16. Maddox: Wednesday

SIXTEEN

MADDOX – WEDNESDAY

I find her on the second floor this time. Standing on a step stool, a book in each hand, reaching to put them away on the top shelf.

My protective instincts are something else around this girl. Because instead of staring at her ass— which is very stare-able in those tight jeans— I'm completely focused on her apparent lack of self-preservation.

Clenching my teeth so I don't reprimand her, I quickly cross the distance between us.

Hannah doesn't even hear me approach. Her attention is focused on the book she's trying to push into place with her right pointer finger while her left arm is stretched out in the other direction for counterbalance. She should've gotten down, moved the stool, and climbed up again. But no. Not this girl. She'll just make it work .

It's as if I can smell her stubbornness.

That thought almost makes me smile. My parents are always calling me stubborn. Maybe that's why I'm so drawn to Hannah. A part of me can tell she'd be a worthy partner— and opponent. She might be a little nervous around me now, but if we were together, she wouldn't let me get my way all the time.

And that appeals to me.

It appeals to me a lot.

She starts to teeter.

Her right hand releases the book and grips the shelf for balance. But the book wasn't pushed in far enough, and it starts to slip out.

I know what she'll do before she even does it, so I'm already jogging the final yards when she lets go of the shelf to catch the book.

Her left hand blindly slaps against the shelf, but she's still holding a book in that hand too.

"Dammit, woman," I grit out as I duck under her outstretched arm.

She tips right into me.

Those pretty brown eyes blink down at mine. "Maddox?"

I wrap my arm around her waist. "Didn't I tell you to take care of yourself? Like yesterday?"

"Sorry." Her apology is breathy, and before I know what I'm doing, I turn her into me, bringing us chest to chest.

Her arms automatically circle around the back of my neck, and I pull her the rest of the way off the stool.

Something thumps to the ground behind me, and then her arms tighten around my shoulders, her hands clutching my bunched muscles.

Fuck, she feels good in my arms.

I tighten my hold on her.

It's a full-body hug with her feet dangling off the ground. And I want her to wrap those legs around me.

I want to shove her back against the bookshelves.

I want to press my mouth to hers.

I want to see what she tastes like.

"Wh-what are you doing?"

Her breath puffs across my lips, and I swear it smells like oranges.

"Saving your life, apparently." My answer is gruff, making me sound angry.

But really, I'm just gritting my teeth, trying to will my cock to settle down. Because standing like this, with her soft, warm body flush against mine, is hard. The temptation. My dick. It's all hard.

"Um." Her tongue darts out to wet her lips. "Thank you?"

Knowing I can't keep holding her like this— because I'll end up doing something I'm sure she's not ready for— I loosen my arms, letting her slide down my front.

Bad idea.

Her tits drag down my chest, the pair of T-shirts between us doing nothing to hide the soft feeling of them against my firmer body.

I tilt my hips back, just a little, just enough so she doesn't get a belly full of dick.

Then I have to fight down a groan because now I'm thinking about giving her an actual belly full of my dick, thinking about stripping us both down right here and rutting her into the carpet.

Hannah's feet hit the floor, and I clear my throat. "How, um, is your nose okay?"

Her cheeks are so red, her eyes so focused on mine, I know she felt my hardness against her. And I know she's trying her best to keep her gaze on my face.

She gives her head a tiny shake. "Doesn't hurt at all."

Part of me wants her to glance down. To take a peek at the bulge in the front of my pants. But then I remember I'm not a fucking pervert, so I tuck my hands into my pockets and try to act like a decent human.

"Good. I'm glad." I rock back on my heels. "And your ankle?"

She glances down.

It's fast. So fast I'd have missed it if I blinked. But I didn't miss it. And I don't miss the way her cheeks turn even redder.

I have to stop myself from grinning.

"It's fine." Her voice comes out high pitched, and she swallows. "Totally better."

"Happy to hear that." I dip my chin. "If you can get through the whole day without falling off a stool, then you might be okay tomorrow too."

She huffs, and the tension pops between us.

Just like that.

From lust to comfort in a heartbeat.

The lust is still there. It's definitely there. But this feeling…

I step closer to her before I can think better of it.

I like this feeling I get when I'm around her.

"I'm not usually this clumsy," she tries to tell me, making the side of my mouth tip up. "I'm not."

"Sure." I raise my brows.

She rolls her eyes. "I'm not. Maybe it's you." She waves her hand in my direction, her eyes staying on mine. "You throw me off."

That makes me smile. "You didn't even know I was here."

"Yeah, well…" She trails off.

"Good point." I nod.

This time, I get a real laugh out of her.

"Oh, shut up." She smacks my chest with the back of her hand, then she yanks her hand back like I'm made of lava and widens her eyes. "Sorry! I don't know… I didn't mean to do that."

"It's alright." I grab her forearm and, using my grip, make her smack me again. "See?"

She bites her lip that way she does, but I see her smile.

Before she can run away, I ask her the question that's been clinging to me since yesterday. "Are you going to the game tomorrow night?"

"What ga—" She starts, then looks at my chest like she can see the jersey I was wearing yesterday. "The football game?"

I can tell she has no idea that we play tomorrow. And I kinda enjoy that.

"Yeah, the football game."

"I wasn't planning on it. No offense or anything," she adds quickly. "I just hadn't… I've never been to one before."

"Never?"

"I've seen some on TV."

I grin. "Well, would you like to see one in person? Tomorrow?"

"Um, sure? I mean..." She glances away. "If the tickets aren't super expensive."

Something twists in my chest.

I'm not responsible for this girl. And she's not asking me for anything. But I hate that the cost of the ticket would be her deciding factor.

"I have an extra one," I explain. "All the players get a few."

She stares up at me. "And you want to give it to me?"

"Don't sound so confused, Bunny."

Her mouth opens, then closes as her shoulders drop. "It was all my fault yesterday. I realized I wanted to go to the cafeteria and that it was the other way, and— I dunno. I'm dumb. So I just turned around, not thinking about the fact that people were everywhere, and that's why I ran into you."

My forehead furrows. "It wasn't dumb. It was an accident."

"But still. I just— You don't have to feel bad. It wasn't your fault I got…" She waves her hand in front of her face. "I promise I'm okay and that you don't owe me anything."

There it is.

"Ah, I see."

She shrugs. "So you can give the ticket to someone else if you want. We're good."

This girl.

Every sentence out of her mouth makes me want to spend more time with her. I wish I could sit with her at the game rather than ask her to come alone, but knowing she's there will have to be enough.

"Here's the thing," I explain. "It kind of was my fault." I hold up a hand before she can argue. "Because I was really close behind you. And I was really close behind you because I was chasing after you."

She blinks. "You were chasing me?"

I tip my head side to side. "Chasing sounds bad, but yeah, basically."

She scoffs.

"I was." I lower my hands. "I spotted you walking ahead of me, and I wanted to… talk."

"Am I supposed to believe this?" Her tone is so incredulous it makes me want to laugh.

"It's the truth, Babe." Wanting to see her cheeks bloom red again, I say the rest of it. "When I caught you checking me out that morning, you snagged my attention."

On cue, her face flushes. "I was not."

"It's okay." Like a jackass, I lift and flex both my arms, puffing out my chest. "I get it."

That makes her snort. "You're such a jock."

"And you like it." I grin. "Now tell me you'll come to my game."

Hannah heaves out a breath. "What time is it?"

"What time are you done with work?" I ask, assuming she's working tomorrow too.

She narrows her eyes at me. "Six."

"Good. Game starts at seven. Plenty of time to hobble over to the field."

She picks up her feet, walking in place like she did for me yesterday. "I don't need to hobble."

"Even better."

"Okay, fine. I'll come to your game." She holds out her hand.

I love that she calls it my game.

I take her hand in mine and shake on it.

She snickers and keeps her hand up when I let it go. "I meant for you to give me the ticket."

I look at her palm, and a burst of laughter breaks out of my chest.

It's so loud she steps into my space and pokes my stomach. "Shh!"

I lean into her fingertip. "Not sure why, but I kinda like it when you scold me."

She pulls back her finger and pokes me again.

I chuckle, quieter this time. "I don't have the tickets on me, but you can pick them up at the will call window outside the gates."

Her mouth forms an O of understanding. "Gotcha."

"I just need to give them your last name, and then you'll need to show them your student ID."

She purses her lips for a moment before she replies. "Utley."

"Utley," I repeat.

"And it's Hannah. In case you forgot."

Slowly, I shake my head. "I didn't forget, Hannah Utley." I reach up and slide my fingers over a strand of her long, soft hair. "My last name is Lovelace." I know she remembers my first name because she's already said it to me.

I take a step back, the piece of hair falling from my grip and back onto her shoulder.

I don't want to leave, but I need to get to practice. "Will call. Tomorrow."

Then I see the books she dropped, and I pick them up and hand them to her.

"Thank you. And thank you for the ticket."

I take another step back. "You'll cheer for me." I don't ask it.

"Of course." She gives me a serious nod. "Or at least, I'll cheer when everyone else does because I have no idea what the rules are." A smirk plays at the side of her mouth, and I want to kiss it.

"Bye, Utley."

Her fingers wiggle at her side. "Bye, Lovelace."