Page 58 of Marked

I don’t even try to fight him this time. Not when a wave of exhaustion hits me so hard my eyes droop. He jostles me, and I open my eyes to see we’re at my door already. Damn, did I black out? With difficulty, I unclench my keys and try for the door. When I miss the lock three times, Jack gently sets me on my feet.

“Sorry,” I whisper, a little embarrassed as he takes my keys and unlocks the door, all the while keeping a steadying arm tight around my waist.

“It’s fine,” Jack replies tensely.

A familiar pang of disappointment swells in my chest. He’s mad at me. Is it because I kicked him out a couple hours ago? Or because I stopped him from chasing that beast? Or is it all of it? Has he finally realized I’m not worth the effort? It’s probably about time.

I swallow again, glad there’s less blood this time, and try to push out of his hold after he walks me inside the apartment. His grip tightens as he leads me to the couch, but I continue to try and squirm away from him.

With a growl of frustration, he releases me, and I topple back onto the couch. I look up at him, but quickly look away at the anger in his eyes.

“What, Valkyrie?” he snaps. “What now?”

I blink and furrow my brow, but I don’t look at him. “Nothin’.”

Jack’s aura flares briefly with his irritation. “Don’t fall asleep,” he orders before stalking away from me.

I assume he’s leaving and that makes the hurt and anger battle within me. How did things go so wrong with us? Maybe I shouldn’t have been so stubborn last night. Maybe I should have just told him then and there, but I don’t deserve to be yelled at. I’m not going to lower my self-worth by allowing that.

A gentle touch to my cheek startles me, my eyes snapping open. I’m met with Jack’s grey gaze, concern softening the furrow between his brows. “I said not to fall asleep,” he chides, but it doesn’t have any bite of attitude from a few moments ago.

“Sorry,” I mumble, unable to look away from him.

He shakes his head, dismissing my apology. “If you have a concussion, I don’t want you to sleep yet.” When I simply nod in response, he presses a cold bundle of ice to my head. “Hold this.”

I do as told, holding the towel to my wound as he sits down on my coffee table. I worry my bottom lip between my teeth as he gently takes my leg and sets it on his lap. He rolls up the fabric of my legging, but my eyes are focused on his handsome face. When his eyes narrow into a glare, my calf muscle flexes in his hand with tension.

“Stay still.” His hand tightens around my calf as he gives me another order.

“You don’t have to,” I protest when he picks up a damp towel and starts to clean my leg.

With a heavy defeated sigh, he rests the towel on my leg and hangs his head. After a few tense seconds that sends my heart galloping, he speaks. “What is the matter, Val?”

Gods, I really hate that fucking nickname on his lips.

“You don’t have to stay and do this. I know you’re angry,” I say softly.

“I’m not angry,” he responds, but his words are tense once again.

“You’ve been angry since last night.” I pull the sleeves of my hoodie down past my hand, balling it in the fabric as I hold the makeshift ice pack. “Why do you think I didn’t answer your question? Why I made you leave?”

When he finally lifts his head again, his eyes look almost tormented. “You’re right. I am mad.” I look away from him, but he continues. “But only because you keep pushing me away.”

My eyes snap back to him, my own irritation rising again. “Bullshit.”

His eyes flutter shut, his jaw working. “It’s not. Last night you kicked me out because I asked you a question. Now a few hours later you’re physically pushing me away from you even though you asked me to come here. Your muscles tense when I touch you.” His brows slant down again. “As if you can’t stand to be touched by me anymore.”

I blink at him, my annoyance dissolving just like that. “That’s not true.”

His steely stare holds mine. “Explain to me how it isn’t.”

“Someone’s bossy tonight,” I murmur. “It’s not that I don’t want you touching me, Jack. Of course, I want to be touched by you. I just don’t want you to feel like you must. You seemed put out to have to haul my ass to my apartment. Like it bothered you to do so. That’s why I said you don’t have to. You don’t have to stay and take care of me if it’s upsetting you to do so.”

Jack leans forward, effectively eliminating any small space that is between us. “What did I say the other night?” When I remain quiet, a low growl rumbles in his chest. He possessively cups the bottom of my jaw. “Answer me.”

The thrill of obeying him flares. “That I deserve to be taken care of.”

“In all things,” he adds, running his thumb over my bottom lip.

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