Page 76 of Unclaimed Bonds
This guy is crazy. I glance over at Dustin, who grins and licks his lips, like I’m some special treat he wants to devour.
“My cousin took the fall for your little game.” He bolts off the desk and looms over me. “He was kicked out of the guard, beaten up, and humiliated because of you!”
With pure instinct, I intercept his hand before he grabs my throat. His other hand raises to hit me, I block it and move back.
Marcus chuckles. “Oh, my beautiful princess has some fight! Is that how you like it? Fight first. Does that turn you on, Princess? I can play along. When I win and pin you under me, you’re going to enjoy what I give you.” He steps closer, and I take two backward. “Don’t run, Princess. It’s obvious that you and I were meant for each other. I can give you so much more than that worthless bastard.”
I laugh, catching Marcus off guard. “You seem to be quite obsessed with Liam’s sex life.” I roam my eyes down his body. He’s aroused. When I gaze back at his face, I smile and wink. “Is he the one who does it for you?”
He scowls and darts for me. Instead of backing away this time, I run for him. I jump, twist, and wrap my legs around his neck, pulling him to the floor. I leap up onto my feet, lift my leg, and plant my shoe into his face. Rage sings through my blood and distorts my vision.
Dustin moves away from the door. I kick him in the chest once, twice. I spin to kick him a third time with all my might, sending him crashing into the wall.
Marcus stands, dazed but upright, so I turn my attention back to him. I kick him in the stomach, shoving him into a desk.He recovers quickly and charges me. I strike him in the chest and then in the stomach. When I get in close enough, I kick him in the groin.
He falls to his knees, and I lean forward and fist his dark brown hair and pull. In a low breathy whisper, I taunt, “Is this how you like it? Rough enough for you, handsome?” He growls. “No? I guess I’m just not your girl.” I punch him in the temple, knocking him unconscious.
A hand grabs my shoulder, I plow my elbow into something solid. I lift my other arm to punch, but my arm is blocked. I lift my leg to kick, but he grabs my leg and pulls me into him.
“Fuck, Jessica. It’s me.” Liam releases me and wraps me in his arms, crushing my face into his muscular chest. The scent of a crisp, clean cologne with an underlying hint of campfire smoke fills my nostrils. “Shhhh. I got you. It’s okay.”
My heartbeat starts to slow, and my vision returns to normal.
“Shit. I thought I was running in to save you. Didn’t think I would need to save these assholesfromyou.” He chuckles.
I don’t reply, simply clinging to him as if he’s my air, my calm in the storm.
“Bring her to my office,” Anders commands. “Get these fucking pricks out of here. I’ve had enough of their crap to last me a lifetime.”
Chapter 35
Submissive
JESSICA
PRESENT DAY:
March 31, 2025
Carmen lifts her hand. “Did you ever figure out what happened to you during the time you were missing?”
“No. I honestly can’t remember. Like I said, one minute I was walking in the dark to the clinic. Then, I woke up in the clinic bed.”
She nods. “Did you and Luke make amends?”
“That’s just the beginning of our very long and complicated relationship. It kind of needs to start here to make sense. I know I barely scratched the surface. If you like, I can pick back up from two weeks ago to answer your original question.”
“I’m quite intrigued, actually. Did Luke intentionally try to hurt you?”
I glance down at my hands. “No. I don’t think it was intentional. He was angry. I was angry and scared, too. We were young and didn’t have control over our emotions. The balconyincident was an accident. Neither of us could have known that balcony railing would break the way it did. Now, I know he tried to save me. At the time, I didn’t.”
I swallow, pausing to choose my next words carefully.
“My conflict with Luke is ours. It doesn’t paint the right picture of who he really is or what kind of an Alpha King he will become. I want to make that very clear. Luke is a good man. He’s hardworking, generous, and kind. Unfortunately for him, his title and the responsibilities he was born into put a lot of pressure on him. He sometimes has to think about those first, before he can think about himself.”
I clear my throat, unsure of what more I really need to say.
“I just don’t want anyone to judge him for what I say because they aremyfeelings,myviews. I wish things were different, but… it is what it is.”
