Page 93 of Unmarked Magic

His voice had a raspy timbre to it, and I almost felt bad for watching him when he thought he was alone. His arms flexed as he strummed the strings; even with his eyes closed, it seemed he knew exactly where his fingers needed to land to create each chord. I leaned against the back of the door, admiring him for far too long. If I were a stranger, it would border on stalking.

When the song finished, his eyes jerked to meet mine, and a familiar warmth spread into them. “Hey.” His smile grew wider, and he placed the guitar down beside him. “I didn’t see you come in. How are you feeling?” His eyes dropped to my neck and my hand instinctively followed the motion.

“Hey,” I replied, walking toward him. My fingers ran over the sensitive skin where he had bitten me. The thought felt so farfetched that it didn’t seem real. “I’m okay, thanks, just a little tired.”

He moved to the edge of the chair, catching my waist with his hands. “You’ve been sleeping all afternoon. I’m guessing your body needed time to recover.” His eyes darkened as he stared up at me. “I hate that I did this to you.” He motioned to the bruising on my neck, pulling me closer to him. I grasped his shoulders, and our eyes connected as he kissed my stomach. “Every time I look at that…” His voice disappeared.

Lowering to sit on his lap, my legs draped over the side of the armrest, and he immediately engulfed me in his warmth. “Don’t look at me like that,” I said softly. “This isn’t your fault. You didn’t ask for this.” I ran my fingers through his stubble, caressing his jawline, getting lost in the molten depths of his irises.

“You’re wearing my jacket.” His hand resting on my thigh moved to my neck, brushing over the area he had bitten. “And my bruising.” His touch over the sensitive skin made me shiver. He chuckled quietly, lifting his attention to meet mine again. “As much as I don’t like what I had to do, this combined is a look I like very much.”

Heat crept into my cheeks, and my fingers instinctively touched where he had bitten me. There was something about having his mark on me. Like he’d claimed me in some sense. I know that wasn’t his intention, but I couldn’t deny it made me feel different. Like our connection had only grown stronger. Somehow, it didn’t feel like ownership. It felt more like belonging.

I smiled, remembering how surprisingly amazing his bite had felt once I’d relaxed into it. It had evoked so many feelings inside me, all extremely unexpected and overwhelming. Until my body had betrayed me so spectacularly and I’d climaxed so hard that Tyler and Colt had heard it from the estate’s hallway. I was still recovering from the mortification of knowing that.

“Your jacket smells so good.” I lifted the collar, inhaling his scent. Love drunk.

He grinned, and it lit up his eyes, causing the little lines I loved so much to form in their corners. “I’m right here you know, you can sniff me anytime.” He let out a light laugh, snuggling me closer.

Wrapping my arms around his nape, I rested my head in the crook of his neck.

A deep sigh released from me.

He murmured into my hair. “Everything okay?”

My fingers drew lines over the fabric of his top. There was so much going through my head, I didn’t know where to start. “I just, it’s all so new. I don’t really know how this works or what to expect. Like how often will you need to —” I didn’t know the right term to use, worried I might offend him.

“Feed off you?” He offered, speaking the words I couldn’t.

I lifted my head and relief washed over me. “Yeah.”

He shrugged, and a bewildered look passed over his face. “I honestly don’t know.” He scratched his head in thought. “This is going to be something we have to navigate together, and, just like anything else, with mutual respect. You need to be completely honest with me, and, in return, I’ll do the same. If this is going to work, we need to be on the same page.”

“Absolutely.”

His finger crooked my chin back to look at him. “If at any time you feel uncomfortable, or feel we need to talk about this, please do. And I mean it. This only works if you chose it. Every single time. Your body. Your choice.” His tone gave me no reason to doubt him, and I wholeheartedly loved him for it.

His hands caressed my cheeks. “I mean it. If you ever say no, then it’s no.”

I smiled, and tears spilled into my eyes at his words. “Thank you. You’re incredible, you know that?”

He swiped a tear from my cheek before holding my face in his hands. “I love you, Scar, more than anything in this world.”

My heart exploded, and I was unable to hold back the flood of tears that dampened my cheeks. “I love you, too.”

His lips found mine, soft and unhurried. Kissing me the way he knew I needed. Reid rarely kissed in a rush. He kissed like he had forever. Like every brush of his lips deserved its own memory, and I loved that about him.

His hand slid up my neck and into my hair, and when his mouth opened, teasing mine to do the same, our tongues met in a slow, languid glide.

Gods, this man knew how to kiss. I broke away, breathless. “Wow.” I swiped my thumb over my lip. “You’re such a good kisser.”

“Really?”

I nodded, biting my bottom lip.

“Well, I think that’s all you, because I haven’t kissed anyone since I was twenty-one.”

My mouth fell open. I didn’t realize his no kissing rule went back that far. “Can I ask why?”