Page 96 of Marked

When don’t I?Caleb shot back, placing his hands on either side of Kai on the counter. The position caged their mate between his body and the granite surface but maintained that edge of playfulness that was uniquely his.Besides, he responds so beautifully to it.

As if to prove his point, Kai pressed back slightly against his chest, that sweet scent deepening with desire. Scout’s quiet huff from the living room sounded suspiciously like laughter.

“Show-off,” Kai accused, but his voice came out breathy. Caleb’s chest rumbled with laughter, delighting in how the vibration made Kai shiver against him.

“Maybe.” He let his lips brush Kai’s ear, drawing out another delicious shiver. “But you like it, don’t you, baby?”

The pet name slipped out naturally, and the way Kai’s scent spiked in response had his wolf howling in triumph. His hands itched to touch, to claim, to mark their mate properly.

Caleb, Derek’s warning came sharp through their bond.Remember what happened in the woods.

But remembering Derek’s loss of control only made Caleb’s wolf more eager. His brother might normally approach everything with military precision, but even he had crumbled in the face of their mate’s allure. And Caleb had never pretended to have that kind of discipline to begin with—he preferred to play with his food first.

When Kai turned in his arms, those clever hands sliding up his chest, Caleb’s careful playfulness started to crack. Hiswolf surged forward at the contact, demanding more. Scout’s warning whine barely registered through the rush of need.

“You know what else you’d like?” The words came out rougher than intended as he gripped Kai’s waist, lifting him onto the counter. The casual display of strength drew a soft gasp from their mate that went straight to Caleb’s core.

“Did you just—” Kai started, but Caleb was already stepping between his legs, and whatever protest he’d been about to make died on his lips. Caleb’s thumbs found their way under the hem of that borrowed shirt, drawing maddening circles against Kai’s hip bones.

Your eyes, Marcus cautioned.They’re shifting.

Caleb forced his wolf back just enough to maintain control but couldn’t resist nuzzling into Kai’s neck, inhaling that intoxicating scent. “Better.” He grinned against the sensitive skin. “Now we’re eye to eye.”

“Still shorter,” Kai pointed out. Those slim hands had found their way to Caleb’s shoulders, and he could feel the slight tremor in them.

His laugh was warm against Kai’s throat. “Such a brat, kitten.” He pulled back just enough to meet those gold-flecked eyes, his wolf howling as those perfect legs wrapped around his waist. “A very tempting brat.”

When he finally kissed Kai, it was with none of Marcus’ calculated precision or Derek’s primal hunger. Caleb kissed like he did everything else—playfully, teasingly, but with an underlying heat that had Kai melting against him. His tongue traced Kai’s bottom lip, asking rather than demanding entrance, and when Kai gasped, he took full advantage.

Control, Marcus reminded, but Caleb barely heard him over the roaring in his ears. One hand tangled in Kai’s hair while the other stayed at his waist, thumb still tracing those maddeningcircles. When Kai whimpered into the kiss, Caleb’s wolf surged forward with a vengeance.

Scout’s bark of warning coincided with Marcus’ sharpYour fangs!, but Caleb was too far gone to care.

“Been wanting to do that since I first saw you cursing at your car,” he murmured against Kai’s lips, fighting to keep his fangs from dropping. “You looked so pretty when you were angry.”

“Smooth talker,” Kai accused but pulled him back in for another kiss. This time Caleb didn’t tease—his tongue swept into Kai’s mouth immediately, claiming and exploring in a way that had Kai tightening those perfect legs around his waist.

The gesture drew a deep growl from Caleb, his hands sliding down to grip Kai’s hips. He pulled their mate closer to the edge of the counter, pressing them together in all the right ways. His wolf was howling now, demanding they claim properly, and Caleb could feel his control slipping.

Pull back, Derek commanded.Before you shift.

Scout’s frantic barking barely registered as Caleb tensed, fighting the change threatening to overtake him. His grip on Kai’s hips tightened almost painfully before he forced himself to loosen his hold.

“You have no idea what you do to me,” he ground out, resting his forehead against Kai’s. His breathing was ragged, and he knew his eyes must be electric blue now. “So hard to… to think straight.”

“Show me?” The words slipped from Kai’s lips like a challenge, and Caleb’s wolf roared in response.

His eyes darkened, but that playful smile never left, even as his whole body vibrated with restrained energy. “Careful what you wish for, pretty thing.” He pressed a surprisingly gentle kiss to Kai’s forehead, then stepped back like it physically pained him. “I should go.”

“Probably,” Kai agreed, making no move to unwrap his legs from around Caleb. The storm still raged outside, rain lashing against the windows, but somehow the cottage felt too warm.

Caleb’s laugh was slightly strained. “You’re not helping, baby.”

“Not trying to,” Kai shot back, and something in Caleb snapped. He surged forward, claiming Kai’s mouth in a kiss that was pure possession. This time when his tongue swept in, there was nothing playful about it. He kissed like a man starving, one hand fisting in Kai’s hair while the other pulled him impossibly closer.

Scout’s frantic barking finally penetrated the haze of desire just as Marcus’CALEB!cracked through their bond.Your wolf is too close!

He wrenched away with a curse, stumbling back. His chest heaved as he ran a shaking hand through his hair, fangs threatening to drop. “I really need to go,” he said, voice rough. “Before I—” He cut himself off as another violent shudder racked his frame.

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