Page 57 of Omega Scarred

"I didn't hate you," I say. "I could never hate you."

"It kinda seemed like it though."

"No." I shake my head. "Jade, I'm just...I'm quiet. I'm awkward. People mistake me for being stoic or mean because I'm a big guy, and I'm tough, but...not when it comes to you."

Jade's eyes light up at my words and a small smile tugs at the corner of her lips. "I never thought you were mean, Hawk," she says softly. "I just didn't know how you felt about me."

"Well, now you do," I reply, squeezing her hands. "And I feel like I should tell you that I'm not good at relationships. I'm not the kind of guy who's good at expressing his feelings, or making grand romantic gestures."

"Good thing I have Fallon for romantic gestures, then," she smiles. "And Rafe for being bossy and bold."

I sigh. "I can't be like them, Jade."

"I don't want you to," Jade says, stepping closer to me. "I just need you to be honest with me, and to be there when I need you."

"I can do that," I say, feeling my heart swell with something that I can only describe as affection. "I can be there for you, Jade. Always."

And then I kiss her. It's not like the first time, when it was kind of impulsive and heated. This time, it's slow and gentle, like a promise. A promise to be there for her, to protect her, to love her in my own way.

Jade melts into the kiss, her arms wrapping around my neck as she pulls me closer. I can feel the heat radiating off her, the scent of her arousal filling my senses. I want her, more than anything, but I also want to take things slow with her.

As we break the kiss, Jade looks up at me with those big, beautiful brown eyes. "Thank you," she whispers.

"For what?"

"For being steady. For being here for me. For being you."

I smile down at her, feeling a warmth spread through my chest.

"Not a lot of women would say that when they have their pick of Rafe or Fallon," I say. "But I'll always be here for you, Jade, if you want me."

With that, we kiss again, this time with a little more urgency. I can feel my body reacting to her, the need for her growing stronger by the second.

"I want you to mark me, Hawk," she whispers. "I've been wanting it so bad...for our pack to be complete."

I nod, and Jade lets her arms fall to the side. She's wearing a t-shirt, and from the way she's staring into my eyes, I can tell that she's hoping I'll be aggressive and tear it off.

But I'm not Rafe--she told me she'sgladI'm not just like him--so I fuck her like I want to.

Gently.

Reverently.

With love.

32

Jade

ItfeelslikeI'vebeen waiting for this moment for an eternity. Hawk is shy--not like most alphas--and he's so different from Fallon and Rafe. They were both bold and made it clear that they wanted me, and I didn't have to do any work for it.

But with Hawk...it's taken such a long time to get him here, with me.

I can't wait to feel his bite--to know what his mating bond will feel like.

I think it'll be steady and safe. Exactly what I need right now.

He falls to his knees in front of me and slides his big, rough hands under my shirt, over my belly. I suck in a breath at the way he touches me there, his eyes squeezed shut as his breath ghosts over my hip bone.

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