Page 34 of Marking Micah

“And how did that feel?” his friend asked.

“It felt like… well hell, it felt incredible at first. And seeing my marks on her skin was heady as fuck. I always like to mark my bottoms, but with her, there was this whole other level to it. Like my marks made hermine. And then it felt like maybe I’d gone too deep, too fast.”

“Fast for her? Or for you?”

“I don’t know. Both, maybe? We talked after and said she knew it wasn’t as intense for me, but the truth is, it was. Maybe in a different way than for her, but…” He stopped and scrubbed at the stubble on his chin.

“Yeah, buddy, I’d say you’ve got it bad. Because just seeing the two of you together for ten minutes in my office the other day, I can see how you feel about her.”

Arrow’s defenses made him bristle. “And how is that, exactly?”

Derek shrugged and said simply. “You love her. And I think what’s happening here is Top drop. Because you love this woman and you’re clearly not ready to face it.”

“Fuck.”

“That was sort of my sentiment when I realized I was in love with Sadie. But if that’s the cold, hard truth—and I see that it is—you’re going to have to face it sooner or later. And Arrow? I’d highly recommend sooner.”

Arrow rubbed at his face, trying to clear his mind.

The man was right, damn it.

But how in the hell was he going to handle this? Lord, if he admitted what was going on with him, would it blow her trust? Make her feel like he’d had ulterior motives? Would it scare her away from him forever?

Or was it possible she felt the same way about him? That her trust and her need for him was more than the friendship they’d built over the last five years, coupled with attraction?

There was only one way to find out. But he didn’t have to like it.

Micah dialed the front desk,and after only two rings a familiar voice picked up.

“Front desk. This is Luna.”

“Luna! I wasn’t expecting it to be you this late at night.”

“Hey, Micah. I traded shifts with someone. What can I do for you?”

“Oh, I was just wondering… if you’ve seen Arrow tonight?”

“Yep. He’s in Derek’s office.”

“Oh…”

“Do you want me to get a message to him?”

“No! I mean, no thanks. I just… I wasn’t sure where he went and I…” Her voice broke on a small sob.

“Micah? Oh my gosh. Are you okay?” Luna asked, her voice filled with concern.

“Yes, I’m fine. I am.” She paused to sniff. “I mean, I think I am. It’s just… we played again tonight, and he put me to bed, but I can’t sleep, and then he was just gone.” She sniffed again, tears leaking down her cheeks.

“Oh no! It sounds like you’re dropping, and you shouldn’t be alone right now. Are you sure you don’t want me to dial Derek’s office? Because I can do that right this second?—”

“No! No, please don’t bother them. If he’s with Derek he must have needed to talk to him about something.”

“Okay, then. I’m coming to your room. If you don’t want to talk, then it’s okay not to answer the door. But I’m showing up and bringing some hot chocolate with me, and if you want, justopen the door when I knock and we can talk. Or if you don’t want to talk, we can just sit together. Okay?”

“Yes. Okay.”

Luna knocked not even ten minutes later, and Micah opened the door, dressed now in her black cotton nightgown and short robe. As promised, Luna had two steaming mugs of cocoa, and the scent of chocolate filled the room. She came in and set them down on the coffee table, gesturing Micah to sit on the couch next to her.

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