Where The Ice Gives Way (Charlotte and Blake) novel Chapter 216

Chapter 216 Use Your Words

Emily

We eat dinner together on the couch-just me, Theo, and John.

The television is on, and hockey plays across the screen whit they teach me the rules and which teams we apparently cheer for. I learn very qu “apparently” is the wrong word, because according to Theo, this is not a casual choice, This is loyalty, and legacy, and something about a grand

eight years ago that John still sounds wounded by.

I do not understand all of it, but I like listening.

I like the noise of them arguing with the screen, and the way Theo leans forward when the puck moves too fast for me to follow. I like the way I

things without making me feel silly for asking.

More than anything, I like being here.

I realise now that I feel more at home here with them than I have felt anywhere before.

I am okay with this being my life now-more than okay. I am happy.

“Thank you for dinner, John,” I say as he takes my plate from the coffee table. “Can I help you clean up?”

“How about you help tomorrow night?” he says with a warm smile.

I nod at him as I bite my lip because there will be a tomorrow night here for me.

There will be a million tomorrow nights because this is the life that I am choosing for myself-a life with my mate.

A mate we should hurry up and mark, Sasha purrs in my mind.

My cheeks heat at the thought.

You know you want to, she pushes further.

She’s not wrong.

I want Theo. I want to be bound to him in every way that matters. I want the whole world to know that I chose his.

“Ready for bed, Petal?” Theo asks, stretching his long arms above his head.

୮

I don’t miss the way his biceps strain. I definitely do not miss the way his shirt rides up a little at the waist, revealing a thin line of skin above his

waistband.

My mouth goes dry.

“Petal?” he says again.

My eyes snap to his.

Chapter 216 Use Your Words

He has one eyebrow lifted, but the smirk at the corner of his mouth tells me he knows exactly where my mind wandered.

“Yeah. Yep. I’m ready,” I stutter out quickly, jumping to my feet and wiping my sweating palms on my pants.

Get it together, girl. Sasha internally rolls her eyes at me.

I’m nervous, okay? I huff back.

Don’t be. He will take good care of us, she purrs.

Theo stands and offers me his hand. “Sasha a bit chatty tonight?”

“Hmm?” I turn to look at him. “Oh, yeah. She has… a lot of thoughts.”

He laughs, bringing my knuckles to his lips before leading me toward the stairs. “Tell me about them?”

Sasha snickers in my head.

You know what? Screw it.

We reach his bedroom, and once Theo shuts the door behind us, I turn on him.

His back hits the door softly, and his hands land on my hips out of instinct. His face tells me he is surprised, but wonderfully so.

“You want to know what we’re thinking?” I whisper.

Theo swallows hard. His tongue darts out, wetting his lips once, and my eyes track the motion before I can stop myself.

“Yes,” he says, voice lower now. “Please.”

I trail my hands up his chest, feeling the warmth of him through his shirt, then down along his arms.

“We were thinking about how it would feel to lick along your bicep.” I squeeze the muscle there. “Wondering if it would flex under my tongue.”

Theo’s breath catches.

I pull one hand to the bottom of his shirt and let my finger skate along the skip there, light enough to barely touch. “We were sing to picture how sensitive you were here.”

I add a little more pressure, and his fingers tighten on my hips.

“Which places we could touch to make you moans.”

Theo swallows hard again, eyes dark as he looks down at me,

“What’s wrong?” I ask softly. “Cat got your tongue? I thought you were a big, bad, wolf.”

“Petal,” be grits out.

“Yes?” I ask innocently.

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Chapter 216 Use Your Words

You’re playing with fire.”

“You said you wanted to know.”

I

His laugh is rough and barely there. did say that.”

“You did.”

“Regretting it now.”

I tilt my head. “Are you?”

His gaze drops to my mouth. “No.”

I press a little closer, and Theo goes still.

He is trying to be careful. I can feel it in the way he holds me. His touch is firm enough to keep me close but loose enough that I can step away if I He has done that from the beginning. Waited. Asked. He gave me space even when every part of him wanted to close the distance.

I slide my hands up to his neck. “Sasha wants your mark.”

He sucks in a sharp breath, and his eyes search mine. The playfulness drains from his face. “And what do you want?”

“I want your mark, Theo,” I whisper.

His hands flex on my waist. “Emily.”

“I want it.”

“You have had a really big few days.”

“I know.”

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