Hard to Resist (Sexy Nerd Boys, #3)

by K. M. Neuhold

  “I knew there had to be at least one reason I agreed to live with you.”

  I pull on a pair of jeans and follow her into the kitchen. I pause at the sight of Matthew, the boyfriend, standing casually in the kitchen, eating a muffin like he belongs there. His gaze travels over my bare torso and for a second I get the feeling that he’s checking me out...but obviously that can’t be true. He’s dating Hadley, and she’s all woman.

  “These muffins are amazing sugar, but now I’m going to need to spend an extra hour at the gym because I’ve eaten four of them already,” He complains.

  I almost roll my eyes. There’s nothing more irritating than people who are constantly mentally calculating how much time they need to spend at the gym based on every ounce they eat.

  “Well, count me out, I’m still sore from our workout yesterday.” Hadley waves him off.

  “I bet you are.” He waggles his eyebrows suggestively and suddenly the muffins don’t look so appetizing.

  Hadley heads to the refrigerator, pulls out a carton of orange juice, and pours two glasses.

  “Alright, I’ll see you later.” Matthew shoves one last muffin in his mouth before heading out the door without a backwards glance.

  Hadley slides a glass of orange juice and a muffin towards me.

  “Thanks. Blueberry muffins are my favorite,” I say, desperately grappling to end the awkwardness that hangs between us these days.

  “I remember.”

  Silence passes between us as we eat. I wrack my brain, trying to remember what we used to talk about.

  “So how long have you and Captain America been dating?” I blurt out. She studies the muffin in her hand for several seconds before shaking her head and avoiding my gaze.

  “It’s complicated.”

  “What’s that mean? You guys are fuck buddies?”

  She winces at my harsh tone and I immediately feel like a complete ass.

  “I’m sorry, it’s none of my business.”

  “Don’t act like a jealous boyfriend when you made it very clear that we can only be friends.”

  I know we can only ever be friends. But, being friends with her certainly feels like drawing the short straw.

  “Alright, but that means you need to try to look much worse. Because, it’s really not fair for you to prance around in front of me in those sexy little dresses, or a pair of shorts that ride up when you bend over.”

  She rolls her eyes at me and then looks pointedly at my bare chest.

  “I’d say that the same goes for you. But honestly, I don’t want to miss out on basking in those rippling muscles. A girls gotta have something to think about when she’s alone in the shower.” Her voice takes on a teasing purr that gets my dick hard in seconds flat.

  I grab another muffin off the counter and throw it at her. It bounces off of her head and I burst out laughing at the indignant look on her face.

  Hadley’s eyes narrow in challenge. She turns wordlessly and opens the refrigerator. I take the opportunity to admire her perfect, heart shaped ass. Hadley was always tall and lanky growing up, but in the past year her curves have really filled in.

  I’m so distracted drinking in her feminine figure that I don’t see the can of whipped cream in her hand until it’s too late.

  Fluffy white cream obscures my vision as she coats my face with it.

  “Oh, it is on,” I declare, wiping the whipped cream from my eyes and licking my lips. I jump up and lunge for the can in her hands.

  Hadley rears back and attempts a spin escape which ends with us both on the floor. Her infectious laugh fills the kitchen. I take advantage of her uncontrollable laughter to grab her arms and attempt to wrestle the can of whipped cream away from her. She tries to crawl away so I grab her ankles and drag her back before climbing on top of her to claim my prize.

  “Now you’re going to get it,” I warn.

  Her eyes flash with lust and I bite back a groan as my cock strains against my shorts.

  The deep sound of a man’s throat clearing behind us sends me jumping away from her as though she were electrified.

  “Way to ruin our food fight, Chase,” Hadley accuses with a laugh as she hauls herself off of the floor.

  I avert my gaze and keep my back turned so that Chase can’t see my reaction to the little whipped cream wrestling match.

  “I’d better take a shower,” I mutter as I flee the kitchen without a backwards glance.

  Hadley

  “Muffin?” I offer as Chase continues to stare after Ravi’s retreating back with distrust.

  “Had, Ravi isn’t the guy for you,” Chase says bluntly as soon as the sound of the shower reaches our ears.

  I bite my tongue and push the plate of blueberry muffins toward my stupid, stupid brother.

  “I’m serious. I know you had a thing for him last summer, but-”

  “What makes you think I had a thing for him?” I snap.

  It’s a stupid question. I know that I was probably ridiculously obvious with the way I was constantly drooling over Ravi.

  Chase gives me a leveling look and continues his statement without answering my question.

  “But, over this past year Ravi has shown his true colors. You know I love him like a brother. But, you should know he a different girl in his bed almost every night. He would break your heart. I can’t allow that to happen.”

  “My heart is just fine Chase,” I assure him. “Both literally and figuratively. And, Ravi is just my friend and roommate. You have nothing to worry about.”

  “Good.” He bites into a muffin and chews in silence for several minutes. “So... Matthew is your boyfriend?”

  “Not really,” I answer quietly, hoping that Ravi doesn’t hear. “He’s one of my best friends. He’s a really good guy.”

  “So why isn’t he your boyfriend?” Chase pries.

  I shrug. It’s not my place to out Matthew.

  “We don’t feel that way about each other.”

  “I see,” Chase mutters before taking another large bite of the muffin.

  “So, what’s on the agenda for today?” I ask.

  “I was going to invite Ravi to play basketball with some guys from high school.”

  “How about if I cook dinner?” I offer.

  “Sounds good.” Chase gives me a kiss on the cheek and grabs the last muffin. The sound of the shower shuts off and I decide to go hide downstairs at Eve’s place until Ravi and Chase leave.

  Ravi

  When I step back into the living room after my shower I find Hadley conspicuously absent, and Chase watching Sports Center with an irritated scowl on his face.

  “Hey,” I say casually.

  Please let him assume that our whipped cream fight was completely innocent.

  He turns his hard glare on me and I know I’m shit out of luck for today.

  “I already told you that I wasn’t going to say it more than once. And yet, I feel I’ve said it a thousand times. This is the last time brother...do not touch my little sister.”

  My heart jumps into my throat and the words are on the tip of my tongue. I want to tell him that it’s too goddamn late, I already tarnished his sister. I want to slam my fist into his face and tell him to mind his own fucking business. Hadley is a big girl. She can make her own decisions.

  “What is so wrong with me that I’m not good enough for your perfect sister?” I demand, knowing full well that I’m on dangerous territory. “She’s not a nun, Chase. One day someone is going to touch her. Who is actually good enough for Hadley?”

  “No one is good enough for her. But, after all the girls you had in your bed over the past year I would say that you’re definitely not good enough for her. She can’t handle heartbreak, and you aren’t a guy who’s going to stick around for her.”

  My anger at Chase is suddenly redirected at myself. He’s right, I was a complete tool while we were in New York. He doesn’t know that I didn’t actually fuck any of those girls, but that’s probably not relevant. H
e also doesn’t know that my revolving bedroom door was a direct result of trying to get over Hadley. This is such a fucking mess.

  I swallow hard and nod, unable to argue against his assessment.

  “Come on, we’re going to play basketball with some of the guys from high school.”

  Hadley

  Once I hear the tell-tale footsteps of Chase and Ravi leaving the apartment I excuse myself from Eve and Asher’s and head back upstairs. I would’ve preferred to stay and hang out, but they were giving each other looks that suggested my presence was not preferred at the moment.

  I flop down on my large comfortable couch with a heavy sigh. There’s a special level of pathetic reserved for people who kind of wish they’d decided to take summer classes to ease the boredom. I’ve reached that level, and school’s only been out for a week. I blame Ravi.

  Stupid Ravi with his rippling muscles and manly scent. My stomach flutters as I conjure his unique smell to mind. Without the conscious thought to do so I’m suddenly walking towards Ravi’s bedroom.

  His door is cracked open and I can’t resist reaching forward and giving it a gentle nudge. It creaks open to reveal a room full of half packed boxes and a messy bed. I glance over my shoulder surreptitiously and then step into the room.

  My heart races as the smell of Ravi engulfs me. He’s been here a week, and yet the room is already imprinted with his presence. My heart flutters when I spot a picture of Ravi and me sitting on his night stand. There are several pictures of his parents, Chase and Ravi, and Chase and me. However, the picture of Ravi and me is slightly worn around the edges, like he holds it often.

  Again without my permission my legs carry me straight to his bed where I slink between his sheets and revel in the ghost of his existence here.

  I was wrong before...laying in a man’s bed all alone is the most embarrassing level of pathetic, not wishing for summer school.

  Even still, I can’t stop myself from lying here and soaking it up. Only for a few minutes.

  I yawn and snuggle against his pillow. His bed is ridiculously comfortable. Maybe I can get him to switch with me. As I stretch and accept the fact that I’m probably going to allow myself to take a nap in Ravi’s bed like a creepy stalker, my hand brushes something hard and smooth off to one side of his bed. I wrap my hands around it and pull out his laptop.

  I wonder what kind of porn Ravi looks at, I think with a blush. Hell, I’m already a total creeper today, might as well invade all of his privacy.

  I open the computer and click the Google Chrome icon. I’m surprised when a Google Doc pops up entitled Warriors of Planet X. I actually squeak with excitement when I realize that this must be a book that Ravi is writing. He let me read some of his writing from time to time, and I’m not just saying this because I’m in love with him, he’s an amazing writer. I chew my fingernails while I try to decide exactly how large a breach of trust it would be for me to read his book without permission. And, then I scroll to the first page and start to read.

  Ravi

  As soon as we start up the stairs to the apartment the smell of steak drifts through the air.

  “I’m not going to lie, I’m pretty jealous you’re living with Hadley. I’ll be in New York eating Ramen and take out while you come home to a home cooked meal every night.” Chase claps me on the back good naturedly.

  I turn my face away from him so he doesn’t see the flash of emotion in my eyes at the domestic picture he paints. I’ve had the image of Hadley in my mind almost constantly over the past year. It might actually be a tie between the filthy, debauched thoughts of Hadley stark naked beneath me, and thoughts of her cooking me dinner, waking up next to me in the morning, and coming home every night to ask about her day.

  When we reach the top of the stairs there’s a small, scraggly, orange kitten sitting outside our door sniffing the air.

  “Hi there little buddy.” I kneel down and slowly reach my hand out towards the kitten. It immediately puffs up its fur and darts around me to flee down the stairs. I frown as I watch it disappear under the side of the house.

  “Come on Dr. Doolittle, I’m starving,” Chase urges from behind me.

  We step inside and find Matthew in the living room watching a Rockies game. Chase greets Matthew and slides onto the couch beside him, immediately starting to discuss the game. The sound of faint music pulls my attention elsewhere. I turn and head towards the sound.

  I pause in the doorway to the kitchen as a smile spreads on my lips. Hadley has her back to me, focused on what appears to be mashed potatoes. Her iPod sits on the table playing My First Kiss by 3Oh!3 as she shakes her curvy ass and sings along. My heart swells in my chest and the urge to wrap my arms around Hadley and press my lips to her neck affectionately is almost overwhelming.

  Hadley turns around and jumps like a startled cat.

  “How long have you been standing there?” She demands accusingly, clutching her chest like I just gave her a heart attack.

  “Long enough,” I tease with a smile.

  Her lips curve into a smile, too. She’s off limits, she’s off limits, she’s off limits. I chant over and over again in vain.

  “What do cats eat?” I ask suddenly.

  “Cat food.”

  “I know that smartass.” I roll my eyes and she sticks her tongue out at me. “There’s a kitten living under the house. It’s really skinny and pretty skittish. I wanted to put something out for it to eat,” I explain.

  Hadley’s eyes soften.

  “If we have left over steak we could cut that up small for it, and maybe a saucer of milk.”

  “Great. Maybe if we can get it to trust us we can catch it and bring it inside. I hate the thought of it out there once winter comes.”

  “What is with you and that cat?” Chase asks entering the kitchen, followed by Matthew.

  “Don’t tell me you don’t have a soft spot of furry animals like Hadley,” Matthew teases.

  “Not cats,” Chase says firmly.

  Chase has hated cats since he was attacked by a stray cat when we were ten. He’d needed ten stitches and weeks of antibiotics. I guess I can’t blame him for his aversion.

  “I’ve got steak, potatoes, and salad. You boys sit down and I’ll bring everything over to the table.” Hadley waves us all towards the table.

  “Up for a little poker after dinner?” I offer Hadley with a challenging spark in my eye.

  “You are so on.”

  *****

  Hadley and I play poker until the wee hours of the morning. Long after Matthew and Chase leave, Hadley and I continue to play, laugh, and drink a few beers.

  “Read ‘me and weep,” Hadley boasts, laying out her cards to reveal a flush. I throw down my measly pair of tens in a huff.

  “Alright, I’m out,” I sigh.

  Hadley grins from ear to ear and then yawns widely.

  “Yeah, I suppose it’s time for bed. Maybe, now that we live together, we could have a regular poker night.”

  “I’d like that,” I answer in a barely audible whisper. For some reason the fact that Hadley and I are actually going to be living together for the foreseeable future hits me.

  “Night, sweetie.” Hadley gives me a kiss on the cheek before disappearing down the hall to her bedroom.

  I let out a long sigh and gaze after her, doing my best to ignore the gnawing in my gut. If only

  I drag myself reluctantly to my own painfully empty bedroom and crawl between my sheets. As soon as my head touches the pillow I inhale in surprise as I’m met with the sweet strawberry scent that belongs only to Hadley. I bury my face in the pillow and inhale deeply. My heart pounds out an uneven rhythm and my cock hardens instantly. But, why does my bed smell like Hadley? Maybe I’m imagining the whole thing.

  Chapter 7

  Hadley

  My lungs burn with exertion as my feet pound rhythmically on the treadmill.

  “Have I told you lately how much I hate you?” I huff out.

  Matthew laughs
and shakes his head. He’s running twice as fast as I am and he doesn’t seem to be nearly as out of breath. So unfair.

  “Don’t lie, you love me.”

  “I need cake,” I gripe as I slow the speed to a walk.

  “Fine Princess Complains-a-lot, let’s finish this workout and I’ll treat you to dinner,” Matthew offers.

  “Deal.”

  He reaches over and cranks my speed.

  “Alright, then you’ve gotta earn it, Sugar.”

  Ravi

  I stomp up the steps to our apartment after spending the day with my mom. The orange kitten is waiting by the door presumably hoping for more handouts. Since we gave it some left over steak last week the little bugger waits by our door almost every day. Now we leave out cat food and every time I set the bowl down I receive a disappointed glare from the kitten before he dives into the kibble. But, it still won’t let us get close enough to pet it or attempt to bring it inside.

  “Hey there little buddy,” I greet the kitten and it backs away suspiciously. “Wait here and I’ll bring you some food.”

  He lets out a little meow as if it’s acknowledging my request.

  Once inside I fill the small bowl we’ve designated as the ‘cat bowl’ with the kitten food we picked up a few days ago. I set the bowl down outside and the kitten immediately goes to town, purring noisily as it eats. After it’s done eating it meows once more and then darts down the stairs and under the house.

  Now that I’m all alone again the heavy feeling of discontent settles over me. I think back to a few hours earlier when I’d been having lunch with my mother.

  “How are you feeling, Mother?” I’d asked as casually as possible. In all honesty I want to pretend that she’s healthy and fine.

  “I’ll be fine Ravi, you shouldn’t worry about your old mother,” She assures me with a laugh. “I have an appointment with my doctor next week, we’ll know more then.”

  “Of course I worry. I want you to tell me if there’s anything I can do to help you around here. That’s why I transferred from NYU, so I can be here to help. You need to focus on getting well.”

  “That reminds me, a good friend of mine has a daughter I’d love for you to meet. She goes to the university here as well. Pre-med, of course. Let me give you her phone number so you can call her.”