Page 119 of The Ranger
I wasn’t asking you to marry me, Scarlett.
Those words hit me in the face, reminding me how I sat in my filth praying he would find us just days ago.How I thought I loved him, but the entire time, I was just another woman he needed saving.
Cole is going to be in my life forever because of Zara.Falling in love, getting married.
I have my own pride to protect.
“Of course, I care,” I say, instead of confessing the truth.“But I can’t be with a man who wants me because I gave birth to his child.I want someone who loves me.Who returns—”
“Returns what?”
Shit.
“Returns what, Scar?”Cole cups my face.
Goddamn my big mouth.
I fish mouth it for a few seconds as his brows get higher and higher.
“You—Scarlett.Fuck.Stay right fucking there.”
He strides down the hall while I mutter something about not swearing in front of Zara and wrap my arms around myself.
Why am I staying put?
He’s not the boss of me.And nothing is going to change here.
I hear Zara crying for about thirty seconds, then it’s quiet.
I remain standing on the exact spot, trying to think of an ending to that sentence that doesn’t end withmy feelings.
I’ll blame hormones or lack of sleep.
Cole strides back down the hallway looking fierce and...he doesn’t stop.I straighten as he comes at me with force, slides his hands into my tangled hair and smashes his mouth to mine.
Whoa.
Holy hell.
My body explodes into a state of arousal, and when he wraps his body around me, his cock hardening and pressing into my softness, I can’t help it.I lift my hands to his neck and let him kiss me like I’ve imagined a man would all my life.
Like he loves me.
Like I belong to him.
Like he’s never letting go.
Never.
When our mouths part, the fire in Cole’s eyes almost scares me.
“I do fucking love you, you crazy woman.”
Normally I’d kick someone’s ass for calling me crazy.Despite any evidence.Right now, I’m drowning in the emotions boiling inside me.
“You want to fuck me.”
“Yes.I want to fuck you.I want to wring your damn neck, too.But I love you, Scarlett Walton.I love you.I love Zara.And I’m not letting either of you go without a fight.”
