Page 46 of Taken By the Pack

I let out a weak, breathless laugh as he kisses my forehead, wrapping me up in his arms. The weight of him, the warmth of him—it’s grounding. Safe.

But something between us has shifted. This changes everything.

Jake brushes his fingers along my spine, his voice softer now. “You okay?”

I nod. My breathing finally evens out, the fire dimming to embers.

Then guilt creeps in. “I… I feel like I used you.”

Jake huffs, tilting my chin up. “It was an honor to be used by you, Grace.”

My heart clenches. I don’t know what this means. What comes next. But right now, wrapped in his scent, the steady sound of his heartbeat under my ear, I can’t bring myself to care.

13

JAKE

Her breathing takes forever to settle. Her chest rises and falls against mine, warm and damp, and I stroke lazy circles on her back while she comes down. It’s a sight, really.

I love the way she blinks slowly, lashes heavy, lips parted like she’s forgotten how to function.

I press a kiss to the side of her head. “You okay?”

She nods, slow. “Sleepy.” And then she nuzzles into me.

“Yeah?” I smile.

I shift to take off my jeans. They hit the floor, leaving me in my black boxers and socks.

She watches, smiling, then curls into my chest, one leg tossed over my hip like she’s staking her claim.

I stroke her hair. “How are you feeling?”

She lets out a sleepy sigh. “So tired. I don’t get why.”

I chuckle, fingers trailing along her bare spine. “That’s just a side effect, sweetheart.”

She hums again, eyes barely open. “It wasn’t like this with Rowan,” she murmurs. “With him, I just felt... depleted.”

Something settles in my chest. A dark kind of satisfaction. But I keep my voice even. “You regret it?”

She looks up at me, studying my face. “Does it bother you?”

I shake my head.

“You sure?”

Instead of answering, I kiss her, slow and deep. She melts instantly, soft little noises slipping past her lips, and fuck, I like that.

I like knowing she’s undone just from my mouth on hers.

When I pull back, I press my forehead to hers. “I like that you get both of us to protect you,” I admit. “But I like you. Have for a long time.”

She traces shapes against my chest, eyes flicking up to mine. “That true?”

I nod. “Since the day I saw you. All in red, carrying those flowers. That was it for me.”

Her fingers pause. “So why didn’t you ever say anything?”

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