Total pages in book: 213
Estimated words: 201920 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1010(@200wpm)___ 808(@250wpm)___ 673(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 201920 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1010(@200wpm)___ 808(@250wpm)___ 673(@300wpm)
He’s the type of guy who will force you against a hard wall, lift your skirt and tear off the thin fabric beneath it with a forceful tug. The type of guy who will hold you there while you scream as he takes you harder and harder.
He’s the type of guy my mother told me I should stay away from.
Good thing I stopped listening to my mother years ago.
He’s a mistake I’ve made before. Not just once or twice, and you’d think I’d have learned my lesson by now. Maybe I can blame it on insta-lust.
My heart slams against my rib cage, hating that I’m in such denial.
He’s a distraction. Dean is a distraction who could ruin everything. And maybe that’s why I can’t resist him. Do I really want to do this? I clear my throat and square my shoulders as my shoes sink into the grass. The urge to turn around without looking back is strong.
I was headed this way anyway.
The thought makes me smile. It almost makes me think that it’s even okay. That everything was meant to work out like this.
It’s a little late for me to be starting college but hey, being thrown to the wolves when you’re legally allowed to drink isn’t the worst thing in the world. I’m only a year behind and I have plenty of catching up to do. I’m shocked at how easy it is to get back into the student life. I graduated high school, went to community college for a year, then dropped out when Grandmom got sick only. One year later and I’m picking up the pieces, but blending in has been easier than I thought it would be.
“Go State!” I yell out and clap after setting my bag down on the ground.
There are maybe a dozen people scattered throughout the stands.
The field is small, as is the university. No one comes here because of their athletics program, that’s for damn sure.
It’s just an intramural team and there’s not even a real game today. It’s basically some guys fucking around. Shirts versus skin and lucky for me, Dean happens to be one of the shirtless players.
Just as I let my eyes admire his body, he jolts forward and tackles the shit out of another guy—Daniel, I think. It’s only when the guy stands up that I confirm it’s Daniel. Oh my. I’m not going to lie; this isn’t as bad as I thought it would be.
Rugby’s a violent sport.
The violence is what attracts me. It’s like playing with fire … and that’s what I came to do.
The men crash together, and I keep staring at one in particular. They slam into each other, brutalizing one another, all in the name of a good game.
It’s not a game to me. There’s too much at stake to call it that.
I can’t watch, but I also can’t rip my eyes away.
Thud. Thud. My heart pounds harder and harder as the memories slowly come back to me, and I need to shove them away. Hide them, bury them deep down inside.
Deep breaths. Calming breaths.
It only takes a glance in the wrong direction at the wrong time and it all comes flooding back.
I force a small smile to my lips, unclenching my fists and only just now realizing how my nails dug into my skin. As I reach for the water bottle in my bag, I lift my gaze back to the field, only to find Dean staring at me. The grim look proves he was watching me and knowing that, I can’t breathe.
It’s like he can see right through me. I’m saved by the loud clap of someone else sitting in the bleachers behind me. Our connection is broken and only then is my body willing to play it off. To relax and pretend like it’s all right.
Dean is like a drug to a recovering addict.
He makes me question everything. All the things I have planned.
He makes me want to run but at the same time, he paralyzes me.
Five more minutes and I’ll leave, I promise myself.
I’m waiting for them to break up their huddle and keep playing, but that’s not what happens.
The bottle nearly slips from my grasp as Dean strides over to me and the other guys line up on the field without him.
Dean takes a seat next to me and I’m instantly hit with his warmth and masculine scent. His sweat smells sweet and addictive.
“What are you doing?” he asks me.
“I was watching this hot guy who has a crush on me play this dumb sport,” I say and fail to hide my smile as I add, “He gave up, though.”
He chuckles and that gorgeous smile flickers onto his face. “I wasn’t sure you were going to stay, and I wanted to make sure I let you know before you left that we’re having a party tomorrow night at James’s place,” he tells me.