Page 80 of Puck & Her Blades

Jackson’s jaw is clenched. “It’s not that simple.”

“You mean like him holding Cygnus’ inability to purr as a threat over you…?”

Jackson slams his hand over my mouth. “He told you about that…?”

My heart thumps like a hummingbird in my chest.

I nod.

“I’m going to put that naïve brat over my lap and spank him until…just once…he understands how much danger he’s in.”

I shove at Jackson’s hand, and he allows me to move it away from my mouth. “You’re not. It’s called being honest. How about we all try it, if you want us to be a family?”

Okay, I’m a hypocrite.

I’m not being honest about the dangers that I’m taking with the resistance but I’m doing that to keep all of them safe. If I’m found out, then I’m the only one who’ll be punished. I won’t take them down with me.

It was Cygnus’ choice to aid me with the blog, but we’re Omegas united in that.

I won’t risk the rest of the pack.

I get fierce, however, when I’m being protective. And I’m fucking protective over Cygnus, even though I’m pretty certain that Jackson is more likely to wrap Cygnus in soft blankets than to smack him.

Jackson looks impressed. “You want honesty. I agree. Tell me, did you enjoy the show of my spanking in the locker room?”

Shit.

I freeze, paling.

“Jackson, fuck, I didn’t… How did you know that I was there?”

Jackson’s expression is inscrutable. “Unlike you, Ash can’t keep a secret for shit. One of the things that I love about him is that he talks about everything. He never stops, whether it’s good or bad. If it gets too much, I just gag him.”

I gape at him. “Gag?”

“Don’t worry, everything’s consensual. He needs to be quietened sometimes. It’s good for him to be bound, held tight, safe, and quiet. His mind and body can still for once, under my control.”

I swallow. “Huh.”

“And you didn’t answer my question.”

I frown. “No, I didn’t fucking enjoy watching you be beaten because it wasn’t consensual. I hate seeing anyone hurt. Do you know what I’ve wanted from the moment that I was brought here? To claim and protect you all. Perhaps, you want that for me too. I just don’t get why you don’t use your status to select me.”

Jackson grips me by the arm; he’s breathing hard. “Because I’m under contract not to choose my own bonds.”

A chill runs down my spine.

Am I shaking?

Then to my shock, I realize that he’s shaking.

“That’s illegal,” I gasp, horrified.

“It’s more standard than you’d think in professional sports,” he replies. “But no one knows because athletes are forced to sign NDAs. I shouldn’t be telling you this. If anyone knew that I had, then I could lose everything.”

He’s fucking brave to speak up.

He’s risking being sued for every dime and losing his reputation. Possibly, even ending up in the Alpha Center on a course for bad Alphas.

---