Chapter 27

TWENTY-SEVEN

M arcus turned to her with a predatory smile. “Would you like a demonstration?”

“I would love to see you try to?—“

He cut her off with a kiss that started playful but quickly turned heated. Natalie made a small sound of pleasure in the back of her throat, and Marcus’s control frayed. He deepened the kiss, tasting wine and desire on her tongue.

When they finally broke apart, Natalie looked satisfyingly dazed. “Okay,” she admitted breathlessly. “That’s a pretty effective silencing technique.”

“I have others.” His hands skimmed up her thighs, making her shiver.

“Don’t you dare.” She batted his hands away. “I actually want to watch this movie.”

“Fine.” He pulled her closer, tucking her against his side. “But every time you critique the science, I get to kiss you.”

“That’s not fair. The science is terrible—they’re completely misrepresenting the neurological components of?—“

Marcus claimed her mouth again, swallowing her words. This kiss was slower, deeper, filled with all the emotion building between them. When they parted, Natalie’s eyes remained closed for several heartbeats.

“You’re going to make me forget the movie entirely,” she accused softly.

“That’s the plan.”

Despite his best efforts at distraction, they did manage to watch most of the film. Natalie’s commentary became increasingly amusing as the wine loosened her tongue.

“But why would his personalities have different physical capabilities?” she demanded during one scene. “That’s not how biology works. You can’t just... just manifest superhuman strength because one personality believes in it. Though...” She tilted her head thoughtfully. “I suppose if we factor in the placebo effect and its influence on adrenaline production...”

“You’re cute when you’re being a science nerd,” Marcus interrupted, nuzzling her neck.

“I’m always a science nerd.”

“Exactly.”

She turned to face him, eyes sparkling with mischief. “You know what I think?”

“Hmm?”

“I think you have a thing for intelligent women.”

Marcus grinned. “What gave it away? Was it how I can’t keep my hands off my brilliant scientist girlfriend?”

“Girlfriend?” Natalie’s breath caught. “Is that what I am?”

“You’re everything.” The words came out more intense than he intended, but he couldn’t regret them when he saw how her eyes softened.

“Everything, huh?” She shifted to straddle his lap, hands sliding into his hair. “That’s a lot of pressure to put on a girl.”

“You can handle it.” His hands settled on her hips, steadying her. “You can handle anything.”

“Smooth talker.” She leaned down to brush her lips against his. “But what about you? Ready to handle a genius with control issues and a tendency to attract trouble?”

“Born ready, sweetheart.”

Their next kiss sparked like wildfire, burning away everything but the need to be closer. Marcus lost himself in her taste, the soft sounds she made, and the way she moved against him. His wolf howled in satisfaction as she pressed herself closer, deepening the kiss until they were both breathless.

A loud explosion from the forgotten movie made them jump apart, laughing.

“Maybe we should actually watch the end,” Natalie suggested, though she made no move to leave his lap.

“Or...” Marcus’s hands slid under her blouse, tracing patterns on her bare skin. “We could move this somewhere more comfortable.”

“But don’t you want to know how it ends?”

“I already know how this ends.” He stood suddenly, lifting her with him. She wrapped her legs around his waist with a squeal of surprise. “With you in my bed.”

“So presumptuous.” But she was already working on his shirt buttons. “What if I had other plans?”

“Cancel them.”

“Bossy alpha.” She nipped at his jaw. “What if I say no?”

Marcus carried her toward the bedroom, enjoying how she clung to him. “Then we’ll stay right here and finish the movie like responsible adults.”

“Ugh, fine.” Natalie laughed against his neck. “Take me to bed, you ridiculous wolf.”

“As my lady commands.”

Later, much later, they lay tangled in his sheets, Natalie’s head pillowed on his chest. The city lights painted patterns across their skin through the bedroom windows, and Marcus couldn’t remember ever feeling so content.

“We never did finish the movie,” Natalie mused, tracing lazy patterns on his abs.

“Worth it?”

She pressed a kiss to his chest, right over his heart. “Definitely worth it.”

Marcus stroked her hair, marveling at how right this felt. How perfectly she fit in his arms, in his life, in his heart. His wolf purred with satisfaction, knowing their mate was safe and happy.

“Marcus?”

“Hmm?”

“Thank you for protecting me.” She propped her chin on his chest to look at him. “I know I fight you on it, but... it means a lot, knowing someone cares that much.”

He cupped her face, thumb brushing her cheekbone. “I’ll always protect you, Natalie. Whether you want me to or not.”

“My stubborn wolf.” She turned to kiss his palm. “Just remember that I protect what’s mine too.”

The possessive note in her voice made his wolf stand at attention. “Yours?”

“Mine.” She moved to straddle him again, her smile turning wicked. “Want me to prove it?”

Marcus growled playfully, flipping them so she was pinned beneath him. “Prove it.”

As Natalie pulled him down for another kiss, Marcus knew with absolute certainty that he would never let her go. She was brilliant and beautiful, stubborn and sweet, and completely, perfectly his. Whatever threats came their way, whatever challenges they faced, they would face them together.

Because somewhere between heated arguments and passionate encounters, between danger and laughter, he had fallen completely, irrevocably in love with Natalie Grant. And Marcus Vale protected what he loved with everything he had.

“Stop thinking so loud,” Natalie murmured against his lips.

“Yes, dear.”

She pinched his side. “And stop being condescending.”

“Yes, dear.”

“You’re impossible.”

“You love it.”

Her smile softened. “Yeah. Yeah, I do.”

Morning would come soon enough, bringing new dangers and complications. But for now, Marcus was content to lose himself in Natalie’s touch, in her laugh, in the way she made his world brighter just by existing in it.

Let their enemies come. They would learn the hard way what happened to those who threatened an alpha’s mate.

For now, though, Marcus had more pleasant matters to attend to. Starting with making his brilliant scientist forget every word in her extensive vocabulary except his name.

Tomorrow could wait. Tonight belonged to them.