Desired (Two Marks 2)

Rachel visibly relaxed for the first time since Chester had shown up, and a slow smile spread across her lovely face.

“Yeah, I think I’m good.” Nash tipped his cowboy hat. “Come here. Don’t I get to kiss my bride?”

Rachel leaned into him and he wrapped an arm around her waist and pulled her in for a long, slow kiss.

Norma sighed.

I cleared my throat. I wasn’t jealous—it just didn’t happen with scent matches. But that didn’t mean I didn’t want a little sweetness for myself. “Do I get one, too?”

Rachel gasped, like she’d hurt my feelings. “Cord!” She whirled to face me, putting both her palms on my chest. “I’m so sorry. Are you upset that I married Nash? I mean—”

I stopped her with my mouth on hers, swallowing her explanation and apology with a kiss I hoped said she was everything to me. After a moment, she relaxed and moaned into the kiss. When we finally pulled apart, her gaze was unfocused and her cheeks were flushed.

“You guys are so amazing,” she said. “I don’t even understand it. How is it possible that you could be so perfect?”

“We’re just perfect matches,” I told her, because it was scientific fact.

She frowned. “But how are you so sure about me? It can’t be love at first sight for both of you. Does that even happen in real life?”

“Oh, it happens,” Norma interjected, still gleefully listening in on our exchange. “Love at first sight, love at first scent…”

I gave her a warning look, and she shot me a mischievous smile. Well, who could blame her? Fated matches were not the norm, and exceedingly important to the survival of our pack’s breed. It made sense that the entire town would be rooting for me to mark my mate, whether they knew Rachel and Nash or not. Especially since they all knew I hadn’t found my scent match, or my mate, until the day before.

I was glad there wasn’t too much prejudice against matches with humans in these parts.

But Rachel didn’t experience love at first scent. Humans didn’t understand the biology behind a mating. I knew she sensed our connection, but in her human reality, it took time and shared experiences to fall in love. We needed to fast track that with her so we could lock her into our triad.

The trouble was, after what we learned this morning about Nash’s parentage, I wasn’t so sure myself that this could all work out.

Maybe I should be worried that Rachel just legally married my scent match, considering I didn’t know the guy, and his genes were tainted with violence and a history of failed mating.

“I don’t know about you, but I’m ready to consummate this marriage.” Nash flashed me a smile.

“I think you already did that, big guy,” Rachel said with laughter in her voice.

“We haven’t consummated the threesome yet,” I said, even though it was probably too soon. Rachel had been a virgin yesterday. She probably wasn’t ready for double penetration yet.

But something about the uncertainty over Nash made it feel important. Like I didn’t just need to mark and claim my mate, but I had to lock him in as well. I wanted to banish the niggling fear I had over trusting him.

If we wanted Rachel, we needed to be sure of each other.

So no better time than the present to push things forward another step.

13

RACHEL

On the drive to Cord’s house, I called my parents with my new cell. I hadn’t talked to them since I fled the country club. Hadn’t told them where I was going. They’d probably left tons of messages on my old cell, which I never listened to. While they’d been in on the engagement party, I knew they loved me. Wanted what was best, even if it was what they thought it should be. It was my fault, too. I’d enabled them for a long time, going along with Chester and our dating. I should have dumped him years ago. Should have told my parents more forcefully how unhappy I was with him.

I’d done that at the surprise party, that was for sure. Things were different now. I was married.

I needed to talk to my dad, specifically. My mom was going to freak out about my supposed marriage, but it was Chester’s connection with my dad that worried me. If he started pushing this ‘break-down’ story, then I was going to have even more trouble than I imagined with being left alone to live my life.

I thought of how Chester saw me here in West Springs. I worked in a diner. I’d never had a job in my life. I had dated and married a cowboy. Nash wore snug Wranglers and a Stetson. Sturdy leather work boots, not penny loafers. It was a surprise for me too. But I was okay with it. I liked working. I liked snug jeans. I liked Nash. I liked how living in West Springs made me feel. Like I was living my own life.