Page 80 of Alpha Wolf's Arranged Bride
“See?” she laughs.
“Okay,” I agree. “I guess I was hungry. Can I drink my booze now?”
Scarlett raises her glass and taps it against mine, taking a long sip. I toss back the whole glass, feeling the burning liquid wash down my throat in a soothing rush.
“I have to tell you,” Scarlett says softly, “I don’t even know how to say it, or what exactly I want to explain, but something happened to me on that stone.”
“A lot of things happened to you today,” I point out. “You don’t have to try and explain it.”
“No, I mean something else. Something with the snake.”
Scarlett keeps her eyes fixed on the glass of whiskey, and I wait patiently for her to speak.
“I think it spoke to me,” she finally says.
“What?”
“I heard its voice. It showed me things. Then I got these weird sensations… like pinching all over my body, and warm tingling in my hands.”
“Are you alright? Did it hurt you?”
“No, not really. I actually kind of get the feeling it was protecting me.”
“That’s… weird.”
“I might be wrong. I don’t know,” Scarlett mutters, shaking her head. “I just needed to tell you.”
“Do you have any idea where it went, or what it wanted?”
“It wanted to be free… but it also had a terrible hunger for blood. It was satisfied during the ritual, but what happens when it gets hungry again?”
I try to reason that out, but I’m too tired to examine the thought.
“Scarlett,” I say, getting up to kneel beside her chair. “Let’s puzzle all that out some other time. All I want right now is to be with you.”
“That’s all I want, too,” she says, stroking my face.
“I never wanted to leave you all those years ago. I actually convinced myself that you were better off without me.”
“Stupid fool,” she laughs.
“Yes,” I say seriously. “I was. I never want to be separated again from you or from Jarrod. I will spend the rest of my life making it up to you.”
“You already have made it up to me, Rex,” Scarlett says. “You proved your love and loyalty to me already—but then today, you fought for us. You put your life on the line, as well as your warriors and your Shadows. There is no doubt in my mind that you truly want me and Jarrod.”
“I love you, Scarlett,” I murmur.
She smiles and leans towards me, and I reach up a little so our lips touch. The kiss is light and gentle, but quickly warms up. Scarlet lets the kiss deepen, then pulls back with a little laugh.
“Before this gets too serious, I could really use a shower.”
“Would you like some help?” I ask, standing up and taking her hand. “I’m very good at getting to those hard-to-reach places.”
“How could I refuse an offer like that?” Scarlett chuckles.
She hurries up the stairs, giggling as I try to pinch her butt and grab her waist. When we get to the bathroom, she turnsthe water on full force and very hot, steaming up the room in no time.
I watch her peel off her ripped, stained clothes and step under the flowing water. Her red hair flows down her back, turning to the color of blood as it gets wet. Scarlett turns to face me, beckoning with one hand.
