Wild Love (Campus Nights Book 4)

by Rebecca Jenshak

  I bring my arms up and loop them around his neck. He bites my bicep and then kisses it before finally giving all his attention to my mouth, kissing me so hard and stealing all the air from my lungs.

  I come with tears welling behind my eyelids. Too many orgasms and too many emotions. I’m overloaded on Johnny Maverick. He groans, sliding his mouth down and clamping onto my neck, sucking hard as we come together.

  I’m going to have a mark for sure. His. And I like it a little too much.

  I silence my alarm and try to sit up. Johnny’s arm at my waist weighs me down, and even through his light snores, he’s holding on tight. Charli is curled up between our legs, and I encourage her to come closer by patting the comforter lightly. She wiggles as if she’s too lazy to walk, and I pick her up and put her in my spot, then lift Johnny’s arm around his dog.

  “The sneak out, huh? Are you gonna at least leave some money on the nightstand?” He opens one eye.

  “Ha! Ha!” I pull my tank top over my head. “I need to shower and change. I smell like sex and Hailstone.”

  “Look and smell pretty fucking good to me.” He rolls onto his back, lifts his arms, and makes a window with his thumb and pointer finger on each hand, then looks at me through it.

  I finish dressing and lean over to place a kiss on his lips. He captures my legs and pulls me on top of him.

  “I have to go,” I insist, but don’t try to pull away just yet. “Thanks for last night, slam piece.”

  He grins and rubs a finger along my neck. “I’ll be your slam piece any fucking time.”

  I can’t stop smiling as I get ready and head to work. The more I replay last night, the more details I remember, and wow… I want to do it all again.

  I consider going straight to Blythe’s office and faking a stomachache to spend the day in bed with Johnny, but there are only two and a half weeks of the internship left, and I guess I actually like my job because it’s a close second to spending the day in bed.

  Quinn and Reese are at their desks when I get to our area in the intern pool.

  “Morning,” I say cheerily. I come up short when I see the big flower arrangement sitting on my desk. Twelve stunning red roses. “Are those for me?”

  My face heats. I’m going to kill Johnny. And how exactly did he pull this off so fast? The card mocks me, but I don’t dare reach for it.

  Reese leans back in his chair with a pen poised in one hand up near his mouth.

  “Morning.”

  Quinn stands and comes to sit on my desk. Reese rolls his chair closer.

  “What’s going on?” I remove my laptop from my bag and set it on the desk, avoiding their stares.

  “Are those from Jack?” Quinn asks. She makes like she’s going to take the card, and I block her.

  “Jack?”

  “Jack Wyld. The guy you made out with on national TV. Ringing any bells?” Quinn raises one accusatory eyebrow.

  Right. The kiss cam. I’d all but forgotten it. Who would have thought that’d be the least interesting part of last night?

  “No, they aren’t from Jack. That was nothing.”

  “It didn’t look like nothing.” Quinn holds up her phone to show me.

  I take the device and my stomach twists at the photo evidence of Jack and me kissing. It really was nothing, but I can see how it looks. Especially knowing Jack’s history. “Where did you find this?”

  “There are a bunch more. People tagged Jack and the Wildcats. You’re everywhere.” Her gaze drops to my neck. “Nice hickey.”

  My hand shoots to my neck, and I brush my hair over my shoulder to cover it.

  “It isn’t what it looks like.”

  Quinn shrugs. “Okay. What is it?”

  “I went to the game with Jack and Maverick to watch Johnny throw the first pitch. That kiss lasted all of a second, and it was nothing. I’m not hooking up with Jack.”

  Neither speaks.

  “I’m not.”

  Quinn stands and her gaze lifts over my shoulder. “Look less guilty.”

  “Good morning, everyone.” Blythe, stunning as always, steps into our area. Her body language gives nothing away, but I stand in front of the flower arrangement on my desk.

  “Morning,” we say in unison.

  “Before you head off to your work assignments for the day, I wanted to make sure you all got the invite for the charity gala next Friday night?”

  I breathe out a sigh of relief that she isn’t here for me. Also, another point for Johnny. I told him I’d only come to the gala if he made sure Quinn and Reese were going too. It’d look too suspicious if I were the only one.

  “I already bought my dress,” Quinn says.

  “It will be a great opportunity for you to see another aspect of the job and…” She pauses. “It’s a small way for me to thank you for all the hard work you’ve done this summer. I’ll pull you three from your rotation next Friday to help me set up.”

  We groan. I’ve lifted enough tables and chairs this summer to last a lifetime. She laughs. “Everything will already be in place. No heavy lifting required. Great job, everyone. The reports from your rotations have been wonderful. You make me look good.” She takes a step closer to my desk, her smile never faltering. “Dakota, before you head to your rotation, can you stop by my office? It’ll only take a minute.”

  Heat creeps up the back of my neck. “Sure. I’ll be right there.”

  With a nod, she leaves, and I let out a shaky breath. Oh shit. Quinn shoots me an I told you so look. I grab my stuff for rotation and snatch the card from the flowers to read later.

  Blythe is standing in her office next to a fancy-looking espresso machine fresh out of the box.

  “Come in,” she says when she sees me. “Shut the door.”

  I gulp and force a smile as I close the door behind me and take a seat.

  “I went to the store to buy an electric kettle and ended up with this,” she says and holds up some sort of attachment. “What do you think this is?”

  “I don’t know. I’m not much of a coffee drinker unless it has a whole lot of cream and sugar.”

  “Do you like tea?”

  “Yeah. Sometimes.” Oh my gosh, why am I here? I can’t seem to relax, and I’m afraid I’m going to blurt out I slept with Johnny Maverick any second if she doesn’t get to the point.

  Someone knocks on the door, and she looks up and waves. Katherine from HR walks in, and I feel like I’m going to throw up.

  “Hi, Dakota,” Katherine says.

  “Hi.” I look between them. “Am I in trouble?”

  “Sorry, I should have explained,” Blythe says as Katherine takes a seat beside me. “We saw the photograph of you and Jack last night at the Twins game.”

  I’m silent, forcing her to say it.

  “The kiss cam?”

  I nod. “It wasn’t what it looked like.”

  “Jack said the same thing, but we had to talk to him and you per protocol.” Blythe gives me a reassuring smile.

  Katherine angles her legs toward me. “It’s just a reminder that while interning with the Wildcats, any relationships with players or coworkers need to be disclosed.”

  “I thought we weren’t allowed to have relationships with players.” My brows pull together.

  “So you are having a relationship with Jack Wyld?” Katherine asks.

  “No.” I shake my head. “Definitely not.”

  “If you were involved with a player, you would be reassigned for the duration of your internship.” In other words, moved somewhere I can’t do any damage to the reputation of the company.

  I curl my fingers around the card from the flowers. “I am not involved with anyone.”

  “Great. That makes my job easy then.” Katherine sits tall. “If you ever need to talk, you know where to find me.” She and Blythe stand and walk me out.

  “Thanks, Dakota,” Blythe says as I move down the hall away from her.

  Only when I turn the corner out of view, do I finall
y pull the heavy cardstock from the tiny envelope. My stomach flips, and a smile tugs at my lips.

  Mine.

  -Yours

  30

  Dakota

  I’m crossing the street to the apartment after work when a motorcycle catches my eye. It idles in a no-parking zone right outside of the building. The driver has on a helmet, but I can almost feel him watching me. I pull out my key card and phone as I approach, but then he lifts the helmet and shakes out his dark hair.

  Johnny.

  Johnny on a motorcycle. That’s a fantasy I didn’t know I needed in my life.

  He rests the helmet on his thigh and flashes that Maverick smile that makes me want to roll my eyes and kiss him in equal measure.

  “Want a ride, baby?” His tone is all sorts of innuendos.

  “Where did you get this?”

  He swings a leg over and stands in front of me. “Declan is letting me try her out. I’m thinking about getting one. What do you think?”

  “I think they’re dangerous.”

  “Worried about me?”

  “Worried about the bike. It’s so pretty.”

  “Come on a ride with me.”

  “Where are we going?” I move the strap of my purse, so it’s across my body.

  “Don’t know. We’ll just see where the night takes us.” He lifts the helmet carefully onto my head, then stands back and looks at me through a window he makes with the thumb and pointer finger of each hand. “Sold.”

  He gets on, and then I do, tucking the hem of my dress under me so it won’t blow up, and then wrapping my arms around his waist. A thrill shoots through me as he starts it up. I tighten my grip, and he takes off. Johnny navigates through the busy city traffic, and then I lose track of where we are and what direction we’re heading.

  On a quieter road, he turns his head and yells, “Hang on, baby.”

  Then, the bike accelerates, and we’re moving fast. The wind whips my hair around, my heart hammers in my chest, and the smile on my face never leaves. At one point, one of his hands drops from the grip to stroke my leg, then rests on top of mine clasped around his chest, and I think I could get used to this: the spontaneity, the fun, spending evenings with Johnny.

  There’s good and bad to knowing the end point of a relationship. On the one hand, it forces you to really appreciate every moment, but on the other, each moment feels bigger than it might if you didn’t know it could be the last. I guess it’s just that summer is coming to an end, and I’m sad about leaving my friend.

  Johnny slows inside a little town and pulls off into a parking lot, and kills the engine.

  I remove the helmet and stand on wobbly legs.

  “What’d you think?” he asks, taking the helmet and setting it on top of the bike.

  “I think you’re going to pick up a lot of girls driving that thing around.” It’s the first flash of jealousy I’ve had, thinking about him doing this with someone else when I’m gone.

  He laughs it off. “Come on, let’s grab dinner and have some fun.”

  When he walks into the restaurant and gives his name, it’s clear that this was not just a joyride. It’s a small, cozy place, but it’s packed and obviously by reservation only. We get a table for two in the back corner, and Johnny stretches out his long legs in front of him, circling mine.

  He stares across at me with a smirk.

  “What?”

  “You’ve got sex hair. Another plus for the bike.”

  I run a hand along my knotted hair. I don’t think there’s any fixing it without a brush. I have a serious rat’s nest. “This is a plus?”

  “Hell yeah. Just fucked is my new favorite look on you.”

  My body tingles, and thighs clench. Umm, check, please? Why are we so far from the apartment where I can kiss him? The bike suddenly seems like the worst idea he’s ever had.

  After dinner, we get back on the motorcycle, but instead of heading toward the apartment, he heads farther in the opposite direction to a bowling alley.

  “Seriously?” I ask. “You bowl?”

  “This place is supposed to be fun.” He slips on a baseball hat, pulls it down low on his eyes, and then takes my hand.

  I’m touched that he put so much effort into this, but I really shouldn’t be surprised. Johnny is a considerate guy and also, as it turns out, an awesome date.

  Again, inside he gives his name at the desk because every lane is booked. It’s dark with neon lights, and upbeat music plays loudly over the sound of bowling balls knocking into the pins. A concession serves food like pretzels and pizza, and there’s a full bar.

  We get shoes and pick out our balls, and then Johnny leads me to the bar where he orders me a Pop Rocks cocktail. It’s bright blue and served in a tall glass with the candy around the rim. I take a hesitant sip. It’s sweet and bubbly and delicious. He kisses me while the rocks pop in my mouth, making us both laugh.

  “You’re good at this,” I say as he punches in our names to start the game.

  “Bowling?”

  “No, this.” I motion between us. “This is the best date I’ve ever been on.”

  I feel the instant need to correct the word date because I’m not even sure that’s what this is. Do you go on dates with your slam piece? But Johnny’s smile lifts slowly. “Yeah?”

  I nod. “How come you don’t date more?”

  He shoots me a look and laughs it off.

  “I’m serious. In the two years that I’ve known you, I’ve never heard you talk about going out with a girl and doing something like this.”

  “I haven’t. Not really. I was pretty content hanging with my boys in Valley.” He smiles. “And you and the girls.”

  I wonder how things will change now that he’s left the college atmosphere behind. After I go, he’ll spend more time with his team and meet new people. New girls. Lots of girls. I’m getting to see this side of him he hasn’t shown anyone else yet, and I feel fiercely protective over it.

  “You’re up first,” he says and leans back. “Show me what you got.”

  What I have isn’t much. I’m a terrible bowler but too competitive to give up after the first game where he destroys me.

  We start the second, and I decide to go with distraction and frustration to beat my opponent. It’s my turn, and I walk in front of him, sticking out my butt in exaggerated form.

  I only manage to hit three pins, but when I turn around, he’s chuckling, brows raised.

  “It’s going to be like that, huh?”

  “Like what?” I play innocent as I take a seat next to him and reach across him, brushing my boobs against his arm as I get my drink. It’s my third. They aren’t very strong, but the Pop Rocks are fun.

  He licks the side of my drink and then kisses me. His tongue sweeps in and tangles with mine. The sweet candy pops and tingles. I’m breathless when he pulls back. His voice deepens, and his gaze pins me in place. “Two can play that game, Kota.”

  Neither of us moves. The air between us feels thick. He cups the back of my neck and kisses me again. His hand travels over my shoulder, down my arm, and to my thigh, where he inches along the hem of my dress. I hold my breath as his fingers disappear underneath and brush against my panties.

  It’s dark, and we’re sitting so close that I’m not worried about anyone seeing, but I glance around to make sure no one is looking this way, anyway. His thumb makes a slow circle over my clit. My body shakes as he pushes one finger under the lacy material.

  “You should have worn a dress,” I say as I dig my fingernails into the denim covering his thighs.

  “No fucking kidding.”

  I slide my hand higher, and he groans. My panties fall back in place as he stops what he was doing and stands.

  “Let’s go.” He takes my hand and heads off. I think we’re leaving and grab my purse, but he leads me down a hallway to the bathrooms. I try to drop his hand as he enters the one labeled MENS, but he pulls me through and shuts the door.

  As soon as I�
��m inside, he backs me against it and kisses me hard. Then, he lifts me by the waist, and I wrap my legs around him. His bulge hits at the perfect spot. My eyes fall closed as he grinds into me. When my orgasm is close, I scramble to undo his pants, and he pulls a condom from his wallet and then helps me push his jeans and boxers down far enough that his cock springs free. Every move is frantic. He covers himself, shoves the soaked material of my panties aside, and pushes inside of me.

  We both cry out with such relief. I hang on to his neck, burying my face and breathing him in as he fucks me against the bathroom door. He murmurs quietly, “You’re mine. I can’t believe you’re really mine.”

  And I relish in the feeling of being his, even if it’s only for a short time.

  The next week goes by in a blur of orgasms and laughter. We hit happy hour with Jack and Declan one night, and another night we video chat with our friends from Valley. It’s a happy little bubble. Friends in public and then kissing every second we’re behind closed doors.

  I know it can’t last much longer, but I’ve done an impressive job not worrying about it and just enjoying the time together.

  Friday evening, I’m getting ready for the gala while talking to Reagan, Ginny, and Sienna.

  “Your makeup looks A-plus,” Ginny says, giving me a thumbs-up.

  “I learned from the best,” I tell her. She is the makeup queen. “Reagan? How’s my hair?”

  “Big and badass.”

  “Put on the dress!” Sienna says.

  I smile at their eager faces on the screen of my phone. I miss them.

  “Okay. One second. It’s hanging in the closet. Maverick has been trying to sneak a glance at which dress I picked all week.”

  He had so many options sent over I was a little overwhelmed. All different colors and cuts. All my size. I think he’s going to be surprised by my selection.

  I slide the silky material over my head and ease up the zipper on one side.

  I walk back to my bedroom, where my phone is propped up on my bed. “What do you think?”

  Ginny gasps, and Reagan’s jaw drops.

  “Damn, Dakota,” Sienna says, finally.