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“How could you have spoken to me so harshly that night?” I had to know what was going on with all this. Rage was here with me now. For however long. For whatever reason. I had to know why and what his plans for me were. “You told me I’d better stick to the younger brother, because I could never be what you needed. You practically shoved Dustin inside the house and slammed the door the second I crossed the threshold. You left me there with him and didn’t look back! Anytime you came to visit, you’d give me a disgusted look before leaving. I heard you telling him he had no business being with me.”
“You were my brother’s woman. And I wanted you with a fierceness that bordered on obsession, baby. I’m a lot of things, but I don’t poach. Not even my brother when I know he’s no good for you. That’s why I didn’t want him with you. I wasn’t disgusted with you. I was disgusted with myself for being tempted to beat the living fuck outta Dustin, throw you over my shoulder, and keep you locked away inside this compound. You are way too good for that dickhead. He might be my brother, but he’s a lazy, good-for-nothing asshole, and I’ve told him so on multiple occasions.”
“And you’re not?” I’d stopped my struggling because it was only making me look even more foolish than I already did, but I couldn’t help that one little dig.
“Never said that. I’m an asshole, sure. But I’m not lazy, and I’ll work hard to provide for you and Cassandra. Get used to it, Pepper. You’re mine now. So you’re going to accept it. You’re going to accept me, and we’re going to work on making this work between us. I’m gonna be your man. You’re gonna be my woman. Together, we’ll raise Cassie to be the happiest, most spoiled little princess in the world. Now. Before we continue, I want you to finish what you started to say earlier.” He cupped my cheek, making me hold his gaze. “You never wanted Dustin like you wanted…” One imperious eyebrow went up, letting me know he expected an answer.
With a sigh, I let it out. “I never wanted him like I wanted you, Rage. Since the first time I saw you when I was barely sixteen, it’s always been you.”
Rage grunted his approval at me. Then his face descended and his lips found mine. And I was lost…
Chapter Three
Rage
For longer than I wanted to think about, I’d imagined myself in this exact position. Pepper belonged exactly where she was. In my arms. My lips firmly mashed against hers. Kissing her was everything I thought it would be and so very much more.
At first, she hesitated. Stilled so completely I was sure I’d shocked her. Then she moaned sweetly and… melted against me. I took that as my cue to deepen my kiss. She tasted divine. Sweet honeysuckle and cool, July rain. I could taste her apprehension as well, though that faded quickly enough. When she wrapped her slender arms around my neck, I knew I had her. The only task I had now was keeping Pepper and Cassie safe and happy. From everyone. Including my idiot brother.
I let the kiss continue for long moments before I gently ended it, resting my forehead against hers. She was breathing hard and clinging to me, her eyes closed. When I caressed her cheek and pulled back to look at her, there was a dreamy smile on her face and a look of bliss so content I had to smile. This woman was so mine.
“There, baby. Now you know it’s always been you, too.”
Gradually, her eyes opened and she looked up at me. Her face flushed, and she brought one hand to her mouth, pressing her fingertips to her lips. “Wow.”
I couldn’t help but grin. “Oh, yeah, baby. Wow indeed.”
She stiffened. “Are you making fun of me?”
“Hell, no!” I shook my head slightly but stroked her cheek with my thumb, not letting her retreat and regroup. This was an all-out assault, with my goal being to bombard my way into Pepper’s life while she was distracted and take what I wanted. Which was her heart. “Honey, I ain’t never had a simple kiss feel so damned good. That’s all you and definitely deserving of a ‘wow.’”
“What do we do from here? I mean, I have a baby. Your brother’s baby. If I’m supposed to be your… old lady… what happens to Cassie?”
“Honey, I was there when you brought her into this world. I held your hand during every push. I’m pretty sure the doctor thought I was the daddy then. Ain’t no reason I can’t be her daddy now.”
I gasped. “Why would you do that?”
“Because you were always mine, Pepper. I should have taken you away from my brother a long time ago, but you were only sixteen. He might have been eighteen, but I was thirty-six. Too damned old for you.”
