Page 16 of Marked For A Bite
Logan's jaw tightened, his green eyes darkening with restrained hunger. "It means I'll protect you. Always. But it also means…" He hesitated, his voice dropping to a near whisper. "I want to claim you. To make you mine in every way possible. But I won't. Not until you're ready. Not until you understand what it truly means."
Zoe's cheeks flushed and he could smell her arousal. She stepped closer, her voice barely audible. "And what if I'm ready now?"
His chest tightened, his control on the brink of snapping completely. "Zoe?—"
"Don't," she said, cutting him off. "Don't tell me it's too dangerous or that I don't know what I'm saying."
He caught her wrist gently, his touch firm but careful. "You don't know what you are asking for."
"Then show me," she whispered, her eyes locked on his.
For a long moment, Logan didn't move, his breath ragged as he fought the urge to close the distance between them. But then she rose on her toes and leaned in, her lips brushing against his in a tentative kiss, and his control shattered.
He deepened the kiss, his hands sliding around her waist to pull her closer. She melted against him, her fingers tangling in his hair, and Logan felt his wolf lunge forward, possessive and hungry.
But he forced himself to pull back, his chest heaving as he rested his forehead against hers. "Not yet," Logan said, his voice rough. "When we do this, it's forever. And you need to be completely sure."
The air between them was thick with unspoken desire. His wolf growled, desperate to close the distance again and to claim her fully. But the rational part of his brain was telling him to stop and to think. She didn't know who she was really consenting to. They'd only known each other for six hours. Sixrecklesshours.
Zoe's swollen lips curved into a devastating smile, her hazel eyes gleaming with determination. "What if I already am?"
His jaw clenched tighter, his eyes darkening with raw hunger. God, he wanted to give in and to take her right there in the dim light of his bedroom. But he couldn't. Not yet. Not like this.
He wasn't some impulsive pup ruled by his base instincts. He was an enforcer, a strategist. And this—claiming his mate—wasn't part of the mission. Kieran would have his head if he found out Zoe wasn't at the safehouse right now, let alone that Logan was considering marking her already.
"We can't do this right now. It's too complicated," Logan said firmly, forcing himself to take a step back. His hands clenched tightly at his sides, his wolf growling in protest. "You do not know what you're agreeing to. Not really."
Zoe crossed her arms over her fitted t-shirt, her eyebrow arching in challenge. "You keep saying that, but I think I do. You're my mate, right? That's what you said. Fate decided this for us. So why are you fighting it?"
Logan's jaw twitched. She was relentless, stubborn in a way that both frustrated and intrigued him. "Because fate doesn't erase the fact that we barely know each other. You don't know who I am and what I've done. And you sure as hell don't know what me claiming you would mean for us."
"Then tell me." She stepped closer, her scent wrapping around him again. "Explain it to me. Because right now, all I know is that I feel something for you I've never felt before. And I don't think that's going away just because you're scared of it."
"I'm not scared," Logan growled, his voice low and dangerous. "I'm being smart. This isn't just about us. There's a bigger picture here. Kieran sent me to extract you, not?—"
"Not what?" she interrupted, her tone sharp. "Not have me fall for you? Too late for that, Logan. And I think it's too late for you too."
He stared at her, his chest tightening. She was right, damn her. He'd felt the pull of the mate bond the moment he'd touched her. But that didn't change the fact that this wasn't just about them. Kieran would expect Zoe at the safehouse, not tucked away in Logan's cabin. And Logan's duties as enforcer didn'tleave room for distractions, especially not one as all-consuming as Zoe.
"Kieran won't approve of this," Logan said finally, his voice gruff. "He'll want you at the safehouse, where you'll be protected. Not here with me."
Zoe rolled her eyes, her lips curving into that defiant smile. "Fine, then it's settled. I'll talk to him in the morning. I'll make him understand. This is my choice, not his."
Logan groaned. "You don't know Kieran. He's not exactly the understanding type."
"Well, then he can deal with it," Zoe shot back, her chin lifting in stubborn defiance. "Because I'm not staying at some safehouse without you. You're the one who makes me feel safe. Not some strangers."
Her words hit him hard, his chest tightening with something he couldn't quite name. He wanted to argue, and to tell her she was being reckless. But the truth was, he didn't want her anywhere but here with him. His wolf growled with approval, urging him to stop fighting and just take what was his.
"This isn't going to be easy," Logan said finally, his voice low. "My life… it's extremely dangerous. And once I claim you, you'll be tied to that. Forever."
Zoe stepped closer, her fingers brushing against his arm. "Then I'll face it. With you."
Logan's gaze locked onto hers, his wolf practically purring at her words. She was so fearless, defiant in a way that made his chest ache. He wanted to believe her, and to trust that she could handle this—handle him. But the logical part of his mind was still screaming at him to stop.
"Fine. We'll talk to Kieran in the morning," he said finally. "But for now… you need rest."
Zoe's lips curved up into a smirk. "Are you always this stubborn?"
