The Blood Debt

“Slow down,” I say.

“It’s taking every ounce of restraint not to go back there right now and end those motherfuckers, Jas,” he growls.

My jaw drops.

“So no, I am not slowing down,” he adds. “I am taking you to my fucking home.”

It’s quiet for some time. Neither of us knows what to say, and the silence is unbearable. All I can think of is what just transpired. And just how angry Liam looks as he hits the gas.

“I’m sorry. I just wanted to have some fun,” I say.

“You know those guys don’t just want ‘some fun.’ They wanted to fuck with you.”

My nostrils flare. “I didn’t know, okay?”

“Well, I did,” he says. “I could see it from the way they looked at you. How they touched you.” His fist balls. “If they fucking hurt you, I swear to God, I’ll turn this fucking car around and—”

I put my hand on his knee. “No one hurt me.”

He looks me in the eye for a moment as if he wants to decipher if I’m lying or not.

“I promise,” I add.

I don’t want him to go back and do something we’ll both regret.

He swallows. “Did you get what you wanted?”

I turn my head away, guilt filling my bones. “Maybe.”

“You wanted me jealous,” he says. “You got your wish. I wanted nothing more than to gouge their fucking eyes out just for looking at you.”

I’d be lying if I said that didn’t make my pussy throb.

Fuck.

“If you’re angry with me for taking your virginity, just say that to my face,” Liam says. “Scream, shout, hit me, I don’t care.”

“I’m not. It was my choice—”

“Then why did you want to go there? Why would you let those guys dance with you and drag you along?” he asks, pain in his voice. “I can’t handle someone else touching you. I fucking can’t and won’t.”

My lips part, but I don’t know what to say.

“But you already had me—”

“I want more,” he growls. “So much more, but you don’t understand. You never did.”

I stare at him, my eyes filling with tears. “What?”

The car screeches as it comes to a halt. “Tell me why. Why the fuck did you want to go there just to hurt me?”

“Because I’m hurting, okay?! I’m hurting.” I don’t know how else to describe it, but I’m on the verge of tears. “You don’t understand what it’s like to be the one who always has to sacrifice her own needs for someone else.”

Like a bucket, I spill over.

“Whose needs, Jas?” Liam asks, staring me down as he grabs my seat.

“Everyone’s. Yours. My family’s.”