Page 16 of Jagged Burn
Chapter Ten
Is It Real
Anna Alexander
Long minutes after Matt’s truck disappears down the street, Stefan walks into the house looking like he just lost a brawl with his own thoughts.His shoulders are tense, his jaw locked, and his hands are shoved into his pockets like he’s holding himself together by sheer force of will.
I’m curled up on the couch, pretending to watch TV but really just waiting for him.When his eyes land on me, something flickers across his face—fear, or longing, maybe both.
“Well?”I ask, crossing my arms as I sit upright.“Am I supposed to guess how that went, or are you going to use your words?”
He huffs a laugh, humorless.“Your brother gave me his blessing.”
“For what?”My brain is trying to catch up to what he said but I feel like nothing is making sense.
“To date you, I think.”
I blink.“Wait.Matt?Mr.Overprotective Alpha Male himself?”
“Yeah.”Stefan drops onto the recliner across from me, rubbing the back of his neck.“He did say I’d better not screw it up.”
A slow smile creeps across my lips.“Wow.Hell just froze over.”
He shakes his head, the scar pulling with the motion.“It doesn’t matter.Blessing or not, you deserve better than me.”
And there it is.The same broken refrain he keeps playing on repeat.Something inside me snaps.
I shoot up from the couch, march across the room, and plant myself directly in front of him.“You really don’t get it, do you?”
His eyes widen as I straddle his lap, caging him in with my thighs.He stiffens like I’ve just set off every alarm in his head.
“Anna...”
“No.”I cut him off and grab his shirt in both fists.“You don’t get to tell me what I deserve.You don’t get to decide if I’m allowed to love you.Do you think your scars scare me?News flash: I lived with a man who wore a perfect face and hands that broke me every chance he got.I’ll take jagged and real over smooth and cruel any day.”
His breath comes fast, chest rising against mine.“You don’t know what you’re asking for.”
“Yes, I do.”My voice drops to a whisper.“I’m asking for you.I’m asking for the only man I have ever loved, the same man who has always been there for me.”
