River
Ellie had fallen asleep pretty quickly after they made love, but River lay awake, staring at her, thinking about everything that had happened.
And one thing that had not.
They were meant to mark one another that night, the very first time they made love to one another, but… she had looked so peaceful, enjoying it so much, He didn’t want to bite her--even though every instinct in his body was telling him it was time. The thought of sinking his teeth into the soft flesh of her neck and shoulder seemed brutal, despite the fact that he’d been assured by nearly every single one of his married friends that it didn’t hurt--much.
Ellie had fallen asleep so quickly, River had to wonder if she even realized they hadn’t done that important part of the mate bond. Would she wake up in the morning and remember, thinking that the reason she hadn’t marked him was because he didn’t love her--or didn’t want to be with her?