Page 24 of Stalked By the Linebacker

“Hi.” My voice rasped as my eyes dropped down her face. The apples of her cheeks were a soft pink and her lips a deeper one. Slightly glossy, they made me ache to taste them. That’s when I noticed what she was wearing.

Libby was naturally petite. Small womanly curves that she usually hid were on full display with the milkmaid sundress she wore. The thing tied at her chest, giving a small hint of the swells of her breasts and cleavage I wanted to nip down. The dress cinched at her small waist and flared out, stopping just a couple of inches above her knees. It was so fucking pretty and sweet it made my teeth ache. The yellow dress with delicate blue flowers made her look like a real-life ray of sunshine.Mine.That voice inside of me perked up.Mine.

“Hi.” I could feel her nerves and reached for her hand. “Libby, you look beautiful,” I complimented honestly. How the hell was I even more captivated by the woman than I thought I already was?

“Really? I mean, I wasn’t sure. Is this too much? Or too, umm––“

“It’s perfect.” My voice sounded rough in my ears. “You’re perfect.” She smiled up at me, and like every time, it felt like a first.

Then it hit me. I was in serious trouble. What the hell had I been thinking suggesting we go to a fucking frat party? This was a colossal mistake on my part.You wanted her to have fun. Enjoy herself for once,I reminded myself. No way I could take it back now. Not when she was all dolled up for it. I might have known her for years, well,ofher, but I was still getting to know her. If I suggested going somewhere else, she would twist it. Think it was because I was embarrassed of her or something. When in reality, I was worried I’d have to gauge every guy’s eyes out who even dared to look at what was mine for a mere second.

Thank fuck I look good in orange,the maniacal part of me, the one who didn’t know what lines not to cross when it came to her, whispered. I shook the thought away.

“I don’t know about perfect. I couldn’t get my hair right.” She made a face, and my eyes moved to the halo of golden, almost white tresses. Her blonde hair was down, falling over the flutter sleeves of the dress and down her back in soft curls. My hand, with a mind of its own, rose between us and reached for a strand of her hair and rubbed the ends.

“It’s beautiful. And so damn soft.” I hadn’t meant to say the words out loud, but I wouldn’t take them back.

“It’s the conditioner and some, umm, spray thing Blanca recommended.” She shrugged, and when I looked at her face, I noticed her cheeks were a slightly brighter shade of pink.

“It’s you. Jesus, princess, you look…” My eyes dipped back down and up. “Beautiful.”

“Thanks.” She smiled shyly. One day, she wouldn’t be shy when I complimented her. Goals.

“You ready?” I asked, and she stared at me for a moment.

“You’re sure I look okay? I don’t want to embarrass you.”

“That’s not possible, Libby,” I reassured. She chewed on her lip. I could see she was thinking a million miles a second. I needed to calm her mind. “Twenty minutes,” I reminded her. “If you hate it, we can go to the bowling alley.” Thankfully, that seemed to be what she needed to hear. Her shoulders relaxed.

“I just have to get my bag.” She turned, and I watched her walk into her place.

There was such an understated grace to her. From the way she spoke to the way she moved. I was so damn lucky no one else had tried to move in and claim her this year while I’d been avoiding catching up with my little sister’s bestie.

Fuck me, what the hell have I been thinking?

She came back with a shy smile, and I moved to the side. She closed and locked her door. I didn’t waste a moment. When she was done, I took her by the hand and was determined not to let it go

I’d been right. The party had been a bad idea.A really fucking bad idea.

We arrived at the Sigma Kau house, and she’d been like a shy duckling stepping in. Watching her experience things for the first time, things I had taken for granted, had been eye opening. It made it feel new.Exciting.

Wide eyed, she soaked in the sight, and I had been ready to suggest we leave because of how terrified and overwhelmed she looked. The party had started a while ago. People were drinking and dancing. Playing games, most of them drinking games. To help soothe her nerves, I’d grabbed a beer for us, and she’d held it with her free hand like her life depended on it.

Dylan, Jason, and Jeremy had all come by and said hi. All of them sober and grinning. They stared at me like they were looking at me for the first time. Probably wondering what the hell I was doing bringing a good girl like Libby to a fucking frat house. And if I didn’t know Jer had a girl back home and that Dylan had his eye on someone, I would have been glaring at them for taking up some of her time.

But I got what they were doing.

They had my back, trying to make her feel comfortable and safe. And like I’d promised, twenty minutes in, I’d asked if she wanted to go. I could have persuaded her but instead had wanted her to make up her own mind. She surprised me when shook her head and sipped at the beer I’d brought her. After that, she relaxed a little, and I let go of her hand.

That was two beers ago.

Yup, my princess was drinking. And laughing.

Capturing the hearts and attention of those around her. I stood to the side as she got to know people, but I didn’t take my eyes off her. The beast inside me, that primal almost feral being she brought to life, wouldn’t let me blink. I probably looked fucking crazy. Not that I gave a shit. When I felt someone come up beside me, I didn’t have to heck to know who it was.

“She looks happy,” Dylan observed next to me.

“Yeah,” I muttered. I should have felt happy about that. Overjoyed that she fit in with the guys I hung out with here and there. “But if that fucking rookie doesn’t back off, he won’t be pitching next season,” I added and felt Dylan’s body shake next to me with quiet laughter.

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