Page 36 of Rivals

I should care. I should demand to know more about his invasion of my privacy, but I can’t make myself force the issue right now. His touch is spreading heat to every part of my body and I’m melting under his touch. I’m barely even aware that he’s moving us back to my bedroom, through the dark of the dorm room, until my front hits the mattress, and Reign is pulling me into him, my body cocooned in his embrace.

“Are you sleeping here?”

He chuckles in my hair, and I don’t hate the way he tightens his hold around me. My body feels spent, tired, the emotions of the past few days catching up maybe.

“Nothing and no one could keep me away from you tonight, babe. Close your eyes and sleep. I’ve got you.”

Reign

The student body is cowering every time they pass me in the halls of this fucking hellhole of a school. Word has spread that I have it out for whoever thinks they can mess with my girl. It hasn’t taken long either. Within days of telling Leif to put the word out, I’ve met with several male students at the rink. Which is an abandoned outside rink just off the school grounds and surrounded by trees. A hidden trail is needed to get there. They know to keep their mouths shut about what happens out there, but it can only be hidden for so long. Beating the fuck out of other students is not something I should get caught doing, but I will destroy anyone who doesn’t take my word seriously that Riley is off-limits to them. I’m surprised she hasn’t caught on to the many students bruised, broken, and a few who have dropped out since my vendetta would include their whole families, just like Hunter Tomichos. She hasn’t even noticed my scraped-up knuckles or the slight shiner I’m sporting under my right eye where some punk almost got the upper hand on me a week ago. The same night she was being tormented by one of the few people who stayed by her side before he moved schools at the beginning of high school.

I should have taken action against Blade Meyer a long time ago. For some reason I felt like she needed someone and I never bothered. Except now I know he kissed her back then. Before moving and cutting off contact with her, his lips touched hers. For that I want to end him alone. Then Carter told me more happened the other night at the diner, and I missed it because I had an appointment at the rink. With his warning, I’ve been trying to gauge Riley’s mood ever since. Nothing has changed much. In public, she acts like we’re friends, no matter how much I touch her or keep her pinned to my side with my hand wrapped possessively around her waist. In private, her defenses drop and she’s all over me as much as I am her. In those times she can’t get enough of my fingers, my tongue, my dick, bringing her pleasure over and over again. I’m fucking irritated that she wants to hide it, whatever this is between us. Once I’ve efficiently beat it into everyone that she’s mine then I’ll make her see she has nothing to fear.

My vendetta is working against all the assholes in this building, but I also have enemies outside of this town. And Blade just became enemy number one.

“How’s the burrito?” I turn to my pretty little puck slut, who’s shoveling another piece of school lunch in her mouth. With her mouth full, she glances at me and narrows her eyes. I’m sure it’s supposed to look menacing, but I smile instead.

I wait for her to chew and swallow, taking a drink while I do, and catching her hand in mine to wipe it off. Flecks of sour cream are dotted all over her knuckles. “You’re so endearing, covered in food, babe.”

“I told you it was safer to let me eat in peace, Reign.”

“Not going to happen,” I respond, bringing her leg closer to mine, under the table, and brushing her hair behind her ear. “I like seeing you go caveman on your meals.”

“You’re so weird.” She snorts a little, something else I shouldn’t find attractive, but it’s Riley. “Coach Silver has been upping our off-ice conditioning. I’m usually freaking starving by first period. Having to wait until lunch time should be a crime.”

The smile falls from my lips. I do remember hearing her stomach growl in the last few classes. “I’ll bring you a snack tomorrow.”

Her large hazel eyes turn to mine and I read the appreciation in them before she drops my gaze, and her cheeks heat pink. “Thank you. How’s your shake by the way?”

I tilt the strawberry concoction in my hand and swirl it in the glass. “Not the same as the diner. The lunch lady lied.”

This earns me another laugh from Riley. “You’ll have to get a real one, a good one this week. Maybe after your game?”

“Are you asking me out, Riles?” I lean into her and watch the flush on her cheeks deepen. Her eyes flick around to see who may be listening to us.

“No. Yes. I don’t know.”

“You can ask me out, babe.” I slip my arm around the back of her chair. “I’d never say no to you. Plus, I owe you a date.”

“You owe me a date?” Her brow rises while she takes another bite. She hasn’t frozen up or tried to shrug my arm off, so I keep it there. Taking it as a sign, she’s getting used to me.

I nod to her question. “Yeah. For helping me study the other night. I passed that test with a perfect score.”

“Oh.” Her shoulders hunch a little. “So all our scores we’re based on yours as the highest?”

“And yours.” I lean in until our faces are only inches apart. “I saw your score too. Your marks are just as good as mine.”

Riley drops her eyes and turns her body away from me, trying to put distance between us. She opens her mouth to say something, but we’re interrupted when Carter, Leif and a few others who drop down at our table. They keep talking, not paying us attention, but I’m already losing her. Riley is trying to pull away from me. My hand lands on her thigh and I yank her closer. Her eyes widen in surprise and her hand flies down to mine, stopping it at the edge of her skirt.

“Reign,” she warns me, and I love the way she licks her bottom lip nervously.

“I almost forgot to tell you. I’m going to Michigan over winter break to check out the school and the off-campus apartment my parents are chipping in for.”

“What does that have to do with me?” she asks, her focus back on me as it should be, ignoring everyone who doesn’t matter at the table.

“I want you to come with,” I explain, moving my arm to the back of her chair and stroke her shoulder where it meets her neck, before cupping the back of her neck with my whole palm.

Riley’s lips part, but her body doesn’t relax again until my fingers run over that beating pulse point. “You want me to come with you?”

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