Page 25 of His Aries Heiress
A tear of frustration slid down his cheek, and he swiped it away as he looked straight ahead at the wall. Silence filled the room, and Marcellus felt like he was on the chopping block. He hated it.
“I don’t have any family left.” Her voice was so small, Marcellus almost missed what she said.
“What you mean?” he asked as he finally looked at her. She curled in on herself as if she wanted to make herself as small as possible, her knees pressed against her chest. “You still got us. I’m sorry I didn’t tell you sooner. It’s been heavy on my mind. Please believe that. This shit ain’t easy for me at all.”
“I know,” she conceded. “I understand now, but it doesn’t mean my understanding makes this any easier for me. I feel like I’m back at square one.”
“You ain’t though. Far from it. I don’t think you understand how much I’m feelin’ you. I know this secret is a lot to take in. Trust me, I get it. I just want the chance to show you the real from now on.” When she didn’t respond, he wiped his tears and continued. He figured now was the time to put all his cards on the table for this woman he’d been falling for. “Let me show you how serious I am about you. I ain’t ever asked a woman on a date before, but I’ll do all that corny shit for you. You ain’t gotta be alone. I know a lot of shit was just dropped in your lap, but you still got me, and you still got Tato. We ain’t goin’ nowhere.” He wiped her tears as he spoke.
Her features softened as she seemed to surrender to what her heart desired. In return, he softened toward her completely. This woman had no idea the hold she had on him. Nobody had ever been able to tame him. Nobody had ever been able to change him. He was a bolder that couldn’t be remolded . . . until she came along. Now, he would be whatever she needed him to be.
She sighed heavily and shook her head sadly. “I don’t know, Cell. This isn’t easy for me.”
“It ain’t easy for me either,” he admitted.
“I lost a little brother,” she said sadly.
His heart ached. He never wanted to be the cause for her tears.
“You ain’t lose him. You may not be his sister, but your role in his life doesn’t have to change much. Just like I’m not his brother. . . that fact ain’t gon’ change how I am wit’ him. I’m still me. He still gon’ be just as spoiled, and we gon’ kick it all the same.”
Cassydie thought about it. “I see what you’re saying, but it still isn’t that easy for me. I just need some time to process.”
Marcellus felt defeated, but not enough to not take a stand for what he wanted. “Take all the time you need, but tomorrow night, I’m taking you on that date. You gon’ let me put a smile on that pretty face whether you like it or not.” The corners of her lips turned up slightly, and that gave him all the hope in the world. “Yup, just like that. We’re off to a good start.”
She chuckled sadly before bumping his shoulder. “Fine, but me going on that date doesn’t mean I forgive you.”
He grinned. “That’s okay. You will.”
He kissed her forehead and then got up from the bed. He wouldn’t overcrowd her today, but best believe tomorrow, he was on her ass heavy. No way was he losing this woman because of some shit he should have handled a long time ago. Aries were hardheaded as hell, but once they learned their lesson, it sure as hell stuck like glue.
Love to an Aries is to risk getting burned while stepping into the fire.
The stars sparkledabove them as Cassydie and Marcellus made their way through the massive yacht.
“This is wild.” Cassydie giggled from the extravagance of it all. She wasn’t sure she would ever get used to this shit. “You really rented this out just for us?”
“Yeah, woman. I told you that already,” Marcellus said with a sly grin. He’d gone all out for Cassydie tonight. No expense was too great. She realized he must have meant what he said when he said he wanted to put a smile on her face. She hadn’t been able to stop smiling since she saw this big ass boat.
“I’ve never been on a yacht before,” she commented when they came to a stop at the head of the boat.
Marcellus stood behind her and wrapped his arms around her as they looked out at the ocean and the stars. “I’ll buy you one. You want this one?”
She giggled and then felt thrilled at the idea. The world was dead ass at her fingertips. Not only was she rich, but so was Marcellus, and he made it known he would spoil her if she let him. The thought of it was so dizzying, but she felt a calmness wash over her.
She spent a lot of time yesterday and most of the day today talking to her parents and Cierra. She even had a few words with Gregory and Renee. She cried, she laughed, and she worked out some puzzling thoughts. At the end of it, everything in her being urged her to just be happy. Let go of the life that should have been and grab onto the life she had right in front of her. Though she knew it wouldn’t be easy, she suddenly felt up for the challenge.
“Maybe.” She grinned and leaned her head back into his chest.
He kissed her temple. “You still mad at me?”
“Yes.” And that was the truth, but she had forgiven him.
He turned her around in his embrace and gazed down at her. “What I gotta do to change that, baby?”
“I think it’ll just take time. I’m not even mad, really. Just hurt. And I’m sad, but you were right. I still have you guys. I still have Tato. I just don’t know how well I can trust you. I guess that’s where I’m at with it now.”
Marcellus shrugged. “I swear to you I’m an open book now. I ain’t got shit to hide. You know it all.”
