The way she’d looked at him after the kiss was seared into his mind. Her green eyes were dark and filled with as much desire as his own. Her hands hung mid-air, as though she were still holding onto him, but her expression was one of pure confusion. She didn’t understand why he hadn’t gone further, why he hadn’t seduced her completely.
Luke had felt it, too—the overwhelming flood of their shared desire that had filled the room. It was palpable. But he wanted their Marking and Mating to be her choice, not something driven by the raw instincts of the Bond.
He knew she was aware of how much he wanted her. Maddis wanted her, Tyler wanted him. But Bella… Bella was a storm of emotions, a mess of conflicting thoughts that he couldn’t fully read. He couldn’t risk pushing her too far, into a place where she’d shut down or lash out.
Her quiet, “Thank you,” had struck a chord in him. It wasn’t anger or annoyance—she hadn’t glared at him or yelled. Instead, she looked lost, confused, and dazed. When she turned and walked out of the room, Luke had to stop himself from going after her and pulling her into his arms.
He followed her to the door, watching as she moved down the hall. Her steps were slow, almost aimless. There was no anger in her posture, no frustration in her movements. She simply walked in a daze, and it worried him.
Luke trailed her at a distance, keeping an eye on her. Her behavior was odd—almost like she was on autopilot. He watched as she rounded the corner and headed for the elevator.
Macky appeared next to him. Luke had asked him earlier to stay nearby, just in case Bella had a breakdown and needed support. Macky had clearly been sitting in the living area, probably watching TV, but now his focus was on Bella.
When she stepped into the elevator, Macky glanced at Luke and shrugged. “I’m not picking up anything, boss.”
Luke frowned, watching the elevator doors close. “Odd. I half expected her to come at me swinging.”
“What’d you do?” Macky asked, raising a brow.
“Kissed the hell out of her,” Luke admitted without hesitation.
Macky chuckled. “Well, that’ll do it. Where do you think she’s headed?”
Luke sighed. “Probably my suite. The pups are there.”
Macky smirked knowingly. “Makes sense. She’s got a hell of a pull toward them.”
“Do you think I broke her?” Luke asked quietly, voicing the concern gnawing at him.
“No,” Macky said firmly. “I’ve seen broken, boss. She’s not broken. I think she’s stunned—maybe overwhelmed.”
Luke ran a hand through his hair, frustration and worry swirling in his chest. “But you didn’t sense any distress? No anger?”
Macky shook his head. “Nothing. It’s like she’s on autopilot. No strong emotions coming through. Did you talk things out, or…” He shot Luke a pointed look. “…did you spend the whole time attached at the lips?”
Luke huffed a laugh despite himself. “Both, I guess. But I think I’ve just left her with more questions than answers.”
Macky chuckled softly. “Well, boss, if she’s going to your suite, maybe she’s not as out of sorts as you think. Go see her when you’re ready. She’s not running anymore.”
Luke nodded, though uncertainty still lingered in his mind.
“We talked,” Luke said, rubbing the back of his neck, “but I don’t know. I got this weird feeling, not a good one. And when she stood to leave the room, I just… got up and kissed her.”
Macky stared at him for a beat before breaking into laughter. “That’s the aftermath of a kiss? Boss, you know you can’t deprive the brain of oxygen for too long, or it stops working.”
Luke glared at him, then punched him lightly on the arm. “Idiot.”
“What?” Macky grinned, undeterred. “How long did you ‘steal her breath away’ for?”
Luke shrugged. “I don’t know. Until I realized I was about to mark and mate her, I guess.”
“Ah, so… a long time, boss.” Macky clapped him on the shoulder and began walking away, still laughing. “Don’t worry about it. She’s fine. She’s definitely not distressed. Maybe just leave her for now and try again tomorrow.”
“Yeah,” Luke agreed with a nod. Today had been an emotional rollercoaster for both of them—though, for him, it had mostly been a good one. Still, he was tired. He wandered into his office and sank onto the couch, giving Bella some space to settle for the night. Leaning his head back against the cushions, he stared blankly at the ceiling.
A small smile crept onto his face as his thoughts drifted to her and their children. He couldn’t get the image of her sitting on the bed in Karis’s room, all three of their kids watching Maddis intently, out of his mind. His family, right there in his suite.
Soon, Maddis huffed impatiently.
Hopefully, buddy. Let’s give her the time she needs to adjust, okay? It hasn’t even been a day yet.
Tyler, Maddis whined.
I know you want to be with her, Luke replied. It’ll happen. She’s not going anywhere. You know that.
“What did you do to the girl?” his mother’s voice suddenly broke into his thoughts through the mind-link.
“Nothing,” Luke replied instantly. “Just kissed her.”
“You sure about that, son?”
“I’m positive, Mother.”
“Hmm. She looked like you’d had your way with her—without marking her.”
“I did no such thing. I sent her away before I lost control. How is she?”
“Quiet,” his mother said. “How was she when she left you?”
Luke frowned at the phrasing, and Maddis growled softly in his mind. “Bella was quiet when she left the dining room. So, she’s in the suite?”
“She checked on the children and went to bed for the night. We’re all heading out now. Don’t be disheartened, son. It hasn’t even been a day.”
