Chapter 14

Reign

Riley keeps trying to pull away from the current I keep pulling us under. If it were up to me, I'd have her with me all day, every day. I don't understand her need for space or to think. Not when I'm fully committed to having her as mine. One minute I can have her blissed out from a hot as fuck orgasm and the next she's making an excuse not to touch me. Not that I let her get far. My obsession with having her next to me, feeling her soft skin, hearing her voice, being in her presence has hit a level of possessiveness even I didn't know I had.

I can tell her mind isn't as conflicted as she thinks it is. I see the way her body relaxes when I reach for her hand. The way her eyes soften when I kiss her. Even when I show up at her door with snacks or her favorite lavender coffee her face lights up, and she lets me hold her anyway I want to. It's only when we're surrounded by people that her defenses go up. Or when I push too much about plans or going out together. I feel like I'm her dirty secret she's hiding. I hate it. I want to take away all our roadblocks and have it just be her and me. If I could just keep all her attention, all her focus, then I probably wouldn't fantasize about tying her up in my room and keeping her there forever. Riley is the one with the power to destroy me, and I don't think even she knows it.

She wanted time tonight to study, claims she needs to keep up with her classes. Her worrying makes me internally roll my eyes. Riley is smart, I know she studies, but school has always been easier for her. She's always kept up with me in grades and finals scores. I know she's using it as an excuse for space, and tonight she isn't getting it. I need her.

When I reach her door, it's late; the majority of the dorms are quiet except for a few groups of people I can hear laughing or listening to music behind their doors. I knock on her door and hear her shuffle over. It takes another second for her to open the door and I try not to smirk at the look on her face when it does finally open. Surprise and weariness cross her features.

"Hey, babe." I kiss her forehead and invite myself in, forcing her to accept me in her space. Riley quietly closes the door and I reach over and lock it for good measure.

"What are you doing here?" she asks, her eyes doing the doe-eyed soft thing even while her voice sounds accusing.

I reach for her, tired of the space between us. My arms wrap around her shoulders and I lay my head on hers, needing to feel her, hold her again. "You said you needed time to study, so I'm here to help you study."

She scoffs and pulls away. "That wasn't me inviting you here, Reign."

I shrug. "I can use the extra study time."

"Reign." She tries to move out of my grasp.

My hands grip her face, sliding until I'm cradling her head in my hands. I bring my face down to hers, my lips barely brushing hers. "I needed to see you, Riles. You can still study."

Her eyes search mine and I see the moment she gives in, deciding she wants me with her too. "Fine, but no touching until I'm done with my notes."

A chuckle escapes my lips. "No promises. I like the book nerd look you have going on."

My eyes rake over her leggings that are tucked into fuzzy rainbow-colored socks, and the Saints' hoodie that I know is mine because it's baggy on her frame. Her hair is pulled back with a pencil, and colorful post-it notes decorate one of her sleeves. Like she was making a timeline of events and putting them on her arm. It's fucking adorable.

"There's drinks in the fridge if you want one," she says over her shoulder before walking away into the living room.

I quickly grab a sports drink from her fridge and join her, my eyes skating over the open books and her notebooks. Sitting on the edge of the couch, I open my own backpack and take out my laptop. I wasn't lying when I said I wanted to study; I'm just hoping to also study her anatomy later.

Once my laptop is open and I've started skimming over my own notes, I realize that she physically relaxes. Her shoulders drop and she sighs; the tapping of her pencil also ceases. I wish I knew what was bothering her so I could tackle the issue and make it disappear. I don't like the jumpiness in her demeanor around me. It's only been worse since the night at the diner when I subtly claimed her in front of most of my teammates. Did she not like it? Does she not want to be claimed by me? Too fucking bad if that's the case. There is no way I'm letting Riley go.

"Are your classes going okay here?"

Her deep brown eyes glance up at me, and she tucks a stray stand of hair behind her ear. "Yeah. I think so anyways. I seem to be keeping up with the material."

She does. I would know firsthand since we're in the majority of her classes together except the one. The one time of the day where I don't get to have eyes on her because I know her stomach is sensitive to dissecting animals.

"Were you worried you wouldn't be able to keep up?" I push more, just wanting to creep my way under her defenses and find out what is going on.

Riley's lips fall down and her forehead does that cute crinkle when she's concentrating. "I wouldn't say I was worried but it was a thought in the back of my mind. I'm as far along as I can be at Public. I knew the material, could almost teach it. Things are just different here at All Saints, but I'm handling it."

Well okay. Then it's not school bothering her. "Have the girls on the team calmed down after the last prank night?"

Her head tilts to the side. "Why do you have so many questions?"

"I'm just making conversation. I want to make sure you're adjusting. Besides, don't girls always moan and complain when their guys don't care to ask about their lives?" I raise my brow and take a sip of my beer.

Her lips crack a small smile and she sets her pen down. "I guess. I wouldn't really know though. Some asshole always blocked my shot at having a guy to experiment on."

She sasses and I feel my heart jump in my chest. My dick stirs from the way her eyes darken. I lean forward until I'm a breath away from her lips. I can feel her little breaths against my skin. "And you'll never have another guy but me, Riles."

She scoffs and rolls her eyes, her hand coming to my chest to push me back into my seat. "To answer your question, the team is fine. I'm not worried. They'll all see on their own."

"Damn straight they will. You're talented, babe. They'll see you as an asset soon enough."

Riley laughs and jots down another note on her post-it. I start to settle back in when she glances up at me. "How about you? How is school and things?"

My lips quirk. Fucking finally. She's starting to take an interest and it feels amazing that she cares enough to ask. "School is easy. I'll be happy to graduate though."

I slide forward in my seat again, watching her closely. She gets anxious when I bring up the future. "I think I'm just ready for the next step. Get to college and have some freedom."

"I can see that," she responds and goes back to her notebooks.

Not happening. Riley usually tries to deflect when I talk to her about the future, especially when I bring up things like college. I refuse to let her hide from me. She's already impossible to read, unless I get my hand around her neck, feeling her pulse flutter, or when she's naked and under me. "You ready for college? Where are you hoping to go?"

I like to think I'm good at reading people; it's a skill I harness both on and off the ice. So when Riley tenses and her cheeks flame red, I guess one of two things. She doesn't have an idea or two, she's embarrassed by her choice.

"I'm thinking of going to a state school after doing community college for a few years."

My mouth drops open. That is not at all what I expected from her. I mean I know she's always gone to public school, and she didn't have money growing up. Her dad was concerned about the cost of her going to All Saints and if he could afford it, but I assured him it was a scholarship. Now Riley has the world in her hand and more chances to get a scholarship, and she's not even raising her hopes.

"Riley, you came to All Saints in order to finish your top-notch education. Between your grades and hockey, you could easily get a scholarship to play at a D1 college somewhere."

She shakes her head. "I didn't say I wouldn't try, but I'm not placing all my eggs in one basket. I would need a scholarship, Reign. There is no other way. But there are thousands of other kids who are just as smart or smarter than me who also kill it on the ice. My chances aren't that great."

Like hell will I allow her not to get the opportunity she deserves. She's fucking perfect and she deserves the world. The whole point of getting her here is to also get her with me in Michigan and keep her forever. Riley has never been great at looking at the big picture though. She thinks she's safer if she lives in her limitations. Unless it's a prank or a bet. My girl is fearless when we're competing.

"I don't think you should limit yourself, babe. You can do it; I know you can."

Riley rolls her bottom lip between her teeth, her eyes flicking to mine before they look back down at her work. "Thanks, Reign. I am going to try; I'm just not trying to get my hopes up too much."

"So hockey, how is your team doing?"

I lift my beer to my lips and take a sip before answering. My stomach warms just from her asking me questions. I love this interaction we're having. "Team is doing good. I think we're ready for our pre-season game next week. Are you coming to watch? The girls' team usually does."

She sits back on her knees and spins her pen in her fingers. "Am I coming to the game?"

I nod. "Yeah, the girls' team usually comes to our first game and we go to theirs. Even though I'm not playing because Coach Stone is still upset about her car." I chuckle, thinking about that night. The night everything changed for me. If I'm honest, it started at camp but that night solidified it. I've been chasing her ass since.

Riley is quiet, and when I meet her eyes, I flinch a little. There's that old edge of caution in her gaze that I haven't seen for a while. "Are you mad about not playing because of what happened with the challenge?"

My eyes narrow slightly, trying to figure out what it is she's really asking. She looks fucking jumpy as hell right now, wound tight, waiting to hear the answer. "No. It was a challenge and you won."

Her eyes blink, but they still have that hardness there that I hate. I feel like she wants to close herself off to me and a tendril of panic creeps up my spine. "If you were mad, would you take it out on me?"

"How? Like get back at you?"

She shrugs, and again her teeth attack her bottom lip. I can feel myself losing control over the situation. I don't know if I should hug her or just shake her. I set my laptop down right as my phone decides to go off.

CARTER: 911 meeting room

I slump back and type a quick reply. Normally I'd ignore him when I'm with my girl but the 911 has me on edge. "I have to meet up with Carter and Leif quick."

I get my shit together and she stands slowly, silently following me over to the door. I don't want to leave her like this. We've been apart more this week than I like and a part of me is screaming that if I walk away right now she isn't going to be okay. Her question caught me off guard and I wish I had more time to talk about it with her.

"Look, no more challenges against each other, okay? Unless I'm doing one with you. Or if it involves you and me naked then maybe."

A small laugh escapes her and she looks a little less freaked out when she walks me to the door. I bend and kiss her quickly, knowing that if I indulge too much I'll never leave. My phone vibrates again and I tear myself away. "Bye."

"Bye." She gives me a little wave and closes the door behind me. I hear the lock click back in place before I head out. This emergency better be life or death.