Page 30 of Stalker's Valentine

“Yeah,” I replied softly. “I freaked out for nothing.” I felt kind of silly.

“It’s better to be safe than sorry. I’m glad you called. Did you call the cops?” I shook my head. I could see the wheels spinning behind his eyes. “You trusted me to take care of you.” It was a statement, not a question.

“I’m sorry, that’s probably a lot. Too much for someone you’re just dating, I mean, hanging out with.”

“You had it right the first time,” he drawled, his eyes searching my face.

“Are you sure?” I asked, not sure why I felt a little unsteady when it came to us.

“Why wouldn’t I be?” His gaze searched mine.

“You haven’t kissed me,” I pointed out.

“Kissed you, huh? That will make you believe we’re dating?” I couldn’t help it. My thighs pressed together for relief while a different kind of nerves fluttered to life in my belly.

“Merritt,” I whispered.

“Fuck,” he cursed under his breath before pressing his forehead against mine. “You have any idea how much I love the way you say my name?”

“Merritt,” I breathed.

“You keep saying it, you’re going to get more than kissed.” It was an unspoken challenge. One I believed. His feet started to move, and before I knew it, my back was pressed against the wall that led to the hall with my room at the end of it. His front touched mine, and my lips parted when I felt him press against me exactly where I needed him.

“You’re mine, Scarlett. Only mine.”

“Honey,” I breathed.

“Smart, baby. You say my name, I’m gonna take you directly to your room and claim every inch of you.”Every inch of me?

“What does that mean?”

“Say my name and find out.” I opened my mouth, ready to call his bluff, when his finger pressed against my lips. “But you gotta know something.”

“What?” I whispered before licking his finger and loving the deep sound of his groan.

“I take you, I kiss and claim you? That’s it. You’re mine. No going back. You gotta be sure, because there is no way I can live without you.”

“Live without me,” I repeated quietly. “How can you be so sure? It’s only been a week.”

“I know,” he reassured me with a confidence that shook me. Merritt Hart, one of the sexiest, most beautiful men inside and out, wanted me.Forever.

“Forever,” he repeated, making me realize I’d said the word out loud. “If I could get more than forever, I’d insist on that.”

“If that’s true, that would mean you––“

“I, what? Say it.”

“Honey.” My voice shook.

“I love you, Scarlett.” The words felt like a shot of the smoothest tequila I’d ever enjoyed. “You’re mine, cutie pie. Today, tomorrow, always. Until my last breath. And even then, I’d fight the devil himself to figure out how to get more time with you.”

He wasn’t just saying pretty words to get into my pants.

He meant every word.

Sincere emotion dripped from every syllable. I had no idea how the hell we had found one another or how crazy fast it was moving, and I didn’t care. I’d lived my life the way I had, keepingpeople outside my family at arm’s length. I’d thought it was me, that I’d been the problem, but maybe it had been more than that. Maybe my soul had known he was out there. My other half. Maybe subconsciously, I had been waiting for him all along?

“I love you, too,” I said, never meaning and believing anything more.

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