But Maddox, being Maddox…
He crowded into my space, his front pressing against my back. His arm curled around my waist, and he pulled me into his body.
“How did this happen?” he asked, his voice low and serious.
“What do you want?”
“The back of your skirt is ripped. Doesn’t look like an accident. Who did this?”
What?
I pushed away from Maddox and reached behind me to realize that he was right. There was a large tear in my Berkshire skirt, big enough for my panties to be visible and everyone could see it. No wonder I felt the cold breeze on my ass.
Anger flared up inside me, and I let out a shuddering breath.
I didn’t want to cry because I was hurt or humiliated. They were tears of outrage, and I swiped at my cheeks, refusing to let Maddox see them.
“Lila,” Maddox said slowly. The sound of my name came from his lips so softly, as if he cared. It was stupid, but my heart still did a silly jump.
He grasped my shoulders and turned me around to face him. I kept my face lowered, but he was having none of that. His fingers grazed my cheeks, and he brushed my hair away from my face.
When he let out a string of curses, I knew he saw the bruises. His hand clenched my arm, and he dragged me to the bench. I tried to pull out of his grip, but he held tight.
He sat me down and knelt in front of me, looking like a dark, angry warrior. He was…pissed?
“Who did this?” he asked, his voice hard and strained.
“Your girlfriend,” I shot back. I wretched my hand from his grasp and crossed my arms over my chest. “She isn’t too happy about our friendship status.”
His eyes turned into slits, and he gave me a hard look. “Bethany,” Maddox hissed under his breath. “She’s going to regret this.”
I scoffed at that. “I don’t need a protector. I can take care of myself.”
His lips twitched. Even though his expression was hard and serious, the humor was back in his blue eyes. “No, you’re right. You’re the dragon.”
Ha. Very funny.
I rolled my eyes and looked around us. Most of the students had gone home already, and I was probably two or three of the few who took a bus, since everyone had a car or a driver to pick them up. Perks of being rich, I guessed.
“What are you doing here?”
Maddox dragged his fingers through his hair, still short since his last haircut. I couldn’t decide if I liked the long hair better, but I missed his poodle hair.
“Coach needed to speak to me. I was about to leave when I saw you walking out of the building and noticed the tear in your skirt. Nice panties, by the way. It reminds me of your cherry lips.”
Mental facepalm incoming: 3…2…1.
Maddox brought his hand up, his thumb brushing over my sore lips. “Are you going to tell me what happened?”
I gave him a sheepish grin. “I can tell you about the part where I broke her nose and choked her.”
“Atta girl,” he praised out loud. “I was almost worried you were going to tell me you didn’t fight back.”
He grabbed my water bottle from my bag, and I watched as he wet his handkerchief. Against my nature, I stayed silent and watched him. His eyebrows furled in concentration, his lips in a firm, straight line, and his eyes darkened as he studied my bruises.
Maddox pressed the wet handkerchief over my lips, rubbing gently to clean the dried blood. I flinched but stayed still for him. He then swiped it over my cheek, which was almost on fire. Bethany’s ring must have caught my skin. I let out a sigh when I realized it would be a nasty green or purple shade tomorrow.
“I don’t like how you got hurt because of me,” he finally admitted. Maddox touched my cheek, his thumb hovering over my wound. His touch was gentle and soothing.
“Feeling guilty, Poodle?”
His eyes snapped to mine, glaring. “It’s not funny.”
“What’s not funny, Poodle?”
“Lila,” he warned.
“Yes, Poodle.”
“You’re hurt!”
I pressed my finger over my cheek and winced, then gave him a nod in confirmation. “Yup, I can feel that.”
He fumed, silently. His jaw clenched, and I swore I heard his teeth grinding together. Finally, I let the poor guy out of his misery. “I don’t blame you. Bethany was a bitch. I dealt with it, and it’s over now. Little scratches can’t hurt me because they don’t leave permanent scars.”
Maddox stood up and offered me a hand. I grabbed it, and he pulled me up to my feet. “Fine. Let me drive you home.”
The world came to a halt at his words, and my knees weakened.
I suddenly forgot how to breathe as my eyes watered. Sweat trickled down my forehead and between my breasts. I choked on my saliva as the gut-wrenching feeling in my stomach had me wanting to throw up.
The long, jagged scar between my breasts throbbed with a ghostly ache, a reminder. It wasn’t painful anymore, but my body and my mind remembered the pain.
“No,” I choked out.
Maddox gripped me by the elbow. “For fuck’s sake, Lila. Just let me–”
“No!”
He didn’t understand; he didn’t fucking understand.
I stumbled back and away from him, desperately trying to count backward.
Ten… nine…eight…
“Lila.”
His voice sounded so far away, as if I was submerged under water, and he was yelling at me from the sky.
Seven…six… five…four…three…two…one.
I opened my eyes and took a shuddering deep breath. Maddox was staring at me with an unreadable expression, and it angered me, not knowing what he was thinking.
Was it pity? Or was he judging me? Did he even notice I just had an anxiety attack?
“I’ll take the bus… thank you for the…offer though,” I spoke, trying to hide the tremors in my voice.
He took a long moment but finally gave me a slow nod. Maddox silently peeled his blazer off his body. I didn’t expect it, but he stepped closer to me, his body flush against mine. He was a whole head taller, so he towered over me. He wrapped his arms around my waist, and I stilled, my lips parting in shock. When I looked down, I saw him tying a knot with the sleeves of his blazer around my hips. It laid heavily against the back of my ass and legs.
He was… covering up my ripped skirt.
“I got you,” he breathed in my ear, before pulling away.
I opened my mouth to say thank you, but I couldn’t find the words. Maddox looked over my shoulder and gave me a small smile. “The bus is here.”
I nodded, still stupidly silent. Say something, damnit. Anything.
His hands were shoved in his pockets as he watched me climb into the bus. I settled in the back, like always. Maddox was still watching me.
I pressed my palm against the window, and he grinned, boyish and sexy.
Thank you, I mouthed as the bus drove away.
The next morning, as I stepped out of the house, Maddox and his car were there waiting. He rolled down his window and beckoned me over.
“What are you doing?” I asked. “Stalker much, Coulter?”
He handed me a brown paper bag. “Good morning to you, too, Sweet Cheeks. You look better today. No bruises, I see.”