Page 35 of Triple the Secrets
“You knew you wanted me weeks ago?” she breathed, still trying to wrap her mind around it all.
He nodded and slowly released her head from his grip. “Fucking didn’t like it, but the more I watched, the more those feelings grew. But now you need to decide, Scarlett. Are you going to let me have you? Or are you going to push me away?”
That was the question, wasn’t it? The fact that she was even considering this was mind boggling to her. He embodied everything she should be staying away from. Danger. Anger. Darkness. All of it was a temptation that she only needed to reach out and take. But it wasn’t just her. It wasn’t just what she wanted.
The girls might think that they had Rogue’s measure, but they were wrong. He wouldn’t hurt them, that she knew, but just because she wanted him didn’t mean that she had the right to put their lives at risk. She had sworn to protect them, even from herself, if needed.
Still, the idea of protection from Rogue and his club was tempting. She had heard the rumors, and knew just by looking at them that they were a force to be reckoned with. Bigger foes had gone after them and lost. Hell, it was just a few months ago that the town was talking about how they had taken down a local faction of the cartel or something?
And you’re thinking of letting the girls be around them, her brain taunted her.What kind of person does that?
She looked at Rogue, at the darkness that swirled around him. He was right. He was never going to be an easy man. He was infuriating, but he was also unmoveable when it came to things he found important. The man wanted her, and it was clear to her that he had just admitted more than he planned. Still, this was important.
Against her better judgement, she whispered, “Why do I want to say yes so badly?”
Triumph flashed in his eyes, he reached out and hauled her against him. “Because you know I’m right,” he rasped. One hand slid around her waist while the other moved down to cup her ass. Her breath hitched at the feel of his hand through her clothes. “Because you’re tired of running, of being in control, and you want to let go. Let someone else shoulder the burden.”
“You make it sound like I’m using you,” she whispered.
“Because you are,” he said bluntly. “But I’m using you too. I’m using you to soothe the monster inside me, and I don’t give a damn what anyone else thinks. The only thing that matters is you and I.”
“But, shouldn’t I want a relationship with love?” she muttered, half to herself. It was like an out-of-body experience. How much wine had she had? Was she drunk?
“You’re not drunk,” he told her, a small touch of amusement in his voice. She flushed. Shit, she said that out loud. “You’re fighting what you know should happen, and while I appreciate that you’re thinking this through, I’m just about done waiting. Love isn’t part of this. Could I love you? Maybe. Never loved anyone, so who the fuck knows? You don’t love me either, but I know I need to have you. Need to make you mine.” He gave her a lustful look. “Need to see the mark of my hand around your throat knowing that I did that while you were sassing me. That I made you remember who was in charge. I need to know that when I get home from a run, you’ll be there to sate the monster before he gets free.”
She really needed to ask him about this monster he kept referring to. “I don’t know that I can give you what you want in bed,” she said nervously. “I’m vanilla, Rogue.”
He snorted. “You’re about as vanilla as I am. No one who is vanilla gets turned on at the idea of a hand on their throat, choking them. If you were, you would be kicking and screaming and trying to get me off you instead of leaning into me the way you are now.”
She startled, realizing he was right. She was pressed tight against him, hands gripping his shirt tight, her entire body trembling. “Oh,” she said dumbly.
“I’m done waiting, Scarlett,” he told her softly. “Is that a yes and you become mine? Or do you say no, and I leave and come back another day to convince you?”
“You’d come back if I said no?”
“I’ll come back as often as I need to,” he vowed. “I told you, I’m done denying what I want.”
“What about the girls? What if they don’t agree with us being together?”
He smirked now. “Why do you think they’re out? How do you think I knew you were home alone?”
Huh. Guess that answered that. Which meant that the girls obviously were okay with her being with him. She was about to make a decision that would change their lives. Did she jump in and hope he caught her and didn’t let her crash and shatter? Or did she go on with her life and try to forget about him?
The idea of him not being around wasn’t a pleasing thought. Damn, she was screwed.
“Scarlett,” he growled at her.
Time was up, and she had to make a choice. She held his gaze, and she knew the moment he saw the acceptance in her eyes. His nostrils flared, his eyes blazed, and his grip tightened almost to the point of pain. “Last chance,” he gritted out, jaw clenching.
She swallowed hard. He was right. She was tired of running, tired of being the one to always hold up the charge of making a new life. She had survived a horrific experience, and she had let it rule her for far too long. It was time to start living again. And that started with Rogue.
“Okay,” she whispered. The moment the word was out of her mouth, she wondered if she had made a very big mistake. She just agreed to belong to the one man who could break her. The traffickers had tried, had almost succeeded, but Rogue, he was nothing like them. He could break her into little pieces, so as much as she had agreed, she was going to be cautious.
“Thank fuck,” he gritted out, but his grip didn’t loosen. Instead, he moved the hand around her waist down to her other butt cheek and he hoisted her up so that she had to wrap her legs around his waist. She gasped in surprise, and he took immediate advantage.
The kiss was punishing, a carnal claiming. His mouth moved over hers in a way that set her blood on fire. His tongue plunged into her mouth, controlling her, and she moaned in both desire and acceptance. She was being swirled up into the storm that was him, and she had to hold on tight and let him take her.
His teeth bit into her lower lip, making her gasp at the sharp bite of pain. It only fuelled the fire inside her, and she nipped him back. He growled low in his throat, and she pulled back just enough to see the darkness in his eyes. He was hanging onto his control by a very thin thread, and she had the sudden urge to break it. To see just what he had promised her.
