The Jock by J.L. Beck Page 0,59

and suddenly you’re sticking up for me. Would you have done this for anyone else? Any other chick?”

Whoa, this is going somewhere I don’t want it to go real fast. “What do you mean? I don’t care about anyone else, only you.”

“You’re missing the point, Cage.” She sighs.

Blair takes a step back and then another until she’s out of reach. She starts to pack up her stuff, and I’m confused. Did I do something wrong? Was sticking up for her the wrong thing? Anger replaces the confusion, and I grit my teeth, watching her get ready to leave.

“You wanted me to let him talk to you like that?” I growl, unable to hide my anger. “What happens if I had been a second later, or a minute? I heard the way he was talking to you. I don’t doubt that he would’ve touched you without consent, or worse.”

“No, Cage, I wanted you to be a civilized individual. I didn’t want you to risk something for me, and I’m not some damsel in distress. I could’ve protected myself. I’ve done so before, and I could do so now.

“What do you mean you’ve protected yourself before? This isn’t the first time he’s come on to you?” I’m livid, close to breathing fire out of my mouth like a dragon.

For a second, shock registers on her features, and then she blinks, and it’s gone. “No, he’s never acted like this before, but that’s not the point, Cage. I’m nothing. Just a hookup.” Her face falls. “You shouldn’t have hit him, not for me. I won’t be the reason you lose everything.”

Clenching my fists, I want to plow the damn things into the wall. “I can’t believe you just said that. You think you’re only a hookup for me? For someone so smart, you say pretty stupid shit.” Insulting her isn’t my intention, but she can’t possibly believe what she just said.

“I’m going to pretend you didn’t just say that,” she growls through her teeth and zips up her backpack before tossing it over her shoulder.

“Where are you going? We have a session,” I seethe.

“Away from you.” She moves toward the door, and I sidestep in front of her, blocking her from leaving. I don’t want her to leave mad at me, even though I am pissed to all hell. Not really at her, but at that fucker, and okay, maybe a little at her, especially for thinking so low of herself and of me. She’s more than a hookup, and we both know it, even if neither of us is ready to admit it. Like a toddler trying to escape, she shoves against my chest, but she should know better. Trying to move me is like trying to move a mountain.

“Move, Cage.” It’s an order, but I don’t take orders, especially from five foot two girls, even if she does have me wrapped around her finger.

“I don’t want you to leave, not like this.” My tone softens.

Blair stares at my chest for a full minute, and I can see she wants to say something. The corner of her lip twitches. “You can’t do stuff like that.”

“Like stick up for you?” I scoff.

“No,” she looks up at me, “like, treat me like your girlfriend. We had sex one time, and now you’re sticking up for me. Putting your future on the line for me. It’s not okay, Cage. I’m not okay with you taking those risks, even if you are.”

“We might not be together, but that doesn’t mean I should slack on being a decent human. I won’t let someone talk to you like that. You’re mine.” The last set of words slip out before I can stop them, but I don’t retract them. There isn’t any point. I know deep down in the pit of my stomach that they’re true.

She is mine.

“I’m yours?” she arches a brow in disbelief, “You’re delusional, Cage. Out of your damn mind. I am not yours. I belong to no one.”

“You’re mine, Blair. Mine. All-fucking-mine,” I growl.

“And are you mine?” she counters, stopping my alpha ass right in its tracks.

Am I hers? I think. That would mean putting a label on us. Label or not, I’m not about to sleep with someone else or toss her to the curb. When I don’t answer, Blair purses her lips and blinks her eyes, impatience draining into her face.

“I…” What the fuck am I supposed to say?

“That’s what I thought. Now move. I need some time to myself, and you should