Page 131 of Heat & Deceit
“Breakfast will be ready soon!”
Lycus kicks the door shut and presses me into the shelves. Cans fall to the ground, and I laugh, tugging on his hair as he squeezes my ass. “Fuck, I want you.” He releases me, and my body slides down the hard planes of his torso as I settle on my feet. Burying his head against my neck, he inhales and groans as though I’m torturing him.
“When will they be done?”
“In a few hours.” Lycus pushes my top aside to kiss my shoulder but pauses, one finger tracing over Javi’s mark. “Is this a dream?”
I pinch him.
“Ow.” His eyes fly to meet mine. “You let him claim you?”
“Are you mad?”
He guffaws and breaks into the biggest, purest smile I’ve ever seen. “Fuck, no, Rain. Maybe I’m a little mad Javi got to bite you first, but this—” He touches the mark again, and I shiver. “This is real. This means you can’t leave.”
I don’t know what happened to Lycus to make him afraid to be abandoned, but a fierce desire to protect him and love him rises within me.
“I’m not leaving,” I tell him.
“I knew you liked me,” he says with a boyish smirk. “Was it the good looks or the charm?”
“Shut up.” I roll my eyes and tug his mouth to mine.
* * *
LYCUS
I keep expecting something horrible. Every time Nova shoots me a coy grin or laughs at something Javi or Rome says, my chest tightens. As predicted, Rome’s breakfast is perfect, and Nova hums in approval. I nibble on toast, but I’m too distracted to focus.
The security company will be here for a few hours.
Rome and Javi have things to do.
Which leaves me alone with Nova.
It’s a moment I’ve been waiting for since I realized I wanted her to be mine. All of those contracted dates seem silly now. There was no real connection. There was no spark. Nova sets my soul on fire, and I don’t think she realizes how serious we are about keeping her safe.
Then again, she’s wearing Javi’s mark now. If it weren’t for the fact that she was now one-hundred-percent pack, I’d probably be pissed he got to claim her first. There’s plenty of time for that today.
“I have to get ready,” Javi says, shooting Nova a regretful look. “I have a business meeting today, otherwise I’d stay.”
Ah, yes. The meeting.
“I should go too. I’m already late, and I’m sure Randal is cursing me.” Rome begins to grab the dishes, but I wave him off.
“I’ll take care of it.”
He lifts an eyebrow. “Lycus is going to wash dishes?”
I scoff. “Don’t be ridiculous. I’ll put them in the dishwasher.”
Nova chews on her lip as they finish their coffees. I nudge her with my elbow and tip my head in their direction. Her eyes narrow, but she stands and hesitantly walks over to Javi. He grabs her before she can chicken out and kisses her so hard, she moans into his mouth.
My dick jerks to attention.
Rome grabs for her next and whispers something in her ear that makes her giggle, and then he’s kissing her. This kiss isn’t as dramatic as Javi’s, but it’s still clear that he’s as desperate to mark her as I am. When they break apart, Nova gasps for air, and Rome brushes his thumb over her lips.
“Such a pretty mouth.”
