His Trouble Maker

Chapter 24

JESSICA

I’m spent.

Completely fucking drained.

My body’s aching, still trembling with the aftermath, but I can’t move. Can’t even open my eyes. The car feels like it’s swallowing me whole, the leather seat cold against my skin. I’m sticky, sore, and every inch of me is throbbing, but I don’t care.

The only sound I can hear is the heavy rise and fall of my breath. His breath, too, deep and slow, like he’s savoring the moment just as much aslam.

“Where the fuck did you learn that Jessica?” His voice is thick with something between amusement and disbelief, like he’s trying to figure out, plece by piece, It’s a question that doesn’t deserve an answer, but I know he’s expecting one.

I tilt my head back, trying to find the strength to speak, but all I can do is smirk, barely able to keep my eyes open. “Does it matter?” My voice comes out hoarse, cracked from more than just the words. “You seem to like it, though.”

He chuckles, dark and low, the sound vibrating through the car. His fingers trace the edge of my jaw.“Damn girl.”

“Is that a compliment?”

Gray smirks, that familiar arrogance dancing in his eyes. Without warning, he licks his lips like he’s savoring something dangerous. He leans in close, his lips brushing mine for a fleeting second, a kiss that’s too quick to be mal, too fucking perfect to forget.

Then he pulls back just as fast, his lips moving to the top of my head, pressing a kiss there as if marking me in some fucked–up way that makes my stomach churn and tighten

“You don’t need compliments, Jess,” he says, his voice low, like he’s savoring the taste of his words, and everything in me burns. “You already know what you are to me.”

Yeah? And what’s that?

I chuckle, trying to shake the thought away, because if I start questioning this now, I’ll lose myself in the mess of it. I don’t have time for that Instead, I let my head fall back against the seat, closing my eyes. It feels good hearing him shouting, not out of anger for the first time.

is still holding me and I felt comfortable

his hand tightening slightly around me. “Do you still have strength to

through the haze,

thing that keeps my mind from

there’s something in his tone that makes it feel like he’s trying to crack me open. “You could just be an

feel the fire stirring in my chest. He doesn’t get it. He doesn’t understand why I can’t settle for anything less than this constant fight. I force myself to stay calm as answer, my voice low but

sound like I’m attacking him. But I can’t help The words just

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09:45 Tue, 5 Aug

Chapter 24

doesn’t say anything right away. “Who says that, though?” he

The pack. They’re all still stuck in the past, thinking we should Just.. be quiet. Be

another beat of silence, but this time, it feels different. He seems to be processing, his grip tightening on

to anyone, Jess,”

I’m doing? Proving something? I’m not. I’m fighting for what they think

That’s what it is.”

car roll forward as the streetlights flicker past us. And for a moment, I wonder if he’s given up on understanding. Then, finally, he speaks again. “You

I nodded.

know what that means,

what he’s asking. I’ve been fighting all my life–fighting against what

think I should be.

–

warrior, you need

Right.

I don’t know that?” I murmur, low, my voice tight. I tum back to him, feeling my heart slam against my ribs. “I’ve had to prove myself my