Page 79 of The Bonding Games: Part 2

He eats up the distance my rejection of his previous touch created in a few long strides, pulling me into his arms with a harsh breath of relief. A hand cradling the back of my head, the other arm is wrapped around my waist securely, and he whispers hoarsely, “I thought you didn’t want my touch anymore for a second there, Love. Please don’t do that. It’s the way I show all my affection for you.”

Swallowing, I am now the one with a strange lump in my throat. So I send to only him down the bond, I apologise. I did not mean to reject you and your care. I do not . . . I do not hate it as I once might have. I am learning to like it. I simply needed a moment, my sensible one.

More of his relief washes over me, cleansing his previously panging and stinging side of the bond.

It is more instinct than anything that urges me to pull away and settle his mind, and I reach up to take the back of his neck in my hands, pulling him down to my height. A breath shudders from him before I press my mouth firmly to his, and his hold on me tightens as he dips his head to deepen the kiss at once. I am not sure if I meant for it to be so . . . passionate, but I am certainly not objecting as our mouths move together slowly, his tongue curling and gliding along mine.

Pulling away when that insistent nagging about time grows louder once more, I find Scotty staring down at me, almost stupefied. Then he gives me one of his heartachingly loving smiles, and, evidently sensing my stress through the bond, nudges his chin towards the open doorway. “Let’s go. Do we need our helmets today?”

I consider. “Yes. But we will return here for lunch, so we can get them then.”

Tiger’s hands clap together once loudly. “You’re going to start eating lunch with us?!”

“Yes,” I reply shortly. “And you will eat more later,” I direct at Alby. “You did not finish your breakfast.”

Gold-green-brown eyes widen. “O-oh, don’t worry, there’s only a few bites left.”

My eyes narrow.

“Of—of course I was going to listen to you anyway!” he rushes out in alarm.

“Very good.” I give a solid dip of my chin. “I like when you are well-fed.”

The shade of red dyeing his pale skin deepens.

“Come on,” Scotty urges again with a smile still dancing on his lips.

Kicking into motion, Alby and Tiger both dart to my side. Cooper takes the back of my head in his hand before lowering his own to press a firm kiss to my forehead, finally more comfortable in seeking out what he wants after our night together but still getting used to it. Then he pulls away to allow room for Tate, who shows far less self-discipline when he makes a hungry sound in the back of his throat and claims my mouth with a savage kiss.

“Tate,” Scotty sighs heavily when the kiss goes on for far too long and I am planning to boot him off me, and my beast finally pulls back with his teeth denting his bottom lip once more as he looks me over.

“Yeah.” His grunt is like gravel. “Let’s go.” And with Tiger snatching up my right hand, Alby taking my left more hesitantly, and Cooper and Scotty grabbing everyone’s gloves from the dining table that had been off while they ate, we leave to head to the Training Centre.

It does not escape my notice that I am not striding ahead of them for once, and although I do feel as though I should be, I find I am more satisfied with two of my Bonds connected to me like this. So the entire way there, I let them hold my hands.

26

COOPER

Everyone in the Training Centre stares as we walk in. That’s not uncommon at all, but I worry it might make Ezla pull away from Alby and Tiger, because that sight definitely is. I mean, The Bonding Games Champion holding hands with two Evots? With anyone, full stop? I would have laughed had someone told me they’d seen anything like it just a few weeks ago.

Moreover, she obviously doesn’t have her sleek helmet on, and though the world has seen her face at the Halfway Ball, it’s been largely hidden again since because of Joseph. And we don’t have access to social media, so I’ve not seen the long-term evidence of her face reveal around the world, but I’m certain it’ll be the topic of conversation and speculation for a long, long time.

So I watch her carefully as I walk directly behind her with Tate on one side of me, and Scotty on the other, taking in her every move. I swear if one bad look is thrown her way, I’ll go into full-blown Tate-mode. Said brother is already glaring at everything and everyone every time he manages to pull his eyes away from HC’s swaying ass.

But Vengeance doesn’t even react, simply keeps striding along purposefully, spine straight, head held high as usual, her grip on Tiger’s and Alby’s hands unwavering as she leads us over to our private training room, walking us past the Simulation Hexagon where Player 2, the last remaining Player without a Bonded after losing his early on, moves about. He’s skilled, but I have to look away, because I know damn well he won’t make it despite what has to be an exceptional Score. Worse, it might be someone from my group who ends him.

When we enter our training room and the door locks behind us, Tiger pouts as Ezla finally lets go to place her hands on her hips as she turns to us. “Go through your routines as usual.” In our minds, she says, I have no doubt my— Joseph is still watching us, so we will keep any conversations concerning him to our minds. Shit. With all the other crap going on, I’d almost forgotten about the cameras. She continues, And you will never wander off on your own, of course, though I know you do not usually. Our new connection will prevent him from killing any of you, but I do not doubt that he will attempt to harm you in other ways.

Gloves on, my jaw tenses as I grab two dumbbells from the weight rack, and I send back, What are you thinking are our next steps?

As before, I must do this alone. I am not too worried about the cameras anymore considering we no longer have to put on a show, but I would like to get a hold of your citizen tablets. I do not trust Joseph with them.

Fuck that. We’re helping you this time, Vengeance, whether you like it or not.

“Heavier!” HC barks aloud, and I jolt slightly before huffing and giving in to her punishment.

Setting the weights back down, I grab two 40 kg ones, muscles straining with the effort. I usually use the 30 kg or 35 kg dumbbells, so this is a bit of a fucking stretch. Guess we’ve already established that I’m a big bloody simp, though, so it shouldn’t be surprising that I do what HC asks without question. I used to like to preserve my pride, but it’s always on the other side of the planet when it comes to her.