Still Jaded by Tijan Read Free Book Online Page B

folded my arms over my chest and jutted my chin out. "Consider yourself included in that category."
    "I know. I know. I get worried for you. I can hurt Corrigan. I can hurt any other guy, but girls are different. I can't hurt a girl if she hurts you. I don't like those rules."
    I sighed as I understood his concerns. "Grace is not Mena."
    "No, she's not, but she can't handle this life. And I'm worried for you because you're going to have to take care of her. You're going to get hurt because of her and because she won't be able to deal with things. We don't have an easy lifestyle. We fight. And it's not high school anymore. We've got the media. I've got a nation watching me, now watching you. Corrigan's got—hell, he's got that entire campus or so it seems. Grace isn't going to be able to handle what's coming at her."
    I shifted even closer and slid until I felt him intimately between my legs. Bryce sucked in his breath and watched me, his eyes filled with desire. I grinned, one of those secretive smiles because I had the power in that moment. I arched my hips forward and nipped the corner of his mouth when he groaned.
    Then I whispered against his lips, "She's my problem. Not yours. And Grace can handle a lot more than you give her credit for."
    Bryce grasped the back of my head and held me still. He fused his mouth to mine, exploring me fully, slowly. I wanted more, and my hands twisted around his shoulders to hold him closer.
    "We'll deal, I guess." Bryce shifted to lay me down, covering me with his body while his lips lingered on my neck.
    I cradled his head and then moved my hands down to feel each outlined muscle in his back.
    He looked up, holding my gaze for a long minute before meeting my mouth. I gasped, fell back, and entwined my legs around his waist, holding on as if my life depended on his touch—and sometimes it really did feel that way.
    We shed what little clothing we still wore. The rest of the night left me aching, and I knew I'd be useless in the morning, but I didn't care. Bryce was back. That was all that mattered. I'd figure out the rest tomorrow.
    I woke the next day with a pounding headache. I groaned and twisted amidst the sheets and naked limbs. Bryce had me wrapped in his arms with one of his legs thrown over mine, effectively pinning me to the bed. Seeing his head tucked underneath a pillow, I couldn't stop a grin at the sight of his Mohawk as it stuck up in every which way. His eyes had crinkles from fatigue around them. I stroked his muscled shoulder and arm until I found his side.
    Bryce grumbled in protest and burrowed further underneath the pillow.
    Then his phone went off. I jumped at the harsh sound, but Bryce rolled over and answered in a smooth motion. "Hello?"
    After his first deep breath, I knew it wasn't good. After his second one, when he pinched the nerve in his forehead, I sat up. This was definitely not good. Then he snapped out, "We'll talk later! I won't discuss her with you."
    He threw his phone back on the nightstand and smothered his face with the pillow.
    Really not good.
    I held my breath but asked after a beat, "Was that your mother?"
    "Worse," he groaned.
    I ran my fingers down his back and marveled how he was sculpted like a god.
    "Sheldon."
    I snatched my hand away. "What?"
    "That was my agent."
    "Oh." Then I remembered the weasel. "Oh."
    Bryce sighed as he flipped onto his back and gazed up at me. His frustration was obvious. He slid his hand over my knee and caressed me there. "Mathias is not happy about our adventure last night." He grimaced as he sat up to rest against the headboard. "Apparently, he was under the impression that we had broken up. He wants us to do that now. He caught our thing on television and doesn't think you've changed."
    "What?"
    He grimaced. "Look, can you try and be nice to people? I don't want to give Mat the satisfaction of being right. He thinks you're the devil incarnate and wants us to break up."
    "Break up?" That ass.
    Bryce nodded. His