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“And do you know what makes me even madder?”
Remy, standing inches in front of me now, asked, “What’s that?”
“It’s how much of a hypocrite you are.”
“I’m a hypocrite? I’ll have to admit that in the thousands of times I imagined this moment, being called a hypocrite hadn’t crossed my mind.”
“Well, you are.”
“Then enlighten me. How am I also a hypocrite?”
“You’re a hypocrite because you make this huge deal about the rewards that come from being your true self and then the moment you get the same choice, you do the opposite.”
“You think my withdrawing is me denying my true self?”
“I don’t think it. I know it.”
“That’s interesting because I think my true self is someone who does whatever they have to keep the ones they care about safe. To suffer, to endure, to hurt in order to make sure that nothing happens to the ones I love. Are you saying that’s not truly who I am?”
“The ones you love?” I asked vulnerably.
“The one I love,” Remy clarified.
I softened at his words but still maintained my resolve, “But you’re not heartless.”
“Who said I was heartless?”
“You did. In your actions.”
“Please enlighten me.”
“You think you can live your life with your heart locked away denying everything you need and desire, but you can’t. You’re gentle and vulnerable. You’re kind and wonderful. I know you think you should be this big bad wolf shifter, but you’re not like your father. That’s a good thing. And as a wise man once told me, when you are your true self, you’re rewarded.”
With that, Remy leaned down. Locking his eyes on mine, he closed them and slowly bridged the space between us. As his warm breath brushed against my cheek, I could smell the faint scent of his cologne, a mixture of sandalwood and citrus that sent shivers down my spine. My heart raced while my lips tingled with anticipation.
As if having waited for a lifetime, our lips met—soft, tender, like the hushed stroke of velvet. It was everything I had dreamed it would be. My eyes fluttered closed as I allowed myself to be in the moment. Every nerve in my body came alive as I kissed him back.
His fingers grazed my cheek before gently threading through my curls and cradling the back of my head. Feeling his touch, my arms wrapped around his neck. When his warm body pressed comfortably against mine, our bodies swayed.
As our kiss deepened, the taste of him lingered on my tongue. He was as sweet as the plumpest cherry and I tingled like mint. With my breath caught in my throat, my chest swelled with emotion. In his embrace, I finally realized what was true – this was where I belonged.
“Wait,” I said, pulling away.
“You asked me to be my true self. This is me and I want to kiss you. I’ve always wanted to kiss you. Watching you play with Hil when we were kids, I wanted to kiss you. I’ve never been anyone else.”
“I can’t be the other woman… or man… or person,” I insisted.
“You’re not. You’re the only person. You’ve always been that.”
“What about Eris?”
“What about her? She’s the wolf I’m forced to marry to keep everyone around me alive. She’s not who I want to be with. She’s certainly not who I want to have sex with.”
“But you do?”
“Do what? Have sex? With her? It would be like sticking my dick into a bear trap. That ain’t gonna happen. That will never happen. She thinks it might. But I’m telling you, it won’t.”
“What, you’re just not gonna have sex ever again?” I asked doubtfully.
