Page 183 of The Obedient Lie
Because I couldhearthem now — boots on concrete, war drums of the academy.
And then I saw him.
Bastion.
Focused. Thunder in motion.
Until he looked up.
He didn’t slow. He didn’t blink. He walked straight off course — ignoring the coach, ignoring the line of players ahead of him.
He came to me.
“Win,” I said simply, stepping closer. “And you can really claim me.”
His eyes darkened. “Claimyou?”
I nodded. “Anything. However you want.”
“Fuck.”
He reached for me, lips crashing to mine with a groan.
Then he leaned back and smirked, brushing a strand of hair behind my ear.
“Anything for our girl.”
Then Luca appeared — walking just behind him.
Confused at first when he saw Bastion off-track… until his eyes landed onme.
He stepped toward me slowly. But I didn’t wait. I knew he was keeping his distance because of the everyone watching, worried to get me in trouble with my family.
But I wanted everyone to know, while I had a choice, I was theirs.
I reached for him, fingers curling around his collar as I pulled him down by his shirt, ignoring every confused stare from passing players, coaches, and family scouts nearby.
Probably all thinking I was confused, or I had lost my mind.
“If you win tonight,” I whispered, voice low in his ear, “you can claim me. Anything you want.”
His lips didn’t move. His hands didn’t reach for me.
But his eyes?—
His eyes devoured me.
“Let us collar you?” he murmured.
The words punched the air from my lungs. His thumb brushed over my throat, right where it would sit. His voice was quiet. Lethal.
“Right here?”
I tilted my head slightly.
“Babe, I’ll let you collar me regardless.”
His breath caught. I kissed him — slow and sure.
