Scarlett (Second Edition) by Karima Saad Usman novel Chapter 195

Chapter 195

Scarlett’s POV

“Hey,” I heard Clay’s voice behind me as I prepared to grill the steak on the stove, I turned toward the sound, and there he was, walking into the kitchen. He

was shirtless, wearing only his shorts, his skin still damp from a shower.

The grime and chaos of the fight had been washed away, leaving him looking refreshed and utterly magnetic. My eyes lingered longer than they should have,

tracing the lines of his muscles before I forced myself to look back at the stove.

Clay approached casually, stopping by the stove to glance at what I was doing. A smirk tugged at his lips.

“I guess you weren’t lying about wanting your steak. Poor Garland didn’t see that coming,” he said, his tone light.

We both laughed, the sound breaking through the tense air of the kitchen. The memory was absurdly funny in hindsight, and for a brief moment, the heaviness I had been carrying all day lifted. I didn’t even know I was capable of that kind of dark humor, but somehow, with Clay, it felt natural.

The laughter faded, leaving a comfortable silence between us. It was a rare thing-this kind of stillness that wasn’t awkward but instead felt like a shared understanding.

“I guess you’re no fan of seafood,” he teased after a beat, his tone playful.

I glanced at him while setting the potatoes in a pot to boil. “Unless you’re the one cooking it,” I shot back, a teasing lilt in my voice.

Before I could process what was happening, Clay closed the distance between us and pulled me into him. My breath hitched at the sudden contact, and my heart raced as our bodies pressed together.

The proximity was overwhelming. I could feel the warmth radiating from his skin, smell the faint hint of soap lingering on him. His touch sent a shiver down my spine, awakening something within me-something I’d been trying to bury every time I looked at him.

That part of me that had been yearning for him, aching for him, rose to the surface like a tide breaking free.

And I hated it. Hated how easily he could unravel me. Hated the heat rising to my cheeks because I knew-I just knew-I was blushing.

“I see you still blush,” he murmured, his voice low and teasing, his breath warm against mear. The sound of it was enough to make my knees weak, and ! cursed myself for reacting so easily to him.

Γ

“When are we meeting at midnight?” he asked softly, his words a quiet reminder of the connection we shared. But I didn’t know how to answer him-not without revealing more than I wanted to.

Before I could think of a response, Clay reached past me, his hand brushing against mine as he turned off the grill. My heart skipped a beat, not because of what he’d done, but because of why.

What was he planning?

He leaned in slightly, his gaze locking onto mine. “Maxwell told me you’re not leaving,” he said, his voice raw with emotion. There was desperation in his eyes, a need to hear the truth from me. He wasn’t just asking-he was pleading.

I saw it in the way his jaw tensed, in the way his fingers brushed against the edge of the counter as if he needed something to ground him. The intensity it all took me by surprise, and I couldn’t resist the temptation to mess with him just a little.

9:46 am

Chapter 195

ppp

Tilting, my head, I gave him a slow, deliberate smile. “What if I am?” I asked, my tone playful, laced with just enough uncertainty to keep him guessing.

Clay’s eyes narrowed slightly, his brow furrowing as he tried to read me. His hand moved to my waist, his touch firm but gentle. “Don’t play games with. me,” he said, his voice low and warning, though there was a hint of a smile tugging at his lips.

And just like that, the air between us crackled with tension. The kitchen, the steak, the rest of the world-all of it faded away, leaving just the two of us locked in a silent battle of wills. I wasn’t ready to give in, but I wasn’t sure how much longer I could resist him either.

“I don’t know yet. I’m still thinking about it,” I lied, my voice steadier than I expected. But the flash in Clay’s blue eyes told me he wasn’t fooled. Vin, his wolf, was present, just beneath the surface, their emotions bleeding together in a storm of intensity.

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