Page 40 of Reckless Dare

“Whoa!” a guy inside said with a laugh. “Abhi, one of your super fans has stalked you again.”

There was laughter.

Ava was shocked and embarrassed. She wanted to run out. But by then her tormentor’s eyes fell on her. His eyes flared, but there was no surprise on his face. It was almost as if he was waiting for her.

“Wait for me outside,” his voice rumbled. “I’ll join in a few minutes.”

She thought he was speaking to her. She was about to turn away to step out, but his voice barked out.

“Not you, Harvard,” he said. “You stay.”

Biting her lip, she stood frozen while the rest of the rugby team cleared out from the locker room, leaving her alone with her tormentor. He pulled on his Viper’s jersey while watching her.

A shudder passed through her and a voice in her head told her it was a bad idea that she came. But she ignored the scared voice, telling herself, she had to rip it off like a band-aid. She knew it was not going to be that easy but she had to try.

She was glad she was getting the opportunity to speak to him, but she also feared being alone with him. Her flight instinct got stronger with every step he took toward her.

He looked like a predator stalking his prey.

Her legs became weak and she took a few steps back, until her back met with the cold metal of the lockers on the opposite side.

She started panicking as he got closer.

He stopped in front of her, his eyes lowered to hers with no emotion. She swallowed nervously, managing to hold his gaze, her chin lifted up on purpose.

“Why did you follow me here?” His words rang in her ears.

At the close proximity, her plan suddenly seemed impulsive and dangerous.

What was I thinking, cornering myself like this?

“I wa…want to—” She had the same trouble again. She couldn’t get the words out because he made her nervous.

His dark, intense eyes remained fixed on her. “Are you here to tell me that you are leaving?”

She shook her head no, her words completely stuck in her throat. And to add to her state of nervousness, there was dark hatred along with another emotion in his eyes that shook her to the core.

Her breath quickened and she suddenly started to feel claustrophobic. The citrusy, musky cologne of his overwhelmed her senses.

Raising her hands, she placed them on his broad chest to push him away. He sucked in a deep breath.

Instead, his eyes flashed dangerously and his chest rumbled when he let out an angry growl. His handsome face darkened as though he was fighting to control something.

“Don’t touch me,” he gritted.

She snatched her hands away.

“Don’t ever touch me,” he repeated.

Her eyes filled with unshed tears. “Tell me why do you hate me?” she whispered.

His nostrils flared. “Leave,” he said, ignoring her question. “I already gave you the last warning. If you don’t leave, your life will become a bigger hell.”

With those words, he stepped away and left the locker room.

She continued to stand against the lockers, shivering once again and repenting her decision to talk to him in person. She still didn’t know why he hated her. Or even why her merest touch disgusted him.

It was completely opposite from how he had behaved with her until the later-half of the welcome party. Until then, she had seen sparks of attraction in his eyes which she had more than reciprocated.

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