Page 45 of Alpha Wolf's Arranged Bride
When I step out into the yard, Scarlet has her back to me. I walk quickly across the grass, my feet almost silent. I reachout to touch Scarlett on the shoulder, but at the last second, she swings around and sees me right behind her.
Her face tightens with fear, and the blood drains from her face.
“It’s okay,” I say softly. “It’s me.”
“And who are you?” she asks, her voice trembling. “James Drent? Rex Stanton? Some other name? I don’t even know you.”
“You do know me, Scarlett,” I say, reaching out for her hand.
She shakes her head and takes a step back. “You know I like peppercorn sauce, and my steak medium-rare. You know I love potatoes, but I hate sweet potatoes. You know I like my coffee with too much cream, and my tea black.” She sniffs a little. “How do I know you weren’t pretending? How do I know anything?”
She looks so lost and forlorn. I step closer, desperate to hold her.
“I could have been,” I admit. “But I wasn’t. I wanted you to know the real me. I swear, I wasn’t lying. In those quiet moments between us, you really had me.”
She wipes her face, shaking her head.
“Scarlett, I’m sorry,” I say. “I’m sorry for everything, but especially for this. I know you’re hurting, and I’m the cause of it, but there is something I need to know.”
“I told you,” she says. “I don’t know what Eccles is doing.”
“No,” I reply, taking another step closer to her. “That’s not it. I need to know about the other man.”
She looks up at me, her eyes wide. “What other man?”
“Come on, I know you’ve been with someone since the last time I saw you. I just need to know, this is absolutely killing me, and I—”
“Rex, how fucking dare you?” she snaps. “After what you did—and the secrets you’re still hiding—you think you can throw something like this at me?”
“Like I said, I’m sorry,” I say, reaching out for her hand. “But I’m trying to be honest here. I can’t go another day worrying about this. I think we really could have peace between us if I just knew this one thing.”
“Rex,” she chuckles, shaking her head. “You really are a stupid fucking fool, you know that?”
“Why?” I bark. “Because I care about you, and who you’ve been with? I don’t know what you’re—”
“Rex!” she shouts, shoving me in the chest. “There has never been anyone else! Only you, always you. Will you get that through your thick head!”
Even though she yells at me as she pushes me away, I can see the pain in her eyes. Her voice cracks, and she almost chokes on the words. As much as I want to yell back, I can’t. Seeing her so vulnerable has taken all the fury out of me.
This just doesn’t make sense, though. If I’m the only one, then who is Jarrod’s father?
Scarlett raises her hands again, and I think she wants to push me away, but instead, she grabs my shoulders and looks up into my eyes. My arms go around her like a reflex, and I pull her against my chest.
Emotions I can’t identify throb through me. My lust is there, the passion I have for this woman that I know will neverdie. In the melting pot with it are fear, confusion, suspicion… but also a fierce desire to protect her.
“Rex,” she mumbles, her lips inches from mine. “I’m sorry.”
I don’t know what she’s apologizing for, and I don’t care. The only thing that feels real to me is her warm weight in my arms and the throb of her heartbeat against my chest.
Oh, dear God, help me. I’m a weak man.
I bend my head down and touch my lips to hers. I wait for her to protest, push me away, and yell at me some more, but she doesn’t. Instead, her hands tighten on my shoulders, and she pulls our bodies even closer together as she deepens the kiss.
All my fears are still swirling in my mind, but they feel very far away now. Having Scarlett in my arms feels like an absolution I don’t deserve, but one I prayed for every day.
When Scarlett wraps her arms around my waist and thrusts her body against mine, every last fear and doubt is completely blown away. Even if it goes against all my training, all my common sense, I just don’t care anymore.
The only thing I really want in this world is Scarlett. If she wants me, too, then no force on this planet can tear us apart.
