Page 118 of Big Bad Bully
Froze when my alpha asked me.
But as soon as she ended things, it became crystal clear: I’ve known Aubrey was my mate since the first time we met at La Résistance. I resisted fate because on some level, my subconscious registered her as a threat.
Love isn’t clean or simple. It isn’t orderly. I can’t control it.
The abused child in me feared for her life as well as my own because he was frozen in time, not knowing I’m all grown up now.
All grown up, and my tormenter’s dead.
No one will ever threaten my mate again.
If I can make her my mate.
But I’m frozen again now. At a loss for the right words to say to the female who means everything to me.
Mate, my wolf snarls.
Yes, I know.
I need to move. Need to say something.
Aubrey’s taking in the liquor bottle in my hand. The mess on the coffee table in my usually immaculate living room. I must look the way I feel–like I took a dive into Hell and stayed there. She struts over to me.
I have to speak. I am the man who brokers billion dollar deals. I can make my lips move.
“You’re my mate.” The words sound wooden and rusty.
Aubrey freezes her advance, staring at me.
I clear my throat. “I’m sorry I didn’t answer you at the wedding, but yes, you’re my mate. I would do anything for you, my Silver. My perfect poison. My Kryptonite. I…I need you in my life. I won’t make it without you.”
She runs to me, clomping over in her Doc Martens and taking a flying leap.
I catch her in the air, and she straddles my waist. “I love you, Billy White, the third.”
“I love you, Aubrey Cook, the first.”
“I’m here to claim you and mark you as mine, however the fuck I do that,” Aubrey declares.
The smile that forms on my face nearly breaks my cheeks. A strange sound comes from my lips. I don’t recognize it at first, then I realize it’s a laugh. “I can’t wait to see what you come up with.”
She licks my ear, then bites it. I slowly rotate us, savoring the feel of her in my arms. The incredible lightness that suddenly takes over my being. This female broke my heart and then waltzed back into my life like nothing happened.
“I’ll figure something out,” she promises. “A tattoo on your ass, maybe?”
Another laugh spills from me. “You want to tattoo my ass?”
“Uh huh. With my name. Or maybe a picture of my face?”
I press my face between her breasts and inhale her scent. I kiss her breastbone. “You came back.”
“For future reference, the next time I walk away, I want to be chased.”
A third laugh comes out of my mouth. I’m so buoyant, it’s a wonder I don’t just float up to the ceiling.
“There won’t be a next time,” I growl and carry Aubrey to the couch. I sit with her straddling my waist. “I’m going to claim you, Silver. I’m going to mark you as my mate, so every wolf knows you belong to me. And if you leave me again, there will be consequences.”
“What kind of consequences?” She waggles her brows, her full lips stretching into a megawatt smile.
