Page 28 of Mark of Love (Love Mark 3)

I rolled my eyes. “Even if that was the reason, how would he even know I was in any way associated with you?”

She frowned a moment before answering, “Good point.” Ready to change the subject, she motioned toward the unconscious High Clifter at our feet. “Are you really going to kill him?”

I didn’t like her questioning tone, as if she didn’t think I was capable. So I scowled. “Of course.”

“Shame.” Melaina sighed as she bent down to feel him up again, squeezing his upper arms. “Because seriously, these biceps. So firm. And you should really feel how muscled this chest is. I’m telling you right now, this is how a man is meant to be made. Hey, if you’re going to kill him, anyway, mind if I have a quick ride first? A boy as handsome and virile as he is has got to be good for a spot of orgasmic fun. It would be nearly impossible for him to be otherwise.”

My teeth ground together as I gazed around the clearing, trying not to think about where my aunt had to be touching him as I made sure no one else joined our party. So far, he’d been pursuing us alone, but it was always possible he’d called in reinforcements. An army of more High Cliff warriors could show up at any moment.

But no one else was about except for a black cat peeking out from behind a tree, watching us. It hissed at me when I made eye contact.

Filthy animal.

I narrowed my eyes right back and made a go-away, psst sound at it, until Melaina gave a shocked gasp.

“Sweet baby Jesus, would you look at that lump.”

It was impossible not to look when someone said look, and so my head turned that way before I could stop it.

I immediately wished I had better impulse control, though, because I found Melaina spreading her fingers over the crotch of his trousers, trying to smooth the material flat but failing because something underneath obstructed her attempts.

She glanced up at me, humming her approval. “Now, this is what I’m talking about. Take note, darling, because any man who tells you size doesn’t matter doesn’t have this in his pants.” After smoothing her palm lovingly over the bulge and purring deep in her throat, she scrambled to untie the laces that were holding his britches closed. “I have got to see this monster in the flesh.”

Oh God. I turned my eyes away, internally panicking over the idea of her looking at him—touching him—so much so that it caused an uneasy churn to unfurl deep inside me. I just couldn’t let her do this.

It was on the tip of my tongue to say Aunt Taiki’s name, and somehow bring up Melaina’s true love in an attempt to stop her from doing this here and now to the handsome stranger.

But my aunt had always been a highly sexual being. Male, female, young, old, any variety you threw at her; she usually found a way to appreciate their body. Mentioning Taiki wouldn’t halt her pursuits. She typically found a way to simply include Taiki’s memory into such physical pleasures.

No, it would just hurt her if I said Taiki’s name.

The only people I’d never seen her exhibit any kind of sexual interest in were Graykeys: her husband, children, and myself included. Maybe I could tell her he was a Graykey, except she could prove that false in half a second.

And then an idea hit.

“I don’t think he knew I was a Graykey,” I announced, biting my lip as I glanced down. She’d just gotten the leather ties undone, but she hadn’t opened his trousers yet.

Hands stilling in their hearty attempts to reveal him, she glanced up and lifted a single eyebrow. “Come again?”

“He had no idea,” I reiterated, even though a part of me wanted to deny my own claim because he had to have known. Except, honestly... “There was no feigning his surprise when he saw my mark.”

Melaina blinked and slowly rose to her feet, her mission to undress him successfully aborted.

“Then why has he been following us?”

“I don’t know. And I don’t care.” I glanced at the man’s face. It was still too comely with his long dark lashes resting on the tops of his cheeks. So I planted my foot on his shoulder and shoved, pushing him into his stomach so I couldn’t keep looking at him.

And so Melaina couldn’t so easily reach his cock again.

“He must have some Graykey blood in his possession to be able to track me through so many glamoured disguises though.” I bumped my elbow into her arm and hitched my chin in his direction. “Why don’t you search him for a vial?”

That way I wouldn’t have to touch him, until—

Shit.

I’d forgotten I didn’t like her touching him either.

“Search him? Oh, gladly,” she answered, rubbing her hands together in eager anticipation as she stepped forward.

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