Page 7 of Marked By The Grouchy Grizzly

“Not her,” Magnus says. “The other one.”

He doesn’t look at Himari. He doesn’t answer his brother.It’s like he’s lost himself in me. Like he can’t look away. Like he’s stumbled into a dream.

I know, because I’m feeling it too.

His green eyes devour me, undress me, shake me to my core.

What is happening?

It must be nerves for the tattoo. It must be stress from finishing school. It must be…

It’s not.

No matter how many excuses I can come up with, I know this feeling is not occurring from any of them.

This is something different. This is… I don’t know what this is.

“Himari wants the koi fish,” Magnus says, looking at his brother funny. “That girl is waiting for Victoria to finish.”

“No,” he says in a deep gruff voice that sends shivers tingling down my spine. “She’smine.”

We haven’t broken eye contact this whole time. Everyone is watching us now, wondering what is going on. I wish I knew…

“She wants a flower,” Magnus says. “Victoria is the best at flowers.”

“I’ll go with him,” I say. Every cell in my body is screaming at me to go to him.

“Are you sure?” Himari whispers to me. “He looks a little unhinged.”

I feel unhinged. I feel like I need to be over there with his hands on me. I feel like I won’t be able to breathe until I’m over there.

“I’m sure,” I say as I hurry over.

He’s looking at me in awe as I hop onto the long black leather chair.

His sister Victoria goes back to work, but she keeps an eye on her brother, looking at him funny.

“What’s your name?” Julian asks, his big chest heaving up and down with every heavy breath he takes.

“I’m Lainey,” I say as I put my hand out for a shake.

He slides his big warm hand over mine, swallowing it completely.

“It’s nice to finally meet you,” he says, staring at me with a look of wonder. “I’ve been waiting a long time for you.”

I shiver when we finally let go.

I don’t know what he’s talking about, but in a way, I do.

It feels like I’ve been waiting a long time for him too.

CHAPTER THREE

Julian

My grizzly bear is in shock.

Hell, so am I.

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