Chapter 0746

Jackson just stares at me. “Ariel, what are you talking about? What would have changed?”

I shrug, my hand awkwardly coming up, my fingers brushing the bandage over Luca’s mark. “I would…I mean, I understand. If things are different for you now that I’m…marked. I know I’m not the same as I was before. I would…understand if you felt differently about me.”

“Ariel.” My name is almost scolding as it falls from Jackson’s mouth, as his fingers snap up and capture my chin, raising my eyes to meet his. “Don’t ever doubt it. Nothing – nothing about how I feel about you has changed, okay? If you feel differently, I’ll understand that, but -”

“I don’t,” I croak out, shaking my head vehemently, tears again streaming from my eyes. “Jacks, I don’t -” “Well I don’t either – I’m – I’m fucking in love with you, Ariel – I’ll take you in whatever form – I don’t care a stupid mark -”

“But you did care,” I whisper, shaking my head, taking his cheeks between my hands – not wanting him to lie just to make me feel better. “You saw it – saw me and you threw up -”

He groans, shaking his head. “Please, Ariel,” he murmurs. “Forgive me – you have to forgive me for that. I was shocked, and confused, and your scent was weird, and the sight of it turned my whole world upside down but it’s different now, I promise -”