Hard to Resist (Sexy Nerd Boys, #3)

by K. M. Neuhold

  “So you guys aren’t riding the hobby horse?”

  Chase stalls and then begins drumming his fingers on the table.

  “Maybe a few times, but it’s nothing serious. I told her if I were to move in it’s just as roommates and friends with benefits.”

  “Damn bro, that’s cold.”

  Chase shrugs but looks sheepish.

  “Amber’s a nice girl, but she’s kind of high drama.”

  “Are you sure that’s someone you want to live with?”

  Chase shrugs again.

  “Maybe short term so I can move back here, then I can find someplace else for next year.”

  Before I can get more information about this Amber chick, Ravi returns with Asher and Eve in tow. Eve’s eyes land on me and as though she can read my mind I see her eyes spark with understanding.

  “Alright, boys out of the kitchen, let the women do women work,” Eve suggests.

  Asher’s eyebrows jump up with surprise. I stifle a giggle, I imagine he’s not used to hearing Eve say things like ‘let women do women’s work’, and I don’t think he should probably get used to it either. She shoots him a warning look and shoe’s them all out of the kitchen.

  “Okay, spill it,” She says as soon as they’re all safely in the living room.

  I reach into the fridge for a package of bacon and then hand Eve a loaf of bread to start making toast. Eve sets to work but the strained silence between us tells me that she’s still waiting for an answer. I sigh and slam the spatula down on the counter.

  “There’s nothing to talk about, I just finally came to my senses and realized that Ravi’s never going to man up. And, it’s pretty selfish of me to expect him to risk losing people who are important to him just to be with me. So, I’m done with it,” I explain, listening to the comforting sizzle and pop of the bacon in the pan.

  “What did Ravi have to say about this?” Eve hedges.

  “I haven’t told him yet,” I admit. “But, I’m not really asking. My mind is made up. This isn’t working.” I glance over at Eve and find her biting down on her bottom lip, clearly holding back whatever she has to say.

  Good, I don’t need her opinion. Not everyone gets their happily ever after like her and Asher.

  “Hadley.” Ravi’s voice is low and cautious from the doorway of the kitchen.

  Eve looks between us and then grabs a handful of plates and starts setting the table, clearly doing her best to look like she’s not eavesdropping.

  “I thought I was LP,” I bite out coldly.

  “Please, I-”

  “It’s over Ravi,” I say simply, pushing the eggs around in the pan to keep myself from breaking down in front of him.

  “No.” His voice is firm, defiant.

  “Breakfast is ready,” I call out loudly.

  Ravi

  I push my food around my plate and try to ignore the gnawing terror settling in the pit of my stomach. She couldn’t have meant what she said. This can’t be over. My heart thuds out an uneven rhythm. I can’t let her go. I absolutely won’t let her go. I’d thought my feelings for Hadley were strong before, but being with her the way we have been for the past month...nothing fucking compares. She’s the one, the only fucking one for me for the rest of my life. But, I can’t tell Chase yet. I need a plan. I need...fuck, I don’t know. He’s going to punch me in the face.

  “You’re coming to Abby and Ethan’s house warming party today, right Hadley?” Eve asks.

  “Of course,” Hadley agrees.

  I’d almost forgotten about the party today.

  “Mind if I tag along?” Chase asks.

  Hadley shrugs and then nods. My hand clenches around my fork. Just perfect, if Chase comes I’ll have to keep my hands off Hadley. That task is becoming more difficult by the day.

  “What are you pouting about over there?” Chase points a piece of bacon at me and squints suspiciously.

  I look to Hadley, my eyes pleading with her. Please don’t make me do this.

  The steel in her winter green eyes softens a fraction and I dare to hope that she’ll give me just a little more time.

  “I’m not pouting. I’m just...preoccupied.”

  After breakfast Hadley clears the table and I move to the sink to help her wash the dishes. Chase, Eve, and Asher head to the living room. Our hands brush and her sweet strawberry scent surrounds me. My heart is racing with the possibility that she might actually leave me. I can’t let her go.

  “Hadley, I love you,” I blurt desperately.

  “You are such an ass,”

  Okay, that wasn’t exactly what I was expecting her to say.

  Hadley gives me one last good glare and then storms out of the kitchen, into the living room. I briefly consider going after her, but with Chase here all I’ll be able to do is sit and pretend like everything is fine.

  I storm out of the apartment without a word or a backwards glance.

  Chapter 18

  Hadley

  When noon rolls around and Ravi still hasn’t returned I scribble him a quick note saying that I went to Abby and Ethan’s barbeque and then Eve, Asher, Chase, and I head out.

  “You and Ravi aren’t really over, are you?” Eve asks quietly so Chase doesn’t hear as we make the short walk to Abby and Ethan’s place.

  I shrug and kick a small rock out of my path.

  “He says he loves me but that doesn’t change the fact that he’s not ready to man up and face my brother. And, is it even fair of me to expect him to risk his friendship with Chase and his relationship with his parents?” I let out a huff. My chest aches with longing and confusion. How dare he tell me he loves me when he’s not ready to fully commit to this. Our relationship can’t be truly real until we tell everyone.

  “Did you tell him you love him, too?” Eve asks.

  “I told him he’s an ass.”

  Eve laughs and thankfully drops the conversation for the rest of the walk.

  *****

  By the time we arrive at Ethan and Abby’s the whole gang is already there and the barbecue is in full swing.

  “I need a drink, stat,” I announce as soon as we step into the backyard.

  “I have sangria over here!” Abby shouts over the music, holding up a pitcher with a smile. Ethan stands beside her, with one arm wrapped around her waist and a content smile on his lips. My heart aches briefly. I want what they have so badly. I want Ravi for real, and forever.

  Ravi

  After taking a long walk to clear my head and stopping to visit my mom for a few hours I finally head back home to find the house empty. I find the note on the kitchen counter that says they went to Ethan and Abby’s. At the bottom of the note is a hastily scribbled address, not in Hadley’s handwriting. I’m assuming Eve or Asher took it upon themselves to add the address for me. My blood boils at this. I lay my heart out at her feet and she’s going to act like this? I don’t think so.

  *****

  When I get to the party I find Hadley with a drink in her hand and a smile on her face. It eases my anger for a brief moment. But, when her eyes catch mine and her smile turns into a scowl my ire is back in full force. We’re going to have this out, right fucking now.

  I jerk my head towards the house, signaling for her to come talk to me. She lets out a sigh before setting her drink down and walking towards the house.

  I catch up with her once we’re inside and when I do I practically drag Hadley down the hallway. I yank open the first door we come across, which turns out to be a closet approximately the size of a shoebox. Hadley glares at me and discretely shoots me the middle finger. I bite my lip against the smirk that’s threatening. Maybe it’s because we’ve been friends for so long, but sometimes fighting seems like the best kind of foreplay.

  I wrench Hadley into the cramped closet and look down at her with heat in my veins. I notice a slight shudder of anticipation runs through her. I wrap her pony tail around my hand and use my grip to pull her mouth to mine roughly. Her lips mold to mine wi
llingly and a familiar jolt runs down my spine. My cock immediately thickens. I use my free hand to grab Hadley’s waist and pull her against me. She stiffens and wrenches her head back to glare at me.

  “I’m mad at you,” She bites out with only a token struggle to escape my grasp.

  “That’s fine, I’m mad at you too,” I state blandly before tightening my grip on her hair and jerking her back to me.

  Her mouth tastes like fruit and wine and Hadley. She bites my lip almost hard enough to draw blood, but instead of pulling away I push her against the wall and reach up her skirt. When my fingers graze her panties she shudders.

  “Tell me to stop,” I challenge. Her eyes flash dangerously but her lips stay sealed. “Your brain may be pissed at me, but your body still knows what it wants. You’re so wet for me.”

  I slide her panties to the side and thrust my fingers into her slick heat. She gasps and I unwrap my fist from her ponytail so I can cover her mouth.

  “Shh, sweetheart.”

  Her eyes widen as she realizes where we are and how wildly inappropriate this is. But, instead of trying to push me off or make me stop she tilts her hips to give me better access. I pump my fingers rhythmically, still using my free hand to muffle her gasps and moans.

  “I think you wear skirts so much because you’re always hoping we’ll find someplace to fuck, don’t you?”

  She nods and moans against my hand. My heart hammers in my chest as her scent surrounds me and her heat clamps tight around my fingers. She reaches between us and unzips my pants. I’m going commando so as soon as she has the zipper down my hard cock springs free. Hadley’s slender fingers wrap around my thick length and begin to stroke. I bury my face against her neck to stifle my own sounds now.

  Hadley let’s out a little whimper as my thumb grazes her clit, my other fingers still fucking her steadily. She wants me to fuck her, but she’s not going to admit it. She can’t concede defeat. That’s my girl, so willful.

  I tug her panties down and once she steps out of them I stuff them into my pocket. I grab one of her legs and hitch it up to give me proper access in this position and then I thrust inside her without further preamble.

  Our lips crash together and swallow each other’s quiet moans and gasps. Pleasure tingles from my spine down to my balls and I have to clench my jaw against the already impending release.

  “I know you love me. Why not admit it?” I bite out, holding myself still inside of her.

  “You seriously want to talk now?” She gasps.

  I rock my hips back and thrust into her hard and deep.

  “You love me,” I state confidently, ducking my head and biting the exposed swell of her breast.

  Hadley moans quietly and threads her fingers through my hair and then tugs sharply. When I lift my gaze to meet hers the fire in her eyes nearly consumes me. I hammer into her more forcefully.

  I grab her hands roughly and pin them over her head, against the wall.

  “You have no right to be mad. I’m fucking mad.”

  She’s so goddamn wet I can feel her arousal dripping down to my balls.

  Always for me. Only for me. Mine. Mine. Mine.

  “Ravi, I’m going to come,” She whimpers.

  I capture her gaze and hold it as I continue to pound into her, my own core tightening with impending release as well.

  “I love you,” I tell her again.

  “I love you Ravi, I’ve loved you for so long. I love you so much it hurts.”

  Her pussy clenches around me and we both lose ourselves in the pleasure of our bodies, our words still hanging in the air between us.

  “Wow, we should have angry sex more often,” she says with a laugh as I tuck myself back into my pants.

  “I’m game for any kind of sex, as long as it’s with you.”

  “You don’t have to get all mushy on me just because we’ve confessed our undying love. I’ve been in love with you for years. It’s the first time I’ve ever said it out loud, that’s all.”

  I put my hand under her chin and tilt her head so she’s looking me in the eyes.

  “You and I, Had, we’re in this for the long haul.”

  A ghost of a smile tugs at the corner of her lips and she nods wordlessly.

  “Good, now let’s get back to the party.”

  “Wait, I need my panties back.”

  “Nah, I think I’ll keep them.” I wink and then dodge the flying fist she sends my way before bolting out of the closest with a laugh.

  Hadley

  My heart feels lighter now that I’ve been able to tell Ravi out loud that I’ve loved him for so long. We’ll figure everything else out, I’m sure of it.

  Everyone’s seated at various picnic tables in Abby and Ethan’s backyard, digging into our food when Abby stands, with a bright smile on her face.

  “I want to thank you all for coming, and there’s something Ethan and I want to tell you all today.”

  “Oh my god, am I going to be an aunt?” Lee squeals.

  “Shit, no,” Abby answers with a look that can only be described as terror in her eyes. Ethan chuckles and threads his fingers through hers.

  “Oh,” Lee’s face falls.

  “What the hell, did you forget you already are an aunt or are my kids chopped liver?” Remy gripes.

  “Oh yeah,” Lee brightens again and reaches for Remy and Dex’s baby.

  “Anyway,” Abby says, bringing the attention back to herself. “Ethan and I went to the courthouse and got married.”

  Lee squeals again, jumping up to hug her new sister-in-law. Everyone else gets up and we take turns hugging Abby and Ethan, and offering our congratulations.

  Once everyone is settled again Ethan stands and everyone quiets down to listen. He smiles down at Abby with a look of pure adoration.

  “Since Abby and I decided not to have a formal wedding ceremony I want to say the things I’d been planning to say in my marriage vows.”

  Abby blushes and smiles with surprise and apprehension. Ethan clears his throat and looks around shyly before settling his gaze on Abby again.

  “My entire life I didn’t believe in love. To me it seemed to be a fairytale told by Hollywood. From the relationships I saw modeled I thought love and marriage were nothing more than a foundation for power struggles, abuse, and resentment. Then I met Abby, and I saw that true love is possible. True love is about having your very best friend by your side through thick and thin. True love is having someone who is your other half and a partner for everything in life. Red, you are the peanut butter to my chocolate, the Sherlock to my Watson, the Princess Leia to my Han Solo, and, of course, the Rose Tyler to my Doctor. I love you more than I ever thought was possible and I want to spend the rest of our lives making you as happy as you make me.”

  Tears are flowing freely down Abby’s face as she gazes up at Ethan with awe.

  “Oh, and you have a rocking body and an ass that inspires sonnets, too,” Ethan adds with a wink at Abby before opening his arms wide for his new wife. She gets up and leans towards him for a kiss. Ethan grabs her with one arm around her waist and the other behind her head and then dips her backward for a passionate, classic kiss. Everyone cheers and I wipe a few tears from my own eyes.

  “They are so perfect together,” I murmur, leaning against Ravi briefly before leaning away again before Chase can notice.

  Chapter 19

  Ravi

  We officially designated Thursday nights as poker night. Chase, Matthew, Asher, and Eve all come over and we play poker, drink beer. And, courtesy of Matthew, we usually engage in embarrassing conversations during the game.

  “Alright, tonight I’m going to start with the big question,” Matthew warns as he shuffles the deck of cards and we all start to settle in for our poker game. “When’d you lose your virginity?”

  “I was fifteen,” Chase offers his answer first.

  “Hey, me too,” Matthew says with a laugh.

  “Eighteen,” Eve answers, giving Asher
a reverent look.

  “Fourteen,” Asher says reluctantly before taking a swig of beer.

  “Pass,” Hadley mutters.

  “Graduation night,” Chase says quietly.

  Hadley’s mouth falls open, and I’m sure my expression isn’t too far from hers. How the hell does Chase know that? As far as I knew Chase assumed Hadley was a virgin up until she corrected that assumption a little over a month ago.

  “How’d you know?” She asks with a slight quiver in her voice.

  “Doesn’t take a genius Had. There was a used condom in the garbage can in your room and you had to throw your bed spread away because you had a blood stain on it. Who was it?” Chase asks the question he’s clearly been itching to ask for over a year.

  “I’m not going to tell you that.”

  “Why the hell is it such a big secret?” Chase demands.

  “Honestly, Chase?” Hadley narrows her eyes on him “I’m not going to tell you because the guy was absolutely petrified about what you would do to him for defiling your little sister.”

  Silence descends on the table and I really hope Chase doesn’t notice me sweating bullets.

  “Your turn Ravi,” Matthew prompts as though he doesn’t notice the sudden tension.

  “Uh...um...” I stammer and glance at Hadley out of the corner of my eye. “Homecoming Sophomore year,” I admit. I didn’t want Hadley to know that, but I know if I hadn’t then Chase would’ve spilled the beans for me.

  Hadley’s gasp is so quiet I’m sure I’m the only one who heard it. I know she’s remembering that night just like I am.

  “You look really nice,” I told Kim Baker, my homecoming date, while keeping my eyes on the road and surreptitiously wiping my sweaty hands on my pants.

  “Thanks, you look really handsome,”

  As I pulled my dad’s Lexus the Parker’s driveway I took several steadying breaths. I hadn’t worked up the nerve to ask Hadley who her date for homecoming was and I’m curious to find out who had the balls to face Chase and ask Hadley for a date. Curiosity is usually accompanied by a burning hot nausea in your stomach, right?

  Kim and I walked to the door hand in sweaty hand and I tried to ignore the nagging feeling in the back of my mind that kept telling me I was with the wrong girl. It was only a few months since Chase’s ‘don’t ever touch my sister’ talk and I was doing my best to keep that in mind at every turn.