14. Scarlett
scarlett
. . .
I walked into my place and immediately knew something was wrong.
Not that anything looked like it had been moved out of place. It hadn’t. Everything was like I’d left it. But my gut was yelling at me that something was wrong. I tried to ignore it and set my purse on the couch like I usually did before turning the lights on. I kicked off my shoes and put them against the door, but something made me stay where I was.
I stood in the darkness of my living room and waited. I wasn’t sure why, but I couldn’t get myself to turn on the lights. I was being ridiculous. Nothing was wrong.
You’re being paranoid, I thought to myself.
Just as I was about to turn the light on, I heard it. A deep guttural sound. One that had me gasp and quickly reach for my purse and get out, slamming the door behind me. Did an animal get inside? We lived on a damn mountain, so it was possible. Or could it have been my secret admirer? Maybe they weren’t as innocent as I’d thought. I took my phone out and didn’t think. Sheer instinct made me press the call button for the one person I felt safe with.
“Hello.” Merritt’s voice sounded deeper, slightly winded. If I hadn’t been so scared, I would have asked about it.
“I think there’s someone at my house,” I blurted in a whisper. My hands shook while I held my phone to my ear.
“Where are you?” he asked in a hushed tone. Shit, was he in a meeting? Or a video call? Or with someone?
“Home. Outside.”
“Shit. Get in your car, and I’ll be right there,” he vowed, and just like that, even though I was scared, I knew everything would be okay. Merritt would make it okay. It was crazy, but I believed it like I knew my name.
“Okay,” I followed his instructions. He hung up when I promised him the car was locked. Then I waited. I wasn’t sure how long it was before he showed up, but when he did, he came straight to my car. When I opened the door, I got out and launched myself at him.
“Fuck, cutie, are you okay?” he asked. Worry dripped from his voice.
“Yeah,” I muttered against his chest.
“You’re shaking, Scarlett.” I couldn’t get myself to stop. Fear and adrenaline sat heavy in my veins.
“What if it’s someone or something in my house?”
“Shh,” he soothed. “It’s going to be okay.”
“I don’t know, Merri. Should we call the cops?”
“Relax. Did you see anything? Anyone?” He pulled me back to look me in the eyes. If I had my wits about me, I would have noticed something there. Something different. Almost like guilt. I shook my head, trying to stop my body from trembling.
“N-no. I got home, and I heard a groan or growl, I’m not sure. It was in my room or down the hall.”
“Okay, breathe.”
“Merri––
“I’ll go check the place out.”
“What if it’s a bear or…”
“Or?” he asked, and I swallowed.
“I might have someone sending gifts.”
“Gifts,” he repeated, his face blank of a reaction.
“A secret admirer,” I cleared up. His manly brows bunched, and he exhaled.
“We will talk about that in a moment, just wait here.” He left me where I was, and I watched him walk over to the front door. I hadn’t locked it, and he walked right in.
My home lit up from the inside, the light streaming through the curtains I hadn’t shut before I’d left. I heard his muffled call to see if someone was inside. I lost sight of him, and it dawned on me just how clearly you could see into my place when night hit and I didn’t shut my curtains or blinds. I shivered, wondering if whoever had been in there had heard me and was outside. Watching me. I turned, but there was nothing but quiet homes in the neighborhood. I turned back just in time to see Merri walking out and straight towards me.
“It’s all clear. There was a window open. Maybe a cat or dog snuck in?” he said easily.
“I left a window open?” I asked. That was weird. It had been too cold to open them lately. For a split second, a thought popped into my head.
What if my secret admirer, the person who had been watching me and sending gifts, was the very one in front of me?
“Where were you?” I found myself asking out of nowhere. His face was wiped clean of an expression. It was weird. It was like I couldn’t read him.
“What?” he asked?
“Right now? When I called.”
“What?” he asked again.
“Where were you?” I repeated, wondering why he was trying to evade the question.
“I should be asking you the same thing, baby. You’ve been avoiding me.”
“No. I was at my sister’s. I should have called but—“ I shook my head. “Where were you? You got here quickly.” But then, come to think of it, it wasn’t like I knew exactly how far he lived from my place since he hadn’t invited me over.
“I was driving home. I had to drop some shit off at Boyd’s.” His brother.
“Oh.” My shoulders sagged, automatically believing him. “I’m sorry I freaked out. I can’t believe I left a window open.” I’d been born and raised in Moonlit Pines. I knew just how dangerous that could be. I know better. “I freaked out for nothing.”
“It’s okay. Come here.” He pulled me closer, but when I was near him, he didn’t take my hand in his like he usually did. Nope. My big, sexy, tall man lifted me up, and I squeaked.
“Merri!” I whispered, wrapping my legs around his waist and resting my hands on his broad shoulders. “You’re going to hurt yourself!” I warned. I was too heavy for him to carry around.
“None of that, baby.” His hands squeezed my ass cheeks, and a moan escaped past my lips despite the fear I’d felt just moments before. White-flamed heat coursed through me and pooled between my thighs. I couldn’t get myself to think about what had just happened.
“Throw those thoughts right out of your head.” I had no idea how he could read me so easily. “I got you.” The depth in his voice made everything inside me warm and fuzzy. “I always will,” he vowed before stomping his way to the front of my house. Merritt carried me through acting like I weighed nothing more than a sack of potatoes and kicked the door shut before turning slightly to lock it.
But he didn’t stop.
The man was obviously on a mission. He kept moving until he stopped in the middle of my living room. His chest rose and fell heavily, like he was out of breath, but it wasn’t that. It was more.
“You okay?” His voice was scratchy with worry.
“Yeah,” I replied softly. “I freaked out for nothing.” I felt kind of silly.
“It’s better to be safe than sorry. I’m glad you called. Did you call the cops?” I shook my head. I could see the wheels spinning behind his eyes. “You trusted me to take care of you.” It was a statement, not a question.
“I’m sorry, that’s probably a lot. Too much for someone you’re just dating, I mean, hanging out with.”
“You had it right the first time,” he drawled, his eyes searching my face.
“Are you sure?” I asked, not sure why I felt a little unsteady when it came to us.
“Why wouldn’t I be?” His gaze searched mine.
“You haven’t kissed me,” I pointed out.
“Kissed you, huh? That will make you believe we’re dating?” I couldn’t help it. My thighs pressed together for relief while a different kind of nerves fluttered to life in my belly.
“Merritt,” I whispered.
“Fuck,” he cursed under his breath before pressing his forehead against mine. “You have any idea how much I love the way you say my name?”
“Merritt,” I breathed.
“You keep saying it, you’re going to get more than kissed.” It was an unspoken challenge. One I believed. His feet started to move, and before I knew it, my back was pressed against the wall that led to the hall with my room at the end of it. His front touched mine, and my lips parted when I felt him press against me exactly where I needed him.
“You’re mine, Scarlett. Only mine.”
“Honey,” I breathed.
“Smart, baby. You say my name, I’m gonna take you directly to your room and claim every inch of you.” Every inch of me?
“What does that mean?”
“Say my name and find out.” I opened my mouth, ready to call his bluff, when his finger pressed against my lips. “But you gotta know something.”
“What?” I whispered before licking his finger and loving the deep sound of his groan.
“I take you, I kiss and claim you? That’s it. You’re mine. No going back. You gotta be sure, because there is no way I can live without you.”
“Live without me,” I repeated quietly. “How can you be so sure? It’s only been a week.”
“I know,” he reassured me with a confidence that shook me. Merritt Hart, one of the sexiest, most beautiful men inside and out, wanted me. Forever.
“Forever,” he repeated, making me realize I’d said the word out loud. “If I could get more than forever, I’d insist on that.”
“If that’s true, that would mean you––“
“I, what? Say it.”
“Honey.” My voice shook.
“I love you, Scarlett.” The words felt like a shot of the smoothest tequila I’d ever enjoyed. “You’re mine, cutie pie. Today, tomorrow, always. Until my last breath. And even then, I’d fight the devil himself to figure out how to get more time with you.”
He wasn’t just saying pretty words to get into my pants.
He meant every word.
Sincere emotion dripped from every syllable. I had no idea how the hell we had found one another or how crazy fast it was moving, and I didn’t care. I’d lived my life the way I had, keeping people outside my family at arm’s length. I’d thought it was me, that I’d been the problem, but maybe it had been more than that. Maybe my soul had known he was out there. My other half. Maybe subconsciously, I had been waiting for him all along?
“I love you, too,” I said, never meaning and believing anything more.
It was crazy fast, but it didn’t make it any less true.
His forehead touched mine, and that big, thick part of him rubbed perfectly against me. His breath fanned over my lips, and every molecule of my body felt like it sparked to life. I was finally going to be kissed. I knew it.
“Scarlett,” he rasped, and I felt my lips tilt up.
“I love you, Merritt.” I didn’t know if it was the adrenaline or the moment or the week of anticipation, but his name came out a little louder. “I love you so much. Forever.”
“Fuck,” he cursed a moment before his lips came down on mine and I got the most perfect first kiss.
The first of many, I’d soon find out.