Page 10 of Rival Heart
“I told you that you couldn’t keep quiet until I was done.” She snarls under her breath, and I have to say it’s the cutest damn thing I’ve ever heard. Like an angry little kitten, fur bristling and hissing like a wildcat.
Adorable!
“Anyway, my plan would get you out from under your father’s thumb. As far as I know, as soon as you’re married your money releases to you. Your father doesn’t have to approve of your husband, right?”
She shakes her head and my fingers itch to plunge into her soft curls and hold her steady while I kiss her until she melts into a puddle in the street.
“No. I think my mom was savvy enough to know exactly what he was like. She didn’t want him to have that kind of power over me.”
I glance around me, finally realizing that we’re standing in an alley in front of the whole of Hamilton. To my relief, there’s nobody watching us, no listening ears to run to her father and out me.
I grab her arm gently and tug her back further into the alley. Her brow lifts but she follows me without tearing a strip off me.
I’ll take the win.
“I don’t want to pressure you too much, Reb. But that guy is gonna be back over and over again. He stinks of desperation. I don’t know what your dad or his has over him but whatever it is, he’s fucking desperate as hell. When you back an animal into a corner, you’re gonna get bit, baby. I think that I’m a better option than that guy.”
“A fake marriage?”
I shake my head and lean over her, my breath coasting across her delicate cheek as she turns her head away from me, hiding her glorious cinnamon eyes.
“Reb, it’s not gonna be fake. I have every intention of claiming you, as many times and in as many ways as I can. I’m gonna fuck a baby into you as soon as possible. I promise you that I won’t be too bossy…”
She snorts and her full lips quirk.
“Okay. I’ll try not to be too bossy. I’ll be a good husband to you, angel, and I won’t let a damn thing hurt you. I won’t push you too hard to make our relationship physical. But it will be a real marriage. Not just in name only.”
She stills and then her brown eyes look up at me. “I need time to think about this.”
I nod my head and let go of her arm, backing away from her. “That’s fine. But don’t leave it too long, angel. I’m really your only safe choice right now.”
She nods and scurries away from me, glancing back, stopping at the opening to the alley. She gives me a nod and disappears around the corner.
Taking a deep breath, I reach down and shift my dick, groaning at how damn hard she has me.
If she agrees and we do get married, until I win her over, I’m gonna be hard enough to pound steel every damn second of the day. It’s gonna be sweet, sweet torture.
Fuck! I hope to hell that she realizes that I’m the man for her. I’ve always been the man for her.
I’m just the stupid fuck that listened to her dad and made the biggest mistake of my life.
This will never make up for that. But I’ll be everything she wants and needs if she just gives me the chance.
I was born to be her man.
EIGHT
Rebel
Sittingin my bedroom that night, I brush my hair and then gather my long hair up in a ponytail. I’m not fancy and I don’t do updo’s, but my dad is kind of a stickler for looking like a girl at mealtimes. I gently brush some peachy-pink blush along my cheekbones and then add some light powder and a little mascara and a lip tint in a soft pink.
And that’s about all I do. But my eyes sparkle and my light freckles are hidden, making my lightly tanned skin have a healthy glow. I glare at the excitement in my eyes. I’ve been thinking about Jace’s offer all day. I should have smacked him, but I was so surprised when he showed up and started pushing Jefferson around. There was no time to do anything but stare at him.
I can’t stop thinking about how he looked when he smirked at me. The way his T-shirt clung to his washboard abs should be illegal. He looked good. Damn good! His soft, worn jeans hugged his damn gorgeous ass like they were in love with him. His thighs were so muscular that they rippled when he walked. His big arms crossed were spectacular but when he went after Jefferson, his biceps bulged.
My mouth goes dry and my heart is racing. I can still feel his hands on my body, his mouth on mine. I wish to hell I didn’t still have these damn feelings because I don’t necessarily trust him not to take off like he did before. I mean, he could be fixing up his dad’s place to sell it and get out of our little town permanently. I don’t know exactly what he’s been up to since he left. He could have a girlfriend back home. Could have a job that he loves and he’s anxious to get back. For once, the small-town gossip mill hasn’t been spouting all his information like a sprinkler system all over town.
“Rebel! Get down here! Dinner’s ready!” I sigh and stand up, shaking my dress out. The soft pink floral dress is one that my dad insisted on buying for me. Probably trying to make me look more appetizing to his business associates. Or any one of the guys that he’s been parading past here trying to get me to bite.
