Page 8 of Stalked By the Cornerback

“Nothing to thank me for. You earned this internship. Have some fun this weekend. Go to a party or something,” she suggested, and I laughed.

“I don’t think so. I’m not really the party type.”

“Summer is always a good time to get out of your comfort zone and go on an adventure.”An adventure and out of my comfort zone? As if.

“I don’t know about that,” I muttered.

It was a sweet sentiment, but I had already gone out of my comfort zone striking up what I thought was a friendship with Dylan, and look how that had ended up. I grabbed my bag and started to walk out, going across the field to watch a little more of the practice from the sidelines. The different teams were still practicing, and it didn’t take long for me to spot the big guy.

Standing off to the side, I watched him talk to the quiet linebacker who had been in the class where we met. Dylan was serious, almost stoic, as they spoke. The linebacker guy patted him on the shoulder and turned to get his water bottle. That was when he looked around, and despite being across the field, our eyes connected.

I’d seen him around over the last couple of weeks. It was bound to happen since I was working for the same sports department he played in. But we hadn’t locked eyes like this. I smiled and gave him a slight wave, when his brows bunched. That gaze turned intense. With his helmet in his hand hanging by his side, I could see the way his jaw clenched. Like he was irritated or annoyed.

What he didn’t do was wave or mouthhi.

And that was when what felt like the last shred of hope that maybe whatever I’d felt last semester hadn’t been one-sided died. I pushed my hands into the pockets of my joggers immediately turned around. Ignoring the disappointment I felt.He couldn’t be bothered to say hi. Damn.The rejection of the situation stung the entire walk to my dorm and even after dinner while I sat and watchedFriendsreruns.

I pulled up my phone, tempted to text him that he could go to hell. But I didn’t.

Instead, I was in bed by ten, still stupidly dreaming about the guy who couldn’t be bothered to say hi. A dream so real that when I woke up, I could have sworn I smelled his cologne in my room.

CHAPTER 6

DYLAN

My hands hurt.

Literally ached.

An overwhelming need to touch, to caress, powered through me, but for some godforsaken reason, I didn’t give in. Instead, I clenched and relaxed them at my sides. I rolled my neck side to side without tearing my eyes off the sleeping beauty in front of me.

What I am doing is wrong.

I knew it. Fucking hell, my dad had been a cop. I knew just how wrong breaking and entering was, but it still didn’t stop me. It didn’t stop me from watching her like some fucking creep who couldn’t seem to get his fill of her.

Mattie sighed, and I knew, no matter how long I stared at her, I’d never get tired of her face. I just wish I could look into her bright blue eyes. But since I’d snuck into her room in the dead of night, I could almost guarantee it would be a bad thing if she opened her eyes.

I squatted, moving as quietly as I could to get down closer to her level without waking her up. I had no idea how I managed. I was a big fucker, but somehow, I’d managed every night for the last two weeks. Risked everything just to watch her sleep.Knowing that if she opened her eyes, it would mess up any chance I might have had before this thing even started.

Being around Mattie Fuentes had become like a drug. I breathed in, and just like that, everything felt better. She made everything better. She and that strawberry shortcake scent that clung to her and made my mouth water.

This crush I’d had from the moment we met turned into something more. Something darker. Everything I’d done so far this summer was to get closer to her, and it had been fucking hell. She had stopped coming out to watch the practices after I didn’t say hi back to her two days ago, and it fucking killed. I’d seen the way the guys were watching her. Checking her out. I’d wanted to stab each one in the gut and pull their fucking eyes out. That night, when I had slipped into the co-ed shower, I had stolen another pair of panties to take the edge off.

The more time I spent following her, the hungrier the thing inside me grew.

Needier.

Starving.

I shook my head and glanced down. Even squatting down, I was taller than where she lay. Watching my girl sleep was my very own personal heaven and hell.

She could open her eyes at any moment, scream bloody murder because she caught me red-handed. Would she scream? Would she stare back at me and ask what the hell I was doing in her dorm room? Or would she open her eyes and invite me into her bed?

You wish, dumbass!the sliver of sanity I had left whispered.

I lifted my hand, so damn tempted to touch her. To feel her smooth skin beneath the pads of my fingers. But I couldn’t. I had to keep my hands to myself. She sighed in her sleep, and I dropped my hand.

My very own heaven and hell.

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