Page 38 of Hate To Love You

“I’ve been busy,” I lie. In reality, I’ve been avoiding him, because the feelings I’m having regarding him are damn confusing.

I hate him. At least, I want to hate him. But every time we’re together, I feel this pull, this need to be close to him, and I really despise not having control over my feelings.

Ryker doesn’t look like he believes me one bit. His brow cocks and his head tilts slightly as he takes a step closer to me. My breath catches in my throat. A dark piece of hair falls across his forehead as his green eyes bore into mine.

“Well, our project is due Friday. We should probably finish everything up, yeah?” he asks. How can he look so casual yet so intimidating at the same time? I nod.

“Yeah. Yes. We should…do that,” shit. Who the hell am I right now? I don’t stutter. I don’t fawn over men. Especially one that I hated not even two weeks ago.

“You can come to the Elite house. The guys have a meeting on campus tonight, so they won’t be there,” Ryker winks suggestively. Did I say hated? I meant very much still hate.

I roll my eyes. “In your dreams.”

Something flashes behind Ryker’s stare, and I can’t pinpoint what it is. Challenge? Lust?

“You’re coming to the rugby game tonight,” Ryker demands. Hell no I’m not. I’ve never been to one of those games, and I’m not starting now. Especially since he’s the one that asked. I shake my head as I begin walking to the lecture hall.

“That wasn’t a question, Gwen. You’re coming!” he calls after me, and I flip him off behind my back. I can almost feel his smirk burning into the back of my head, and for some reason, that send a warm feeling through me.

Ryker Steele, what are you doing to me?

Chapter 23

Guinevere

The crowd roars to life as the Ellington Dodgers take the field. My heart races with anticipation as I watch Ryker stretch. Honestly, part of me wants to see him get tackled, but another part, a newer, more intriguing part, wants to tackle him myself.

The stands are packed with students, mainly girls who are dressed like it isn’t only fifty degrees outside, screaming the guy’s names and completely embarrassing themselves over guys that most likely have no clue they even exist.

Lainey and Ellie sit beside me screaming their heads off. I don’t think they even really know what’s going on. I wanted Haley to come because she’s so much more levelheaded. She’d tell me to pull my head out of my vagina and start thinking with my brain. If Damian wasn’t working on his project tonight, he’d be here too. But he’d join Lainey in telling me to ‘fuck Ryker Steele’s brains out’ as they like to say.

Ryker Steele isn’t a guy that dates. He isn’t a guy that brings you flowers, he isn’t the guy that opens car doors for you or makes you feel like you’re the only girl in the world.

No, Ryker is the type of guy to screw you over in the blink of an eye. He’ll push you off the cliff and laugh while you fall. He is not the type of guy that settles down, and that’s precisely why, among many other reasons, I cannot let myself go there. No matter how attractive I find him in that jersey. Holy Hell, that man is fucking sexy as sin.

Lainey elbows my arm, reminding me she’s there. She gives me a knowing grin, following my line of sight and then looking back to me.

“For someone that didn’t want to come, you sure look like you’re enjoying it,” she teases. I roll my eyes at her, trying not to give myself away.

The game begins and Ryker’s team dominates from the start. He’s seriously a force to be reckoned with on and off the field. He’s agile, strong, and really hard not to watch as his muscles flex beneath his green Ellington Dodgers jersey. I find myself watching his every move, my breath quickening as he runs across the field, passing and tackling with skill and precision.

Ryker looks like he was made for this. Made to play this game and lead a team, even if he’s not the captain. The guys seem to follow his directions and listen to his cues. He’s a natural leader, encouraging and strategizing the whole time.

His muscles move and flex, and his face drips with sweat. I wonder what it would be like to feel those powerful arms around me, to taste his sweat-dampened skin, to feel his nimble fingers between my legs.

The ball moves back and forth, the players running, tackling, and pushing their way towards the goal line. The other team is putting up a fight, but they’re flailing.

Groverland University is a good school, only about twenty miles from Ellington. I guess their skill isn’t rugby.

The crowd roars as Ryker runs down toward the goal line, determination written all over his handsome features, and then everyone jumps to their feet as the ball soars through the goal post, earning Ellington three points, making it a three to zero game.

“I have to pee,” Lainey shouts over the crowd, distracting me from the confusing thoughts running through my brain.

“Me too!” Ellie shouts. “Gwen, do you have to go?”

“No, I’m good,” I tell them as they stand from their seats. Ellie grabs Lainey’s hand, pulling her toward the exit.

“Okay, we’ll be right back!”

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