Page 53 of Rivals

“You should go,” I tell him, keeping my voice flat and even.

“I’m not afraid of him, Riley. He can punch my face in all he wants; I won’t walk away from you this time.”

I open my mouth to argue when another set of headlights comes barreling through the parking lot. The sleek, black Nissan GT-R slams to a stop, right next to Blade’s waiting SUV. An angry looking Reign gets out and steps between us.

“Back up from my girl, Meyer, unless you want to die this time.”

Blade sneers at Reign. My mouth opens in shock from his presence. He’s ignored me, stomped on my heart and let another girl touch him, kiss him, rub her body all over him and he has the nerve to show up here.

“You hurt her, Thorn. I backed off, gave you the opening and you made her cry.”

Reign’s hands turn into fists. “You didn’t give me shit, Meyer. She was never yours to begin with.”

“She’s not yours now. You have a new bunny already.” Blade flashes an image toward Reign and I want to throw up. It’s from the party, and his lips are hovering over hers.

Reign slaps Blade’s phone out of his hand before throwing his fist in Blade’s face. Blade stumbles back, the look of rage and hate mixing in his eyes, before he launches himself at Reign. Reign dodges and counters with an uppercut. They slam into Blade’s car from the impact. It’s chaos in such a short time. For once Carter and Leif are not around and I’m wishing they are. Someone needs to stop Reign from killing Blade. Blade swings again and catches Reign in the cheek before Reign manages to slam Blade to the ground and get a kick in. I jump at the sound of air leaving Blade’s lungs and lunge for Reign.

“Reign, stop, please. He didn’t do anything but check up on me.”

Reign’s chest heaves under his coat, and his icy blue eyes pin me in place. “You aren’t his to check up on. You’re mine. Since you looked at me when we were six years old, you’ve been mine.”

God his words are tearing me apart. Tears stream down my face and all I want to do is run. This feels wrong. His words don’t match the actions of the last few days. As much as I want to, I can’t forget the memory of her body on his, the way he gripped her and they laughed at my message while my heart was shattering.

“No. Reign.” I lift my chin in defiance. “I’m not yours.”

Stomping my way past them both, I take the path through the trees toward my dorm. It’s trickier at night, and a light dusting of snow covers the dirt, but Reign can’t follow me. I hear cursing and a slamming of car doors behind me. My time is limited and I’m not ready for the emotional toil that Reign brings with him. My legs pump and my feet carry me down the path and through the open field to the side of my building. I make it to the door right as Reign is pulling into the lot. Adrenaline spikes in my veins along with fear.

I slip in and hit the elevator button, praying it will come fast. The doors close right in front of my face when Reign finally gets in. Our eyes lock. I lift my middle finger up, flashing him a giant fuck you. The elevator rises and I’m quickly to my floor. Reign isn’t one to just give up though, and I know my time is short-lived. My fingers clutch the key and I slide it in the lock. The lock clicks and my hand lands on the handle right as the side door bangs open. I glance over my shoulder at him, daring him to come closer while also hoping that he doesn’t. Being around Reign isn’t good for me, yet I crave him at the same time. His eyes turn liquid blue and the gleam in them can only be read as hunger. My body betrays me, going soft for him, knowing he is near. My heart wants to reach out for him and lie at his feet.

Keeping my back straight, I square my shoulders, facing him head on. “No.”

“Yes.”

“No. You don’t get to do this,” I reply, shaking my head in denial.

He moves closer, until we’re barely separated. My skin tingles from the awareness of him. I breathe him in, savoring his fresh, woodsy scent. I miss him. But he ruined everything.

Reign’s hand slides along my throat before gripping my jaw in his hand, forcing my eyes to his. Tears fill my vision and my chest aches with the suppressed sob. He’s destroying me and the ice-wall built tightly around my heart.

“You’re mine, Riles. Not his.”

Glaring at him I let my hurt and anger twist in my voice. “I stopped being yours when you let yourself be touched by her.”

“She means nothing. That is a means to an end.”

“You had sex with her,” I accuse him, my worst fears being thrown out to the universe.

Reign’s eyes gleam, and his jaw clenches. I can’t even breathe before he’s crowding the door, his chest pressing into mine so hard I can feel his heartbeat against mine; his lower half molds against mine and I can feel his hardness press against my stomach. “I didn’t. I didn’t even kiss her. I will never cheat on you. There could never be anyone else but you, Riley Conrad.”

His hand twists the door knob and he pushes the door behind me, scooping me off my feet and walking us into my room. My hands fist in his sweatshirt and I push him away the minute he sets me down.

“Don’t touch me. I want you to leave, Reign.”

He shakes his head, his black locks swishing. “Not yet. I need you to hear me.”

“I don’t have to do anything. You broke us, Reign, the minute you touched her,” I remind him. My chest flushes. Everything hurts. My body physically aches thinking about the party and the way he held her.

“No, I didn’t. Babe, I know how it looks. I know you don’t believe me right now, but I promise you, I didn’t kiss her. I didn’t want to touch her. I would not fuck her. She means nothing.” He reaches for me, but I move out of his grip.

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