Page 104 of The Genius
“It’s simple. I love you too.”
“Say it again.” My eyes were searching for any sort of deceit in her eyes.
“I love you, Marco.”
“And this isn’t one of your white lies to make me feel better, is it?”
She shook her head.
“Why didn’t you tell me sooner?”
“You know me; I’ve never been good at expressing my feelings. That’s why when you mistook me for a robot, it was a chance to experience sex with the only man I’ve ever been attracted to without making a fool of myself. Or at least that was my intention.”
“Fuuuck…” My head fell down to nuzzle against the crook of her neck. “Youareserious.”
“Marco… are you hard again?” Shelly’s question had a tone of surprise in it.
“Hell yeah, I’m hard. Your words have to be the biggest turn-on I’ve ever experienced. You handpicked me because you were attracted to me. Not because I was the only male available.”
Shelly laughed and it sounded sweeter than sugar tastes. “Marco, come on, you know that you’re attractive. You saw it when you went to the Motherlands; the women were all over you.”
“That was ten years ago. I haven’t experienced that since then.”
“Until I came back into your life, that is.”
I tightened my hold around her. “Just so you know, Brainy, that rule about me not being allowed to be possessive is off the table now. I’m not giving you up or letting other men near you. Do you understand?”
Shelly’s smile grew when I kissed her. “You don’t have to feel threatened. I’ve only ever wanted to be with you.”
“Then you’ll marry me?”
Her hands were nuzzling the hair in my nape. “I can’t.”
“Why not? We love each other and we’re starting a family. It’s a complete no-brainer. Wearegetting married.”
“I can’t marry you, Marco. I made a promise to my mom, remember?”
Pressing my head against her neck, I muttered in frustration. “I love that you want to honor a promise, but I won’t stop asking until you say yes.”
Shelly didn’t look fazed by it, but just pulled me in for another kiss.
CHAPTER 23
Reunion
Shelly
We left for the West Coast on Friday, only three days after I came back from the Motherlands.
Marco was frustrated with me. He wanted to tell everyone that we were together and that we were having a baby, but most of all he still insisted that we should marry.
I had gone so far as to tell him that I would consider it, but in reality, I still didn’t see the need.
Hunter and Willow picked us up around noon in the luxurious large drone that had been especially designed for Hunter.
“Where’s Storm and Tristan?” Marco asked. “I thought we were all flying together.”
“I changed my mind,” Hunter said. “In case Willow and I have to leave, you two can fly home with Tristan and Storm.”
