Marshall surprised her by helping clean the table.
“You really don’t need to do that.”
“I want to. I like helping.”
When the dishes were cleared, she carried the cake through to the table.
The moans that came from their mouths as they ate it should be sinful. Scarlett declined cake. She was trying another diet and had even cut down her portion of dinner.
“You didn’t eat a lot,” Marshall said.
“I ate enough.”
“Why don’t you two kids go out into the garden?” her mother said. “We’ll take care of the dishes.”
Nodding, Scarlett led the way into the back garden.
“I didn’t know you could cook,” Marshall said. It was still light out, and the last of the summer’s warmth surrounded them. She’d noticed whenever he touched her that he was always a little hotter than she was.
“I’ve always been able to cook. My parents are always so busy that it makes sense for me to cook for myself.” She tucked some hair behind her ear.
“Thank you for the cake. It was delicious.”
She took a seat on the lounge chair overlooking the swimming pool. Scarlett didn’t know what to say to him.
“Jack told me he gave you his cell phone number.”
Heat filled her cheeks.
“What?” he asked, taking a seat opposite her. He always seemed to know her innermost thoughts.
“Nothing.”
“Your cheeks are red. Why are you embarrassed?”
“I threw his number in the trash. I’m never going to need it.” She tucked some hair behind her each. He reached out, taking her hand.
“You’re going to learn to trust us. Hand me your cell and I’ll put mine and Jack’s numbers into your phone.”
She pulled her cell from her pocket, handing it to him.
“There you go.”
Why didn’t she want to upset him? She didn’t owe Marshall anything, and yet, something was different in her thoughts about him.
Chapter Eight
The days passed, and they turned into weeks. Marshall made a lot of progress with her. Whenever he could, he’d find an excuse to take her to and from school. Sometimes he’d take her back to his place where they’d study or they’d play some video games. Jack didn’t come around when she was with him, giving him the space to woo her.
She didn’t invite him back to her house, but their parents had hit it off. He’d spent a great deal of time at her place while their parents talked.
Trey was officially dating Cheryl, which actually caused a few problems for Marshall. With Trey and Cheryl together, it put her at their table for lunch. Marshall found Scarlett ate around the school wherever she wanted to. He’d found her in tears a couple of times, and it was always down to Cheryl.
The wolf inside him was demanding that he hurt the bitch who’d hurt Scarlett. He talked to his dad about the problems, but he only advised him to keep his distance. Hurting a human wouldn’t be good for the pack. There was more than one way to deal with Cheryl. He didn’t need to resort to violence even though violence seemed to be the only answer.
In a few weeks the school would be closed for Christmas break, and he didn’t know how he was going to handle being alone with her. Marshall ran the track staying behind Scarlett, giving her some space. Trey was beside her talking constantly about Cheryl.
“What do you think I should buy her?” Trey asked.
“I don’t know.”
“What would you like to receive?”
“Trey, Cheryl and I are two different people. She’ll want something different.”
“What do you want?” Trey was persistent. There were times Marshall thought Trey was using Cheryl to make Scarlett jealous, but then he couldn’t be sure.
“Nothing.” Scarlett stopped on the track, and he made himself slow down so that he didn’t lap her. Jack didn’t say anything keeping up to the speed Marshall set.
“Are you okay?” Trey asked.
“Yeah. I just don’t feel too good.”
“Whoa,” Trey said.
Scarlett went a little dizzy. Picking up his speed, Marshall got closer to her, resting his hands on her hips to keep her steady.
“What’s going on?”
“She’s ill. I don’t know.”
Marshall breathed in pretending to be out of breath. Yes, Scarlett was ill. She was burning up, and the scent of illness clung to her skin. He’d been so concerned about his progress with her that he’d missed her illness. Annoyed with himself, Marshall growled. Jack covered it up by coughing loudly.
“Jesus, I think there’s something going around.”
“What’s going on over there?” Mr. Bridges asked, walking toward them.
“Scarlett is sick. I want to take her to the nurse,” Marshall said, before Trey could get a word out. The other guy glared at him, and Marshall started to wonder if he wasn’t trying to make her jealous with Cheryl.
“Yes, Marshall. Scarlett?”
Everyone backed away apart from him as Scarlett heaved, spreading vomit onto the ground.
“I’ll take her home,” Marshall said.
“Yes, do. Jack, get the janitor out here.”
Marshall picked Scarlett up in his arms.
“What are you doing? You’re going to drop me.” She pressed a hand to her mouth.
“I won’t drop you.” He didn’t care if others were looking. Marshall walked out of the school going to his car.
“You’re warm,” she said, snuggling her head against him. “You’re always so warm.” She pressed her palm to his chest.
Marshall was thankful for his higher body temperature. He’d keep her warm, and it was cold out.
“You’re always taking me home,” she said.
He eased her into his car, grabbing a brown paper bag from the back. “Here, vomit into this.”
She took the bag from him. Climbing behind the wheel, he opened her window as he drove out of school.
“Crap, pull up. I’m going to be sick.”
He stopped against the side of the road, and she opened the door. He parked the car, climbing out and rounding the vehicle to stand in front of her. He held her hair out of the way as she spilled her guts across the road. Holding his breath, he waited for her to finish before climbing back inside.
Marshall had to stop twice more for her to vomit. When he pulled up outside of her house, he found the spare key her parents kept under the mat and carried her inside. He kicked the door closed behind him and took her straight to her room. Marshall went to her bedroom, overcome by emotion when the scent of her attacked him.
“Marshall, are you okay?” she asked.
“Yes.” He took her through to the bathroom. “I’m going to leave you long enough to call your parents and then I’ll be back. Take a shower, and I’ll be back.” Marshall left her alone, heading downstairs. He pressed a hand against the wall when he heard the shower start to run.
She was naked in the shower.
Keep moving. She doesn’t need this.
His cell phone buzzed, and he saw it was Jack.
“Trey doesn’t seem to give a shit,” Jack said.
“I doubted he would. The fucker was using her.”
“You’ve scored points I bet with taking her home.”
Marshall groaned as more of her scent surrounded him.
“Are you okay?” Jack asked.
“Yeah, I’m fine. I mean. I will be fine. She smells amazing even though she’s ill.” He should be castrated for the feelings he had for her.
Jack chuckled. “Ah, true love and the need for a mate. You’ll even overlook the smell of vomit. The joy.”
His friend’s sarcasm made him laugh. “Wait until you find yours.”
“No thanks. I’m starting to think this mate thing is really overrated. They drive normal strong men to distraction.”
Marshall laughed. He woke up and his first thought was about Scarlett, and when he went to sleep, he thought about her. His thoughts were no longer centered on the need to fuck. Marshall wanted to be around her, loving her, taking care of her. There were times he found himself smiling just by thinking of her. He was turning into a pussy, but that was what Scarlett inspired inside him. She was going to be his mate for life. The woman he loved.
She wasn’t eighteen yet, and he tried to keep his baser instincts at bay. Grabbing the telephone off the wall he called the hospital and left a message for her parents. They were thankful that he was with her. He then called Jack back to bring her clothes and his. Marshall wasn’t going to leave her side while she was ill. When he finally got in touch with her parents they asked for him to stay to keep an eye on her. They wouldn’t be back any time soon as they were both busy at the hospital. He heard the annoyance in their voices, and it wasn’t directed at him but at their jobs. Marshall assured them he’d be more than happy to stay.
Tapping the counter, he listened as the water shut off. Seconds passed, and he couldn’t help imagining her in the shower, naked, slick with the water cascading around her. Her long hair brushing the tips of her rounded butt as she ran her fingers through the length. He was losing his mind. His cock thickened at the thought, and it took every ounce of control for him to squash it down. The alpha inside him was begging for him to go upstairs and claim his mate. She was eighteen in a couple of months. No, he wouldn’t do it. Scarlett no longer looked at him with fear in her eyes, but she didn’t completely trust him either. He was doing everything he could to be near her, to show her that he was a changed man.