Without another word, Jared carried her out of the house and into his car. As he put her gently in the seat, he said fiercely, “You. Belong. With. Me.”
His touch and the ferociousness of his words soothed her soul. She didn’t know what the truth was about why Jared had bought her house, but she already knew it wasn’t for nefarious reasons. She trusted him, and she vowed right then and there she’d never doubt him again. He’d given her his faith by not going after his brother, and he’d been willing to die for her. If he never wanted to give her the real reason behind his purchase of her house, she didn’t care. She loved him, and she finally knew with absolute certainty that he loved her back.
Jared was silent as he led her into his house instead of the guest house, taking her by the hand as though he was afraid she’d disappear.
“Explain,” he said irritably. “What the hell did Evan mean by his comment? Are you two attracted to each other? Is he really what you want? Does he want you?”
Mara busied herself making coffee. “Sit,” she requested as she watched him pace.
He sat at the kitchen table, his glare never leaving her.
“Evan knew I was upset by what I’d heard about you buying my home.” She lifted her hand as he started to speak, signaling him to let her explain. “He found me first. I guess all I wanted was to go home, but that’s not my home anymore. All he tried to do was make me understand that I wasn’t giving you a chance to explain, and I should. He was right. He also told me that you foolishly ran into my burning house to try to save me.” She slammed a cup into the coffeemaker with more force than she needed to. “You could have died, Jared.”
“I didn’t,” he grumbled. “And I wasn’t about to let you die in that fire.”
“But you could have. You would have if Evan hadn’t stopped you.” The reality of that statement hit her straight in the gut. “I hugged him. I wanted to thank him for saving me, and I wanted him to know that somebody cares. Evan is troubled. I don’t think he’s happy. I wanted to see if he’d hug me back.”
“He did. The bastard.”
“Reluctantly,” Mara mused, sliding a cup of coffee in front of Jared. “He’s not used to affection, Jared. No, I don’t have any secret longing for your older brother. I love you. I love you so much that I was temporarily insane when I thought you might have betrayed me. I’m sorry.” She put another cup in the machine and waited for her coffee to finish.
“You don’t need to be sorry. I should have told you a long time ago. I was afraid you’d hate me,” he admitted despondently.
“Don’t be upset with Evan. I don’t know why he was encouraging you to be angry, but he isn’t interested in me that way. He’s been more like a brother or a friend to me. I think you already know Evan was yanking your chain. He’d never betray you that way. None of your brothers would.” Pulling the cup from the coffeemaker, she added creamer. “I hope you can believe that, because it’s the truth.”
“I believe you.” He didn’t look at her as he took a sip of his coffee. “I think Evan was trying to get me to do something I should have done a long time ago.”
“What?” She sat down at the table beside him.
“Claim you as mine.”
“I don’t think Evan would push you to do something you don’t want—”
“I want to. I’ve always wanted you, and Evan knows it. I love the bastard, but he’s manipulative as hell.”
Mara smiled at Jared’s disgruntled look. “I think he means well.”
“He’s conniving,” he grunted. “Likes things to work out the way he wants them to be, or the way he thinks they should be.” He heaved a loud, masculine sigh. “I should have told you about the purchase of your house.”
Mara’s heart hammered as she asked hesitantly, “Did you offer me help because you felt sorry for me because I wasn’t going to have a home?”
He finally met her eyes, his deep jade glance piercing her. “No. I wanted to fuck you. It was more than that, but that was my primary goal in the beginning when I offered to help you. I won’t lie to you. I wanted you the first time I saw you. My dick knew how I felt about you immediately. It took my brain a while to catch up.”
Mara’s breath hitched as his penetrating gaze impaled her, holding her eyes captive. “Tell me why you bought the house in the first place.”