Page 75 of Triple the Secrets
Obviously wanting a front row seat, Scarlett thought to herself.
Harlow and Royal exchanged a smirk and Harlow whispered, “Wanna bet he’s going to come in here and act like nothing happened?”
When the clubhouse door opened, they all turned to watch as Rogue and Fury stalked inside. Rogue had a plastic bag in one hand, and his expression was dark and brooding. His attention moved to the girls, then quickly moved back to her. His eyes were dark and she couldn’t quite get a read on them. He walked over to stand behind her chair, and she could feel the heat of his body against her back as he set the bag in the middle of the table.
“Thanks, Uncle Ro-Ro,” Win said sweetly, reaching out and taking the bag.
Rogue didn’t react. Instead, he just looked down at Scarlett and said, “You eat?” Scarlett nodded, looking up at him. “Good.” He looked down at her for a moment more before he pulled her up and said, “Come on.”
“Where are you going?” Wren asked suspiciously.
Rogue didn’t answer, just led Scarlett out of the room and up the stairs. Scarlett swallowed and glanced over her shoulder at the other women. Royal, Harlow, and Esme were grinning knowingly, while Karissa was glaring at Razor, and the twins were looking uneasy and concerned. Scarlett looked back towards Rogue’s hand clasped around hers. His grip wasn’t tight, but she was still wary.
When they walked into his room, he shut the door quietly behind them, locked it, then dropped her hand and turned to her, arms crossing over his chest. Scarlett looked up at him and waited. “Nothing to say?” he asked quietly.
Scarlett swallowed a laugh, and said seriously, “I’m not sure what you want me to say, Rogue. I didn’t give you the list, and if you had asked me in the first place, I would have told you they were pulling your leg.”
He gave her a doubtful look. “Would you?” he asked slowly. “Would you really?” He stepped closer and slowly wrapped his hand around her throat, grip loose. She swallowed, and even though her body was feeling like shit, there was a wisp of heat in her belly at the feel of his hand.
She delicately shrugged and answered, “Alright, maybe not, but you have to admit, it’s kind of funny.”
His eyes darkened even more as he leaned his head down towards her. “You think it’s funny to send me on a wild goose chase, huh? Or did you think doing that would make me give you the punishment you love so much?” Scarlett felt her eyes widen at that. “Yeah, that’s what I thought,” he muttered.
“Rogue, it was a joke,” she tried to soothe. “The girls are still trying to navigate things, and let’s face it, periods make women hormonal. Teenage girls are a whole other ball game. This isn’t nearly as bad as it could have been. Hell, with those two, they could have done something that would really have pissed you off. And if you want me, you get them too.”
Rogue huffed out a breath. “I’m not going to have any hair left by the time they go to college,” he muttered.
“You know, they could decide to stay around here and live with me until they finish college,” she pointed out helpfully.
“Like hell they are,” he said firmly.
Scarlett rolled her eyes and pushed against his hand, making him drop it. “For someone who didn’t want a relationship, you’re acting an awful lot like you’re planning on sticking around for the long haul.”
He scowled at her. “What the hell are you talking about?” he snapped.
She arched a brow at him, unfazed. “Rogue, come on. We’ve been officially together for what, two days? Not to mention, we’re now living with you on your compound because the fuckers from our past are back and they want to grab us again. That’s a lot for a two day relationship, and I think we need to be realistic that it could all get to be too much for you, and you’ll realize you didn’t want a relationship after all. Or you’ll get tired of the girls’ antics and only want to see each other around town or at the library, if you ever have reason to be in it again.”
“You finished?” he asked tightly.
Scarlett frowned at the angry glint in his eyes. “Yes,” she said carefully.
“You think I don’t know what I want, Scarlett?” he asked, dangerously calm. “That I’m going to just up and decide to walk away? Did you already forget my warning that once I claimed you, you were mine? That you would never be able to hide from me? Because I meant it when I said that I will burn the whole fucking world down to find you, to protect you.”
“Rogue—”
“I’m not done,” he growled, towering over her. Scarlett held her ground, but she was quickly realizing she had said something to royally piss him off. “I don’t do relationships, Scarlett, because they don’t matter to me. Not until you. I already told you that I don’t know shit about how to navigate being a good man for you, but I’m going to try. And as much as those two little shits piss me off, I know they’re going to be hell on wheels and I want to see them steam roll right past all of us. I want them to be safe and protected just as much as you.”
“And that’s great, Rogue. I’m just saying we’re new, and it’s going to take some time to figure out how to handle each other and the girls. I mean, every woman wants to hear their boyfriend say they see a future for them, but I prefer to be realistic that things happen. I don’t want to get my heart broken, Rogue.”
“I’m not your boyfriend, Scarlett,” he growled. “I’m your man. I’m not a boy, and I won’t give you hearts and roses and romantic bullshit to impress you. With me, what you see is what you get, and I’ll spend my days making you happy and comfortable. You won’t want for anything.” He grabbed her by the waist and hauled her flush against him. She felt the hard bulge in his jeans, making her gasp softly. “You think any other boy is going to be able to give you what I can, Scarlett? Feed that darkness deep down inside of you?”
Scarlett swallowed and held his gaze. “Sex isn’t everything,” she reminded him.
“It’s a big part,” he returned.
“Well if you were hoping to have that happen now, you’re going to be disappointed. Or have you forgotten all about shark week already? I mean, I know you’re getting up there but I didn’t realize you were getting senile…” She yelped when he slapped her ass, hard, and she glared up at him. “Hey!”
“That smartass mouth is about to get a reminder of just how little some blood bothers me,” he warned her mildly.
