Page 65 of The Gift
The Hallmark scene is ruined slightly by the way he’s nearly strangling me with one arm. I love his possessiveness, but it’s more than that. Something has him spooked.
Starting on his far shoulder, I take my time exploring every inch of him, my nail gliding from one side of his chest to the other as I try to decipher the words and meanings of his tattoos. Tugging the sheet down lower, my fingers follow the lines of his sculptured V before winding my way back over his abs.
“You keep touching me, and my restraint is gone. I’ll have no choice but to push you down face first and knot you.” His voice is gravelly, and he draws me closer to kiss the top of my head.
“Sounds tempting,” I muse, reaching up to push my lips under his jaw quickly before leaning back down.
“But?” he grumbles, and I flick my eyebrows up, wondering how the hell he knows. His arm tightens around me as he waits, not patiently, for an explanation.
“Are you upset with me?” I ask, following the same route I did before over his skin. Touching him, all of them, is fast becoming a necessity. One night and I’m at obsessed level already.
“About what? Henley and Ashton?”
I barely nod my head, and he’s pushed me out of his arms, dropping his weight on top of me. Settling so his nose is on mine, he scents purposely, covering me in his unique smell. Reminders of warm open fires and denim washes over me, bringing with it a comfort that I’d only ever read about, never experienced.
“I’m upset that you think it would be an issue. That’s not how a pack works. Sure, we’re individual people, but we’re in this together.” He speaks low, his brown eyes not moving from mine.
I flick my eyes away, but he drops his hips onto mine, grinding his dick against me until I look at him.
“Bails, don’t hide from me.”
“I don’t know any of this. I’ve been alone for a long, long, long goddamn time, Koda.” I admit quietly, holding his stare.
“If it’s something you want, go with it,” he leans in slowly, pushing the gentlest kiss to my lips.
“I’d have to come out to the world,” I say, returning his kiss.
A wicked smile spreads slowly over his face as he pulls away slightly, understanding in his eyes.
“We’re going to have to come up with something,” he says, looking so damn serious, so fucking hot too.
“Why?” I ask slowly, half glaring back at him. He’s clearly figured things out since he left me last night.
“’Til death do us part.” He says chuckling slowly, biting the edge of his lip like a damn hussy.
“And that means what, Koda?” I grit out, deadpanning him in return.
“Either we’re pack, married, or you got yourself a stalker. I’m going to kiss you now while you decide which one.”
And he does. Eyes open, toe curling, adding another crack to the wall around my heart. My resolve is already shattered when it comes to them.
Despite how I’ve lived and acted over the past few years, I’ve always been a romantic at heart, maybe it’s part of being an omega. Like sweetness makes me happy. Koda and the A-team make my teeth ache, my heart mushy and my pussy messy. All the things a girl needs.
He purrs into the kiss, talking without stopping, “Decision made?”
He knows. The cheeky bugger. He knows.
“God, Koda, I’m getting closer to deciding,” I say as I wrap my arms around his neck, losing time in between some amazing kisses, despite our morning breath.
He eventually puts a bit of distance between us, that intimate, knowing smile of his gone, replaced by the face I’m quickly coming to associate with his more serious work persona. “Got some heavy shit to talk about when we get up.”
“Like what?”
“Like it involves us all. But before I drag you out of bed, I wanted you to understand what involves you and me.” He leans his head on his hand, staying close enough that we barely need any volume to our conversation.
“And if I want it all?” I ask, trailing the edge of a sword that has been drawn over his heart.
“You take it.”
