Page 47

“I also really like it down here with you, but sleep is important,” I reiterated.

Summer grimaced. “I’ll go camp on the sofa for a bit,” she said, standing slowly.

“Why don’t you take Emmett’s bed?”

She cocked her head to the side, deep in thought. “It feels weird sleeping in someone’s bed without their permission. I know he wouldn’t mind, but something just feels odd about it. I’ll get a few hours of sleep on the sofa and be fine.” She smiled brightly, stretching her arms up.

I stared at her for a moment. There was no way in hell I was going to allow our omega to sleep on the couch. Don’t get me wrong, we had a nice couch. I’d fallen asleep on it on several occasions, but there was no way in hell I was going to allow her to when there were better options.

“Not happening,” I said, leaving no room in my tone for disagreement as I crouched down, sweeping her up into my arms.

“Marshall!” she squeaked, grabbing on to my neck.

Having her in my arms was nice. Really nice.

Maybe a little too nice.

My hand rested on her bare leg, the skin impossibly smooth, just as I'd imagined.

“Grab the monitor,” I instructed, bending down slightly so she could swipe the device off the table.

She did as I asked, looking at me in confusion.

There was no mistaking the way her scent intensified.

“Marshall, this is ridiculous. I swear I’ll sleep fine.”

But I was already walking up the stairs, careful to be quiet so we didn’t wake anybody.

As much as Summer might have verbally protested, I didn’t miss the way she relaxed into my hold, her arms squeezing my neck like a hug.

“Where on earth are you taking me—I refuse the tuna breath!” she hissed. Her quiet determination not to put up with Emmett’s breath was hilarious, but I didn’t want to let her know just how much I was enjoying it, because I got the distinct impression she would whack me.

Normally, I could take a delicate hit from an omega, but I didn’t want to stumble while carrying her.

“Don’t worry, I’m not taking you back to stink breath.” I chuckled.

“It feels suspiciously like you are,” she grumbled as I walked up the final step. Instead of turning left, though, toward Emmett’s room, or hers, I turned right.

Summer stopped wriggling in my arms, her brows lifting as she looked up at me.

Nudging the door to my room open with my knee, I deposited her on the bed. “A large, comfortable bed to sleep in that you have permission to use and no tuna breath,” I explained, sliding into the bed next to her. “Problem solved.”

She stared at me in shock for a moment, her lips parted in this tiny O that did something primal to my brain.

“I…”

“Just sleep, angel. We both need rest.”

I acted casual, but inside I was beyond tense, praying she would stay with me. Had I crossed a line? Maybe, but I desperately wanted her by my side. Thanks to the bond, Emmett had been getting all the affection, which made total sense, but I was starting to get a little jealous.

While she watched, I lay back, doing my best to be as nonchalant as possible.

Summer waited a moment, probably deciding whether to fight me, while I silently begged every god above that she wouldn’t.

Eventually, she lay down, facing me.

“Fine,” she huffed.