Page 17 of Stalked By the Linebacker

I couldn’t fuck this up. I didn’t want to scare her away. I needed her to feel safe with me. I’d already done one too many things to put things between us in jeopardy.

She is mine. I just didn’t know how I was going to make that happen, but I had to come up with a plan, and quick. I stepped in and shut the door behind us because when my roommates came back, they could be noisy assholes.

“Go lie down, babe. I’m gonna grab some clothes and shower.”

“Oh.” Her eyes widened, and I found myself meeting her on the side she had chosen. I set her glass down and pulled the sheet back.

“Here you go. Fan?” I asked, trying to act like there was nothing out of the ordinary going on. I acted like it was no big deal that we would be sharing a bed to get some shuteye instead of it being a first for me. I wasn’t a choir boy or as innocent as her. Not even close. I’d had my fun. There was never a shortage of sorority girls who liked to party. But I had never had a girl in my bed, much less one who made me want to take care of her.

“Yes, please,” she answered quietly. I flicked the switch for the ceiling fan in my room. The only thing I could hear above the roaring of the blood rushing through my body and ears were the soft whirring of the fan and her breathing.

“Rest. I’ll be back,” I ordered.

“Okay,” she agreed, and I had to force myself to grab my shit instead of heading right to bed with her. I started walking to the door when she called out my name. And fuck me, I loved it when she did.

“Hector?” I glanced over my shoulder and saw her in my bed, the sheet over her legs covering her up. In my bed, she looked so damn tiny.

There was an overwhelming need to make sure she was always taken care of. The need to make sure she smiled and found joy in her life cut through me and settled in my chest. I knew no matter what happened, I’d do that. For her. I’d never wanted to make anyone happy outside of my family.

Only Libby.

Mine.

My delicate, beautiful princess who had already been through so much yet still looked at me like she couldn’t believe I was real. I knew because I looked at her the same way.

“Yeah?” My voice sounded rough in my ears. She opened and shut her mouth before pointing to the remote control on the nightstand next to her.

“Do you mind if I turn on some TV while you’re in the shower?” Whatever she had wanted to say hadn’t been that. I knew it in my gut, but I also knew I wasn’t going to push her on it.

“Not at all. Switch on whatever you want, babe. I’ll be fast.” And with that, I hurried the hell put of there. I’d have to be fast and jerk off as quietly as I could.

Less than fifteen minutes later, I stepped back into my bedroom, and there in my bed was my girl. Sound asleep. I leaned against the doorway, unable to keep my eyes off her. I breathed in. Over the scent of the cologne I liked to wear, I could smell her. Libby’s scent, that light fruity slightly floral smell clung to the air, and fuck me, I wanted it to stay there for as long as I lived here.

Without a sound, I closed the door behind me then walked toward my bed. I’d planned on sleeping with her, resting next to her. But when I reached the edge of the bed, I kneeled in front of her.

I had only seen glimpses of Libby without her glasses on when she took them off and cleaned them or rubbed her eyes. She looked like an angelic princess while she slept. Her eyelashes were darker than her hair, fanned over her cheeks. My hands itched to touch her, and before I could stop myself, I found myself doing just that. I stroked her cheek. Her skin was softer than I could have ever imagined. She didn’t stir. My girl was too exhausted for that. But she did lean into my touch while she dreamt of whatever cast a peaceful look on her face.

I glanced behind her to the empty spot on the bed. Libby was different. Everything was different when it came to her. The bed was more than big enough for the two of us. When my gaze returned to her face, my eyes widened when I realized she was awake, silently watching me.

“Libby.” My voice sounded rough in my own ears.

“You okay?” she asked, not questioning why my hand was caressing her face or why I was semi-looming over her.

“Yeah, I, umm––“ I cleared my throat. “I was just checking on you.” Her lips quirked up into the softest, sweetest smile. One I knew would be engraved into my brain for the rest of my days.

“You coming to bed?” she asked, and I wanted a lifetime of that.

“Lib—" I started to say but stopped myself. Hadn’t this been the plan all along? To rest with her? Snuggle together until I found the right moment to kiss her again? Yet I couldn’t get myself to do that.

“Umm…” I started to say, trying to figure out what to do.

“Please?” The moment she whispered that word, I knew I was in trouble. There was no way I could deny her. Not when her soft gaze bore into me. I nodded. Before I knew it, she scooted over to the empty side, and I got in bed with her. Lying over the sheets because going under them with her tiny delectable body beneath wearing my shirt would be way too much of a temptation to resist.

“You won’t get cold?” she asked, concern lacing her voice.

“Na.” I shook my head. “I run hot.”

“Oh, okay.” She smiled.

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