Page 14 of Her Possessive Biker
“I’m only staying the night,” she says, voice quiet but firm. “I’ll find a new place tomorrow. Somewhere safe. I won’t bother you longer than that.”
I take a step toward her. “You’re not a bother.”
She looks down, arms tightening.
“You’re mine to protect,” I say.
Her gaze lifts, wary. “Why?”
I hesitate. Then say the truth.
“I made a promise to Caleb.”
“A promise to my brother?” she repeats, brow furrowed. “You know my brother?”
I nod once. “Caleb Jean. We served together.”
She blinks. “Cal… told you about me?”
“Showed me a photo. Crumpled thing he kept in his gear. Said you were the only thing that mattered.”
The air changes. Her breath catches.
“And you promised him you’d what? Babysit me?”
I shake my head. “Protect you.”
She laughs once, but it’s brittle. “Because of Cal.”
I pause.
“Yes,” I admit. “I promised him I’d look after you.”
And there it is—the shift. Her face falls. Her shoulders draw in.
“So I’m just a mission to you?”
“Angel.”
“You’re protecting me because you owe him. Not because—” She swallows. “Not because I matter. Not because you wanted to.”
I curse under my breath.
“No. That’s not what I meant.”
Her eyes glisten, betrayal creeping in. “It kind of sounds like that’s exactly what you meant.”
I close the distance between us in two strides. She backs up a step, but I don’t touch her. Not yet.
“Look at me.”
She hesitates.
“Cassie.Look at me.”
Her eyes lift. Green. Angry. Hurt.
“I didn’t mean it like that,” I say, voice rough. “Yes, I made a promise. Yes, it started that way. But that’s not why I kept coming back.”
