Page 101 of Rejected By the Alpha

She gently pushed me away. “No, it’s not okay.”

“Yes, it is. I commissioned that painting because I wanted to see you happy. You can take all the fucking time you need to finish it, Ember. I don’t care. I just want you here with me. You’re the only fucking thing that has gotten me through the death of my mate, and⁠—”

“You … you commissioned it?” she whispered, brows drawn together and more tears filling her eyes. “Did you really?”

“Yes.”

She stared up at me, gaze drifting from one eye to the other, then flickering down to my lips repeatedly.

“You’re the only thing keeping me going, Em. I know I’m the one being selfish, but I fucking need you. And I need you⁠—”

Halfway through expressing my damn love for her, Ember cut me off and crashed her lips to mine.

“I know this is selfish too—to say this to you when I’m so close to death,” Ember murmured against my lips. “But I love you, Cade. I really, really do.”

Chapter Fifty-Five

Ember

My lips moved against Cade’s, hard and fast and needy. I sank my hands into his thick hair and tugged, gently pulling his head back enough so he’d open his mouth and I could slip my tongue inside it.

Maybe I wanted to be wanted.

Maybe I was still being selfish.

Maybe I actually loved Cade.

I didn’t know what had come over me, but to hear that Cade was the one who had commissioned that painting from me just so he could see me happy, that someone wanted my work, wanted me? I couldn’t believe it.

He could’ve just asked me himself, but he knew it wouldn’t be enough. He had known I’d probably refuse, that I’d tell him no, not because I didn’t want to share my art with people, but because sharing it with strangers was easier than those closest to me.

We stumbled toward the wall until he had me pressed up against it. He grabbed my face harder, pulling me toward him and letting his tongue explore my mouth. My heart raced inside my chest, my mind buzzing.

“Fuck, Ember,” he murmured against me between kisses. “I love you too.”

Warmth exploded through me, and I tugged him closer. I needed him closer.

“Say it again,” I murmured. “Please.”

“I love you,” he said, peppering kisses down the column of my neck. “I fucking love you.”

A breathy moan left my mouth, and my head lolled back against the wall. “Again.”

“I love you. I love you. I love you.”

Pleasure built up inside me, the feeling indescribable. I didn’t want it to end. I wanted to hear it over and over and over again. But I didn’t want to continue to be selfish. Cade had somewhere to be, and it wasn’t inside me.

Unfortunately.

“You need to go, don’t you?” I asked in a breath.

He lifted me and walked up the stairs. “Not as badly as I need you.”

His words only made me wetter, more desperate. I wrapped my legs tightly around his waist and pulled him closely to me, my tits pressed against his chest, my mouth on his, his hands all over my hips and waist.

For him to choose me over the situation that was stressing him out. Me?!

It was selfish. God, it was so selfish.