Page 223 of Heartless Legacy

“Pax…”

“Nem...”

Neither of us says anything else as we stare each other down. He backs down first and releases me. I get to my feet and tap the wheel. “Get back to work. “

Chapter 121

Thea

All of my friends are busy this weekend. LJ went out of town to visit Damon, Wolfe’s on a scouting trip, and Finn and Holden are having dinner with their parents. I’m walking through campus alone and for the first time in a long time I feel something other than dread. It’s like I can sense a bubble of color. I won’t call it bright like hope, but my perception of things is less dark than it has been.

As I’m coming down the path near the bookstore, I see Eloise and Pax up ahead of me. I duck behind a tree, eavesdropping on their conversation.

“This is my last warning, Pax.”

“Who do you think you are to warn me about anything? I don’t answer to you.”

“I’m your companion and your future wife.”

“I didn’t ask for either of those things. You were shoved at me and I was blackmailed into complying. I go along in public, but it’s fake, Eloise. I don’t give a shit about you or your feelings.”

“I’m not gonna stand here and continue to take this disrespect from you.”

I stifle a laugh when he asks, “Why not? You took it and so much more from Finn for years. Why change it up now?”

“Finn never crossed the line until she came to town.”

“What line? Because he’d been fucking his way across this campus since our senior year of high school.”

I believe that. Finn’s very charming and he loves a challenge. College women would’ve been quite a thrill for a high school senior. Do I know any of them? There was that group of girls who kept asking where he was at the car wash.

“An occasional fling is one thing, but making someone a permanent part of your life is where I draw the line. The three of you were making fools of yourselves and about to throw everything away for that slut. It’s no wonder your father stepped in.”

That bubble of color in my chest morphs into something that’s been missing for almost a year. I recognize it and welcome it like an old friend. My petty switch has been activated. Stepping out of my hiding spot, I approach the arguing couple.

Pax’s back is to me. “Hey big guy,” I greet, as I grab his ass, before trailing my hands along his hips and to the front of his jean clad thighs, finally letting my right hand come to rest possessively against his dick.

His back’s so broad I can’t see around it, but that’s okay. I don’t need to see his face, or Eloise’s. I stay in the moment, palming his dick and rubbing my hand against it.

“This is what I’m talking about, Pax.” Eloise shrieks. “What happens if someone sees you behaving inappropriately like this?”

Peeking around his arm, I ask, “Why are you upset with him? He’s just standing here. I’m the one with the behavior issues. But what can I say? I can’t just stop being me, and testing those pesky consequences, any more than you can stop being a frigid shrew.” I drag my other hand up his body to fondle his pecs. “Feeling kinda buff there, Pax. Find a new chest workout?”

“As a matter of fact, I have.”

“I’d love to see that routine sometime. If your warden here lets you out of her sight long enough to go to the gym.”

I give him another pat, then continue on toward my dorm.

“Full extensions, Thea. You won’t see any gains stopping halfway through the reps.”

I meant it when I said I wanted to see Pax’s new chest workout, but now I regret saying anything. He showed up at Wolfe Pack and managed to convince Deacon to let him train me today. Now my underarms and upper back hurt, and my fingers are swollen and cramped from holding the weights. I extend my noodle arms as far as I can. They shake because I’m way past the point of muscle fatigue.

“Five more, reps.”

I grunt, “One more.”

“Sounds like you’re ready to quit. Just say the words.”

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