Page 128 of The Rivals' Touch

I’m struck by the random thought of how sexy he looks when he’s angry — his straining muscles, the vein that ticks at his temple. It’s so inappropriate that I start laughing.

“What’s so fucking funny?!” He steps closer, forcing me to crane my neck to look up at him.

Jacob clears his throat. “Zayd, maybe you should calm down.”

“You!” I dig my finger into Zayd’s hard chest. “Do you think I would have fallen for you if not for your stupid blackmail? No! I wouldn’t have looked twice at you!”

Now it’s his turn to laugh, but it’s an angry sound. “Fuck off! You got wet just looking at me!”

My jaw drops. “You conceited piece of shit!”

He nods and presses his lips together. “Whatever.”

Confused, I frown. I expect him to shout, not step back and walk off. “Where the fuck are you going?!”

I chase him and pull him to a stop, but he rips his arm away and keeps walking. His body is tense; he runs a hand through his hair, messing it up.

“Zayd!”

He turns, walking backward. “I’m done!”

It’s what I wanted, but my heart drops to my stomach. “You’re done?!”

He shrugs and slides his hands inside his pockets. “You said it yourself. It was never real.”

“What the fuck happened to ‘fight for me,’ huh?” I shout after him when he turns and walks away. It’s a win for me, but it feels like a loss. I spin around and do a double take. Jacob and Legacy watch me like they don’t know what to expect. I guess I’m acting unhinged. “Aren’t you going to run after him?”

They exchange a glance. Jacob takes a step toward me, but I move back. “Babe,” he whispers, pleading with his green eyes. “You’re angry.”

“No shit, Sherlock!”

Legacy shoulders past him with determined steps and grips my jaw, holding me in place. Her lips hover over mine. “Zayd is angry. He doesn’t mean it.”

“Let go of me!” I hiss, like a cornered snake lashing out.

Her breath fans my skin. “No!”

I clamp my mouth shut, inhaling fiercely through my nostrils.

“I won’t let go because you’re ours, and we love you!”

I stop breathing, and my heart ceases to beat.

“We fucking love you, Remi! We won’t let you go, no matter what! Zayd isn’t good with emotions, but he loves you with a fire that could start a fucking inferno. Do you think he won’t fight for you? That none of us will? Well, you’re in for a rude awakening!” She lets me go and walks away, calling over her shoulder, “See you at the game. You’ll drop jaws with that mean scorpion.”

I’m so confused. My lips tingle from where hers brushed up against them.

Jacob watches her leave before sweeping his hair out of his eyes. “I know you’re scared, Remi. Fuck, I am too. I’ve never felt this way. I know you think this game isn’t important, but it is. We’re going to win it for you, and then we’ll collect our prize. Bennett is a lot of things, but he’ll have no choice but to honor the bet.”

I snort. “How so?”

“Trust me, Remi! Will you do that for me?”

I search his face, wishing it was that simple. I want to cling to his promises and let them guide me through the dark night.

I shrug. “Sure.”

“Good.” He palms my cheeks and presses his lips to mine. It’s sweet, agonizingly torturous, and everything my soul longs for. He steps back, brushing his thumb over my tingling bottom lip. “Cheer for us.”

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