Chapter 693

Jackson growls comfortably, cuddling me close and nudging my chin aside so he has access again to my neck. "When I give you my mark for real," he murmurs, "I'm putting it right here." He presses a kiss, then, to that special spot low on my neck. And I shiver with delight and anticipation, again wanting it now - right now.

I bite my lip, looking at Jackson with hazy eyes, slinging my leg up over my hip. "How long does it take?" I whisper.noveldrama

"For what?" he murmurs, already moving closer.

"For you to be like...ready again." I laugh a little, not knowing how to say it.

"Oh," he sighs, pretending to consider it as he brings his mouth close. "Just about...this long." And then my mate kisses me and turns me over again in the sheets. As always with Jacks, I'm immediately lost to him.

A few hours later, Jacks and I are all cleaned up and much more composed. We took an actual shower, complete with washed hair this time, and changed the sheets, made the bed, and put on our clothes. Indeed, if it weren't for the fact that we can't stop touching each other, and that Jackson won't let me step further than an arm's length away from him, I honestly think we're doing a pretty good job of pretending that nothing happened.

But when Daphne's steps into the room first, and her eyes immediately catch on mine and flare, I know that she knows.

"Oh no," I say, dropping the pen I'm holding as I sit in Jackson's lap and work on some chemistry homework. "Is it that obvious?"

Daphne bursts into a grin. "Only to me, I think!" she says, squealing and dashing across the room to me, her hands out. I climb out of Jackson's lap and take her hands, looking anxiously around.

"But we made the bed - and we showered and everything -"

"No, it's just you!" Daphne says, happy, wrapping me up in her arms. "You looked so happy, all curled up in his lap, I can tell that you're closer - I just knew -"

"I'm going to...go pretend that I heard the dumbwaiter bell," Jackson murmurs awkwardly, standing and wandering over towards the little door. "No mark, though?" Daphne asks, leaning forward and pulling at my collar.

"No," I scowl, tilting my head so she can see my bare neck. "We decided - well he decided - that the timing wasn't right."

"Oh well," she says, shrugging and dismissing the point. "There's time. Was it good?"

“I'm still here!” Jackson calls, even as he opens the dumbwaiter door and needlessly peers inside.

I nod eagerly and wrinkle my nose at my friend, tugging her over to the couch. "Do you think the others will know?"

"No, boys are oblivious," she says,

coming with the. But then she hesitates, glancing at the door. "They should be back soon, though - we got word that the Games were complete. And..." she hesitates grimacing a little. "That...the guys in charge are pissed. Does your being back early enough to have one hell of an afternoon have something to do with that?"

"Kinda,” I say, scrunching my nose and shrugging.

"She doesn't mean 'kinda," Jackson says, wandering back over now that he senses the conversation is safe and sitting next to me on the couch, wrapping an arm around me and gently pulling me back to rest against him. “She means absolutely, she started a shit storm, defied everyone's direct orders, and might get us kicked out of school."

Daphne gasps, but then her face breaks into a big smile. "Fun!"

Jackson and I laugh as he shakes his head at her. "You certainly found the right friends, Daph, if this is your definition of fun."

Daphne grins at him but we all turn towards the door as it opens, all of our gigantic Alpha friends starting to spill through it. I smile a little, not missing the fact that Jesse ist first one through the door and

Daphne is immediately

the

room and in his arms. He laughs, hugging her close and cheerfully asking how she is as Tony, Luca, Ben, and Rafe spill into the room after him.

"What happened!?" I gasp, desperate to know, sitting up a little and peering around at everyone.

“All hail the returning champion!” Ben says, laughing and turning to gesture at Rafe, giving an elaborate bow as he does. “The singular winner of both Games 1 and 2!"

I shout with joy and congratulations, but even my voice fades as I see that Rafe does not look very happy for a returning champion.

That his face actually falls slack as he looks around the room and sees his cousin talking excitedly to Daphne, an arm around her waist, gazing happily down into her pretty blue eyes.