Total pages in book: 213
Estimated words: 201920 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1010(@200wpm)___ 808(@250wpm)___ 673(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 201920 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1010(@200wpm)___ 808(@250wpm)___ 673(@300wpm)
“Well, hello,” the closest guy—the dark blond, or dirty blond as I like to call it—says and strides closer to me, taking a seat to my left but far enough away that I’m still comfortable. “I’m Daniel,” he tells me.
“I know,” I say and then bite down on my lower lip. “Daniel, the one with the Irish temper,” I add, quoting his bio from the website for the frat that sponsors the team. I look at the remaining six men on the field. Daniel isn’t a student, just a guy listed as “occasional manager” on the website. I imagine it’s an inside joke. It took hours to look them all up and Daniel definitely caught my eye. I’m not into blonds normally, but I certainly noticed him.
“James has the beard,” I say to the man with the neatly trimmed facial hair and then add, “Don’t shave it or I might forget who you are.” That gets a laugh from them. He’s classically handsome, but only slightly above average looking.
I finally take a look at the guys on the fringe. I expect to feel a certain way, but what’s a complete surprise is how my gaze is caught, trapped by a beast of a man. His eyes pierce through me, pinning me in place. It takes a moment for me to even register any other defining feature. I can practically feel his sharp jawline covered in stubble that would be rough to the touch. His hair is nearly black and just long enough to grip at the top, but shorter on the sides.
His shoulders … broad enough to trap me under him. Thud. One beat is all my heart gives me. Then the poor thing plays dead.
“I don’t know yours,” I say, feeling my pulse pump a little harder. My body heats with the way he looks at me. Like he’s looking me up and down, trying to undress me with that sharp hazel gaze of his.
There’s something different about him. The air around him is tense. And I’m grateful for the distraction.
“Dean,” he tells me and his expression stays hard. I’d almost say it’s cold but that’s so wrong. Plenty of heat is there, a heat of defiance. And something else, something dangerous.
He’s the type of man who gives you chills even as he heats up everything else.
The kind of man you know you’re supposed to stay away from because he’ll ruin you without thinking twice … The kind my dreams are made of.
A small smirk lifts up Dean’s lips as if he can read my mind. As if the dirty thoughts in my head are what his dreams are made of too.
“We’re just finishing up a workout,” Daniel says and I nod as he adds, “We’re getting ready to party.” His voice is deep, but Dean’s is deeper.
“Damn, I was really looking forward to your practice,” I answer him with a pout, finally ripping my eyes away from Dean. Back to the entire point of being here.
“You want to come?” Daniel asks, inviting me to whatever party they’re having, and I shake my head before peeking at Dean. He’s still watching me with that hunger in his eyes. “Come on, I know you do,” he teases and the playfulness in his voice makes me smile. He’s cute in a charming way.
“Not today,” I say, my voice coming out a little smaller than I’d like.
“Suit yourself,” Daniel says and stands up, walking to where he’s laid his bag on the ground. “If you change your mind, come on down to Broom Street.” He smiles with a warmth that’s inviting. “It’s going to be fun,” he adds.
A few guys let out a rough laugh, deep and low. “You’ll know which house is us,” one of them says.
I keep finding my gaze drifting toward Dean’s and each time I do, his intense stare is on me. I didn’t come here for him. A little flirtation here and there is all I was aiming for, but the way he looks at me is doing something to me that I can’t deny.
He’s bad for me. But I can’t help what I want.
DEAN
I like how she’s acting like she doesn’t recognize me. The way she twirls the pen in her brunette curls, looking up at the professor then slipping the tip of that pen between her teeth.
Fucking tease.
Her name’s Allison. I love the way it slips off my tongue.
I didn’t look at her twice the first day we sat in this room. But I noticed when we crossed paths in the building next door, the one with the cafeteria. And I noticed when she started walking away from campus and toward the houses down Connell Street, only two blocks down from Broom Street.
The tiny glances and the subtle way she shifts her thighs each time she sees me … that got my attention even more.