The Boy Next Door

by Jennifer Sucevic

  I lose all sense of time as our tongues tangle. I’ve missed the taste of her. No matter how many girls I’ve been with, they all paled in comparison. Needy little noises escape from her, and it only drives me on.

  When I finally lift my mouth, we’re both breathing hard.

  A dazed expression fills her face. “I don’t under—”

  “Go out with me.”

  Every bit of haziness disappears as her eyes widen. I have to admit that the words shock the hell out of me as well. I stiffen and wait for the panic to crash over me. Instead, I’m flooded with relief.

  “You want to go on a...date?” The question is forced out as if every syllable is foreign to her tongue.

  Again, I steel myself for an avalanche of panic to bury me alive. When that doesn’t occur, I release a breath as the corners of my lips bow up. “Yup, I do.”

  Her brows draw together as she carefully searches my eyes. “You don’t date.” There’s a pause before she tacks on in a steely voice, “You fuck around.”

  Guilty. That’s what I’ve always done. Although, not for the reasons she assumes. I’ve spent years running away from the one girl I’ve always longed for, and I can’t do it any longer. Only now do I realize that she might not give me a chance. I’ve lived the life of a manwhore, screwing whatever girl I wanted in an attempt to forget the one in my arms. It didn’t work. And I can’t bear the thought of her with anyone else.

  For all I know, she’s over it.

  Over me.

  It’s a frightening thought.

  I press closer before ghosting my mouth over hers. The way her breathing hitches, and her lips part, tells me that she wants me.

  Wants this.

  Instead of giving us what we both crave, I whisper, “Let me take you out.”

  Her teeth sink into her bottom lip as indecision flickers across her face. I loosen my grip on her shoulders before my fingertips drift along her bare arms. Once they arrive at her hands, I interlock our fingers together.

  “Give me a chance.”

  She whimpers as I bury my face against the side of her throat, licking and nipping at her flesh. I’m so tired of fighting this deep-seated need I have for her.

  “Okay.” The word falls from her lips in a breathy little sigh.

  It takes everything I have to beat back the beast inside and not take her right here in the library. I want to brand Alyssa as mine. I want every guy on this campus to know that she belongs to me.

  “Good.” My lips curve. “Now get rid of Daniels.”

  Chapter Five

  Alyssa

  October of sophomore year...

  Mia and I push our way through the crowded student section at the stadium, searching for a place to park our butts. It’s game day, and I’m here to root on my man. Even though it’s mid-October, the temperature is still seasonable, and I’m able to wear Colton’s red and black jersey over a turtleneck. He gave it to me a couple of weeks ago. It’s a huge deal. Only girlfriends get to wear players’ jerseys to the games or around campus. After he left my dorm room, I screamed at the top of my lungs.

  All the while wearing his jersey, of course.

  Sometimes I have to remind myself that this isn’t a dream I’ll wake from. It’s my reality. I’m dating Colton Montgomery. Every time I think about it, a little bubble of joy explodes inside me.

  This relationship has come out of nowhere and taken me completely by surprise. Sure, I’d always hoped something would happen between us, but did I really think it would? No way in hell. How could I when Colton went to such great lengths to avoid me? First in high school, then at college. If we were paired up together for a class project, he found a way out. If I arrived at a party, he slipped out the backdoor. If he spotted me on campus, he’d take off in the opposite direction.

  It might have taken a while, but I can take a hint. Just when I’d decided to put Colton Montgomery behind me and move on with my life, he came out of nowhere and swept me off my feet.

  Honestly, I’m still in a state of shock. Colton can have any girl he wants. And he has. But he’s never been one to get serious. He likes to play the field.

  And yet...here we are.

  Trust me when I say that I’m taking it slow. It’s all about baby steps with this guy. Even though Colton came after me, he’s like a skittish animal I need to approach with both caution and patience. So far, I’ve let him set the pace, and that seems to be working. I’m taking it day by day and letting our relationship unfold naturally. If I get too serious, too quick, he’ll bolt. I can see it in his eyes.

  “You’re getting an awful lot of looks,” Mia murmurs from beside me. “I wouldn’t be surprised if one of these bitches shanks you in the bathroom just to wrestle that jersey from your cold dead body.”

  I snort. She’s not wrong about that. I can practically feel the coveted stares and hear the whispers as we move up the stadium steps in search of seats. There are a lot of thirsty bitches around here waiting for an opportunity to steal my man. Especially now that he’s done the unthinkable and committed to one specific female.

  Me!

  Yeah, I still can’t get over it.

  Any moment, I’m going to break out into a little happy dance. Although, I think Mia would slap me upside the head if I did.

  Even though Colton is only a sophomore at Wesley, he’s been a hot commodity since stepping foot on campus freshman year. Not only is he good-looking, but he’s also a first-string wide receiver for the Wildcats. The idea of dating a guy like him is much akin to capturing a mythical unicorn. The girls who don’t want to strangle me seek me out for advice. As if there’s a secret formula to my success. If only they knew the truth.

  I have absolutely no idea what happened to make him change his mind.

  For the first couple of weeks, I was overly cautious, waiting for the bottom to fall out—waiting for him to wake up one morning and say that he’s not interested in being tied down when there are a ton of groupies willing to spread their legs. I was almost afraid to sleep with him, figuring that’s when he would break things off.

  Instead, six weeks have slipped by, and we’re still going strong. Gradually, I’m figuring him out. I’d always assumed he was just a guy who enjoyed screwing as many girls as he could. After spending time with him, I suspect there’s more to it than that. He’s surprisingly guarded. It’s almost as if Colton puts up a façade for everyone around him. Only now am I beginning to peel back the layers to the man lurking beneath the surface. It makes me wonder what happened in his past for him to erect so many walls. It’s tempting to ask. Instead, I’ve remained silent in hopes that he’ll open up on his own when he’s ready.

  Mia points to two open spots in the middle of the row. We slide past a dozen people before settling on our seats with our drinks and popcorn. We wave to a few friends before the band performs the school song and the players jog onto the field in a wave of red and black. Even though there are ninety guys on the team, my gaze cuts right through them, locking on number twenty-five. My heart flips over in my chest as I watch him. The pads only accentuate the broad set of his shoulders. My gaze drops to his ass. I’m not going to lie, the red stretchy pants do wonders for it.

  Mia bumps into my shoulder with her own. I tear my gaze away from Colton and glance toward her in question, only to find a grin simmering around the corners of her lips.

  “I know what you’re staring at, perv.”

  I snort out a laugh. “Can you blame me?”

  She straightens in her seat and tilts her head as if giving serious consideration to the question. “Objectively speaking, the guy has a mighty fine ass.”

  Yes, he certainly does.

  The ref flips a coin, and Tennessee will kickoff. I munch my popcorn and settle in to watch the first play of the game. My father is a die-hard football fan. It doesn’t matter if it’s the NFL, college, or high school. It’s more of a religion. Friday, Saturday, and Sunday are days of worship in the Williams household. That meant
loads of BBQ chicken wings, pigs in a blanket, chips, and cold bottles of beer. Not exactly dancer-friendly food. But Mom always made sure to have a veggie platter with hummus and lots of fresh fruit for me.

  After about fifteen minutes, a ref blows a whistle, throws up a flag, and stops the play.

  “What happened?” Mia asks, brows drawing together as she watches the guys standing around.

  “There’s a penalty for holding,” I explain.

  When she continues to stare in confusion, my lips twitch. “It means that one of our guys grabbed hold of the other team’s defensive player while trying to block him. They’re not allowed to do that. Now there’s a penalty, and we lose ten yards.”

  Her brows pinch together. “It’s almost as if you’re speaking English, but I still can’t understand a word you’re saying.” She lifts a hand to her face before touching her mouth. “Am I having a stroke? Is that what’s going on?” There’s a pause. “Wait a minute...aren’t I the one who shouldn’t be making sense if I’m stroking out?”

  I burst out laughing. “Neither of us are stroking out. Although, if these refs don’t get their heads out of their asses, I just might.” I point to the field and explain, “Now we’re further from the end zone, which makes it more difficult to score a touchdown.”

  She nods, continuing to look baffled. “Why does football have to be so complicated?”

  I pat her shoulder. “It’s a good thing you’re pretty.”

  “Shut up. You know I’ve never been a fan of the game. Too slow and boring.”

  “Yup. Which is exactly why I appreciate you tagging along with me today.”

  She flashes an evil grin that sends chills scampering down my spine. “Don’t worry, I’ll come up with something torturous for payback.”

  I don’t doubt it. She’ll probably force me to stay in for the weekend and binge-watch Gilmore Girls. Mia knows I can’t stand the show. Usually, I’m the one dragging her butt to parties when she would much rather stay home.

  An hour and a half later, the buzzer sounds, ending the second quarter of the game and signaling halftime. My attention stays trained on Colton as he jogs off the field. His gaze coasts over the student section before zeroing in on me, and I feel the connection straight down to my toes. He grins before tapping his fist against his chest and pointing toward me.

  A sigh escapes from my lips before I can stifle it. Are there little red and pink hearts dancing above my head? Because I think there might be. If I’m not careful, I’m going to fall head over heels in—

  “Oh God, you’re falling for him, aren’t you?”

  It’s not a question. More like a statement. And not one filled with happiness either.

  As tempted as I am to downplay my growing feelings, I don’t want to do that. Mia has been my best friend for nearly a decade. We’ve always been straightforward with one another. Even though she won’t like the answer, I can’t bring myself to lie. “Yeah,” I track his movements until he disappears inside the tunnel, “I am.”

  Mia worries her lower lip before gnawing on it. Concern flickers across her expressive features.

  When she remains silent, I blurt, “He’s not the guy you think he is.”

  “So, what you’re telling me is that he’s only been pretending to be a player, out for one thing all these years?”

  I wince as my shoulders slump and some of my pleasure drains away. It’s a complicated question. One I don’t necessarily have an answer for. “I don’t know.” That’s what I’m trying to figure out.

  Instead of meeting Mia’s inquisitive stare, I focus on the band marching in formation on the field for the halftime show.

  After a few minutes of silence, her arm snakes around me as she leans her head against my shoulder. “I’m just worried you’ll get hurt. That’s all.”

  I huff out a breath as some of my defensiveness melts away. It’s not like I don’t understand her concern. Colton is the king of hookups. The guy is nineteen years old, and this is the first time he’s been in a relationship. I would be an idiot not to be cautious where he’s concerned. But that doesn’t mean I can hold back my feelings or pretend they don’t exist.

  “I won’t get hurt.” When it comes down to it, I realize that Mia has my best interest at heart. All she’s trying to do is protect me. “We’re taking it slow.”

  “Girl, please,” she says with a snort, “you don’t know the meaning of the word slow.”

  My lips tremble around the corners. She’s not wrong about that. Where my bestie carefully weighs every decision she makes, I’ve always been a leap-before-looking kind of girl.

  Has it gotten me into trouble over the years?

  You bet it has. But that’s the way I live life.

  “I think you’re already in love with the guy.” There’s a beat of silence before she adds in a serious tone, “You’ve always been in love with him.”

  Instead of acknowledging the truth, I press my lips together and remain silent.

  This is the problem with having a best friend who knows you so well. She’s able to figure out all your dirty little secrets. Even the ones you try to hide from yourself.

  Chapter Six

  Colton

  February of sophomore year...

  Alyssa is wrapped up in my arms as my mouth roves hungrily over her neck. She arches, allowing me better access to her delectable flesh. A little moan escapes from her as she shoves the key into the lock.

  Once.

  Twice.

  After three failed attempts, she whispers, “You need to stop that, or I’ll never get this door open, and we’ll end up having sex in the hallway.”

  I don’t care where we screw, as long as I can get inside her. My cock is so damn hard that it’s all I can focus on. The moment I slide deep inside her is always one of pure nirvana. I’ve never experienced anything like it before. There’s a little voice inside my brain that wonders if I ever will again. Since that’s not an entirely comfortable thought, I shove it away before I can examine it too closely.

  “Colton.”

  My name comes out sounding more like a breathy sigh, and it does the impossible and makes me harder. I’ll be honest, I couldn’t stop even if I wanted to. Her skin is too damn sweet. I’m tempted to gobble her up in one tasty bite. I’ve had my fair share of chicks over the years, but I’ve never craved anyone the way I do her. She’s like a drug pumping wildly through my system. Sometimes it feels like way too much, way too soon. And that scares the shit out of me. There are times when I’m struck with the urge to pull away in an effort to regain my bearings, but I always stop short of actually doing it.

  My teeth sink into the delicate skin of her bared throat as my fingers graze her ribcage before sliding upward to her breasts. I glance down the hall to make sure it’s empty. Since the coast is clear, I tweak her nipples through the thin shirt she’s wearing beneath her jacket. “What’s wrong, baby girl? Is there a reason you can’t focus?”

  She whimpers in answer as I continue playing with her body. Alyssa is so damn responsive to my touch. Sex with her is like...

  I don’t even know how to describe it.

  There’s a high I get when I’m inside the heat of her body. This must be what addiction feels like—craving something all the time even if it’s a person. Even when you’re balls deep, you can’t help but wonder when you can be there again.

  “If you keep that up, I’ll come.”

  She’s not kidding either.

  So.

  Damn.

  Responsive.

  Her whispered words go straight to my dick, making me throb even harder than I already am. Why the hell did I ever fight against this in the first place? Hands down, getting together with this girl was the best decision I ever made.

  “Hey,” someone yells from a couple of doors down, breaking into the thick fog that has descended, “get a room!”

  “What do you think we’re trying to do?” Alyssa bellows in response, unapologetic about our PDA.
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  My lips quirk as a chuckle slips free. Reluctantly, I lower my hands until my thumbs can graze over the soft outer swells of her breasts and my index fingers settle beneath the band of her bra.

  Once upon a time, I’d thought her breasts were too small. Needless to say, I was mistaken about that. Maybe her cup doesn’t runneth over like some girls, but it doesn’t matter. Alyssa’s tits are fucking perfect.

  Everything about her is.

  “Colton,” she groans for a second time, writhing against me, all the while trying to jam the metal in the lock.

  “What, baby?”

  “You’re killing me.”

  “Good. I want to ruin you for all other guys.” The words slip free before I can stop them. My heartbeat jackhammers. It’s the closest I’ve come to declaring my feelings for her.

  “I think you already have.”

  On the fifth attempt, the key slides home, and the door handle turns.

  “Thank God,” she mutters as we stumble inside the space.

  I’ve been dying to get my hands on her for days. Since we both have roommates, carving out time to be alone has become a challenge. I’m not going to lie, we’ve done it in my car and at the library. The potential thrill of getting caught turns us both on. She’s definitely a girl after my own heart.

  Next year, the plan is to move into an apartment or off-campus housing. I’ll have my own room. Then I can sleep with her wrapped up in my arms every damn night. If the thought leaves me slightly shaken that I’m actually thinking that far ahead into the future when it comes to a girl, I ignore it and refocus my attention.

  “Are you sure Mia won’t be home for a while?”

  A smile curves her lips as her eyelids lower to half-mast. “Yup, she’s in class for another two hours.”

  “Perfect.”

  “I know.”

  “Hey, Alyssa,” someone hollers from down the hall, “do you have—”