Page 80 of Kortlek

Cove’s fingers trace the hem of my underwear, teasing, enjoying how a simple touch provokes goosebumps to tug all over my skin. He smirks against my neck, biting down on it. I tilt my head to the side, giving him better access.

With ease, he pulls the fabric, and it snaps. Cove tosses the ruined pair of underwear to the floor, this thumb brushing against my sensitive flesh, touching me everywhere but where I need him the most. The excitement builds in my stomach, my juices dripping down onto the dresser.

“Stop teasing me,’’ I whine, “please?”

A throaty chuckle comes from Cove as he pulls back, looking at me with a devilish smirk. He captures my lips, his free hand grabbing the nape of my neck, pulling me closer. Immediately, my lips part, his tongue sliding into my mouth.

Cove Steele tastes like the best aphrodisiac. Every time we kiss, each time he touches me, whenever he looks at me — it’s enough to set me off. I never knew what true desire and love felt like until I met him.

The deep gaze that he gives me brings a sense of comfort, a sense of safety. Cove Steele is what home feels like, and I never want to leave. If he wanted, I’d let him lock me up and never see the light of day again because it would mean I’d be with him forever.

The obsession runs deeply in my veins. He’s the only thing keeping me grounded, the only thing I’m looking forward to seeing in this fucked-up situation. Cove is mine. There’s no way I’ll ever let anything take him away from me, no matter what.

I’d risk it all for Cove.

Because I can see in his eyes that he’d blow up the world for me.

He breaks the kiss, panting. He leans his forehead against mine, resting it there with closed eyes. His jaw is clenched, his hands coming to my sides, holding me tightly. The small moment of vulnerability from him makes my heart skip a beat.

And another one.

Then another one.

I cup his cheeks, and he melts into the touch, his shoulders visibly relaxing. He releases a shaky breath, then opens his eyes. For a moment, neither of us speaks. We soak in the intimate moment, staring at each other.

The affection fills his eyes, and a soft smile appears on my face. My hands go under his shirt, softly stroking his sides. Then, I remember the tattoo that he has, and my mind starts questioning it. He notices the shift in my expression and cocks his head to the side.

“What is it?”

“The tattoo… what does it mean?”

Cove steps back and leaves me feeling empty without his touch. He looks away, clearing his throat. My brows narrow, then my eyes widen, and my mouth drops open. He’s avoiding eye contact like the plague, and apparently, the small stain on his white wall is far more important than looking at me.

Because Cove fucking Steele is blushing.

Light pink shade dusts over his cheeks and the tip of his nose. He clears his throat, shifting in his spot. He puts his hands in the pockets of his sweatpants, his Adam’s apple moving up and down while he’s trying to avoid looking at me.

I can’t hold it in. I start laughing, hopping off the dresser.

“Now, I need to know. What does it mean? Tell me!”

A grunting noise comes from his throat, and he steps back. I take a step forward, and he takes two steps back. A wide grin splits on my face, and this is the most amused I’ve been in a while. He looks mildly uncomfortable, the rosy color deepening.

“No,’’ he croaks out.

“Pretty please?”

He shakes his head furiously. “Absolutely not.’’

“Why?” I groan, still chuckling. “Is it something embarrassing?”

“No, it’s—’’ he gets cut off mid-sentence when his phone buzzes. He pulls it out from his pocket and then straightens his posture. He accepts the call, placing the device on his ear, eyes locked on me.

“What is it, Arlo?”

The sound of my brother’s name causes the amusement to vanish from me, and a more serious stance takes over. I move forward, trying to listen to what Arlo’s speaking, but Cove steps back again. His eyebrows raise up in surprise, then he sighs and ends the call.

“What’s wrong?”

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