Page 162 of Devoted

“I wouldn’t have you any other way.” Zeke leaned forwards, placing his lips on my brow. He held them there for a moment. “And now you carry my mark.”

I touched my forehead. “I can’t feel anything.”

“You can’t see it either, but it’s there.” Zeke’s voice trembled. “I can feel you, baby. Not completely, but some.”

“You can? What do you feel?”

“Well, mostly happiness.” He wrinkled his nose in concentration. “And you’re in pain. Especially…”

His gaze latched on to my wobbling arm, my hand pressed to his cheek. “Oh for fuck’s sake, Sam. You should’ve said.”

I tutted as he removed my hand and tucked it in at my side. “I’m fine, Zeke. Honestly.”

Zeke gave me a look that told me I could expect a lot of this behaviour in future. Was it bad that I liked that thought? Did it make me a terrible person?

‘It does. If you accept the bond, what if he can tell exactly what you’re thinking? He’ll know what an awful person you are then.’

Zeke cocked his head curiously. “What were you thinking just then?”

I winced. “Can you read my thoughts?”

“No, only your emotions and if you’re in danger. It’ll be the same when you accept the mating bond, except it’ll go both ways and be more amplified.”

“Oh.” It hadn’t occurred to me that that would happen. Now I had a whole new set of things to worry about…

‘He’s marked you now. It’s too late. You’ve ruined everything. He doesn’t have a choice about the mating bond. If you don’t accept in the next few minutes, you could die.’

“Okay, I don’t know what’s causing you anxiety, only that something is.” Zeke stroked my hair gently. “Talk to me, baby.”

“What if my OCD starts to affect you?” I blurted out before I could stop myself. “You’re going to have a front-row seat to all the bullshit my brain throws at me on a daily basis. How did we not consider this before?”

“I did consider it.”

“You did?”

“Yes, Sam,” he said, giving me a tender smile. “I’ve considered all of it, and I can’t wait.”

His words caught me off guard. “You…what?”

“I can’t wait,” Zeke repeated calmly. “I’ll be able to tell when you’re spiralling faster than just watching your tells. I’ll know if an environment is too stimulating so I can try and figure out how to alleviate it for you. If there’s something or someone making you uncomfortable, I’ll be able to step in and help.”

My voice was thick. “But what if it becomes too much? What if you want to walk away? Take a break from it?”

“I willneverwalk away from you,” Zeke vowed. “I love you.Allof you. I hate what your brain puts you through, but I don’t hate it. I can’t, because it’s part of you. I’ll be there on the days whenyouneed a break, helping to make it a little easier for you. I’m not worried about it. If anything, I’m more concerned about you getting a front-row seat to my temper and foul moods.”

His lips were turned down, eyes troubled. I touched his cheek again, ignoring his growl as he felt the ache through the mark he’d given me. “We’ll keep taking laps. As long as we’re communicating, everything will be okay.”

Zeke exhaled. “God, you’re perfect.”

“No,” I said softly, “neither of us are perfect. We’re both a little broken. Our edges are jagged, but you know what? We fit together perfectly.”

“That’s true. No one could fit me like you.”

“Same.” I smiled. “Which is why, Zeke, I accept the bond.”

I’d barely finished speaking when white light exploded from Zeke’s chest. I squinted against it as my eyes adjusted. I blinked, my jaw falling open as I took in the delicate white cage encasing us.

Tears filled my eyes as a sudden rush of emotion hit me.Joy. Excitement. Lust.

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