Page 20 of Marked By The Grouchy Grizzly

“I can picture you as a kid,” she says, smiling at the image in her head. “I can’t wait to see some pictures.”

I open my drawer and grab an old photo I have laying around in there. It’s Victoria’s sixth birthday and she’s smiling wide in front of her cake—looking adorable with her two front teeth missing. Magnus and me are in the back. Magnus is giving her bunny ears with his two fingers and I’m scooping my finger into the icing of the cake. It’s one of our favorites.

“So cute,” she says, smiling at the photo. She has a million questions about my parents and what they’re like. They moved to Switzerland so my mom could paint the mountains and my father’s grizzly bear could roam in them. I haven’t visited them yet, but they seem really happy.

“Whose idea was it to open up the shop?” she asks as I finish one petal and start on another one.

“That was Magnus. He’s always been the go-getter. The man with the plan.”

I talk about how it’s been so hard for me without her and she just listens quietly. She doesn’t freak out or get scared or tell me this is moving too fast. She takes my free hand and holds it as I talk. I take a breath of relief, knowing those days of intense longing and pain are finally over. She’s here now. I can just sit back and relax for once.

The hours fly by and before I know it, I’m done. I put my tattoo gun down and then wipe her skin with green soap to get rid of the stencil and any excess ink.

“Are you done?” she asks, perking up in the chair.

“Go check it out,” I tell her. “Tell me what you think.”

She rushes over to the mirror and turns, looking over her shoulder at the new work of art on her body. Her lip quivers and her eyes fill with tears when she sees it.

“Are you okay?” I ask, rushing over to her when I see those tears. “Do you not like it?”

She shakes her head, staring at it in awe. “I love it. It’s beautiful. Thank you.”

I watch as she runs her fingertip over my name which is just barely visible on a flower petal if you know where to look.

“Thank you for keeping it,” she whispers, looking into my eyes. “I keep having this feeling that my body needs to be marked by you.”

I glance at the spot on her neck that’s destined for my mark. She shivers as she reaches up and touches it.

“What goes here?” she whispers.

My mouth waters as I stare at it. I slide my hands onto her arms, gripping her as I close the distance between us.

“The mark on your back was mine,” I say in a voice that comes out all deep and growly. “This spot is for my bear.”

She shivers, but there’s a spark of arousal in her eyes. It makes me snap. It pushes me over the edge.

I’ve been holding myself back all night for this girl, but I can’t anymore.

I lean down and take her mouth in a hard, demanding kiss. She whimpers on my tongue and it pushes me even further.

I go sailing over the edge.

She moans as I scoop her up into my possessive arms and carry her back to the chair.

There’s no going back now.

It’s time to claim my mate.

CHAPTER NINE

Lainey

Ifeel weightless in Julian’s big muscular arms as he carries me to the black leather chair like I weigh nothing. He’s so strong. So powerful. I never thought I’d be so turned on by such a rugged, manly man, but here we are.

“You’re the one for me, Lainey,” he says, possession emanating from those sexy brown eyes as he looks down at me. “I’m never letting you go, girl.”

“Good,” I say as I wrap my arm around his neck and tilt my head up.

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