Page 74 of Cruel When He Smiles (Sinners of Blackthorne U #3)

Nate

Liam is already arguing with me in his head; I can feel it. I’m sitting on the edge of his bed, pulling on my socks, while he leans against the dresser with his arms crossed, one ankle hooked over the other.

He’s watching me like he’s trying to decide which approach will make me cave fastest. I can feel him doing it, and it makes me want to dig my heels in harder.

“You’re not going to classes today,” he says flatly, no preamble, no attempt at pretending it’s a conversation instead of an order.

I don’t even look up as I tug the second sock into place. “Yes, I am.”

The silence stretches long enough for me to glance up at him. He’s still in the same position, but his jaw’s tighter now. “You’re not,” he says again, slower this time. “You’re not going anywhere near campus until I say it’s fine.”

I push myself to my feet, grabbing my hoodie from the chair. “I missed half of my classes yesterday because I got blindsided, but I’m fine now. I’m not skipping again.”

The muscle in his jaw jumps. “You weren’t fine yesterday. You weren’t fine last night, and you’re sure as hell not fine now if you think I’m letting you walk across campus like nothing happened.”

I shove my charger into the side pocket of my bag and zip it closed. “You’re not letting me? What, do I need a hall pass signed by you now?”

“Yes,” he says, dead serious, which makes me groan.

“Liam.” I drag his name out like I’m trying to snap him out of it, but he doesn’t even blink. “I’m not going to hide in your room like some prisoner. She’s not going to get to me again. You’ll handle it, right?”

He doesn’t answer right away, and the silence is heavier than it should be. “You know I will,” he finally says, but his tone makes it sound more like a threat to the world than reassurance for me. “That’s not the point.”

“It is to me,” I counter, moving past him toward my bag. “I can’t just hide every time something happens. I’ve already missed too many days this semester.”

He pushes off the dresser and follows me. “And what happens if she’s waiting for you again? What happens if she doesn’t try to talk next time?”

“You’ll take care of it because your psycho levels are in overdrive when it comes to me,” I say simply, because it’s true. “And I’m not scared of her. She caught me off guard yesterday, but I’m prepared today.”

“That’s not the point either,” he says, stepping into my space so I have to tilt my chin up to keep looking at him.

“Then what is the point?” I ask, a little sharper than I mean to.

His gaze holds mine for a long beat, searching. Then he exhales through his nose and mutters, “You make it harder to keep you safe than anyone I’ve ever met.”

I grin at that, small but enough to ease the tension in my shoulders. “Yeah, but you like it.”

He doesn’t confirm or deny it, just keeps staring like he’s trying to memorize the way I’m looking at him right now.

It’s the opening I need, so I soften my voice, leaning into that sweet spot he’s weak for.

“Please, Lover, let me go to class. I promise I’ll be careful.

I promise I’ll come straight back after and text you every hour. ”

His mouth curves the tiniest bit, the kind of smile he only gives when he knows I’m trying to manipulate him and he’s letting me. “You’re not subtle, Pup.”

“Never claimed to be,” I say, stepping around him toward the nightstand to grab my phone, but I pause. “Huh.”

“What?” he asks immediately, tone sharp.

I turn, scanning the room. “My phone’s not here.”

“You had it yesterday?”

“Yeah,” I say, frowning. “I was—”

“I traced your location last night,” he cuts in. “It pinged at the stadium.”

That makes me stop moving entirely. I look at him over my shoulder, trying to piece the evening together in my head.

“I… oh. Right.” It comes back in a rush—the lights still on in the locker room, the faint smell of detergent in the air, and the thing I’d forgotten after practice.

“I went to grab my ankle brace from my locker. I didn’t want to deal with it in the morning. ”

His jaw ticks. “You didn’t think to mention that?”

“I forgot,” I say honestly. “I was distracted.”

“That’s one word for it,” he mutters.

I ignore the bite in his tone, bending to grab my sneakers from under the bed. “It’s not a big deal. I’ll swing by after class and get it.”

He takes a step closer, and I can feel his weight behind me even without looking. “You think I’m just going to let you wander into the stadium alone when you don’t even remember dropping it?”

I straighten, turning to face him fully. “Liam, I’m not going to stop living my life because of her. Yesterday happened. It sucked. But I’m not letting it wreck my entire week.”

His eyes search mine, looking for the crack that’ll let him wedge in his control again. I don’t give it to him. Instead, I step into his space, sliding my hands up over his chest until my palms rest just under his collarbone. His heart is steady under my touch, and I know exactly what I’m doing.

“I’m fine,” I say again, softer now, letting it sink into him the way his words usually sink into me. “You’ve got me. She can’t touch that.”

His breath hitches, and I keep my hands where they are, my thumb brushing absently against the edge of his collar. “Let me go to class,” I coax, looking him right in the eye. “You can pick me up after, and we’ll get my phone together. No risk. No surprises.”

His eyes narrow like he’s weighing the deal. Then his mouth curves slightly, but his hands come up to bracket my face. “You’re sweet when you’re trying to manipulate me,” he says finally, his tone almost amused.

“Sweet works on you,” I counter, softening my voice to make it sound more coaxing than defiant. “So, let me go. Let me show up and be fine so you don’t have to hover like I’m breakable.”

His gaze drifts over my face, before coming back up. “You’re not breakable,” he says, and for the first time this morning, it doesn’t sound like a warning—it sounds like an admission.

“Then stop acting like I am.”

For a moment, I think he’s going to dig his heels in just to win. But then his jaw loosens and he exhales slowly, the tension in his shoulders easing. “Straight to the stadium. Straight to class. No detours.”

“Promise.”

“And if your phone isn’t there—”

“I’ll call you from Sage’s. Or borrow a campus phone. Or scream your name until you show up,” I add with a faint grin.

He shakes his head, but there’s the barest ghost of a smirk pulling at his mouth now. “Go before I change my mind.”

I grab my bag and lean in to press my lips to his jaw. “You’re the best, you know that?”

His hand catches the back of my neck before I can pull away, holding me there for half a second longer. “I know,” he says, but his voice is quieter now, almost reluctant. “Just… keep your eyes open.”

“I will.” I step back, giving him a small smile before heading for the door. “You’ll take care of it, remember?”

His eyes follow me out, and even though he doesn’t say it, I can feel the unspoken always trailing after me as I go.