“I did tell you that I’d see you soon.”
She smiled. “I honestly didn’t think you’d come back. I’m not ill anymore.”
“I didn’t stay around because you were ill.” He rubbed his hands together. “I stay because I want to be with you. I always want to be with you, Scarlett.”
Her heart began to race once again. “I like you being with me as well.”
“I won’t get you into trouble, but do you mind if I stay with you again tonight?” he asked.
“What about your parents? Don’t they worry?”
Marshall smiled. “I’ve got my bedroom covered.”
“What does that mean?”
“It means they understand I need my own space.” He got to his feet, stepping toward her. Marshall placed his hands on either side of her head. “I promise you, Scarlett, you’re safe with me. I won’t do anything to hurt you.”
She didn’t want him to leave.
Mate.
Something was changing inside her when it came to Marshall. She accepted him and wanted to forget about what happened in their past. He hadn’t bullied her since they returned to school.
“I’m going to get showered.” She moved past the door, sliding underneath his arm to grab her pajamas.
“I’ll be here.”
Escaping to the bathroom, Scarlett closed the door. Staring at her reflection, she blew out some air pushing her hair off her face.
“It’s okay, Scarlett. It’s just a boy in your room. No biggie.” Even as she tried to give her reflection a pep talk, nothing was happening. “No biggie.”
She turned on the shower, stripping down her clothes. Scarlett washed quickly, not taking the time to enjoy the warm water. She was dressed and ready within ten minutes. Wrapping her hair up on top of her head, she walked back into her bedroom to discover Marshall lying on her bed in a pair of sweat pants and nothing else.
“Hey,” he said.
Pointing behind her, she frowned. “Do you want to use the shower? I didn’t even think to ask you.”
“No. I don’t need a shower.”
“Oh.” Folding her arms underneath her breasts, she stared at him. He was flicking through the television in the corner.
“You’re over-thinking this. You didn’t put this much fight up when you were ill.”
“That’s because I was ill.”
“You’re not ill anymore.” He raised a brow looking at her.
“Did you do this to the other girls you, erm, you slept with?” Heat filled her cheeks as jealousy struck her hard.
“I never slept with the other girls.”
“That’s a lie. I heard them talk about you.”
“I said I didn’t sleep next to them. I didn’t say I didn’t fuck them.” He stopped changing the channels to look toward her. “They were in the past, Scarlett. I’ve never spent the night with anyone I’ve been with. I’m not a virgin, but I know you are. I’m not going to pressure you, and I’m not getting my kicks elsewhere.” He stopped, running fingers through his hair. For the first time since she’d come to know another side of Marshall, she saw he was angry.
“What’s the matter?”
“Look, do you like me sleeping next to you?”
Biting her lip, she nodded. There was no point denying it. She really did love sleeping next to him.
“Well, I love sleeping next to you as well. I don’t like the thought of leaving your side. Don’t over-think this. If you enjoy it, then enjoy it. Don’t look for a reason for this to stop.”
“Okay.” She grabbed her hair brush before climbing on the bed. Unwrapping her hair, she threw the towel into the corner and started to brush out the strands.
Marshall stopped her. “Let me do that.”
He opened his thighs, and she settled between them as he started to brush out her hair. “This is nice,” she said.
“Your hair is lovely and soft.” He ran the brush through her hair in smooth, even strokes. Closing her eyes, Scarlett could have easily purred at his touch. He kept brushing out the length until it was dry. Taking the brush from him, she settled underneath the covers, curling against him as they watched a movie together. It was a werewolf movie but not scary.
“What do you think of wolves, besides the ones in your dreams?” he asked.
“I don’t know. I’ve not given it much thought.”
“Think about it.”
“What?”
“What would you do if they were real and you were mated to one of them?” Marshall asked.
Scarlett giggled but stopped. “Mated?”
“Yes.”
“I, erm, I don’t know. I’d probably be scared.”
“Why?”
“I’m human, or am I a wolf as well?”
He chuckled. “No, you’re human.”
“I really don’t know what I’d do. It’s strange to even think about. I’m the one having the wolf dreams, remember?” She snuggled against him, closing her eyes. His warmth was making her sleepy. “Why did you say mate?” she asked.
“It’s what happens between wolves when they find the one.”
“I’ve been hearing ‘mate’ a lot lately.”
He tensed beneath her.
“Mate?”
“Yeah. I don’t know why I’m hearing it. I think I’m losing my mind. It started happening after last year, before summer vacation. Every now and then I hear it but don’t have a clue. I bet you wished you hadn’t started to date me now between the whole mate thing and wolf dreams.”
“No, I’m more than happy that we’re together.”
“Marshall Briggs, dating the high school fatty. Everyone will laugh at you.” She opened her eyes feeling the beginning of tears.
“Don’t ever call yourself that. I don’t give a fuck what other people think. You’re not fat, and I’ll hurt anyone who ever calls you that.”
“You used to,” she said, glancing up at him.
“I was an asshole. I’ve learned from my mistakes.”
“I like it when you kiss me.” She was starting to get very sleepy. “I’m not going to stay awake for much longer.”
“Don’t worry. I’ll hold you as you fall asleep.”
His hands tightened around her body, holding her close. “I don’t ever want to let you go again.”
Scarlett smiled, humming as his breathing soothed her body. Sleep claimed her quickly, and she didn’t dream about anything.
Chapter Ten
Monday morning Marshall was waiting outside of Scarlett’s home ready to take her to school. When he woke up he spent an hour simply watching her sleep. He loved having Scarlett in his arms. She was so beautiful, open, loving, caring, and he never wanted to let her go. His parents knew where he went at night, and neither one had a problem with him spending time with his mate.
He was in love with her. Accepting his feelings with regards to her had settled his wolf. There was no worry of his wolf slamming out and hurting Scarlett, which scared him more.
Scarlett ran down the steps of her house toward him, smiling as she opened the door. “Morning. I didn’t mind going to school and meeting up with you there.”
Today he was going to show everyone who she belonged to. He wasn’t going to keep their relationship a secret. Over the last few months he’d heard the doubts from everyone around them. They thought he had a joke or a prank in the works that would hurt her. He hated the vultures for thinking the worst, but he couldn’t blame them. Marshall had hurt her so much in the past.
The only joke was on the people who didn’t believe.
“Remember what I said about you being my girl?”
Heat filled her cheeks. “Yes.”
“Good, because today it all starts again. I’m not giving you up.”
He took her hand, laying a kiss to her knuckles. Starting the car, he headed toward school, determined to make the first claim of his mate. Jack had already picked up Trey and was waiting at the school for him.
Keeping a firm hold on her hand, he drove all the way to school. Excitement filled him at the prospect of showing everyone who Scarlett belonged to. If anyone even attempted to hurt or bully her, he’d make them pay ten times over.
“I’m sorry I fell asleep on you last night. I really didn’t mean to.”
He chuckled. “It’s okay. I only watched the movie and then fell asleep beside you.”
“Did my parents come in?”
“They checked on you around eleven, but I made sure to be hidden. If I wasn’t, you’d have woken up to them screaming.” He glanced over at her, smiling at her red cheeks. “Your blush is the most adorable thing I’ve ever seen.”
“Stop it.”
He laughed. They arrived in school five minutes before the bell was set to go off. Several people gawked at them, but none of them said anything. Marshall would hear anything they’ve got to say.
“Are you sure you want to do this?” Scarlett asked. “I understand if you want to keep it a secret, really I do.”
“I’m not keeping you a secret.” He pulled the key out of the ignition, kissing her knuckles again before climbing out of the car. Jack and Trey was there to greet him.