The Girl He Marked by Laila Callaway

Book 1 Chapter 19 

At first, we barely talk, both of us too engrossed in our meal. 

‘I can‘t remember the last time I enjoyed a meal so much, this is delicious, I tell him honestly, embar rassed when I realize I‘ve eaten twice as fast as him. I attempt to slow down but it‘s very hard when it tastes this good. 

‘Thank you, my dad taught me to cook,‘ he says, and our conversation turns onto the family. 

An hour later, and the empty plates have been sat in front of us for ages, but we‘ve been talking too much to clear them. I dry the dishes and pans as Jayce washes and places them on the dryer. With our team effort, we‘re finished pretty quickly. 

I watch, lost in thought, as he moves easily around his kitchen, putting everything away. Tonight he has been a completely different person, the person he obviously is. The standoffish, cold persona he adopt ed since we first met was an act he was using to protect us both from himself. I‘m so glad we‘re past all that now. 

| glance out of the window and the rain is still hurtling down, although now it has been joined by fre quent bolts of lightning that light up the sky every few minutes. 

‘It hasn‘t rained like this in ages,’ I mutter as I look out the window, the rain is falling so fast and dense you can barely see the end of his garden. 

‘I don‘t want you driving in this weather‘ I tell him, thinking of that mud road we arrived on, he‘ll proba bly get his car stuck. 

asks and I bite

we could wait it out?‘ I suggest, and

can watch a film if you want, he offers and whilst he pours us some more drinks, I flick through the channels

make a choice and settle down on his extremely comfortable sofa. Just having him sat in such close proximity to me sends my whole

I jolt awake, I glance around in confusion, squinting because everything is blur ry. Looking down at my hands, I realize that I must have fallen asleep, Jayce has taken my glasses off and put them on my lap along with a blanket. I hurriedly put them

and silently

half the movie, he teases, sitting down next to me. I look over at the window and although the thunder and lightning have ceased, the rain

thinking, you can stay over tonight if you want,‘ he

trying to work out whether I think it‘s a good idea or not.

in, and I‘ll drop you home tomorrow when the

manage to come up with is, ‘I don‘t have any make–up

he suggests

moisturize...very sensible,‘ I comment, and he smirks at me.

skin so soft, he replies, taking me by surprise by rubbing his cheek against mine to prove his point, making me giggle. He stops, but doesn‘t pull away, and his eyes drop to my lips. I barely have time to react as his lips press against mine, but my hands, of their own volition, eagerly

waist, and he easily lifts me onto his lap, blanket and all. My thighs are posi tioned on the outside of his, my hands tugging gently on his hair as his large hands squeeze my hips, driv ing me crazy as his tongue