Page 3 of Alpha Wolf's Arranged Bride
I tilt my head, catching the wind, and Scarlett’s sweet scent rushes over me. My heart pounds as my wolf twists inside me, begging to be free.
She smells like spun sugar and raspberry candy… ready to melt on my tongue.
My mouth starts to water, and I swallow hard to get myself back under control.
“James?” Scarlett’s sweet voice wafts through the air. “Is that you?”
I consider slipping into the woods and using my Shadow skills to vanish, just like I know I should, but I can’t do it. I take a deep breath, but it’s more like a sigh of defeat.
“Yes, Scarlett,” I answer. “It’s me.”
I hear her feet crunching across the dried leaves on the path as she speeds up. She appears at the corner of the path, a massive smile brightening her face when she sees me.
When I first got here, she didn’t smile much at all. Now she smiles all the time.
I try to force that thought away and smile back, but I’m so struck by her beauty, I can barely breathe. She’s such a tiny thing—short and petite, but with an incredible hourglass shape. She seems delicate and withdrawn until you get to know her. Then she shows the fiery temper redheads are renowned for.
“James!” she calls again, jogging towards me. She’s wearing a long, wraparound red dress that hugs her tiny waist, drapes over her generous hips, and falls in thick waves against her calves, swishing as she runs.
“Hi,” I answer, trying to sound perfectly chill while sweat beads on my brow and my heart throbs painfully against my chest.
I am anything but chill right now.
“How’s the party?” she asks.
“Good. Gen was looking for you.”
“Anything important?”
“Cake-cutting, I think.”
“Ah, well. That is pretty important.”
We both chuckle at the joke, and I look into her eyes, realizing I have absolutely nothing to say to her.
The words I want to say have escaped my heart and crowded into my throat, and now, I can’t say anything else.
“James, are you okay?” she asks, taking my hand. “You look really serious all of a sudden.”
“Scarlett,” I mutter, so full of emotion, I’m almost ready to spill all my secrets. “I just—I have to tell you—”
“Tell me what?” she asks, grinning. When she smiles, her beautiful green eyes light up, glittering from within like emeralds under white light. Even in the dark, I can see it, and it enchants me every time.
Scarlett squeezes my hand and takes another step forward, close enough that I can feel her body heat. With her head turned up to me, her lips are inches from mine.
I can’t do this!
I’m not strong enough to stop myself!
I lean down and press my lips to hers very softly. Her hand grips mine, but she doesn’t reach out to me, so I keep the kiss gentle, sinking into the amazing feeling of finally touching her.
Then I feel her other hand running up my arm, and suddenly, she’s pulling me closer, kissing me harder. With a groan of absolute submission, I wrap my arms around her waist and yank her body against mine, making her cry out and squirm against me.
“James,” she whispers breathlessly. “I’ve waited so long for this!”
That’s not my name!
“Me too,” I answer, running my hands over her body and exploring her gorgeous, plump curves. “I’ve wanted you from the first moment I saw you.”
