Page 229 of Scarlet Wars
Fuck!
No. No, absolutely not.
Caden going on a date with another woman?
Over my dead fucking body.
I stormedinto his room without knocking. “Rachel is going to ask you out!”
Caden looked up from the floor, mid–push-up, arms locked, sweat glistening all over his gorgeous half-naked body. He held the position for a beat, then finished the rep with infuriating control before pushing back onto his heels.
Annoyingly calm.
“Okay…”
“Well, you can’t tell her we’re together!”
He nodded once, still unfazed. “I know.”
“But…you’re going to…” The words jammed together in my throat like they were fighting for the exit.
Caden raised an eyebrow, waiting.
“You’re going to accept her invitation?” I blurted, arms flailing in a gesture I absolutely did not authorize.
His head snapped back. “What the hell?”
“Yeah, okay, no, you’re gonna refuse her, right?” I demanded, pacing in a tight little circle because my body apparently couldn’t stay still while my brain was combusting.
He dragged a hand down his face with a groan. “Jesus fuck, Emma. What do you think? I’m committed toyou. Why the hell would you even doubt me?”
“I’m not doubting you!” The words shot out too fast. “I’m just…” I exhaled hard and dropped onto his bed, the mattress dipping beneath me. “Fuck! I hate this!”
My shoulders sagged.
Caden jumped to his feet, then came to sit beside me, his hand sliding in mine. “You want to yell from the rooftops I’m yours.”
Not a question. Only truth, spoken out loud.
I nodded, throat tight. “I hate hiding us.”
“You think I don’t?” His jaw ticked, a pulse of anger flickering there. “You don’t think I want to tell every fucker who looks at you like you’re their next fucking snack to back off, or I’ll drag their testicles out through their mouth?”
I snorted, despite myself. “That’s very specific.”
The corner of his mouth twitched. “That’s very restrained.”
A laugh almost escaped me, caught in my throat, then died as reality crashed back down.
I squeezed his hand, latching onto him like he was the only thing keeping my pulse from spiraling out of control.
“I feel the need to mark you,” I grumbled, honesty popping loose like a cork I hadn’t meant to pull.
Caden’s smile warmed. “Pretty sure those teeth marks of yours are still all over my chest.”
“I don’t want another woman looking at you,” I admitted. “I swear, any time anyone evenmentionsyour name, I want to carve out their eyeballs and light them on fire.”
His brow lifted, dry amusement etched across his face. “And you comment on my allegedly unrestrained desires?”
