied by thoughts that would have made a lesser alpha lose control entirely.

His brothers, sensing his control slipping through their shared bond, increased their protests.I can smell your desire through the bond, Derek snarled.Get it together, Marcus.

The responsible one, remember?Caleb’s voice echoed in his head.Mr. Perfect Control? Ring any bells?

His wolf snarled at their mental interruptions. After nine years of waiting, watching, protecting from afar—having Kai this close was pushing him to his limits. The quarter-wolf’s awakening power called to him, sweet and pure and untouched. His to claim. Theirs to protect. And the way Kai’s scent kept spiking with arousal, those innocent but decidedly heated thoughts about his mouth, his hands… Marcus’ wolf was going mad with the need to show their mate exactly what those fantasies would feel like in reality.

That’s when Kai spotted Cedar Lake, his soft gasp of appreciation making Marcus’ wolf preen. Yes, show their mate their territory, their wealth, their ability to provide…

His brothers’ voices immediately crashed through his mind, sensing his intentions.Don’t you dare stop the car, Derek warned.

Marcus, no, Caleb pleaded.We had a plan!

But Kai was leaning closer to the window, those gorgeous eyes wide with wonder, and before Marcus could stop himself, he was pulling into the lakeside turnout. His wolf howled in triumph as Kai’s scent spiked with pleasure at the view. Thecombination of their mate’s happiness and the privacy of the moment was intoxicating.

If you kiss him, I swear to God…Derek’s threat trailed off as Marcus caught another wave of Kai’s thoughts—this time featuring very specific ideas about his lips that had his wolf scratching at the surface.

At least wait until we’re there!Caleb whined.We deserve to see his first kiss too!

Marcus barely registered their protests anymore. Not when Kai was unconsciously leaning closer to him, those gold-flecked eyes darkening with want. His mate’s body was betraying every careful plan they’d made, responding to the pull between them with an intensity that made Marcus’ control fray at the edges. He could smell Kai’s confusion at his own reactions, the sweet scent of arousal mixed with uncertainty.

When Kai’s shoulder brushed against his, the contact sent electricity shooting through both of them. Marcus caught the echo of Kai’s thoughts—a chaotic mix of want and confusion and need—and had to grip the steering wheel tighter to keep from reaching for him.

Marcus, your eyes!Caleb’s panicked voice cut through the haze.They’re turning!

Control yourself, Derek growled.You’ll terrify him.

Marcus forced his eyes closed for a moment, wrestling his wolf back under control. But Kai’s scent was everywhere in the confined space of the car, and his mate’s thoughts had turned decidedly… distracting. Images of Marcus pinning him down, claiming that delicate throat, marking that perfect skin… He wasn’t sure if they were Kai’s fantasies or his wolf’s demands anymore.

“Beautiful,” he heard himself murmur, his voice deeper than usual. He meant the lake, he told himself. Not the way Kai’s pulse fluttered at his throat or how those lips parted onquickened breaths or the way his mate’s scent turned sweeter with every passing second.

Don’t, Derek’s voice was almost pleading now.You know what will happen if you start this.

Our wolves won’t be able to stop at just a kiss, Caleb added, uncharacteristically serious.

They were right. One taste wouldn’t be enough. His wolf was already demanding more—to claim, to mark, to possess. But then Kai whispered his name, the sound breaking on a need that echoed through Marcus’ entire body, and his last thread of control snapped.

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