Page 67 of Dream Girl
“Not specifically. I understand Jett coming by with cookies and Spencer bringing food and giving you time off work. I’m okay with being an action item to them. They don’t know me. I’m an interloper. Bringing me home with you is a big deal.” At least according to what I’d been told.
“They’re going to love you once they get to know you,” Wes soothed. “And you’re going to love them. Even Brennan.”
I wasn’t so sure about that.
“How much of everything you’re doing is because it’s what’s expected of you as an alpha, and how much of it is because you actually care for me?” I blurted as I looked away, pain blooming inside me. “I don’t want you to go to jail. But I need to know where I stand.” Given that I was falling in love with him.
If I’d ever fallenoutof love with him.
It was all of the silly things. Him feeding me ice cream. Bringing me Mr. Hippo. Playing games. Talking.
“Grace, Peaches?” He tilted my head toward him and ran a thumb down my face in a way that made my insides shiver.
“I’m not doing all these thingsjustto keep me out of jail, promise.” He pressed my back against his chest. “It’s not for appearances. Granted, some things are getting done faster because of Katie’s lists. But they’d all get done eventually, because Iwantto do these things for you. I want to bring you home with me–not because I’ve been told to, but becausethat’s where you belong. That’s where you’ve belonged from the very first time I saw you in my dreams and you told me that you were going to marry me.”
“I did tell you that.” It was the very first thing I’d said to him when I’d seen him in my dreams that very first night.
“You know, I still don’t understand how wedding cake gave you interdimensional dream travel abilities. But I’m so glad it did.” He buried his face in my neck.
I remembered that too. When I was ten, I’d gone to a wedding and someone had given me a piece of cake in a tiny box. They told me that if I slept with it under my pillow, I’d dream of my future husband.
And there he was. So, I walked over to him and told him that one day I’d marry him. Then, I’d seen him in my dreams again and again.
“I’m so glad that you’re here. I want you to be a part of my life. Evan does, too. I’m sure there will be bumps and squabbles, but we can make this work. You’re not an action item, you never have been. You’re the love of my life. Yes, I have Evan, and a pack, and I love them. But there’s enough love in me for all of you. I promise.” He leaned in and kissed me, soft and sweet, the first time tentative. The second was more assured.
My very soul absorbed all his words, making them part of me as their warmth trickled through my system, my heart happy. On this level, I knew what he said was true. That he wanted me here–and I wanted this.
Wes pulled away and pressed his forehead to mine. “I’m right here, and I don’t want you to doubt for one second that as long as you’re here, you belong with me and Evan.”
My brain wasn’t as convinced.
“Butwhy?Why do you and Evan want me? Why do I want to go home with you and let you have your way with me? Why does my heart pound when you touch me? Why am I sad that Evan hasn’t been by today? Your biological imperatives don't apply tome.I’m not from here. It’s only a matter of time before they figure it out. Then what?” Tears pricked my eyes. I didn’t want this all to end.
Wes hauled me into his lap, and pressed my head to his chest, arms tight around me. “How do we know the biological imperativesdon’tapply to you? Just because your world doesn't have definitive designations doesn’t mean that they don’t exist on some fundamental level, even if they don’t manifest biologically the same way.”
“True. Have we had this argument before?” I calmed a little under his touch.
“We have.”
“Mrs. Beekman asked if we were scent matches. She said it’s like soulmates. Are we?” I buried my head in his chest, getting lungs full of his delicious scent.
“We are. It was something we figured out a long time ago.” He pressed his lips to the top of my head.
“But why? Why would I be your match when I don’t even live in the same world? That’s so mean. What if I never got to you?” I started to cry.
He covered us with the blanket and planted little kisses on my face.
“Why does that affect me? Why do you smell so good?” I sobbed. Everything crashed down on me. “3.14159265.” I sucked in a breath. “3589793238.” I closed my eyes and willed my body to relax. “462643383279.”
“That’s it, Peaches, relax,” he soothed, purring as he put another blanket over us.
“502884197169399375…” It came out raspy, as my chest shook.
“I have you, and you’re going to be okay.”
My breath slowed. “1058209749.” I inhaled another lungful of Wes. “44592307816406.”
For a moment, we lay there in the fuzzy blankets; him holding me and purring.
