Page 210 of His Virgin Romance Series

He looked up and gave me a small smile. “I did actually.”

I could tell that he didn’t have a scratch on him. “So… Devon didn’t even manage to land a punch, huh?”

Ryder looked at me pointedly, realizing that I had seen and spoken to Devon. “He was an idiot to think he could take me. Just so you know, I tried to stop the argument in its tracks. He just wouldn’t let it go.”

“You could have still walked away,” I said as he came closer. “You didn’t have to hit him.”

“When he’s asking for it… I do.”

“Still an asshole.”

“Get used to it,” Ryder replied.

I sighed. “He’s only looking out for me,” I said.

“Which is why I didn’t leave him unconscious.”

I shook my head. “It’s so easy to you guys… fighting, bleeding…violence.”

“You’re one to talk.”

I frowned. “What do you mean?”

“You’re a natural fighter,” Ryder pointed out.

“But I don’t seek out a fight.”

“No, but when it finds you, you need to be able to take it on,” Ryder replied. “Which is what I did.”

I bit my lip. “Can you please… please just lay off Devon?”

“I can’t—”

“Ryder!” I said, cutting him off and grabbing his hand at the same time. That forced his eyes to mine, and he seemed frozen in place for a second. “Please?”

He sighed deeply and closed his eyes for a moment. “Fine,” he nodded. “I’ll lay off him… even if he doesn’t deserve it.”

“Thank you.”

I meant to let go of his hand at that point, but something kept me holding on. Ryder didn’t seem to mind. In fact, he was staying absolutely still, as though movement might scare me off and make me drop my hold on him.

“So… did he tell you what the argument was about?” Ryder asked.

“I got the gist,” I nodded. “You told him we slept together.”

Ryder had the grace to look a little ashamed at least. “It just…came out. I was trying to—”

“You were trying to piss him off…further.”

“Well—”

“Don’t bother denying it,” I said. “You and I both know that was what you were trying to do.”

“Ok… so maybe I was trying to piss him off… a little.”

I shook my head at him. “Children.”

“I’m sorry,” Ryder said, and I could hear the sincerity in his tone.

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