Page 14 of Vampire Pack

"Carmen, we all know what they're doing to you isn't part of the game. The refs have stopped penalizing our team for nearly killing the people who hurt you. The managers are warning the other teams that we're not going to take their shit sitting down. They're trying to take you out for good, or piss me off badly enough to force me out of the league."

"If you stop reacting, they'll stop attacking me."

"That's not an option. If someone attacks my goalie, they're going to pay for it."

"So you're only attacking them because I'm the goalie?" I asked. "And if someone else started the fight after I was attacked, you wouldn't need to get involved?"

He didn't answer that question.

We both knew the answer.

It wasn't just the goalie thing. It was personal for him.

"And if Parkin was attacked after he subbed in, would you react just as passionately?" I asked. Parkin was our backup goalie. He had good intentions, but the man was shitty at blocking pucks. I had no idea how he'd gotten drafted. Probably family connections.

King held my gaze, but didn't answer my question.

He didn't have to.

"Is there a label you would prefer I use, rather than calling you my goalie?" he asked, instead.

My throat tightened.

A label other than his goalie.

"A label like like…" I trailed off, attempting to force him to tell me where he was going with this.

"I'm open to suggestions."

"Bullshit."

His lips curved, slightly. "According to the government, you're my girlfriend. I have the paperwork."

"If you say that again, I'm going to punch you," I said flatly.

"You injured your best punching shoulder, so I'm not worried."

"You know damn well that I'm ambidextrous, asshole."

"Eh. I can take a punch."

I rolled my eyes. "With protective gear on."

"I'm going to take your insults as a sign of affection."

"You're unreal, King."

"I try." He eased my arm backward a little, still trying to gauge what my range of motion was. I winced again. "Alright. Are you ready to hear your medical plan?"

"You're not my medical team."

"You ran away from them, so I replaced them. Deal with it." He moved my arm forward, and I hissed in pain. "Sorry."

"You're not sorry."

"I'm sorry I didn't kill the fuckers who hurt you. And I'm sorry I didn't drag your sexy little ass to the medical team earlier."

He lowered my arm.