“Why?”
I licked my lips. “Because I didn't want to see you.”
He frowned. “Why?”
“Because,” I said, looking away. “I just didn't, okay? Stop pushing me to talk to you.”
“Don't walk away from me, Ivy,” he snapped.
I froze. I wanted to keep walking, but something about his tone made me stop.
“What?” I asked, turning around to face him again.
“Why were you avoiding me?” he demanded.
I licked my lips, my eyes dropping down to his chest.
“I didn't want you to hate me,” I whispered.
His frown deepened. “What?”
I sighed, my shoulders dropping. I knew that he wouldn't understand what I was saying. “After yesterday, I just.” I cut myself off, shaking my head. “I'm just going to go. I'm sorry.”
I turned around and quickly headed for the stairs.
“Ivy, stop,” Brandon commanded.
I paused again, squeezing my eyes shut tightly.
I didn't want to fight with him. Not now, and not ever.
“I don't know what you're talking about,” he said, his tone softening.
I turned around, my eyes narrowing. “You don't have to lie to make me feel better, Brandon. I know you hate me.”
“Who told you that I hate you?” he demanded.
I felt tears spring to my eyes. “Nobody had to tell me. It's obvious.”
He shook his head. “That's not true. I don't hate you, and you know that. You're the one that's been avoiding me and ignoring me.”
I scoffed. “Maybe because every time I've tried to talk to you, you've made fun of me.”
His frown deepened. “When?”
“Are you serious?” I asked.
He nodded. “Yes. I don't remember ever making fun of you.”
I glared at him. “Don't lie to me,” I snapped. “Like I said, I'm just going to.”
He was suddenly right in front of me. He gripped my face in his hands, forcing me to look up at him. “Ivy, I'm not lying. I've never made fun of you, and if anybody else has, then you need to tell me so I can kick their ass.”
I stared up at him with wide eyes.
He wasn't lying.
I could see the truth in his gaze, and I realized that he really wasn't lying.
“You've never made fun of me?” I asked softly.
He shook his head. “Of course not. I'd never make fun of you. I—”
“You called me a freak when we were sixteen,” I blurted.
His expression changed, his hold on my face softening. “Oh.”
“See,” I said. “You do make fun of me.”
“Ivy,” he whispered. He rested his forehead against mine, his thumbs moving along my cheekbones. “I've never made fun of you. You know how those asshole popular kids were in school. I only said that so they would leave me alone.”
I swallowed hard. “Really?”
He nodded. “Yes, baby. Really.” He pulled back slightly to look me in the eye. “And I've regretted saying that every single day.”
I licked my lips. My heart was beating wildly, and I was breathing hard.
“Don't lie to me, Brandon,” I whispered.
He shook his head again. “I promise you, I'm not. I'm so sorry.”
“I don't understand why you would regret it,” I said.
He laughed breathlessly, his expression softening. “Because you're the most gorgeous woman I've ever met, inside and out. I want to worship every inch of your skin. I want you to be mine, and I want everybody to know it.”
My breath hitched as I listened to him speak.
He couldn't mean all of that, could he?
“Why would you want that?” I asked. “I'm nobody.”
“You're not just anybody, Ivy,” he murmured. “You're somebody. You're Ivy.”
I bit my lip, trying to keep my emotions in check.
I'd dreamed of this moment for so long, and now I was finally living it.
But was this even real?
“I don't understand,” I said again, my voice cracking.
He kissed me gently. “You will.”
I raised my eyebrows in surprise. “I will?”
He nodded as he pulled away, his eyes darkening with desire.
“I'm going to show you every single day for the rest of our lives just how much I mean it.”
My heart fluttered at his words, and I felt like I was melting into a puddle.
“Okay,” I whispered.
That night, when he showed up at my window, I let him in.
We made love for hours, and afterwards, we lay tangled together in my sheets.
I knew that my brother would be furious if he found out about this, but I didn't care.
I couldn’t care.
Because for once in my life, I felt completely loved.
The day that changed everything
I walked down the stairs, my gaze dropping to the floor as I walked.
I had just gotten out of the shower, and my hair was still dripping.
It had been a month since Brandon and I had first had done the intimacy, and it had been the best month of my life.
But we still had to keep it a secret.
I knew it wouldn't stay that way forever, though.
Eventually, he would find his mate, and then we would go our separate ways.
I had made the choice to be with him anyway, though, and I wouldn't regret it.
I had been too weak to say no to him, and I would always choose him over what was right.
Because nothing had ever felt more right.
I made my way towards the kitchen.
I needed coffee.
“Ahem.”
I froze, turning around slowly.
Brandon and my brother were standing in front of me, their arms crossed over their chests.
I felt the color drain from my face.
They knew.
Oh no.
I gulped, dropping my gaze back down to the floor. “H-hi,” I stuttered.
I heard footsteps, and before I knew it, I was being pulled into Brandon's arms.
His arms wrapped around me, and when I looked up at him, I realized that he was grinning.