Page 29 of Ricochet
Callum’s eyes narrow, his brow dipped low as he studies me, searching for whatever question is running through his mind before he finally voices it out loud. “Why do you care?”
He asks it like the question has plagued him for so long that he’ll die without an answer.
I give him the only one I can.
“You’re my teammate, dumbass.”
He nods, rolls his eyes, and lets out a huff through his nose. “Right.”
Well, what the fuck was I supposed to say?
The protector in me wants to keep you safe?
The beast in me wants to fucking devour you? Ruin you? Touch you until you never want to be touched by anyone else?
Yeah, I’m sure all that would’ve gone over much better.
I’m considering giving him at least a little more when someone comes up behind him so fast that he pitches forward as the guy slams into his back. Whiskey splashes from Callum’s cup and onto the floor at my feet.
The protector and the beast nearly spring into action.
But then Callum laughs with recognition.
“Where’ve you been?” the guy asks, still standing behind him as he throws an arm over Callum’s shoulder. He rests his chin on his other shoulder and pouts. “I’m bored without you.”
“You don’t sound bored,” Callum says, still laughing.
“Maybe I’m not anymore.” The stranger blows a strand of light brown hair out of his face as his eyes rake up and down my body. “Where’ve you been hiding this one, Cal?”
I might be flattered if my view of this guy clinging to Callum wasn’t bathed in red.
Callum turns his head to the side, andfor once, his glare is aimed at someone other than me. “Don’t.”
The way the single word comes out as a growl between gritted teeth sends a surprising flare of heat down my spine.
The flirt’s eyes go wide. His drunk grin only grows as he takes a step back with his hands in the air in mock surrender. “Message received loud and clear. He’s taken.”
“That’s not what I meant,” Callum mutters as he reaches up and rubs the bridge of his nose.
As soon as Callum drops his hand, the guy bops him on the tip of his nose. “S’okay, pookie. You know I’m not the jealous type.”
Yeah, I’m not usually either.
But I swear if this guy touches him or calls himpookieagain, someone’s getting their arm ripped off.
Fuck.
I think it’s safe to say my obsession with this boy is starting to reach dangerous levels.
Thisis exactly why I don’t make shit personal.
I knew this side of me existed, and I’ve tried my damn hardest to restrain it, to keep it locked away in chains. Because I knew as soon as it set its eyes on someone, there was no stopping it from breaking free.
If Callum and I are both lucky, I’ll be able to control it long enough to get it back inside its cage.
“Jesse, please leave,” Callum practically begs him, exasperated.
“Fine, fine.” Jesse starts walking backward, bumping into bodies on his way. “Just remember there are rooms upstairs, boys.”