Page 97 of Under the Lights

And I wasn’t just saying that because my girl was wearing those little shorts that made her ass look absolutely phenomenal. Although it sure as hell was a bonus point.

Following her every move across this court, I was transfixed. She was fierce grace, controlled strength, and all I could see. Memorizing every line and curve of her body, I watched her as intently as though I were studying game tape.

Sierra was moving like a force of nature. Every muscle, every move, sharp and fierce. Her body cut through the air like an unstoppable force, and my chest tightened, almost like I could feel her power through the distance.

My heart pounded, hard enough to drown out everything else. I was caught in her gravitational pull, unable to look away, even though I wanted to crawl closer, touch that fire.

The crowd roared, but all I heard was the pulse behind my eyes — hot, desperate, raw. Her ponytail whipped around as she nailed that serve, and I wanted to snatch it, pull her close, make her mine.

But no. I had to play it cool. Tuck the crazy back in, keep the obsession on a leash.

When the game ended, the adrenaline in my veins twisted into something darker. Something likehunger.

She stepped out of the locker room, her hair pulled back, skin glowing from the shower, calm but with that same fire simmering beneath the surface. She moved with purpose, eager to get away from everyone … and especially from me.

But I was already there, lurking in the shadows just beyond the door, tracking her every move like a predator locked onto its prey. My heart pounded hard, wild and raw, claws scraping against the cage I tried to keep it in.

She was mine to watch. Mine to want. And no matter how careful I was to stay quiet, inside I was a beast, breath ragged, and desperate to close the distance.

I stepped out just as she pushed through the exit, the cool night air brushing her skin. Standing in her path as if it were fate.

Her eyes flicked up, sharp and suspicious. “You again.”

I let a slow, dark grin spread across my face, my voice low and rough. “Thought you might want a ride.”

She didn’t smile. Just leveled me with a look that landed somewhere between annoyance and something far more delicious. “You always justhappento be around, don’t you?”

I shrugged, stepping a little closer. “Guess I’m not great at subtle.” My eyes dipped to her mouth, lingered, then climbed back up to meet hers. “Or maybe I just like being near you more than I should.”

She said nothing.

Because she didn’t need to.

I wasn’t goinganywhere.

Sierra consumed my every waking thought, but I was careful not to disclose the extent of my obsession. It would just give her another reason to run.

Well, another reason totryand run. She had no idea that she’d strayed too far and was already trapped in my clutches. I just hadn’t closed in yet.

I had to operate with caution, making sure I didn’t spook her before I’d put enough cracks in her walls.

My Goddess was a jumpy, skittish thing once her feelings got involved — and I had no doubt they were involved by now. She was just too scared, too stubborn to admit it.

Waiting for her to get to where I already was wasn’t a problem. She told me not to catch feelings. So I didn’t.

I dove headfirst into them and hoped she’d learn how to swim before I drowned us both.

Twenty Nine

Sierra

We slipped into a routine. He started showing up most nights — sometimes while I was still awake, sometimes after I’d already fallen asleep. I liked it better that way.

Made it easier to pretend this was nothing more than a casual thing, to keep him neatly boxed in the hookup category. And being woken up with his dick pumping into me was an added bonus.

But despite the fact that both our schedules were packed, he somehow was always there. Always. I had no idea how he did it, if he had some sixth sense, or if my life had just turned into one long string of coincidences.

On my way across campus? There he was “bumping into me” and walking me to my next class.

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