Page 24 of Sin

It only works for a moment. His hot breath against my forehead pulls me into the present world, to where my heart is fluttering like a bird .

“Shut the fuck up,” he whispers through clenched teeth. “Did you not notice we’re in public? You’re ‘crying rape’ right the fuck now.”

Crying rape. It’s like the words alone will summon a firing squad, when the truth is that no one cares what happens to a college girl who put herself in danger in a haze of drunkenness.

His grip on my wrists sends a slice of pain up my arms, but I refuse to cower. I raise my chin to look him in the eyes. “If you’re so worried about your public image, maybe you should stop assaulting me.”

His nostrils flare. “I’m not assaulting you.”

I try to pull back, but his grip on my wrists only tightens.

“What the fuck are you doing, Mason?”

Ethan’s voice booms from behind me, and relief washes through my veins. For the first time, I’m grateful that he apparently watches me like a hawk from his window.

Mason’s head snaps up, his eyes filling with fear. He lets go of my wrists and takes several steps back. “We were just talking,” he says, lifting both hands in the air.

A moment later, Ethan’s huge form steps into my vision, stalking toward Mason. He stops inches away from his body, hovering over him like Mason did to me a moment ago. “Why the fuck were you grabbing her?” Ethan clips out.

“I didn’t…” Mason flinches, and my fading panic must be making me hysterical, because I want to laugh. How is he planning to talk himself out of this one? Stern commander Ethan isn’t going to let him get away with laying his hands on a woman.

Mason licks his lip. “I wasn’t grabbing her that hard. Please don’t tell… Noah wouldn’t understand.”

Ethan laughs caustically. “Yeah, I don’t think he would understand. In fact, he might even tell Coach Rodriguez and get you suspended. Assuming I don’t get to him first.”

Mason’s eyes flash. “You wouldn’t do that. You need me.”

Ethan snorts. “You’re barely an upgrade from any of our backup quarterbacks. I think the team would do just fine without you.”

Ooh, Mason doesn’t like that. He takes a step toward Ethan, nearly grazing his chest.

Ethan widens his stance. God, he looks like a giant. Mason might be tall, but he’s nowhere near as muscular as Ethan. Mason seems to feel the difference between them, because he takes a step back.

I wish it didn’t delight me. Ethan doesn’t need to save me. I could have kneed Mason in the balls.

Why didn’t I? Somehow when he grabbed me, all the fear from that night flooded back into my body.

Goddamn it, when will I finally be over this?

Mason shuts his eyes. “Please don’t say anything. To anyone.”

Ethan huffs. “You think I’m going to lie to protect you, needle dick? After what I just saw, I’m tempted to break your fucking nose.”

Mason’s eyes grow huge, and an almost hysterical giggle bubbles from my chest. I shouldn’t be laughing. I need to intervene soon if Ethan is serious about his threat. But I can’t get over the fact that I just heard Ethan Harrington utter the words “needle dick.”

“You could get kicked off the team for that.” Mason’s chest is puffed out as he stares up at Ethan, but he can’t hide his fear. Even from several feet away, I see how his body trembles.

Ethan shrugs. “Nah. I don’t think I would. I think if I told Coach you assaulted Noah’s little sister, he’d thank me for punching you in the face.”

When Ethan takes another step in Mason’s direction, I snap into action. I march forward and grab his shoulder. The tension in his body vibrates under my hand. He jerks around to look at me, looking almost startled by my presence.

“Don’t hit him.” My voice is firm. “He’s not worth it.”

Ethan’s face falls. “Lily, I saw what he did?—”

“You’re right. You saw it. But it happened to me. Don’t try to fight my battles for me.”

He shuts his eyes. “He’s my teammate. I can’t let him get away with this.”

---