Page 51 of Beautiful Defiance

“Whether we’re friends or enemies or acquaintances, I can’t, Seven.” I give him the same reason I gave Red. “I don’t stick around one place long enough to have a friendship, a relationship, or a rivalry.”

“Bullshit. For the right person, for the right reason, you would.”

I start rolling off him. He slings his arm across my back and keeps me in place.

“You don’t know me,” I murmur.

“Give me that chance.”

“Why, so you can mess with my head and my heart? No, thank you.”

“Have you?”

“Have I what?”

“Fallen in love?”

“That’s none of your business.”

He searches my face. Wipes at the strands of hair falling across my forehead. “You’re mine, Leigh, and that makes it my business.”

“You’re full of yourself.”

“And you are fooling yourself if you think I’ll let you go so easily.”

I growl low in the back of my throat. He shifts us until I’m blinking up at him. Seven shoves his fingers in my hair. His other hand clamps on to my thigh.

“Have you ever fallen in love, Leigh?” His fingers press into my skin through my pajama bottoms.

It’s not painful. What he does, the gentle press and release, press and release is sheer torture, and I’m on the verge of taking off my pants so that he can touch my skin.

“No,” I admit, breathless. “You?”

He locks his gaze on mine. “Never.”

“Allison?” A jolt of jealousy grabs at my core and I scold myself. Seven might say I’m his, but he never said he’s mine. I’m a temporary fascination. A shiny new toy to pass his time with. The reason I should never let down my guard with him.

“When I say never, I mean it.”

“Just checking.”

“Anything else you’d like to know? ’Cause I’d like the guy’s name now.”

“No, and I’m not giving it to you.”

“Why the hell not?”

“You can’t mess with him, Seven. He’s not someone to screw with.”

“Don’t tell me this guy goes to Delridge? I’ll fuck him up when I get ahold of him.”

“There’s one problem. You don’t have his name.”

“I have my ways, Leigh.”

“Why are you so possessive?”

“I’m keeping you safe from guys more dangerous than me.”

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