17. Chapter 17 Marcus
Chapter 17: Marcus
I 've been awake for an hour, just watching Daisy sleep in my bed. Her dark hair spills across my pillow, one of my dog tags tangled in her fingers. She must have grabbed it during our last round.
The memory makes me growl softly.
She stirs at the sound, stretching like a cat. The sheet slips, revealing small hickey marks I left on her collarbone. Pride and possession surge through me.
"Creepy." Her voice is sleep rough. "Watching me sleep."
"My bed." I trace her hip. "My view."
"Possessive much?" But she arches into my touch.
"Very." I pull her closer. "Problem with that?"
She kisses my chest, right over my heart. "Not at all."
Sunlight catches the scars on my face. Usually I turn away. But Daisy just traces them with gentle fingers, like she's learning braille.
"Beautiful," she murmurs.
I capture her hand, pressing a kiss to her palm. "Liar."
"Never." She straddles my waist, bringing our bodies flush. "Want me to prove it?"
Christ.
I flip us, pinning her beneath me. She laughs, wrapping those legs around my hips.
"Someone's feeling energetic."
"I’m too tired." I nip her throat. "From you keeping me up all night."
"I wasn't hearing complaints." She rolls her hips, making me groan. "In fact?"
Barking interrupts her. Scout and Luna are apparently done waiting for breakfast.
Daisy sighs. "Your dogs have terrible timing."
"Our dogs."
The words slip out before I can catch them. She goes still beneath me.
"Stay." I ask her. "Not just today."
Her eyes fill. "You asking me to move in straight away?"
"Asking you to stay forever."
She pulls me down, pouring everything into the kiss. I taste salt on her lips.
"That’s a yes?"
"Yes." She laughs through tears. "God yes."
I claim her mouth again as the dogs continue protesting. Daisy breaks away, giggling.
"Better feed them before they stage a revolt."
I roll off her reluctantly. "Spoiled."
She sits up, gloriously naked. "I need food too if you're planning a repeat of last night."
Heat floods my veins at the memory. "Multiple repeats."
"Promise?"
I catch her before she can stand, pulling her back into my lap. She comes willingly, wrapping around me.
"Promise." I trail kisses down her throat. "Starting now."
"But the dogs."
"Can wait."
She moans as I find that spot behind her ear, then gasps as I shift her position. The new angle brings her core against me perfectly.
She surrenders beautifully. We move together slowly, as her nails dig into my shoulders when I hit the perfect spot.
"Let go." I say seconds before she shatters in my arms, taking me with her. I gather her close after, pressing kisses to her temple.
"Think the dogs forgive us?" She asks as our breathing returns to normal.
"Probably plotting revenge."
She laughs, then sobers. "Did you mean it?"
"Which part?"
"Always."
I tilt her chin up, meeting her eyes. "Every word."
"Good. Because you're stuck with me now."
"Terrible fate."
She swats my chest, then squeals as I roll her beneath me again.
"Marcus!"
"Hmm?"
"The dogs."
"Five more minutes."
Her laugh turns to a moan as I trail kisses down her body. "That's what you said an hour ago."
"Worth it."
She can't argue as I prove my point thoroughly.
Much later, we finally make it downstairs. The dogs give us judgmental looks as Daisy starts coffee.
"Drama queens." But she sneaks them treats.
I watch her move through my kitchen wearing my shirt and nothing else
"What?" She catches me staring.
"Nothing." I pull her close. "I’m just happy."
Her smile is brilliant. "Yeah?"
"Yeah."
Scout bumps my leg, reminding us he exists. Luna joins the cuddle pile, tail wagging.
"Your dogs are needy," Daisy teases, as the dogs whine as they watch her get their breakfast ready.
There was nothing more perfect than watching her in my home. Now our home. All I had to do was ask her to marry me and life would be complete.