Page 169 of The Bonding Games: Part 1

Arousal redesigns that previously green fire.

“Do not. Ever. Do that again,” my Bonded seethes, her helmet drilling the sharpest of knives into my skull. “Do not stand in front of me like that.”

I falter.

I don’t like that. The emotion that just slipped down the bond from her.

I’m not the best with feelings, but I understand hers; I understand the way I stood in front of her like that made her feel undermined, as though another man other than her disgusting fucking sperm donor was reducing her in size.

My chest caves.

Sorry, my Havoc. Forgive me?

Please tell me she heard that. Heard the sincerity in my words, too.

Velvet silk swirls through my mind: I see your intentions were not aligned with the result.

I shiver along with the huff of relief I let out as I hoist myself up to my feet with the bag that had come down with me, moving back to my Bonded’s side and taking care to ensure I’m not one inch in front of her.

Then everyone looks back at Collins.

The dickface.

I send him a malicious grin, warning him not to try anything.

He clears his throat nervously and shifts on his feet, grubby eyes finding what’s not his to look at once more. “Ezla.”

“Ezla? It’s Champion to you, motherfucker—”

Havoc’s hand finds my arm, and my neck swivels her way at breakneck speed as she says, “Calm.”

A thrill zipping through my veins, I lick my lips and wrap the arm she’d touched around her slim waist, dragging her into my side. “Okay, baby.”

Stiff as a board, she stands in my possessive grip, and I wait to be launched across the room.

But I’m not.

She loves me.

“So, we’d like these, please,” Scotty addresses the fuckface at the counter, placing his bag on its polished white top, and I know I’m not mistaking the tenseness of his voice. I’m not the only jealous one here.

“Of course,” the man I want to skin alive says, taking all our bags when me, Cooper, Alby, and Tiger place ours down too. I add some extra force with mine.

Havoc pulls out her spend card.

“Fuck no!”

“No, Wifey!”

“Wait—!”

“What on earth do you think you’re doing, HC?!”

“Havoc!”

She grinds her jaw at our outbursts. “What?”

“You’re not paying for us, Love.”