by Sam Crescent
“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.
“Hey, man. Did you have a good weekend?” Jack asked.
Trey was looking at Scarlett as she rounded the car, but there was no look of hunger in his gaze.
As Marshall opened his arms, Scarlett stepped inside them, and he held her tight. “Yeah, I spent the weekend with my girl.” He pressed a kiss to her neck, inhaling her sweet scent. “Didn’t we, baby?”
Scarlett nodded. She couldn’t form any words, and it was so utterly adorable.
“That shade of red looks good on you.”
Marshall frowned at his friend. Scarlett giggled. “Sorry. I’m not used to this.”
Taking her hand, Marshall walked toward the school.
“Oh, my, God, did you see that? Marshall was kissing Scarlett. He was actually kissing her.”
“Marshall’s got a thing for fatty.”
“It has got to be a joke. He never wanted anyt
hing to do with her. He was a total asshole to her.”
He forced himself to focus on Scarlett and Jack. Listening to their peers was driving him mad. Jack raised a brow at him.
Shaking his head, they walked toward Scarlett’s locker.
“Where’s Cheryl?” Scarlett asked, looking toward Trey.
“We broke up.”
“Oh, I’m sorry about that.”
Yeah, fucker, stay away from my girl.
He wasn’t going to give Trey the chance to try to steal Scarlett.
Marshall stood waiting as Scarlett grabbed her books out of her locker. He escorted her to her first class, dropping a kiss onto her lips before he left her. “Stay here and I’ll pick you up afterwards.
“You’re going a little overboard with the whole boyfriend thing.”
“No, I’m not. This is what I do for my girl.”
“You’ve never done this for any other girl,” she said.
“Exactly, no one has ever been mine.” He dropped another kiss to her lips. “I’ll pick you up here.”
Trey had gone off to his class, and Jack stood, waiting for him.
“So, it was a good weekend?”
“The best.”
“You’re sleeping in her bed at night?”
He glanced over at his friend as they made their way to math. “I never told you I was sneaking into her room.”
“Does she know you’re spending the night?”
“Yes, but how do you know?”
“She smells like you. In fact, no, she doesn’t smell like you. There’s a combined scent like our parents. They’ve got the same smell. Well, you and Scarlett are starting to have a similar smell.” Jack took his seat first, and Marshall sat beside him. “They’re all wondering what the joke is going to be.”
“The joke is going to be on them.” Marshall sat back, listening to the teacher. He wasn’t paying much attention. All he could think about was his girl. He couldn’t rely on the mating to keep her by his side. It was already Christmas, and it wouldn’t be long until they were all graduating. Scarlett was intelligent and would want to go away to college. Marshall hadn’t thought about college. He’d always figured he would stay home, work, and stick around the pack. If Scarlett left for college then he would have to follow her. There was no way his wolf would ever accept being parted from her for long periods of time. College would be a nightmare. There was no way he’d give her up.
He started to panic as he thought about graduating.
“Calm down, Marshall. Your wolf is close,” Jack said, whispering the warning against him.
Taking several deep breaths, Marshall pulled his cell phone out to send a quick text to his dad. He needed to think about the future with his mate. The end of the lesson couldn’t come soon enough for him.
****
Being escorted from one class to another was an entirely new experience for Scarlett. She wasn’t used to having anyone care enough that she got from one part of school to another. What she hated was the astonished looks from their peers. There was no way she could call them her friends. Not one person was convinced about her and Marshall being together. In truth, she didn’t really believe it herself.
Cheryl stopped behind her when the bell for the lunch break went off. “You don’t think he’s really dating you, do you?”
She ignored Cheryl as she gathered up her books. Packing them away in her bag, she waited until the last possible moment before she had to look at Cheryl.
“You do? That is so fucking sad. You’re fat and ugly. Marshall would never fall for anyone like you.”
Putting her bag on her shoulder, she started toward the door.
“I’m talking to you, bitch.”
Cheryl gripped her arm and shoved her forcefully. Hitting the table, Scarlett crashed to the floor.
Pain slammed through her and shock as Marshall stepped into the room. “You better get the fuck away from my girlfriend.”
“Come on, Marshall. This has gone on long enough. No one believes she’s really your girlfriend. It’s getting a little boring now.”
Scarlett got to her feet, but before she did, Marshall helped her up. He held her hand, stroking her cheek. “Did she hurt you?”
“I’m fine.” She didn’t dare look at him as she lied. Cheryl had hurt her.
“You touch her again and you’ll regret it,” Marshall said, looking at Cheryl. “I will make sure your life is so damn hard you won’t know what fucking hit you.”
Cheryl laughed. “Please.”
“I’ve got a lot more sway in this school than you. I put the word out that no one is to go near you, you’ll lose everything. Think about that the next time you touch what’s mine.”
Scarlett held onto Marshall’s hand as he led the way out of the room.
“The only thing Cheryl cares about is her popularity. I take it away, she suffers. If you want me to do that then say the word and I’ll have her life over in a heartbeat.”
“No, we’re in the last part of high school.”
“You’re too damn nice for your own good.”
She was shaken by Marshall standing up for her. It took her several minutes to realize they were heading toward the cafeteria and not outside. Jack was with them, and she noticed Trey was nowhere to be seen. She didn’t mind. Scarlett had liked him as a friend but not as anything more. He’d been a different kind of guy when Marshall and Jack accepted him into the fold, not one she liked in a special way. The feelings building inside her were directed at Marshall, no one else.
“I don’t eat in there. I’ve got my lunch.”
“You don’t eat in there because of all the bullying. I promise you, Scarlett. You’re with me, and no one is going to bully you ever again. You’ve got me, and you’ve got no reason to fear anyone again.” He cupped her cheek. “I want to hurt Cheryl. I want to make her suffer the way she made you suffer.”
Cupping his cheek, Scarlett smiled. “She’s not worth you being suspended. I like being around you, Marshall.”
“Please, I’m going to vomit,” Jack said. “Let’s go and eat before it’s the end of the day. God, I need to get myself a girl just so you two know what it’s like to be around you.”
Chuckling, Scarlett held onto Marshall’s hand as they entered the cafeteria.
She made sure she didn’t look at anyone else.
Marshall picked up the tray, loading it up as they made their way down the aisle. He paid for their food even though she offered. Scarlett sat down in the seat he pulled out for her.
“Everyone is looking, waiting to see if we’re going to trip her up,” Jack said.
Glancing around the room, she saw the anticipation in all of their faces. It was horrible to see.
“Not going to happen.” Marshall grabbed the back of her head, slamming his lips over hers.
Everything faded away as she melted against his kiss. Marshall knew what he was doing. Each kiss was far more passionate than the last.
He placed a plate filled with burgers and fries in front of her. “See, I went hunting for you.”
Shaking her head with laughter, she started to eat as Jack and Marshall talked. This was nice, and she watched Marshall. He hadn’t moved his hand from the back of her neck and stroked his fingers over her pulse.
She could gladly get used to his touch.
Trey joined them ten minutes into lunch. “Cheryl’s pissed.”
“Good. She touches my girl again and I’ll hurt her.”
“You don’t need to threaten everyone you meet.”
“With you, I do.”
He held her close throughout lunch. At the end of lunch, he tossed their empty cartons into the trash, putting their empty plates onto a tray. They walked toward English. Trey made his own way around school barely saying a word to her.
By the time track came, Scarlett was used to people staring at her. Marshall was waiting outside of the girls’ changing room when she appeared. “Hey,” she said.
“Hey. Are
you ready to run?”
“This is all a little strange.” Trey was nowhere to be seen.
“Trey’s dating Tiffany now. He moves through them quickly.”
Nodding, Scarlett stared down at her hands. “I wasn’t really looking for him. I never had a crush on him. We were just friends, but I’m starting to wonder if he was using the whole neighbor thing with me. It was okay.”
“What was happening between the two of you?”
“He was the first person who was nice to me.”
Marshall winced. “I’m sorry.”
“No, don’t be.” They walked toward the track. It was cold, freezing actually. She hated running at the best of times, but now she started running even before she got to the track. Running beside Marshall, she couldn’t help but take sneak peeks at him. He was a handsome guy and would be an even more handsome man when he got older.
“What are your plans for after school?” Marshall asked.
“I don’t know. Go away to college. I’ve sent out my applications. I should be hearing back soon. My parents are both doctors, but I don’t know if I want to be a doctor.” The idea of spending all day at work bothered her. She knew her parents loved their job, but there were times they hated it as well. They didn’t have any time to do anything else.
“I want to know where you sent your applications out. I’ll go away with you to college.”
“Erm, I don’t know if that’s even possible. I mean, to get to some really great places you need to apply in advance. It’s really competitive.”
He stroked her neck. “I’ll do what I can to be with you.”
Biting her lip, Scarlett smiled.
Marshall leaned closer, and everything else faded away. The only people in the world were her and him. Closing her eyes, she responded to his kiss, melting against him. Fisting her hand in his shirt, she groaned as he slid his tongue over her lips. She opened up to his invasion.
Her body warmed at his exploration. She didn’t want it to end.
“Get a room,” Jack said.
Her life had changed, and it was all because of the guy who had bullied her. Pulling away, she stared into his eyes, knowing she’d gladly lose herself in their depths.
“You’re totally beautiful.” He stroked her cheek, smiling.