Wild Love (The Wilde Brothers #1)

Chapter 18

18

ELI

B runch was a temporary distraction. I knew Chance still wanted to talk to me about why his sister jumped on me after the skydive.

I could tell him we'd developed a friendship, and she was just worried about me. Marigold was just as panicked, and she wasn't dating any of the guys.

I wanted to tell him the truth. I was falling in love with his sister, but I wasn't sure she felt the same. The ache in my chest grew bigger every day that passed between now and the performance of Marigold's play.

I didn't want to do anything that would push Scarlett away. On the other hand, I didn't want to make her stay either. She had a free spirit, and I wouldn't ask her to clip her wings. She'd grow to resent me.

I had a feeling that I should let her go. If she came back then, we were meant to be. But she hadn't talked about leaving or a job offer. I wasn't sure what it meant but I was afraid to hope that she'd want to stay.

Scarlett St. Claire never stayed in any one place for long. Why would she change for me? It was outside of her character .

I wanted to come home to Scarlett at the house on the mountain. I already had a successful business, but I wanted more.

If Scarlett left, I was going to be crushed. I'd thought a lot about whether I could handle long-distance, and I wasn't sure I was equipped for it. Her shows lasted several weeks to sometimes months. Would she return for a week or even a few days? Was that enough to sustain a relationship? I'm sure it worked for some people. I just wasn't sure I was cut out for it.

I was hanging out behind the bar at the lodge when Chance walked in. He was in full uniform, so I asked, "Is there a problem?"

He raised a brow. "I wanted to talk to you."

I tensed. This had to be about Scarlett. "Are you on break?"

Chance nodded. "I have a few minutes to talk."

"Want to take this to my office?"

Chance considered me for a few seconds. "That's a good idea."

I could have talked to him at the bar or even outside, but I wanted privacy for this conversation. I led the way to my office which was on the upper floor. It was a quiet space that got me away from the noise of the bars and restaurants.

I closed the door behind us. "I assume you want to talk about Scarlett."

Chance remained standing near the door.

To give myself time, I went to the small bar and poured a shot for myself, grabbing a water for him.

When I handed him the bottle, he asked, "You want to tell me why my sister was on top of you earlier today?"

I moved away from him, putting the desk between us.

"I asked you to look out for her. If that turned into something more, then you should have told me."

I sighed. "You're right. And I'm sorry. I didn't know this would happen. I didn't even see Scarlett this way until she came home and we spent some time together. Obviously, she's a beautiful woman, and I was attracted to her. But it wasn't a good idea because of our friendship."

"Then why did you start something?" Chance asked.

"Scarlett thought it would be temporary, and there wouldn't be a need to tell you. She'd be gone, and it wouldn't have meant anything."

Chance set the water down on my desk without opening it. "So you're just fucking my sister?"

I held up a hand. "Whoa. It's not like that."

"What's it like?" Chance asked, barely restraining his anger.

I met his gaze. "I think I'm in love with your sister. I want her to stay, maybe move into my new house with me, and start a life together."

His eyes widened. "Are you fucking with me?"

I shook my head. "I suspected from the start that this thing with your sister was different. This was the only way I could find out, and I had to take the chance. But I know who she is, and she won't be happy living here. She's going to leave. It's just a matter of time." The pain in my chest felt a lot like heartburn, but I knew there was no medicine that could fix it.

Chance sat in the chair across from my desk. "You're really in love with my sister?"

I nodded miserably, mimicking his actions.

He lifted his head to meet my gaze. "How does she feel about you?"

"She hasn't said one way or the other, but I think she likes me. I don't know if it's enough to overcome her wanderlust."

He grimaced. "You shouldn't want to change her."

I stood, running a hand through my hair, and paced in front of the windows. "Your sister is so amazing. I'd never want to quell her spirit. But I wanted her to give Telluride a real chance. That's why I bought the theater. "

" You bought the theater?" Chance asked, and his tone was deceptively calm.

"I didn't want it to be sold and renovated into a bar. It was the only way to save it, and I wanted her to experience what it was like to direct. I thought maybe it would convince her to stay."

"You thought a theater would do the trick after everything we've done over the years?"

"Your love pushed her away, and I can't figure out why. It's almost as if she believes that she's not worthy of it. But you two had a great childhood growing up. Why would she feel unlovable?"

"I think it's because she doesn't feel like she fits in. She's always rebelled against expectations for whatever the norm was: going to college, coming home, and settling down. She craves something different, and that meant never staying in one place for long." The look he gave me was sympathetic because I was destined for heartbreak.

The naive part of me wanted my love to be enough, but I knew it wouldn't be.

"You think that you'll be different. That you can convince her to stay when no one else has."

"She has the theater and the kids. She loves directing that play."

"But what does she have? She doesn't own the theater. You do. She doesn't even get paid for her position. It's volunteer. Eventually, she's going to need a paying job. The condo was nice for now, but she'll grow to resent that too."

I gripped the back of my neck. That was entirely true but I wanted to talk to Scarlett about the ownership of the theater before I discussed it with her brother. "You're right. I'm in a shit situation. But have I screwed up between us?"

Chance sighed. "I'm not happy about it. But I'm more worried you're going to get hurt. "

"Are you sure I haven't ruined our friendship?"

"You love my sister. I don't like it. But you're the one destined for pain."

"I went behind your back. I said I'd protect her when I was the one she needed protection from."

Chance let out a humorless bark. "You're the one who needs protection from my sister. She destroys everything in her path, causing pain when she leaves. It's just what she does."

Now I was irritated. "I don't like that characterization. And it doesn't help that you and your parents think that about her."

Chance held up a hand. "Relax. I didn't mean anything by it."

I resumed pacing, my movements jerky. "Maybe you're the reason why she leaves. You and your parents. She can never live up to your expectations."

"I've thought about that."

"Just let her be. She's not wrong to want something else."

Chance stood and ran a hand through his hair. "I've been stuck in this mold for so long. The perfect son. The best police officer I can be, now the sheriff. The entire community looks up to me. I have to follow the rules, do what's expected, and it's always been that way. Scarlett was younger, the wild one, the one who could get away with everything. I had to be what my parents expected."

"Are you saying you don't want to be sheriff?" It was always assumed he'd take over for his father one day, and now that he had, everyone was pleased with the transition. I hadn't realized that he was unhappy.

"I don't know what's going on. I'm feeling restless. And now you're telling me you've fallen in love with Scarlett and you want her to stay."

"I want to marry her."

The air whooshed out of Chance's chest. "Wow."

"Don't worry. She doesn't want the same." There was no chance she would commit to me like that. It was a matter of time before she left, and I'd be heartbroken.

"You need to tell her how you feel."

Mac said the same thing. "I've thought a lot about this. What if it just pushes her away more? What if she sees me as no different than you or your parents?"

"That's a possibility, but you won't know if you don't talk to her. What if she leaves without you admitting your feelings? You'll regret it."

Chance's radio crackled, and the dispatcher called out. "I've got to go. We'll talk about this later."

Chance walked out, but I couldn't get up. I sat in my office chair and watched as the sky outside my window got darker and thought about what I was going to do.

But there was no question. When she wanted to leave, I'd have to let her go.

T hat night, I'd invited Scarlett over for dinner at my place. She'd mentioned how we never hung out here in my space. We had made love that one night. But I wanted her to feel special. I hadn't purposely kept her from my condo, and I didn't want her to think I had.

I cooked lasagna and garlic bread, confident I wouldn't screw it up. This was the meal I made for my brothers when we were kids. Mom taught me how to make it, and it was something that was hearty enough for everyone.

When the knock sounded on my door, I rolled up my sleeves and opened the door.

There was something about ending my day with her. I pulled her into my body and kissed her, pouring my feelings into that one move .

"That's quite the greeting," she murmured when we came up for air.

There were red roses in the middle of the counter. "These are for you."

Scarlett rounded the island, admiring them. "They're gorgeous."

"We can put them in your place if you want, or you can stay here with me."

"Are you asking me to move in with you?"

"I just want to spend as much time together as possible. We spend each night together anyway."

Scarlett smiled. "That makes sense."

It was a practical decision, but I wanted assurances that she wouldn't leave. But she didn't give me any. It hurt, but I expected this.

I plated the lasagna and placed the bread in the middle of the dining-room table.

I'd dimmed the lights and lit candles. Soft music played over the speakers.

"This is romantic," Scarlett said as I pulled out the chair for her to sit.

There was a fire already crackling in the hearth. "I suppose it is."

"Are we celebrating anything?"

I poured two glasses of red wine. "Maybe the performance?"

She smiled softly, her face illuminated by candlelight. "But we haven't done that yet."

I gestured between us. "We can celebrate us. Who knew this would happen when you came home?"

"I sure didn't." Scarlett chuckled softly as I sat next to her. The table was long and meant for my huge family. I wanted this to be intimate. I didn't want Scarlett to avoid us any longer.

Should I tell her how I felt tonight? Would it make a difference, or would she still leave when the time came ?

"I talked to Chance today."

Scarlett frowned. "What did you tell him?"

"That I'm in love with you, and I never meant for this to happen, but it did."

Scarlett sucked in a breath. That wasn't exactly how I'd planned to talk to her about my feelings. I thought we'd be closer to being naked and in my bedroom, languid from the wine and food.

I felt a little too sober for this admission.

"Was he mad?"

"Not when he saw how serious I was about you. I apologized, but I'd do it all over again. The risk was worth it. Even though I knew this is temporary."

"Wow."

"It's better to love than not at all."

Scarlett put down her fork and moved to straddle my lap. I let my hands fall to my sides. "What are you doing?"

Her cheeks were flush, her plump lips shiny. She cupped my cheeks with both hands. "I love you too."

Then she kissed me before I could catch my breath. I stopped her with a hand on her chest. That only made me want to cup her breast, but I had to know. "You love me?"

She nodded, her eyes suspiciously shiny.

My chest was close to bursting. I had no idea she felt this deeply about me. "I didn't plan for this."

She pursed her lips, drawing my attention there. "I didn't either."

"I don't know what the future holds." It was best to be honest with her.

Her forehead wrinkled. "I don't either."

"But we have the here and now." Suddenly, I needed to be as close to her as I could get.

I pulled her down to my lips, and she moved sensually over me. My dick grew hard behind my zipper .

When we pulled away, her lips were red and swollen.

"I think it's a good time to mention that these windows are one-way."

There was an eager glint in her eye. "So we could fuck in front of them, and no one would ever know?"

"We could," I said, eager to have her right now.

She scrambled off my lap. "How do you want me?"

I’d fantasized about her hands pressed to the glass, and I couldn't get it out of my mind.

Scarlett must have had the same idea because she lifted her dress over her head and sauntered over to the window.

I was frozen, mesmerized by the gentle sway of her hips. She wore a red lace thong and black stilettos. Her back and legs were lean and muscular from years of dancing.

She stopped in front of the glass, facing away from me. She hooked her fingers in the sides of her bottoms and pulled them slowly over her hips.

The striptease prompted me to move. I unbuttoned my shirt as I went. By the time I reached her, my chest was bare and I was unzipping my pants, my cock already leaking for her. "I can't hold back."

"I wouldn't want you to."

She leaned over, pressing her palms against the cool glass, her legs spread wide.

I let out a shaky breath. This woman was all mine, and she loved me. Nothing else mattered. We'd figure it out. We had to. Because the love of a lifetime didn't come around every day.

Scarlett was it for me.

I touched her pussy, which was dripping wet. I lifted my fingers to my mouth and sucked her essence off my finger.

Scarlett looked over her shoulder at me, her expression filled with want.

"I know what you need, baby." I gripped her hips, lining my dick up with her entrance. Then with one thrust, I was seated to the hilt. Fuck. I stilled, letting out a breath, wondering how I'd ever gotten so lucky.

She squirmed, encouraging me to move.

I pulled out, watching the spot where we were joined. I could see her face in the reflection of the window, and her eyes were closed.

"Watch me while I fuck you."

Her eyes popped open.

"See what you do to me."

She moaned, her pussy squeezing my cock.

I groaned as I gripped her hips more tightly. It was as if she'd fly away if I didn't hold on to her. Then I let loose, moving with abandon. I was lost to the sensation of her walls squeezing me tight and the moans and whimpers she made. I wanted her to come on my cock.

I reached around, tweaking her nipples, then moved one hand to her clit, rubbing it with my thumb. She arched against me, changing the angle.

It was too much. The orgasm crashed through me at the same time she went off. I rode the wave and the aftershocks, wondering if I'd ever be okay without her in my life.

Or would I always feel this ache in my heart for a woman I couldn't fully possess? How did one claim someone who needed to fly? I couldn't hold her down or cage her. I had to set her free.

I took a deep breath, then pulled out, watching my release spill from her body. I touched her, and she jumped, still sensitive after her orgasm.

"This is so hot." I loved seeing my seed spilling from her body. I could see her belly swollen with my child. She was mine. I just had to get her to see that. She could have it all and me. She'd travel but always come back to me. It wasn't ideal, but I'd take whatever I could get.

Resigned to that plan, I went to grab a washcloth. When I returned, she was pulling her dress over her head. I lifted it to wash her. "Want to take a shower together?"

She bit her lip like she wanted to say something more, but she didn't. "That sounds nice."

I took her hand, leaving our leftovers on the table. I'd take care of them later.

We showered, and I lifted her against the wall and slipped inside of her again. This time was slower, more intimate. And we fell into bed exhausted. It was a long day between the skydiving, talking to Chance, and spilling my feelings to Scarlett.

I'd opened up to everyone. I just hoped it would be enough.