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Chapter 27

Was the AC not working? Scarlett sat up in bed and ran a hand through her hair, her fingers brushing over the scarred flesh on the left side of her head where the hair would not return. A light sheen of sweat covered her body, Scarlett got to her feet and shuffled out the door. Making her way downstairs, Scarlett went to the kitchen to pour herself a glass of water before slipping out the sliding door and sitting down at the edge of the pool with her legs crossed.

The night was still with a warm breeze and Scarlett rubbed her eyes before taking a sip of the water. The cool liquid sliding down her throat eased her body's heated temperature. She heard the sliding door open behind her and she turned to look back. Seth strolled over to her and took a seat beside her.

"Couldn't sleep?" He asked.

"It's hot," she replied holding up her glass to him. Seth nodded and stretched his back. Scarlett looked at him sideways, noticing the lack of a shirt on him and the muscles rippling. He was more cut than Dean, she noted.

"If you want to check me out, I'll happily strike a pose," he said, smirking at her. Scarlett let out a surprised laugh then returned to her water.

"Did you two talk about the kiss?" He asked after a few minutes of silence. Startled, she looked at him with wide eyes. How did he know?

"Dean's my brother, Scarlett. We've never had any secrets between us," he answered her unasked question. Her eyes flicked down to her lap and she set the glass aside.

"Scarlett, Dean's been through a ton of shit. I know he's not the smartest tool in the shed when it comes to emotions but with you he's different," Seth said, a frown on his face. "You've unleashed a side of him that I've never seen."

A firefly flew over the water and hovered at the top before it flew up into the night. Scarlett watched it fly away and wrapped her hands around herself, her back hunching over.

"He's protective of you, Scar. Possessive even," he continued.

"No he's not, Seth," she spoke finally causing him to pause.

"Scarlett," Seth spoke up.

"Seth, please. I'm not going to hurt Dean nor will he hurt me. The kiss was in the heat of the moment and that's it," she said, shaking her head.

"You care about him, Scarlett," he said flatly. Scarlett paused then turned her gaze to him.

"I-."

"Don't even start with me. I saw the worry in your eyes when you saw him hurt. Scarlett, you fit right in here in his home and even he knows it. I'm not going to play mediator here but I do want my brother to find his happiness," Seth said, placing a hand on her knee.

"He will. But just not with me," she replied standing up. She carried her glass inside and felt Seth following her even as she went upstairs towards her room. She stopped at her door as she tried to find her sleep. Seth's arm went about her waist and he tugged her away from her door.

"Seth?"

"Shut up," was all she got before she dragged towards Dean's room and he rapped at her door.

"Seth, no!" Scarlett said shaking her head and trying to break free from his grasp. Dean's door opened and Scarlett froze, her mouth going dry as he appeared at the door frame. Black sweatpants hung low on his hips, his torso was void of a shirt, and his hand was rubbing his eyes.

"Whagoinon?" He asked sleepily. His voice was gravelly and Scarlett swallowed as she took in the sight before her. She didn't have time to get a hold of herself before Seth gave her a gentle shove and she stumbled forward. Even though Dean was half asleep, his reflexes were on point and he caught her in his arms.

"Scarlett?" His voice cleared up and she tried to get her voice box and her body to cooperate. But it wasn't happening. His blue eyes were sparkling like sapphires as he looked at her with concern, his hand coming up to cup her face as he inspected her to see if she was hurt.

"She couldn't sleep and since I'm in the middle of entertaining a guest, I thought you could comfort her better," Seth said grinning, Scarlett would've sent him a scathing look at the unnecessary lie but she was preoccupied in trying to get a grasp on herself. Dean's gaze snapped to him and turned cold.

"Seth, you know the drill. None of that shit in my home," Dean growled, his arms around Scarlett tightened but all she could do was look up at him and think how incredible he looked from the position she was in.

"Don't worry. She'll be gone before you wake up," Seth sent them a wink before he sped off down the hall.

Dean pulled her into his room and let go of her to turn around and close the door. She stood rooted to the spot and stared at his back as the muscles flexed.

Get a hold on yourself, Scarlett! She screamed at herself. He turned around and looked at her from head to toe.

"What's bothering you?" He asked, gently. Scarlett shut her eyes and turned her back to him. Seth's words came rushing back to her and she dropped her face into her hands. You've unleashed a side of him that I've never seen.

"Get in bed," he prodded her, his hand dropping onto her shoulder causing her to tense.

"Scar, get in bed or I will do it myself," he said to her. The image of him carrying her to his bed flashed through her mind and a shiver ran down her spine.

"Scar?" Had his voice just dropped an octave? And good God he was closer to her, wasn't he? She felt the heat radiating off his chest against her back through her shirt. Swallowing tightly, Scarlett stumbled to the bed and clumsily climbed in.

The moment her head hit the pillow, she was surrounded with the scent of him. Resisting the urge to inhale deeply, Scarlett crossed her arms in front of her chest and stared up at the ceiling. The sheet ruffled and she looked at him, sitting up when he grabbed his pillow.

"Where are you going?" She asked.

"I'll sleep on the couch right over there. Relax," he told her. She knew that sharing a bed with a man who she had no relationship with wasn't exactly the smartest idea but she couldn't bear being the one to kick him out of his own bed.

"Dean, wait," she said, halting him in his tracks. He looked at her over her shoulder and Scarlett sucked a deep breath in as the moonlight caught those eyes of his. She pulled the covers back and mustered her courage.

"You won't fit on that couch. Get in here," she said, the calmness in her tone startled her but she would take it. Dean turned around so his body was facing her and cocked his head to the side.

"I'll be fine, do-."

"Please just get in here." That sounded too desperate didn't it? Her heart lurched when he made his way over to her and placed his pillow down. He slid into the spot next to her and rolled onto his side so he was facing her. Laying back down, Scarlett resumed her position and stared up at the ceiling.

I'm in bed with him. I'm in bed with him. The words repeated in her head like a mantra and Scarlett barely stifled a gasp as vivid images flashed through her mind. Images of their bodies entwined together.

She jerked violently when she felt his hand on her waist, turning to look at him sharply. He was watching her with a sleepily and he tapped her hipbone twice.

"Relax. I'm not going to eat you," he said. Eat you…out. Her face flamed and she fisted her hands. What was happening to her? Her body was reacting to his presence in a way that it had never reacted before. There was a burning in her abdomen and she could hear her heartbeat thumping loudly in her ribcage.

"Come here," he whispered gently. Scarlett's mind went on lock down as his arm slid underneath her neck while the other wrapped around her waist tugging her close to him. Her body seemed to know what he wanted more than she did and soon she found herself tucked into his arms, his large and muscled body pressing into her back as he molded into her from behind.

"Close your eyes." His voice was raspy and Scarlett didn't know how to stop herself from not listening to him. Her lids fell shut and he rubbed circles on her waist. The gentle rubbing eased her and she relaxed into his embrace, letting go of herself. His fingers were warm on her waist as he rubbed slowly. When had her shirt ridden up?

"Just relax," he whispered. Had she been the one to catch a hold of his hand and hold on to it? Were those his lips pressing against the shell of her ear?

"Relax," he murmured and surprisingly she did. Her body let loose and she fell into his embrace. His body was warm but she didn't mind it at all. If anything, she snuggled back into him as his even breathing lulled into her into sleep.

~oOo~

Her breathing evened out and Dean touched his lips to her temple gently. He'd felt her tense up when she was in bed with him, but getting her to ease against him had been simple and satisfying. Tightening his grip on her, Dean lay back down and listened to her breathing as she slept.

Dean had been half awake when Seth had come knocking but when Scarlett had been pushed into his arms and he'd been told she couldn't sleep, the drowsiness had evaded him, leaving a sense of awareness behind. His first thought had been that she was hurt but when he'd checked her and found no problem, his worry had been put to rest.

She shifted in her sleep, her hand reaching up to lightly scratch her nose before she tucked it under her cheek. Dean lifted his hand and pushed her hair away so he could see her neck and face as she slept.

I'm turning into a fucking sap. Was the only thought that came to him as he gently traced the scars on her neck. Dean wanted to know what had caused her to get such scars. Clearly they were burn scars, but what had gone down to cause this much scarring? An image of a room on fire with Scarlett trapped in between came to mind and Dean's heart constricted. He pulled her closer to himself and buried his nose in her hair.

The mere thought of her being in pain made him ache and that realization made Dean tense up.

Fucking hell.

He was falling for her.

Reviews are love. :)

- K