by Janie Marie
“Say what?” She glared at him when his face came to hover over hers. She was thankful that he had at least followed her original orders by covering her up.
“Pussy.” He smirked down at her.
“I’m not saying that word.”
Grinning, he kissed her chin. “You will soon enough.”
She smiled, turning her face away, though he continued to kiss and nibble along her jaw until he sighed and moved to climb over her.
“Where are you going?” She pulled the blanket tight against her chest as he faced away from her. Again, she blushed when she realized he was rearranging himself.
“Nowhere. I just need to finish working out.” He turned, smirking as he caught her eyes zeroed in on his crotch. “Soon, Hood.”
“Can you give me my clothes?”
“No.” He snickered. “I’ll give you a pair of shorts to wear. Your panties are soaked.”
“God, Logan. You really know how to make a girl—”
“Wet?” He laughed and sat on the floor. “Oh, believe me—I know.”
She groaned, pulling the blanket over her head. His scent intensified, and she paused, sniffing his blanket. Oh, it smelled like him but also like fabric softener. Heaven.
“Did you just sniff my blanket?”
“Yes, I did.” She lowered it enough to see him.
He laughed and began doing some sit-ups.
After about fifty, he said, “Baby, I want you to come to the gym with me in a bit.”
“Why?” She loved that he called her baby. Him calling her ‘Hood’ was even growing on her, though she found it a little strange that he called her by her last name. That seemed like more of a friend way to address someone.
“I want my trainer to take an X-ray.”
She tensed up but stayed quiet.
“Don’t worry about him reporting anything,” he added. “He’s cool. I just want to know if they’re fractured or not.”
“Are you sure he won’t tell? No one can know.”
He sounded a little winded as he did each set faster. “Yeah. He won’t say anything.” His breathing got even heavier. “He can probably give you some good painkillers, too.”
She smiled and rubbed away the moisture in her eyes. All she ever got was a bottle of aspirin and instructions to ice up.
“Do you need something now?” he asked. “I shouldn’t have forced you to show me that way. I was just pissed because you’re so stubborn.”
“I’m fine.” She yelped when he yanked the covers back.
He was sweating, and he looked magnificent. His muscles were fuller, his veins pumping with fresh blood as he breathed heavily—showing off his lickable abs.
“Shit, Hood. Does it hurt bad?” He sat next to her and reached out to rub her side.
“I’m fine.” More than fine. “It’s just achy now.”
He didn’t look like he believed her, but she smiled at him, trying not to ogle him.
“I’m used to it.”
The anger returned to his face, so she reached out, rubbing his arm while it flexed and twitched. It felt so natural to touch him, but still, she surprised herself with her boldness each time.
As she continued trying to calm his anger, she pushed back her own sadness from the terrible truth of her past. Seeing him so affected by her pain warmed the cold pieces of her broken heart.
“Let me get you some painkillers,” he said after a few seconds. “Then I’ll shower and we can drive to the gym, okay?” He reached up to play with her hair, which had come undone.
“Okay,” she said.
He didn’t say anything else and started pulling the loose pins from her hair.
“Oh, let me fix it.” She tried to sit up.
He shook his head. “Stop. I want to see it down.”
“I’m not allowed,” she whispered, trying to stop his hands.
He glared, almost snarling, “Dammit, Kylie. I told you—no more hiding.”
She flinched away from his hand and felt bad when he looked a little hurt.
“Just let me see.” He sounded bitter. “If I tell you I think you look bad, you can put your fucking hood back up.”
She knew he wasn’t really angry at her, that he was just angry over the fact she was forced to hide, so she sat still and let him finish.
After getting poked a few times, receiving angry mumbles of apology in response, he leaned over and deposited the handful of bobby pins on his nightstand.
She reached up, trying to smooth out her hair, but he shoved her hands away and began doing it himself. He was silent as he ran his fingers through her long, waist-length blond hair, unraveling it.
Biting her lip, she waited until he was satisfied, staying quiet as he let his eyes run over her.
He twirled a lock of hair around his index finger, looking at it carefully before he leaned forward and kissed her lips. “Fucking beautiful.”
Smiling, she received another kiss from him.
“No more wearing your hood up. Okay?”
“Okay.”
He kissed her a few more times until the loud laughter of several guys filtered in from the apartment.
Logan exhaled and leaned back. “Trevor must have invited his teammates over.” He stared at the door for a long time, the muscle in his jaw ticking while one of his hands played with her hair.
She loved her hair, but she never saw it down for longer than a few minutes before she rolled it up into a bun. It made her happy to have someone admire it again.
“Baby?”
“Hmm?” She was staring at his fingers, following the veins on his forearms that led to several tattoos. Her eyes had been drawn to one of them, a half-moon hidden behind tree branches. He moved before she could see what scene lay below the moonlight, but she wasn’t complaining because he presented her with his back. His sexy, sexy back.
“Will you scratch my back for me?” He tilted his head to the side, smiling as if he wasn’t angry just a moment ago. “I can’t reach it.”
“Oh, yeah, I can do that.”
He held out his hand and pulled her up slowly.
She grimaced but nodded that she was good. “Where?” She placed her hands on his shoulders, almost moaning because of the heat and strength he radiated.
“My back turning you on?” He chuckled when she smacked his shoulders. “Oh, yeah. I love the rough stuff, Hood.”
“Do you want me to itch your back or not?”
“I think you mean scratch.”
Her face heated up. “Don’t make fun of me. You know I meant scratch.”
He smiled over his shoulder. “Sorry. Yes, I do. Just drag your nails straight down. I hate when people go all over the place.”
“Well,” she said, dragging her nonexistent nails straight down, “maybe you shouldn’t be such a demanding asshole.”
“Harder.”
“Like I said—demanding.”
“Hood, do you even have nails? Scratch.”
“But I’ll mark your skin.” She stared at his tanned skin, wanting to trace her fingers over the skull tattoo hidden among his ink.
“Just do it. I’ll be fine.”
Sighing, she dug her nails in at the top of his traps and dragged them straight down. Logan groaned loudly, making her face warm because it sounded like he was getting off on it.
“Fuck, that feels good,” he said, groaning louder when she did the action again.
“Shh,” she whispered. “You’re being so loud.”
He only got louder. “Fuck, baby! Oh, yeah—just like that.”
“Logan!” She smacked his red, somewhat bleeding back. “Oh my God!” she screamed. She felt terrible. He was bleeding. “Oh, Logan!”
She rubbed around the blood smears, tears pricking her eyes.
“Ah,” he yelled. “Fuck!”
It startled her, and she yelled out, thinking she had hurt him more. “Oh my god.” She tried to climb off the bed, but he stood up and walked to his dresser before she could. She stayed kneelin
g on the edge of the bed, watching him, waiting for him to flip out on her. But he simply dug around in a drawer until he produced a pair of drawstring athletic shorts and a red shirt.
He walked back to her, wearing a huge grin, and handed her the clothes. “Thanks, Hood.” He pecked her lips. “You got just the right spot.”
“Are you sure?” She studied him, noting that he still had sweat glistening on his perfect body.
“Positive, baby. Put this on. I’m going to go grab you some painkillers. Then I’m gonna jump in the shower. We’ll go to the gym, then eat when we’re done.”
“Okay,” she whispered as he walked to his door, unlocked it, and left the room.
She was confused by his behavior and jumped when a roar of cheers and whistles sounded from the living room. She distinctly heard Logan’s sultry voice among the other voices, and he certainly didn’t sound upset as whatever he said was welcomed with more cheers.
“Hood,” he said, walking back in, slamming the door behind him. “Got your pills.”
“What’s going on out there?”
He shrugged and handed her the bottle of water she had earlier. “They’re just playing video games.” He waited for her to swallow, then took her water and helped her pull her shirt on.
“Why were they cheering when you went out there?”
“They always cheer when they see me.”
Kylie rolled her eyes. He could never go too long without showing how big his ego was.
Despite his charming cockiness, because she wouldn’t lie, she adored that about him—she knew something was up. He avoided eye contact with her whenever she tried to look at his face. “You’re being strange.”
“I’m just worried that I hurt you more,” he said as he pulled her up to her feet. After she had slipped on the shorts, he grabbed her face between his large hands and said, “Evander will check you out, and then I’ll feel better.”
“Oh.” She inhaled slowly. He was so close, his nose almost touching hers. “It’s not your fault. I actually knew you were trying to get me to confess.”
“Really?” He shook his head, smiling before he let go of her face. “Then you’re too tough and stupid.”
“Hey!”
He snickered and pulled her body to his. “Fucking with you, Hood.”
“You’re a jerk.”
He began running his fingers through her hair. “I like your hair down.”
She smiled, admiring the locks of hair he was rubbing between his fingers. A cut was in order, but she was just happy to see her hair the way it used to be.
“Thank you. I’ve missed wearing it down.”
Instead of replying, he pulled her by the small of her back until they were pressed together and slid his other hand behind her head. He grabbed a fistful of hair to tilt her face up. He didn’t hesitate to claim her mouth, and she didn’t fight him. She loved his kiss.
“I think I’m going to like us dating,” he murmured, nibbling her lip.
Kylie smiled, but this reminded her that Logan was just playing a game. “I want chocolate,” she blurted out the first thing she could think of. Anything was better than remembering they weren’t really together—that they’d never be together.
Logan laughed. “Well, I want a sandwich.” He grinned and squeezed her butt. “Get your cute little ass in the kitchen and make me a sandwich—and when we’re out, I’ll buy you two chocolate bars.”
When he gently shoved her toward the door, she snapped, “What do I look like to you? I’m not your mom.”
Logan dropped his playful look. “You’re my little hood.”
She frowned, not understanding him.
Logan walked to a different door. “Just make me a sandwich. I’m fucking starving.” And with that, he walked through the door to his attached bathroom.
“Whatever,” she muttered, glancing down at her attire. “Shit.” She looked around, but she realized her clothes were missing too. “That bastard took my clothes!”
She stopped herself from screaming as she yanked the door open and stomped her way down the hall. Her fury over being treated like this vanished the moment she turned the corner. Fifteen pairs of eyes were on her.
Oh. My. God.
Trevor was right in the middle, staring at her with the same dumbstruck look the other fourteen football players were wearing.
“Um,” she muttered before hurrying across the room. Breathing out and pinching her side, she leaned against the refrigerator. Her ears perked up, hearing animated whispers from the guys in the next room.
“Dude, that chick was fucking hot.”
“Logan always gets the hottest ass.”
“That was Kylie Hood.”
The last voice belonged to Trevor, and she gasped.
“The girl who wears the hoodie all the time? I thought you brought her home a week ago.”
Trevor didn’t respond.
“I thought that chick was a leper,” someone else said. “Why would she cover up? Did she look like that for you, Trev?”
“Since when does Logan go after your seconds?” someone asked as a few guys laughed.
“I wasn’t with her like that,” Trevor snapped. “I already told all of you to stop saying shit about her.”
“Whatever,” someone muttered.
“I’m surprised he hasn’t tossed her out already.”
“Logan probably forces her to hide under that hoodie. Bet he doesn’t want anyone tapping what’s his.”
Kylie rolled her eyes at that one, even though she was blushing like crazy because these boys thought she was pretty.
“I can’t believe weirdo Kylie Hood is fucking your cousin, man.”
“Never woulda thought he’d go for a younger girl after—” The sound of someone getting hit cut off whatever that person was about to say.
Her eyes went wide, and though she tried to hear them continue, they must have lowered their whispers. “Shit, shit, shit,” she chanted as she pulled out ingredients for a ham sandwich. They knew who she was—even without her hood. Trevor knew who she was. But then she remembered he had seen her go into the room with Logan earlier. Wearing his clothes suggested they must have had sex. “Oh my God,” she whispered, placing lettuce and tomato on top of the ham.
It all made sense. The back scratch, him wanting her to leave marks, him walking out in front of them with his bloody, clawed back on display, him yelling out the way he did . . .
Logan Grimm set her up, and without even realizing, she was already the girl that Logan had in his bed. He had managed to expose her not only to himself, but to the world.
“That sexy son of a b—“
“Kylie?”
Fucking girly-balls!
She turned slowly and smiled. “Hi, Trevor.”
“I can’t believe it’s you,” Trevor said, stepping closer. “You look so . . .”
A shaky smile formed on her lips as she stared into his big blue eyes.
“Wow,” he finished.
Though her cheeks were probably red as tomatoes, her tummy wasn’t doing the little flips it once had. Actually, she felt a little sick to have him so close. “Thanks, I guess,” she said, taking a small step back. Only, her butt met the counter, allowing him to come closer.
He was only a foot from her now. The smile on his lips that once made her sigh dreamily did nothing for her. It only reminded her she was lying to Logan, using him. Using him and Trevor.
Trevor cleared his throat and took a step back. “Um,” he said, cringing a little. “I’m sorry if you heard the guys just now. They were just—well, just being guys. I told them to stop with the rumors that started when you came over.”
“I heard. Thank you.” She nodded. It wasn’t the first time she had overheard boys talking about another guy’s conquest—because that’s what she was, Logan’s latest conquest. Bastard.
“I would have stopped them,” he said, “but I was kind of in shock. I mean, I thought it was you outside his door, but that didn’t
make sense. But here you are.” He gestured to her with his hand. “And you’re wearing Logan’s clothes.”
Kylie grimaced, but she also remembered Logan’s plan. He was under the impression that she loved Trevor, and this was his attempt to make her noticeable.
He certainly accomplished that.
She couldn’t wait to slap him around. He could have at least told her what he was doing! “Well, yeah,” she said, swallowing. What was she supposed to say? ‘Yeah, your cousin just made it seem like we had sex because he thinks I love you, and this is him trying to make you jealous. But I don’t like you anymore . . . I sort of like him, and I just want him to rip my clothes off and finish what he started.’
“I shouldn’t have introduced you to him,” Trevor whispered, his eyes fixed on her face. “Has he hurt you?”
She shook her head, frowning. Logan wouldn’t hurt her, right?
“Thank God. Let me take you home then.” He reached out for her hand, but she pulled away.
“He hasn’t hurt me.”
Trevor backed up. “Okay. But you don’t know him, Kylie. He’s a bad guy. He’s probably already forgotten that you’re here. He doesn’t keep girls, and sometimes, it’s pretty bad the way he kicks them out. I would hate to see him hurt you in front of all these guys from school. I can’t stop all the rumors.”
She felt a little sick to her stomach as she imagined Logan taking girls to bed, then throwing them out like trash.
“He won’t do that to me,” she said, not sure if she was completely confident with her statement. But what was there to be sure about anymore?
Trevor sighed. “Listen, he will tell you anything to get you. Shit, I feel terrible. If I had stayed that night—or just did my project. Just let me get you away from him. You’re too nice of a girl to get caught up with him. I’ll try to make sure the guys don’t say anything that will make you sound like one of his whores.”
“Just because I came out of his room in his clothes, I’m one of his whores? Am I not good enough to actually be someone he’d be interested in?” She knew she sounded stupid, because really, that’s what she was to Logan, but that’s why it hurt. She wanted to be good enough for him. The fact she wasn’t made her want to scream and destroy everything.
Trevor shook his head. “I didn’t say that. I don’t want people making up things about you just because you—”