Page 95 of Luna: Posy 2

"Um." Emerson scratched the back of his neck. "Cove isn't sophisticated or articulate or mature."

"If he's part of you, I'll love him."

And he freaking blushedagain,which delighted me.

"Will I be able to talk with you while you're in wolf form?" I asked.

"Cove and I will both be able to hear and understand you, but not reply. Not until I mark you or the alphas induct you into the pack."

"Why don't you mark me now? I want to be able to fully communicate with both of you."

Emerson's brown eyes widened at my words and he gulped, making his Adam's apple bob.

"What did I say wrong?" I frowned.

"Marking is a permanent thing for wolves. You'll be tied to me until I die."

"Stop thinking I'm going to reject you!" I scowled. "Why would I reject the Goddess' gift when I prayed for you? When Ibeggedfor you?"

Seeing tears in his eyes made my breath catch. What had my mate endured to make him so emotionally vulnerable?

"I am keeping you forever, Emerson Don't-Know-Your-Middle-Name Jones." I dropped his hand and wrapped my arms around his waist. "I want to know everything about you, and it's going to take me the rest of my life to learn it all."

His heart thudded fast under my ear as he speared his fingers into my hair, and I grinned into his chest. I didn't think there was anything special about my poorly trimmed mop, but he sure seemed to like playing with it.

Maybe it's a wolf thing to pet your mate.

"It's Theodore," he whispered. "Emerson Theodore Jones. And I believe you. I want to keep you forever, too, Angelo."

Theodore. Adorable. And perfect for the teddy bear hidden inside his hulking body.

"Well, go ahead and mark me,il mio orsacchiotto(my teddy bear). We've got fireflies to chase."

"Do you speak Italian fluently? Your accent is sexy as sin. And what did you call me?"

"Yes, thanks, and I called you my teddy bear."

When red flooded his face, I laughed and squeezed my arms tighter around him.

"It's going to hurt," he warned me as he continued to pet my head, "but only for a few seconds. Then it should get better."

"I've been stabbed, burned, shot, and clawed. I think I can handle a wolf bite." I rolled my eyes.

He took a deep breath, then lowered his head and pressed his lips to my jaw. Kissing his way down my throat, he hummed a little, and I knew he was feeling the same knee-weakening sparks I was. His mouth touched a spot right below my earlobe, and I sucked in a sharp breath as goosebumps rose up on my skin.

"There?" His voice was deeper and rougher.

I couldn't speak, but my soft moan must have been answer enough. His canines pricked my neck, then stabbed in like twin knife points. He was right about it hurting, but I'd expected way worse. I'dexperiencedway worse.

Then the pleasure seeped in and spread through my veins like venom, heating me up from the inside out, and another little moan vibrated from my throat.

His tongue lapped at the wound, and I wondered if he was cleaning up the blood.

Can you hear me, Angelo?I heard his voice in my head.

Yep. Should I send a jolt of healing to the mark or leave it?

Does it hurt?