Alpha Bully (14 page)

“You don’t have a clue what you do to me, Scarlett.”

“What do I do to you?” She bit into her lip, opening
her eyes to stare right back at him.

“You make me ache for something we can’t do.”

She chuckled, pulling away.

Resting her head on his shoulder, she allowed herself
to finally relax in his company. His hand held hers, and she didn’t want to
pull away. Taking the flask from him, she shared the hot chocolate with him.
Marshall fed her chocolate cake, and when the cold couldn’t be chased away by
his body heat, they made their way back to his home.

His parents were in the kitchen when they arrived.

Scarlett stayed for dinner, calling her parents to
find they were still at work. She didn’t mind. They were both doctors, and they
loved their work and were lovely parents.

She enjoyed the time she spent with Marshall. When he
drove her home that evening she was sad for the day to be ending.

“I really enjoyed today.”

“Me, too.”
He leaned over and pressed a kiss to her lips. “I’ll see you soon.”

What did that mean? She didn’t ask him what he meant.
Instead, she opened the door and walked up to her home. Scarlett let herself
inside and turned to wave at Marshall.

Her parents were home and in the kitchen.

They were sharing takeout as she walked inside.

“Hey, honey, did you have fun today?” her mother
asked.

“Yes. It was wonderful.” Sitting with her parents, she
talked with them about her day. She asked them about theirs, which they
discussed in great length.

When dinner was over, she made her way upstairs.

Scarlett froze when she saw Marshall sitting on her
bed. She’d not even heard him come back. Closing her door quickly, she kept her
gaze focused on him. “I didn’t know you were coming back.”

“I did tell you that I’d see you soon.”

She smiled. “I honestly didn’t think you’d come back.
I’m not ill anymore.”

“I didn’t stay around because you were ill.” He rubbed
his hands together. “I stay because I want to be with you. I always want to be
with you, Scarlett.”

Her heart began to race once again. “I like you being
with me as well.”

“I won’t get you into trouble, but do you mind if I
stay with you again tonight?” he asked.

“What about your parents? Don’t they worry?”

Marshall smiled. “I’ve got my bedroom covered.”

“What does that mean?”

“It means they understand I need my own space.” He got
to his feet, stepping toward her. Marshall placed his hands on either side of
her head. “I promise you, Scarlett, you’re safe with me. I won’t do anything to
hurt you.”

She didn’t want him to leave.

Mate.

Something was changing inside her when it came to
Marshall. She accepted him and wanted to forget about what happened in their
past. He hadn’t bullied her since they returned to school.

“I’m going to get showered.” She moved past the door,
sliding underneath his arm to grab her pajamas.

“I’ll be here.”

Escaping to the bathroom, Scarlett closed the door. Staring
at her reflection, she blew out some air pushing her hair off her face.

“
It’s
okay, Scarlett. It’s
just a boy in your room. No biggie.” Even as she tried to give her reflection a
pep talk, nothing was happening. “No biggie.”

She turned on the shower, stripping down her clothes.
Scarlett washed quickly, not taking the time to enjoy the warm water. She was
dressed and ready within ten minutes. Wrapping her hair up on top of her head,
she walked back into her bedroom to discover Marshall lying on her bed in a
pair of sweat pants and nothing else.

“Hey,” he said.

Pointing behind her, she frowned. “Do you want to use
the shower? I didn’t even think to ask you.”

“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 anything 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.”