Page 39 of Ruthless Blade

Kayden.

Freshly showered, he’d thrown on UnderArmor sweatpants and a shirt as if he didn’t give a care in the world. His hair was messy against his forehead, the raw adrenaline from the game still practically radiating off his skin like heat waves.

I swallowed, watching his eyes narrow on the situation, knowing this wasn’t going to end well. I tried to ignore him, and give Josh my answer, but his voice quickly cut through the crowd.

"Lex,” his voice held me captive, and I really wish he didn’t have this fucking hold on me.

Say yes to Josh. Do it. You’ll feel better about yourself.

“You know what, that actually sounds like a...”

Kayden stepped in between us, his dominating figure standing right above ours. Josh blinked up, his figure going still.

Without taking his eyes off Josh, Kayden reached out, wrapping his calloused hand around my waist and placed a kiss to the top of my head. My breath caught. He’s got to stop doing this. He pulled me flush against his side, and the overwhelming heat of his body shocked me into silence.

Josh raised his eyebrows, stepping back a fraction. "Oh. I didn't realize you two were..."

I opened my mouth to speak but didn’t get the chance to.

"We are," Kayden interrupted, his voice dangerous.

I hit him with my elbow, and glared at him. “You don’t need to be rude.”

He squeezed my hip a fraction tighter, his eyes boring into Josh, until he took a few steps back.

"My bad, man. See you in class, Lexi," he said quickly, turning on his heel and clearing out of the section.

The second Josh was out of sight, Kayden didn't let go. He looked down at me, his eyes dark and wild.

"Who the hell was that?" he demanded, his thumb tracing a harsh, frantic circle against my waist.

I peeled away his hand, wanting to smack the shit out of him. “Not that it’s any of your business, but it was a friend from class. You acted like a fucking caveman.” I shook my head and took a step away, trying to get my brain and body to remember why I was pissed at him. “Completely uncalled for.”

Hazel raised her hand, “You may not want my opinion...but that was incredibly hot.”

I rolled my eyes. Of course she would think it’s hot. My gaze met Kayden’s who was watching me with an intense look. “Can I go now? I did my part and showed up. I have things to do that don’t require being around you.”

There was a whistle in the distance, Dylan coming up to our side. I watched Hazel a little closely, trying to see how she’d react to him. Her posture straightened, and she tucked some hair behind her ear. Wow, she really was into him.

My phone rang, and when I saw who was calling, I froze. Kayden noticed instantly, “You okay?”

I swallowed the lump in my throat, turned away from them and answered. “Hello?”

“When were you going to tell me you were skating again, Alexis?”

I took a deep breath, “How did you find out?”

She huffed, “Don’t worry about how I know. I want to know why you thought you could get back on the ice after everything?”

“Mom, I can’t...” Why were we having this conversation on the phone? In front of my peers? “It was my decision.”

“Oh really? So your mother’s feelings don’t matter?”

I shook my head, my knuckles turning white. “That’s rich, coming from you. You go and date Jake’s best friend’s father and don’t give me a say? How do you think he would feel, Mom? How do you think Dad would feel? You may be an adult but you’re shit at making decisions.”

“Don’t talk to me that way. You’re extremely disrespectful...”

“I’ve got to go...”