Page 38 of Pucking Christmas Triplets Surprise

The venom in his words feels like a punch to the gut, but all I can do is stand there, trembling.

Christopher's gaze darkens, and he closes the distance between himself and Dylan, his shoulders tense as he growls. “You want to say that to my face?”

Dylan's lips curl into a taunting smirk.“Yeah, I’ll say it again,” he sneers, leaning in closer. “See, I thought this was PR, but from the way you’re acting, you’re fucking her. I bet her pussy is still sweet, it was way sweeter the first time,trust me I know.”

That’s all it takes. Christopher lunges, his fist connecting with Dylan's jaw with a sickening crack. Dylan staggers back but doesn’t have time to react before Christopher grabs his collar and slams him against the boards. The rink echoes with the sound of fists meeting flesh, and Dylan’s head snaps back, blood trickling from his nose.

“Chris, stop!” I cry, my voice breaking as I skate across the ice. “Please, stop!”

But Christopher is relentless, his hand wraps around Dylan’s throat and lifts him off the ice. “You think you can talk about her like that?” he snarls, his knuckles split and bleeding. “You think you can disrespect her and I won’t break you until you’re eating out of a straw?”

Dylan groans, his hands weakly trying to push Christopher off. His face is already a bruised, bloody mess, but he smiles bloodily at him. “Pussy still that good, huh? Maybe I should spin the block.”

Before I can blink, his fist drives into Dylan's face again, this time with bone-crunching force. Dylan's nose shatters, blood spraying across the ice as he gasps in pain, the arrogant smirk wiped clean off his face. The sound of the impact echoes through the rink, and I slide up next to Chris placing a hand in the center of his back.

“Chris!” I whisper, tears streaming down my face. “Faculty. You’re faculty and he is a s-student. Stop.”

Blood streams from Dylan’s broken nose, staining his teeth and dripping down his chin. Christopher’s jaw clenches, his fingers flexing against Dylan’s throat. He takes one more breath, his hand shaking, then finally loosens his grip. Dylan crumples to the ice, coughing and clutching his throat, his body heaving from the beating.

Christopher takes a step back, his voice harsh and commanding. “Get the fuck out,” he spits, pointing toward the exit. “And if I ever see you near Josie again, I will paralyze you.”

Dylan wipes the blood from his lip, his eyes glassy. “You’re done, Jackson,” he rasps, his voice slurred. “Your days at Northbrook are over. Mark my words.”

“Your life will be numbered if you don’t get the fuck out of my sight.” Christopher snarls but I fist his jacket making him stay near me.

Dylan stumbles to his feet, his legs wobbling as he makes his way off the ice, leaving a trail of red in his wake. I’m left shaking, my breath ragged, and Christopher turns to me, his expression softening.

“Why are you afraid of him?” Christopher whispers trying to sound empathetic but the adrenaline running through him makes his voice come out as a low growl and that makes my toes curl.

“I’m not.” I whisper, looking down at the red stain on the ice. “Not with you here.”

“Did he-”

“He did a lot.” I cut him off, hoping that answer is enough.

Christopher’s jaw clenches, but he reigns in his rage, as he turns toward me with his steel-blue eyes. His touch is gentle as he cups my face in his rough, bruised hands. The warmth of his palms contrasts with the cold press of the ice, and I shiver, pulling myself in closer.

“Just say the word, Josie,” he breathes, hisvoice hoarse but fierce. “Say the word, and I’ll handle him. I’ll make sure he never comes near you again.”

My heart hammers against my ribs, and for a moment, I’m suspended in the space between his anger and my own fear. But when I look into his eyes, I see the man who has fought for me, protected me, and cherished me even when I am so undeserving as I am now.

I reach up, my fingers barely brushing his knuckles, and I shake my head. “No, Chris. I just… I just need you.”

Christopher’s eyes soften, the tension melting from his shoulders. He lets out a shaky breath, and then he leans in, his lips capturing mine in a kiss that’s fierce and tender all at once. I press closer, my hands fisting in his jacket as I try to convey everything I feel in that kiss. Happiness. Safety. Love. Fear. Shame. But most of all I want my lips to say I am sorry for keeping your baby away from you. His arms wrap around me, pulling me tight against him, and despite the chaos, despite the blood and the bruises, I have never felt more love. I’ve never felt more protected than I am right now.

CHAPTER 17

CHRISTOPHER

“This is a bad look Chris. Bad look.” The president of the university, Josh Perkins, clicks his tongue in my ear, as I wash the dishes from breakfast.

He’d been calling since nine in the morning but it's a Saturday and school is on winter break so I ignored him until Josie gasped, horrified that I ignored him and demanded I call him back immediately while she took a shower without me.Fuck.She is soaking wet, and humming while she scrubs her perfect body while I’m on the phone with a man old enough to have birthed Christ.

“You’re lucky Dylan Collins agreed to a deal.” The old man drawls, as I scrub the eggs off of a frying plan.

“Oh yeah,” I comment, boredom clear in my tone, but the man yawns, leaning back with a sigh. “What deal?”

“He agreed not to press charges and sign a NDA if he is allowed to audition for the Olympic scouts with Josie Richards.” My skin runs cold as President Perkins continues to speak. “ Now, I had to pull a few strings but-”

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