Chapter 24

TWENTY-FOUR

N atalie’s phone buzzed. Only her best friend would be texting at 11:00 p.m.

Chelsea: So... playing pretend girlfriend with your sexy wolf boss?

Natalie: It’s not pretend. I mean, the mission is, but the rest...

Chelsea: WHAT?!! SPILL. NOW.

Natalie: He kissed me. Actually, he more than kissed me.

Chelsea: FINALLY! Details! Was it hot? It was hot, wasn’t it? I bet he’s an amazing kisser.

Natalie blushed, typing: Remember that romance novel scene you made me read? The one that made me fan myself?

Chelsea: OMG. THAT HOT?

Natalie: Hotter.

“Gossiping about me?” Marcus’s voice from the doorway made her jump and nearly drop her phone.

She spun around, her witty retort dying on her lips. He’d changed into charcoal gray slacks and a black button-down that made her mouth water.

“Maybe.” She set her phone down, enjoying the way his eyes darkened as they traveled over her dress. “Chelsea’s very invested in our relationship status.”

“Is she now?” He moved closer, his presence filling the room. “And what exactly is our status, Dr. Grant?”

Her pulse quickened. “Well, according to you, we’re done pretending.”

“True.” His hands settled on her hips, drawing her closer. “Though I’m not sure what to call this yet.”

“This?” She traced the edge of his collar, feeling his sharp intake of breath.

“This undeniable pull.” He bent to brush his lips along her jaw. “This need to touch you.” His teeth grazed her ear. “This urge to claim you.”

Heat pooled low in her stomach. “That doesn’t sound very scientific.”

“Some things defy science.” He pulled back enough to meet her eyes. “Like how every cell in my body recognizes you as mine.”

The intensity in his gaze stole her breath. No one had ever looked at her like that—like she was precious and necessary and desired all at once. It should have terrified her, this immediate, overwhelming connection. Instead, it felt right. Like a hypothesis finally proven.

“Marcus—“

A knock at the door interrupted them. “If you two are done making out,” Jax called, “we’ve got a mission schedule to keep!”

Marcus growled, the sound sending delicious shivers down her spine. “I’m going to kill him.”

She smoothed his collar, letting her hands linger. “He’s right. We should go.”

“Fine.” But he caught her face in his hands, kissing her deeply enough to make her dizzy. “But we’re finishing this conversation later.”

The drive downtown passed in charged silence. Natalie’s entire body hummed with awareness of Marcus beside her. Every brush of his hand against hers felt deliberate, electric. Her mind kept replaying their kisses, the way his hands had roamed her body, the promises in his eyes.

“You’re thinking very loudly,” he murmured, his fingers tracing patterns on her knee.

“Hard not to.” She watched his hand move higher, her breath catching. “Especially when you’re doing that.”

His lips curved. “Doing what, sweetheart?”

“You know exactly what.” She caught his wandering hand. “We’re supposed to be focusing on the mission.”

“I am focused.” He brought her hand to his mouth, pressing a kiss to her palm that made her toes curl. “On several things at once.”

“Multitasking?” She tried for teasing, but her voice came out breathy. “I’m impressed.”

“I’m very talented.” The words held such sinful promise that heat bloomed across her skin. Before she could respond, they arrived at the bar.

Marcus helped her out of the car, his hand settling possessively on her lower back. The touch, which would have annoyed her from anyone else, sent warmth spreading through her veins.

“Remember,” he murmured in her ear as they entered, “we’re just a new couple enjoying a night out. Though,” his lips brushed her skin, “I don’t think we’ll have to pretend much.”

She turned in his arms, rising on her toes to whisper, “Then stop talking and kiss me like you mean it.”

His eyes flashed gold before he captured her mouth in a searing kiss. This wasn’t like their earlier kisses—this was a statement, a claim. His hands splayed across her back, pulling her flush against him as his tongue swept into her mouth. She melted into him, forgetting about their audience, their mission, everything but the feel of him.

When they finally broke apart, she had to grip his shoulders to stay upright. “Wow.”

“Still think we’re pretending?” His voice was rough, possessive.

She shook her head, too dazed for words. In the corner of her eye, she caught movement—someone had definitely noticed them.

“Good show,” she managed. “Though I think you enjoyed that a little too much.”

“Sweetheart,” he guided her to the bar, keeping her close, “you have no idea how much I’m enjoying this.”

Time passed in a blur of heated touches and meaningful looks. They played their parts perfectly—the successful businessman and his enchanting new girlfriend—but there was nothing fake about the way her body responded to his every touch. Nothing pretend about the desire in his eyes when he watched her.

At the bar, Marcus ordered scotch while Natalie requested a dirty martini. His thumb traced circles on her hip as they waited, the simple touch sending sparks through her entire body.

“You’re distracting me,” she murmured, leaning into him.

“Good.” His lips brushed her ear. “Because you’ve been driving me crazy all night in this dress.”

Heat bloomed across her skin. “That’s kind of the point, isn’t it? We’re supposed to look like a couple who can’t keep their hands off each other.”

“Who’s pretending?” His hand slid lower on her back, possessive. “Every man in here wants you. But you’re mine.”

The words sent a thrill through her that had nothing to do with their cover. She turned in his arms, pressing closer than strictly necessary for their act. “Yours, huh? That’s pretty audacious, Mr. Vale.”

His eyes darkened. “Tell me I’m wrong.”

She couldn’t. That was the scary part—the way her body, her heart, her very soul seemed to recognize him as hers . She’d never believed in instant connections, in chemistry that defied scientific explanation. But Marcus Vale had crashed into her life and rewritten all her carefully constructed theories about love.

“Cat got your tongue, Dr. Grant?” His thumb traced her bottom lip.

“More like wolf,” she managed, earning a low laugh that made her stomach flip.

Over his shoulder, she caught Gray Tie watching them intently. “We’ve got overly interested eyes on us.”

“Good.” Marcus turned them smoothly, making it look like an intimate dance as he surveyed the room. “Let them see exactly what they’re up against.”

“And what’s that?”

His expression turned predatory. “A wolf protecting what’s his.”

Before she could process that declaration, he kissed her again. This one was different from their earlier kisses—deeper, more possessive.

When they finally broke apart, she swallowed hard. “That wasn’t very professional,” she whispered.

“Nothing about how I feel for you is professional.” He pressed his forehead to hers. “You’re in my blood, Natalie. My wolf recognized you the moment we met.”

Her heart thundered. “What are you saying?”

“You know what I’m saying.” His hand cupped her face. “You feel it too. This connection between us—it’s more than attraction. More than chemistry.”

“Marcus—“

“Tell me you don’t feel it.” His voice was rough with emotion. “Tell me I’m imagining how perfect you fit in my arms, how your heart races when I touch you, how everything in you reaches for me the way everything in me reaches for you.”

She swallowed hard. “I can’t.”

“Why not?”

“Because it’s true.” The admission felt like jumping off a cliff. “I’ve never felt anything like this. It terrifies me and thrills me and I can’t stop wanting more.”

His kiss this time was gentle, almost reverent. “Then stop fighting it.”

“That easy, huh?”

“Nothing about you is easy, sweetheart.” His smile held equal parts affection and heat. “But you’re worth every battle.”

Movement caught her eye—Gray Tie was on his phone, speaking urgently. “Something’s happening.”

Marcus tensed, though his expression remained casual. “Time to go?”

“Definitely time to go.”

They made their way to the exit, his arm around her waist keeping her close. The night air hit her flushed skin as they emerged onto the street. Jax and his men weren’t here yet—Marcus had intentionally parked a few blocks away to avoid being boxed in when trying to leave.

Headlights swept around the corner ahead and an SUV accelerated toward them, engine roaring. Marcus pushed her behind him, but she was already moving, yanking him toward an alley. They barely cleared the corner before gunfire erupted.

“Still think this was a good idea?” she gasped as they ran.

“Actually,” he pulled her around another corner, “seeing you in action is incredibly attractive.”