Scarlett stopped talking as he pulled his shirt off.
“What are you doing?”
You should stop this. Going too fast.
“I’m going to hold you while you sleep. It will please me to do this.”
He removed his jeans, and suddenly he was on the bed beside her. She noticed he didn’t climb under the covers.
“Aren’t you cold?” She squeaked the words out, staring at him as he wrapped an arm around her. He moved her so that her ass was nestled in his lap. Spooning each other.
“No. I’m more than warm.”
She heard him inhale.
“Are you sniffing me?”
“No.”
Scarlett stayed silent as he kept holding her.
“You know this is completely weird and freaky.”
“What?”
“You, me, being here together. It’s strange.”
“Don’t worry. I’m not going to pressure you into having sex with me.”
She groaned. “Oh, no. You heard everything.”
“I heard everything, but don’t worry. Your mother is only worried about you.”
“She’s embarrassing.”
“It’s her right to be.” He chuckled. “Don’t worry. I’m not going to hurt you. I’m going to take care of you.”
He kissed her cheek once again. She was growing to like his kisses.
“Rest, Scarlett.”
She fell asleep with his arms wrapped around her. Scarlett loved the heat of his arms.
For the rest of the week Marshall woke up beside her and disappeared out of her window only to come back after school. Her parents saw him out of the door, and he’d return an hour later with a bag. She stored the bag in her closet.
Scarlett started to enjoy the feel of him at her back, of his body pressed against her own as they slept. On Saturday morning she woke up before he did. She no longer felt ill and stared into his sleeping face. They’d gone from being enemies to friends. He slept beside her, and she didn’t know how she was going to handle it when he stopped sleeping beside her.
He opened his eyes and smiled at her. “Morning, beautiful.”
Her heart leapt inside her chest. “Morning.”
“Your parents are gone. They left early but stopped by to check on you.”
“How do you know when they’re close?”
She noticed when he dived toward the bed seconds before her bedroom door opened.
“I’ve got a keen sense for parents protecting their young.”
Scarlett giggled. “You’re strange.”
“And you belong to someone strange.”
“I guess that makes me strange.” She snuggled underneath the blanket to mask her morning breath.
“How are you feeling?”
“I feel much better.”
“How about you spend the day with me? Would you like that?”
“You want me to spend the day with you?”
“Yes. I want to take you back home.”
“Okay.”
He rolled off the bed, stretching out.
Scarlett’s cheeks heated when she saw the evidence of his need.
Turning away, she heard him chuckle. Glancing toward him, she saw him go toward her closet for his bag. When he was gone, she climbed out grabbing some clothes and heading toward the bathroom her parents used.
She washed, changed, and found Marshall already in the kitchen making her some toast. He’d made himself at home, and she really didn’t mind.
“What are you thinking?”
“Nothing much,” she said.
“Come on, you can talk to me.”
“Just about how weird this all is. I mean, you used to bully me, and now you’re making me breakfast.” She stopped talking as he put the plate down in front of her.
“You’re going to need to get used to it, baby. I’m not going to stop being there for you.”
“You say the strangest things.” She bit her lip as she picked up a slice of toast. He took a seat beside her, placing a hand on her thigh. Scarlett had started to notice he always found a reason to touch or hold her.
They ate in silence. She took several slices for herself, grateful her stomach no longer turned over at the taste of food. When they were finished, she helped him to clean away the dishes before they headed out.
Jack was waiting for them.
“You’re looking a lot better,” Jack said.
“Thank you, I think.” She climbed into the back of the car as Marshall sat beside his friend.
“We heading back home?” Jack asked, talking to Marshall
“Yeah.”
Jack turned the car around heading toward Marshall’s home.
“How was school?” Scarlett asked.
“Boring as shit. This one here kept staring at the clock. I’m sure it dragged by just because you weren’t there. Fucking annoyed me.”
Marshall reached behind him, taking her hand. He squeezed her hand, locking their fingers together. “I missed my girl.”
“Your girl?”
“Yes, we’re exclusive now,” Marshall said.
“Score. You’re Marshall’s girl now.” Jack looked back at her in the rearview window. She didn’t know what to make of Jack’s words. Was this a joke? Was Marshall jerking her chain?
Scarlett rubbed her temple as doubt washed over her.
Marshall squeezed her hand, and she watched him shoot a glare at Jack. Something happened between them, and Jack bowed his head.
She tried to pull her hand out of Marshall’s grip, but he wouldn’t let her.
“What’s going on?” Scarlett asked.
“Nothing. You’ve got to realize we’re not joking around. This isn’t some prank for me. This is real.”
“Okay.” What else could she say?
Marshall cursed but still wouldn’t let go of her hand. She didn’t bother to fight him. The rest of the journey went by silently as they made their way toward Marshall’s house.
Climbing out of the car, he finally released her hand, and she was happy to be able to focus on something else beside the doubts that assailed her.
“See you soon,” Marshall said, slamming the door closed. Jack drove away, and Scarlett rubbed her hands together to try to warm herself up.
He closed the distance between them, taking her into his arms, and holding her close. “You don’t believe me.”
“I don’t know what to believe.” She was honest in her response.
He cupped her cheeks, pressing a kiss to her lips. “I’m going to prove to you that we’re meant for each other.” He rubbed her arms, kissing her again. “Come on, let’s get you warmed up.
Marshall took her into his home. His parents were not there, and he led her all the way up to his room. She didn’t know what to make of the change inside him. Scarlett wanted to believe him more than anything, but the past with him made her doubt his sincerity.
“What’s going on?” she asked.
“I want to take you for a walk into the forest, but I’m so not doing that while you’re dressed like you are.”
He entered his wardrobe and grabbed out a jumper along with a pair of sweat pants. “I want you to put these on top of your clothes. I don’t want you to be cold at all.”
“I can’t wear your clothes.” She looked down at the large garments wondering if they would even fit her much larger frame.
“This is about fun. I swear this is nothing but honesty.”
Nodding, she reached out to grab the sweats. She was going to trust him.
Mate.
The word was getting harder to ignore, and she didn’t have the first clue why.
Chapter Nine
Marshall wished he’d not bullied her. He was so angry with himself for everything he’d done to her. She didn’t do anything to him, yet he’d tormented her, hurt her. His wolf was angry at their treatment toward her. There was nothing he could do about the past, but he would make sure he didn’t hurt her again. She was going to be treasured, loved, and adored. His parents already adored her and approved of her as a mate.
The need to take care of her was a compulsion within him. When he left her house on that first night, he’d been overcome by pain. He couldn’t leave his mate while she’d been hurting. By the time he got home, he’d already known he was going back to spend the night with her. It wasn’t even the need to mate. It was something more primal. She was going to be his mate and one day carry his young. He couldn’t allow her to be hurt.
He gave her some much needed privacy as he headed downstairs to pack them a couple of flasks of hot chocolate. He saw his mother had also left a large chocolate cake on the counter. Marshall packed a couple of slices, and by the time he finished, Scarlett was waiting for him.
She looked so adorable bundled up in his clothing.
“What?” she asked. “Do I look bad?”
“No, far from it. You look so adorable.”
Scarlett smiled, tucking some of her hair behind her ear. While she’d been ill her hair had lost that glossy sheen to it that he loved. The glossy sheen was back, and her scent was back to normal. He loved sniffing her, but she’d also started to notice that he did sniff her a lot.
“Come on.” He helped her into a jacket before putting his own on.
Taking hold of her arm, they headed out of his home. He put the bag on his shoulder. Walking down the street, several of the pack chose that moment to come outside to check out his mate. He didn’t mind. Everyone knew he’d found his mate. They were all curious to see her.