Page 43 of The Alpha's Bullied Rejected Mate

“Let go of me.” She jerked against his hold.

He didn’t let go.

“Not until you—”

She drove her knee up toward his ribs, but he dodged at the last second, his thigh sliding between hers to block the move. The movement caused their bodies to flush together.

Aza’s breath hitched against her throat, and Marcus went very still.

For a heartbeat, neither of them moved. The only audible sounds were their ragged breathing and the distant rustling of leaves outside.

Marcus scanned her eyes and saw the fear inside them. Whatever had rattled her clearly hadn’t left.

His grip softened. Just slightly. His thumb brushed against her racing pulse in a slow, deliberate stroke.

Marcus towered over her, his nose grazing the line of her jaw.

“Calm down,” he murmured against her skin, his voice sounding dangerously soft.

Silence fell between them.

Her eyes flickered; they were less guarded now, and her breathing seemed to return to normal.

And just like that, the air between them changed. The tension was sharp enough to draw blood.

Their faces were inches apart.

He leaned in closer, and she didn’t move away.

“Marcus…” she whispered.

And all his senses went alert.

She said my name. She just said my name.

His wolf growled in response.

His other hand slid instinctively to her waist. His gaze dropped to her lips.

Aza swallowed hard. “Don’t,” she whispered.

But she parted her lips, contradicting her own words.

And then—

A floorboard creaked.

The door slammed open as a voice sliced through the moment.

“Of all locations, you had to—”

Marcus jerked back just as Aza stepped away fast. The duo masked the charged moment after realizing what a compromising position they were in.

“—choose this one,” the voice finished with a dry drawl.

Kieran Nash stood in the doorway with one hand on the doorknob as he flung the door open, assessing the scene before him.

He curled his other hand into a fist as he raised it to his mouth to stifle a chuckle.