Page 69 of Red Captive

“What was that?” Jen asks as we go inside. I can’t say I blame her for calling me out on my shitty attitude.

“Me doing my job,” I tell her as we start to go up. I know it probably won’t fly but I need her to drop it.

“That was mean and rude and… I don’t know what that was, Steel, only that I didn’t like it.”

“That’s too bad, Jen. I’m doing my job, and it is my job to get you safely back to the apartment. It’s my job to keep you safe, full-fucking-stop.”

“Rex wasn’t going to hurt me.”

“You are vulnerable in public places.”

We march down the hallway that takes us to the apartment.

“I thought it was your job to keep me from running away. What happened back there didn’t feel like you were keeping me safe. Rex is harmless.”

Harmless, my ass.

“My job is to keep you safe, even if that means keeping you safe from yourself.” I unlock the door, and she goes inside.

“What does that even mean? You can keep me safe without being an asshole, you know? What has gotten into you?” She turns and glares daggers at me. She’s beautiful when she’s mad. I think I might be screwed.

23

Jen

The door clicks shut. We’re glaring at each other. It feels like dark clouds have descended all around us. Steel has never been this level of brooding before. He looks pissed, like he wants to break or kill something. He’s been such a jerk; it’s not even funny.

I don’t get it.

Why?

I don’t understand where this is coming from. What the hell is wrong with him? Then it hits me, and I have to hold back a giggle.

Holy shit! Holy freaking crap!

Steel is jealous. He’s jealous! No, surely not? I must have it wrong and yet, it’s the only explanation that fits. Here I am, wrestling with my emotions and all the while thinking that Steel has it together. That he is cool, calm and collected, when he isn’t. He might even be worse than I am about what is happening between us.

It makes me happy – ecstatic, really – to know that I’m not alone. He feels it, too. He feels it!

I fold my arms. “And what was that earlier about the kiss?”

He frowns. “What about it?”

He knows exactly what I’m talking about. “You said that kissing was not permitted by order of the general. That isn’t true.”

“I thought you didn’t want any of the candidates pawing you. I was protecting you. I mean, unless you wanted to kiss him. Did you want to kiss Logan? Was I out of line?”

“Yes, you were out of line. Completely out of line.”

“I could take you back there if you want to kiss that asshole so badly.” He points at the door using his thumb.

“When it comes to decisions about what I want to do with my body, I can make them myself, thank you very much.”

“Fine,” he growls, his voice low and deep. His eyes are darker than they’ve ever been. “I’ll take you back. You can fuck him, for all I care.” Steel’s whole body bristles. Every muscle is hard and pumped.

He’s jealous, alright.

Steel walks over to the door and starts to open it. “I’ll take you back. You can—”

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