Passion Projected (10 page)

“You can read my mind, can you not?” she bit out.

He took a deep breath looking at her levelly. “Yes, I can.”

“Then why can’t you understand that I need time for myself? You know that’s all I want, and yet you deny me. Why?”

“Because I think you truly don’t want that. You love me, I know you do. You’re just angry right now since you don’t have control of the situation. You’ll get over it.”

Shocked, Marley’s jaw dropped open. For someone who could read minds, he proved terrible at interpreting her thoughts. The more she thought of his words, the angrier she became, and then the laughter came.

It was the complete mad laughter that possesses someone when they know that they have finally lost it, the kind of laughter that fills someone when they are about to snap.

“Control of the situation,” she laughed, looking at his confused features. Out of the corner of her eye, she could see Cole looking back at them, obviously on alert. She was sure he was confused about why the hell she was laughing,, but both he and Zachary would soon find out.

“You’re right, Mr. Werewolf who takes people’s hearts and souls, leaving them completely without anything. Of course I have no control, you idiot. Fucking moron, you took it from me without the least bit of explanation about what you are or what you were doing. I have no house, no business, no parents, no fucking money, no car…”

Marley laughed some more. “I don’t even fucking have a Goddamn pair of clean panties, you asshole!” she screamed.

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Passion Projected

73

Jordan took peeks in the rearview mirror. The moment he noticed she caught him, the smile on his face vanished.

Now that her tantrum had drained her, she went limp in Zachary’s arms.

“I did try to tell you, Marley. Plenty of times, actually, but I guess you never heard me. I’m sorry. I was never deceitful. From the beginning I tried to tell you. Then, when we actually spoke to each other, well, I didn’t get my chance. Again, I’m sorry.” Zachary hugged her limp frame into his body.

Marley’s breaths became ragged as she remembered him always pleading to her, but she could never hear him. He told the truth, Vibrations started shaking her stomach. The road began to make its presence known. Panicked, Marley knew she had to get out of the vehicle, and fast, if she wasn’t going to get car sick. How long had they been on the road, anyway? Darkness filled the sky, so she must have been asleep pretty long, which surprised her. Sleep in a car proved to be impossible as she grew up.

“Jordan, find us a place to pull over. Marley needs to get out and walk around,” Zachary said for her.

Not two minutes later, the SUV pulled into a rest stop that was practically deserted except for an eighteen wheeler. Not chancing a moment’s time, she jumped out as fast as she could, welcoming the fresh air and steady ground.

Zachary trailed behind her, not a foot away while she walked in large circles. It made her want to laugh with how ridiculous they must look. Of course, it made her a tad bit angry, too, that she couldn’t even walk alone.

A light caught Marley’s attention. The restrooms sat ahead. She looked over at him, raising her eyebrow. “Are you going to follow me in there, too?”

He lifted the side of his mouth, transforming his face into a mischievous grin. “Would you like me to follow you in there? Maybe Ebook piracy is stealing. It is a federal offense.

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Passion Projected

74

you need some assistance? I could get Cole or Jordan to join us if you would like.”

Her mouth opened and she looked at him, shocked. With a quick spin, she stalked to the restrooms. Marley’s body trembled at the thought of what he implied. It was all too tempting for her to take him up on his offer.

She took care of business and stared into the mirror for a long time. Thoughts swirled around while she stared at her reflection. Her mind kept replaying the day’s events. How had things gone so wrong?

Zachary was supposed to show up and sweep her off her feet, not literally sweep her across the country.

The daze broke when she heard a throat clear behind her. Slowly, she looked up at the reflection of Zachary making his way to her, looking right at her.

Trying to keep the emotions off of her face, she stood staring at him until he fitted himself against her back. At his nearness, she lowered her gaze to her blue fitted shirt noticing her generous breasts heaved as her breath turned heavy.

“Marley, please don’t be mad at me anymore. I promise that I’ll make this up to you.”

“How do you plan on doing that?”

“Follow me outside so we can talk.” Zachary waited for her to agree.

Marley nodded and looked down as Zachary’s hand encased hers.

His length engulfed the smallness of her hand, but something about the simple action caused butterflies in her stomach.

A picnic bench came into view as they proceeded forward and Zachary lifted Marley easily to sit her on top of the table. She couldn’t break eye contact with him. Just like in her dreams his eyes glowed in the dark. Awe washed over her.

“It’s not about the sex, Marley. Yes, that part is great, but I want something more with you. I want to know when I’m not with you that Ebook piracy is stealing. It is a federal offense.

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75

you miss me as much as I miss you. How do you feel when I’m not around?”

The response required no thought. She had lived with the feeling for the last three months. “My heart aches. I feel empty.” She felt exposed being so truthful. But she had to accept that her dream lover and this man were the same person.

“That’s exactly how I feel. Not many people share what we do.

Take for instance where we found each other. How many people can you say found their mate on a different mental plane?

“None.” Marley traced her finger along the back of his hand,

“Exactly. We were meant for one another. And I will spend every day for the rest of my life trying to prove it to you.”

Zachary’s large arms wrapped around her waist, embracing her tightly. Marley buried her face against his neck. A hug with someone never felt so right or stirred so many emotions in her. Once again, she became lost in his smell and the feeling of how complete she felt when she was with him.

As they separated from their embrace of one another Marley pulled Zachary down to lay on the top of the picnic table. The stars scattered across the sky brightly.

“Did you know when I was little I used to lie on my roof and stare at the stars every night?” Marley asked, never breaking her eye contact from the glowing orbs that dotted the sky.

“Really? Me too. I would watch every night from the balcony. It used to be my favorite time of the day.”

Marley rolled her body toward Zachary. He turned in her direction and smiled, causing the butterflies to return. Uneasiness settled over her at how fast she had forgiven him.

“We should go,” Marley said, standing from the picnic table abruptly. She walked quickly to the car trying to still her racing heart.

Confusion laced her thoughts. Had they just had a conversation without arguing?
Amazing.

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76

She got in, noticing Zachary followed right behind her. Cole and Jordan faced straight ahead, which concerned Marley. They seemed to be trying to be as inconspicuous as possible. While the SUV pulled out of the rest area, she studied them. Did she want them, too?

Zachary definitely gave her an enticing offer.

Their rigidness made her uneasy. They must feel terribly uncomfortable with her yelling and physically attacking their leader.

Shit, they were probably pissed, too. Had they seen her and Zachary getting along? She tried to think of something to ease the tension.

“Is there any music in this ride? You all had to have been listening to something before I came along and screwed things up.”

Cole looked back and then toward Zachary who just nodded his head. Zachary seemed to be thinking more than paying attention to anything else.

Marley was handed a case of CDs and started flipping through them, surprised she knew almost every single one of them. Songs she never thought that any of these guys would listen to.

Her fingers slid out a Muse CD, and she handed it to Cole, who just smiled big and put it in. “That one’s mine, you know,” Cole said, facing the front. “I’m glad we share the same tastes in music. Anyone who likes Muse is all right with me,” he teased. Marley laughed at him but looked out of the window.

The music poured through the Escalade, and she sat back and sung to the song in her head. It felt good to hear something besides silence. It made her more relaxed. Music could always bring out whatever emotion she wanted to feel, as long as the band played the right kind.

Hungriness took over, and she pulled out the crackers and started eating them, mindless of anyone’s actions. Muse helped her think.

Soon she rested so deeply in her thoughts she became oblivious to everything. Her mind swirled, and yet the thoughts still came pouring in, ready for her to analyze. Tonight would be long indeed.

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77

Cole couldn’t help but smile as he thought of Marley’s quick temper. Overall, he knew she could be a very caring and considerate person. She was upset at being taken against her will, but he understood that. Who wouldn’t be?

Muse echoed through the car, but he already lost connection with the music. Marley’s scent consumed his thoughts. Every time she got turned on, the smell nearly caused him to climb into the back seat. If it wasn’t for her being marked by his alpha, he would have claimed her himself.

The thickness of his cock pressed tightly against his jeans. He knew Jordan could smell her, too. Maybe taking an airplane hadn’t been a bad idea, after all. The pack was usually pretty open about sharing, but Zachary probably wouldn’t part with her. If she was his, he might not want to either, so he didn’t blame Zachary one bit.

The urge to stroke his cock quickly became insufferable. He cracked the window and counted the minutes until he could escape out of the confines of this prison. Hopefully Marley would want to stop at the next rest area sooner rather than later.

* * * *

There was one thing Marley knew for certain after going over everything in her head. Zachary had not lied to her once. So, why did she continue to hold anything against him? It was true, he didn’t have a choice in taking her. He protected his unborn child. Marley could understand that.

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Passion Projected

78

What did everyone always say, life’s not fair? It wasn’t, but she would get over it. She had to. Maybe things wouldn’t be so bad if she actually gave it a chance. It’s not like she could really do anything else. Holding on to her anger was just making her bitter and sick inside.

Four in the morning came faster than Marley could fathom. Her eyes were having a hard time focusing on the clock and the band Disturbed did nothing to keep her awake.

The last rest area they stopped at held more conversation between her and Zachary. His interest in learning all he could about her resulted in them spending close to an hour talking and laughing about her awkward high school years. The more she thought about things, the more she knew what she needed to do.

Look at me,
she told him in her mind. Marley nearly gasped when he actually did. He said he could read her mind, but the confirmation startled her.

Will you lay in the back seat with me and put me to sleep?

The gentleness of his face made her want to smile. He nodded once and climbed over the seat. Softly, he pulled her to lie down facing him, wrapping his arms around her waist on the small space.

Marley couldn’t stop looking into his eyes. They were the same eyes that she had fallen in love with. That blue-green color mesmerized her from the beginning.

I’m sorry for everything I did and said earlier. You have to
understand that things are going to be hard for me for a while, but
I’m willing to try. You just have to be patient with me, please.

A slight smile curved on his lips. He showed no cockiness or any hint of the arrogant smile she had seen him use before. This expression represented a different smile, one that held love and understanding.

With Zachary this close her heart pounded steadily. He was so breathtakingly beautiful it all seemed so unreal.

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Passion Projected

79

“Marley, close your eyes and let me hold you. I promise I won’t visit you in your sleep. Just rest and I’ll see you whenever you wake up.”

Feeling his hardness against her curves, she instantly shook her head no. “Meet me at our secret place.” Marley smiled.

There was that wicked grin.

“What if I don’t want to meet you there? What if I want it to be real? I want to taste you and feel you right now.” Zachary rubbed his nose against hers. The intimate action warmed her heart, but also ignited a heat inside of her.

Marley’s head turned toward the front of the car. “But they’ll hear us. Shit, they’ll smell us. They’re werewolves, too, or have you forgotten?”

He let out a small laugh. “Don’t worry about them. You won’t even know they’re there. I told you earlier, you could have one join us. You don’t have to worry about them. They know you belong to me. No one will ever know.”