Page 25 of Troublemaker

What did he mean by mine? And god, why did it make me feel so good? The complete nothing I’d felt earlier was replaced with butterflies.

“I swear to god, I will call the cops,” I said.

“Did he hurt you?” Blake asked.

“No.”

“Fine.” He removed his foot from Sam’s throat. “Get the fuck out of here, and if you ever come near her again, Iwillkill you. Mark my words. Oh, and don’t you fucking dare call the police or send security up here. The room is ours for the night.”

Sam took him for his word, because he scuttled backward, stood on shaky legs, and without a look at me, ran out of the open door.

Leaving me alone with a version of my guardian I’d never seen before.

Part of me was still stuck onmineand all its implications as it swelled through my chest and gave me foolish hope.

But Blake was probably just feeling stupidlyfatherly.

What are you, her dad or something?

Nowhere near it.

The other part of me was livid. How dare he follow me here and interrupt my sex plans?!

Blake turned to me. “Now it’s your turn. What the fuck were you thinking?”

Oh, no.

No.

“What the hell were you doing? You could’ve killed him! And what did you do to your hand?”

I expected regret to flash in Blake’s eyes, but there was nothing. He didn’t even bother to answer my questions as he advanced on me.

“He deserved worse,” Blake said.

“For what? Seducing a willing,of agepartner? You don’t own me, Blake Samson. I’m eighteen now, you aren’t even really my guardian anymore.”

There. I’d said it. Finally.

This time, something did flash in his eyes.

“Willing?” he asked slowly. Reaching behind him, he shut the door, ignoring that there was a crack in the wood where he’d—what, bashed it in?

“Yes,” I swallowed. “Willing.”

Liar.

“Bullshit,” he said. “You didn’t want him.”

He stalked toward me, like a predator scenting its prey and playing with it.

“What do you mean?” I asked, raising my chin to hide how nervous—and excited—his pursuit was making me.

This time, a small, knowing smile played over Blake’s face as he reached me and lifted a piece of my hair between his unbandaged fingers, stroking it. I couldn’t even feel his touch, but the way my whole body quaked, I may as well have.

“You didn’t want him,” he repeated slowly. Confidently. “You just wanted to forget about how much you want me. Or you wanted my attention. Well, troublemaker. I’m here now, and you have it.” The smile on his face disappeared. “Now, get on the goddamn bed.”

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