Page 61 of Eight Count Heat
"They wanted to scare me. I didn't. End of story."
He studies me for a long moment. "You could report them."
I laugh, the sound bitter even to my ears. "For what? Mean girl behavior? Besides, any investigation would mean scrutiny I can't afford."
"Because of your designation."
"Because of everything," I say, suddenly tired of carrying so many secrets. "They know what I am, Cameron. That second note they left... it was specifically about Riverside."
His body tenses. "What did it say?"
I hesitate, then decide he deserves the truth. At least part of it.
"It said to stay away from Riverside or everyone learns I'm an Omega."
Cameron's eyes darken to near-black. His hands clench at his sides, but when he speaks, his voice remains controlled. "They're threatening you because Kinsley sees you as an obstacle to her getting Gray back."
"Exactly."
"But you're still planning to go."
"Of course I am." I lift my chin. "I didn't come this far to be intimidated by Kinsley Adams and her minions."
His approval shouldn't matter, but when I see it in his eyes, something inside me releases just a tiny bit. "You should have told someone. Gray. Bo. They would—"
"They would what? Confront Kinsley? Start an inter-team war that would only draw more attention to me?" I shake my head. "I need to handle this quietly."
"By yourself."
"It's safer that way."
He takes a step closer. "Is it? You're already hurt. They've threatened you. What happens next time?"
"There won't be a next time." I wrap my arms around myself. "I made it very clear what would happen if they tried again."
What I don't say is how I'd grabbed Madison's perfect blonde ponytail and whispered exactly what I'd do to her if she came near me again. How I'd made sure Olivia understood that I knew about her doping violation last year that got swept under therug. How I'd learned to fight dirty growing up with two Alpha brothers who never took it easy on me.
Cameron moves to the space heater, adjusts it, then gestures for me to come closer. I hesitate, then move beside him, close enough to feel the warmth radiating from both the heater and his body.
"Why didn't you tell me?" he asks quietly. "After that night at the lake. When we texted."
"You'd already seen enough of my secrets," I reply. "I didn't want to add another."
"That's not how this works."
"How what works?"
He looks down at me, eyes serious. "Whatever this is between us."
My heart trips over itself. "And what is it, exactly?"
"You tell me." His gaze is steady, unflinching. "You're the one who kissed me."
Heat that has nothing to do with the space heater floods my body. "Momentary lapse in judgment."
"Still lying."
"Fine." I exhale slowly. "I wanted to. I still want to."
