Sucker for the Boss

by Blue Sky Books

  He is not here. She kept repeating the words like a mantra. The steady heartbeat from the chest under her ear calmed down her nerves and gave her the peace she hadn’t found in years.

  “Elena?” Trent’s voice came from behind. It brought her back to the present and that’s when reality hit in. She was curled around a stranger. What the hell? She pulled herself away quickly. “Elena, what are you doing here?” Trent was right beside her, holding her by the elbow. She looked up at Trent first and then at the front. Piercing gray eyes caught her gaze, and she stilled. Standing before her was Chase Lincoln, the god of sexiness, most talked about playboy of campus and the basketball team captain. He was looking at her with a deep frown on his forehead. His dark locks reached down to his brows and his face sported a grim expression.

  Fuck her now, was she really in his arms?

  “Elena!” Trent shook her, and she looked away from Chase and found the whole basketball team looking at her. Oh, God, she was in the men’s room, wasn’t she? “I’m so sorry.” Horrified, she ran out of the door. “I’ll be back,” she heard Trent saying and then he too was with her.

  “Elena, wait. What the hell is going on? You said you were coming to the game. What were you doing in the changing room?” he asked, but she had no answer for him. All she could think of was the humiliation she had just faced. And of all people, it was Chase who had to find her. She wanted to groan. Soon Trent’s arms were around her shoulder. “Talk, Lennie. What happen?” he said in his softest voice with his ridiculous nickname for her. Trent always had a way to get her talking. So she told him about the call from Jonathan.

  “He will never get near you, Elena. Never again. I won’t let him. You have me, you know that.” He hugged her so tight that she was almost unable to breathe. But that hug didn’t give her the peace that she had found in Chase’s arms briefly.

  “Thanks, T. I know. I think I just panicked and ran into the changing room without looking where I was going.” She gave him a weak smile. He wasn’t convinced. “You should go inside. They’ll be calling you soon for the next half.” She pointed at the door, but Trent didn’t budge. “Are you alright, Elena?”

  “I’m fine, Trent. Go.” She pushed him.

  “I can sit with you for a couple of minutes,” he offered, but she shook her head. “I’m good, honestly. I’ll head to the ground and find Valerie. I’ll see you afterwards.” This time, she managed a more convincing smile. He gave her arm a reassuring squeeze and then went back in.

  Elena folded her arms around her torso and began walking towards the ground. Her mind was now filled with just one image: Chase Lincoln.

  *****

  What the hell had just happened? Chase stared at the closed door of the changing room. He had come with rest of the team members at the half time interval and the next thing he knew, Elena Winston was in his arms. His first thought was how come he hadn’t noticed her before? She was strikingly beautiful in the most unconventional way. She was short in stature, barely five feet four inches. Her curly hair was brown and shoulder length. Her eyes were small, but they held an entire world in them. And at that moment that she was struggling in his arms, what he saw was fear and extreme vulnerability in them. Then she had looked up at him and her knees had given way. Had he not caught her in time, she might well have broken her neck. But she had so easily surrendered into his arms as if he was an anchor keeping her from drowning. Having her in his arms was the most natural thing he had ever felt in his life. It felt right. She felt right. But the moment was broken so soon when Trent Cadman had intervened. And then Elena had gotten away from him, looking at him with a horrified expression before running out of the room. He missed her touch already.

  Cool down, boy. No need to get high.

  He was Chase Lincoln, he wasn’t the touchy-feely kind of guy. The other guys in the room were joking around; he could hear Elena’s name too and ice-queen along with it, but he appeared deaf to their conversations. Three years and never once had he looked at her twice, and now … and now you are not going to think twice, he said to himself and took large gulps of Gatorade before pouring the cold water on his face to settle his nerves.

  The door opened again, and he half expected Elena to come back in. But it was Trent. His face was grim as he took the sink next to Chase. It almost came to the tip of his tongue to ask about her, but then he caught it. Were they together, he and Elena? he wondered. He had seen Trent with another girl around the campus too. Stop analyzing other men’s love life and get a life of your own, asshole. He shook his head and fixed his gear back.

  He heard Trent talking on the phone. “Is Elena there with you?” Hearing her name, his ears stood to attention. “Alright, keep an eye on her for me, Val, please. Thanks. I’ll see you after the game.” Before Chase knew, he was asking him, “Is she alright? She looked kind of terrified there.”

  Trent gave him a glare. “Yes, she is fine, and keep your dick in your pants around her, Lincoln,” he warned him.

  Huh? “You don’t have to tell me about my dick, Cadman.”

  “I’m serious, Chase. She is off limits for you.”

  “Says who? Her boyfriend?” He hadn’t meant to start a pissing contest, but Trent was provoking him. “Cool it, guys. We got to go back,” Jasper, another team member called, and Chase left the room, giving Trent a challenging look.

  *

  Elena set out her laptop and powered it on for the Business Communication class. It was one of the three courses in which she didn’t have to worry about the falling grades. The other two, well, they were bad news.

  “Hey, Elena. We heard you were hanging around in the men’s room during the game, fawning all over Chase,” Sandra said to her, and a few snickers followed. Elena ignored her completely and kept her eyes on the screen. It was obvious that the news was all over the campus that ice-queen, Elena Winston was all over the basketball star, Chase Lincoln. She had seen enough knowing glances since morning. The only reason she hadn’t heard them was because Trent and Valerie were chaperoning her until now.

  Thanks to Sandra, now she could hear everyone talking about it. All the voices hushed down. Elena looked past her laptop to see what had caused silence in the storm; she found Chase standing next to the podium. Her mouth went dry at the sight of him. He was wearing a gray T-shirt that hugged his chest in a way that signified his build. His eyes were roaming toward the backside of the room and then found hers. She felt a shiver run down her spine. And then he was heading in her direction. She quickly hid behind the laptop.

  He stopped right before her. Why’s he here? He never sat in the front rows, then why wasn’t he moving away? “Elena,” his heavy accented voice came, and she felt a deep fluttering in her stomach. God. Was he going to address the previous night’s encounter? She could already tell that the entire class was listening to them and waiting for her answer. She closed her eyes briefly.

  “What do you want, Chase?” She kept her tone impassive.

  “How are you doing?” She looked at him in disbelief. He was asking her how was she doing? She had to be hearing it wrong. But his expression was sincere.

  “I’m fine, thank you.” Now leave please. Everybody was gawking at them. But instead of leaving, he took the seat next to her. “What are you doing?”

  “What does it looks like, sweetheart?” Sweetheart. Fear ran through her veins, and she fisted her hands. “Don’t ever call me that,” she said through her clenched teeth.

  “What? Sweetheart?”

  “Why are you sitting here? You never sit in this row.” She changed the subject. She wanted him gone. His presence so close was fogging up her mind and his endearments weren’t exactly relieving. “Well, I am from now on,” he said, giving her a crook smile.

  Breathing next to Chase for the sixty minutes was difficult. When his elbow accidently brushed her arm, she stiffened. “Relax, babe, I don’t bite,” he whispered in her ear, and she felt a vibration inside her, like waves of his voice were resonating all
through her body. She moved farther away from him to avoid any further touch. He had such an emitting presence that no distance was far enough. But what actually surprised her was that sitting next to him cooled down her inner fire. There was sudden harmony inside her, other than the other disturbances that he was causing her. But that fire, which was ignited inside her by her father, was extinguished by Chase’s presence. Just like it had been the evening before when she was in his arms.

  The thought made her squirm, overwhelming her. “You alright, sweetheart?” Chase caught her hand in his. The contact made her jump, but then rage took over. “I’m telling you for the last time. Don’t ever fucking call me sweetheart. Do you understand that?” A couple of heads turned in their direction. Chase looked at her with narrowed eyes but never let her hand go as she tried to struggle out of his grip.

  “Is there a problem, Mr. Lincoln?” Professor Godfrey called.

  “Not at all, Mr. Godfrey. We are all good.” Chase gave her an intense look and then turned to face the board. The hour ended and Elena stuffed her things into her bag that couldn’t go in fast enough. “Are you going to run away again?” Of course, he had to speak.

  “Chase,” she sighed. “Please, don’t take any hints from yesterday. Just forget and move on. It isn’t like you have any shortage of girls throwing themselves at your feet.”

  She tried to move away, but Chase caught her by the elbow and pulled her against him. “I want to know what happened last night.” There was no hint of amusement in his tone. He was seriously asking to tell him her demons? Who did he think he was?

  Elena jerked away from his grip. “You may have women opening their hearts out for you, Mr. Lincoln. But sorry to disappoint, I don’t go by that way. Stow your curiosity and get the hell out of my way.” Her heart was beating like a horse’s, but she didn’t let her nerves affect her. She could feel all eyes on her and Chase. Yeah, she was creating a scene but damned if she’d falter now. She gave Chase one last look and then left the hall.

  *****

  Chase was finding it hard not to notice Elena Winston anymore. She was all he saw now. After her outburst the other day, he hadn’t talked to her again but that didn’t mean he had stopped thinking of her. She was like a magnet that was pulling him to her so effortlessly.

  He sat back on his chair in the cafeteria and his eyes followed Elena who was sitting next to Trent and Valerie. She looked so aloof from the rest of the world that it made him curious to uncover her secrets. She was right, he was accustomed to having his way when it came to the opposite gender. But Elena’s rejection only made him excited and more wanton.

  He wanted to know what it would take for her to break and surrender to him just like she had the other night. He wanted to know how long she could resist him. And then a plan started to form in his mind. The more it formed, the more excited he got. Yes. That would be a thrilling experience to have; getting under the skin of the infamous ice queen.

  A satisfied Cheshire Cat-like grin spread across his lips as he thought of executing his plan. He gave it two weeks tops before Elena Winston would be in his arms. Nothing turned him on more than a challenge. Also he had an urge to know why she hated being called sweetheart.

  “Elena, you are coming for the extra class of Mr. McKenzie?” he stopped by Elena’s table and asked, his gaze lingering on the brown-haired, short, hot-headed girl. She was looking down at her tray of untouched food before glancing at him with a frown. Refreshing. He always got lustful gazes from women. “Why are you so concerned about her, Lincoln?” Trent intruded.

  “When will you learn not to nose in everybody’s business, Cadman?” he shot at Trent and turned back to look at Elena. He knew she was on McKenzie’s hit list. “So? You’re coming?” he asked her again, and she pushed away her untouched food.

  “I’ll see you guys later,” she said and got up. Chase followed her, opening the door of the cafe for her, and then later for the lecture hall. She stopped at the entrance and turned to face him. “Thank you, Chase, but I’m perfectly capable of opening the door for myself. You don’t have to trouble yourself.”

  “It’s no trouble, babe. It’s called manners.” He gave her his most lethal smile that never once failed to work on any human with XX chromosome. But don’t they say you always have firsts? Elena stood impassive and unaffected before him.

  “You and your manners can see their own way. Stop running into mine.” She turned and walked up the third row. He gaped at her in awe and then grinned. Damn. Insults never felt sweeter. He too was Chase Lincoln and his middle name was determination. It was going to take more than one refusal for Elena to get away from him.

  *

  Chase was relentless. The more she wanted to get away from him, the more he got closer to her. It was impossible to avoid him. And damn her traitorous body, it had been on fire ever since it had gotten in contact with Chase’s touch. Every part of it jumped to attention whenever Chase was near. Wait, when was he not? He was next to her in every class. She hadn’t realized that before, but yes, he was with her in four out of five classes. He followed her around the campus like a shadow. And what’s more, her cold stance that worked magically on the rest of the world had no effect on him whatsoever. He appeared unaffected by her glares and insults and shut-outs.

  “How long are you going to keep doing this, Chase?” she finally asked him. She was done being followed around and suffering indefinitely inside because of her body’s immodest reactions to this insanely beautiful man who used his looks just as unjustly.

  “As long as it takes you to agree to go on a date with me?” he said with his smug smile.

  “And you won’t take no for an answer?” She wanted to groan.

  “I’ll take that when I feel like I’ve lost the game. But at the moment, I feel quite into the peak of the game, love.” He brushed his thumb across her cheekbone, and she shuddered.

  “See? You are just fighting the inevitable, love. You want me, and see what? You have me. Just give in.” Arrogant, cocky, overconfident, and opinionated bastard. Why did he have to be so breathtakingly beautiful?

  “Give in? To you? Keep dreaming, love,” she imitated his accent and turned around to sit on one of the benches. Chase slumped down beside her, bumping his shoulder into hers. “Get a life, jackass. And leave mine in peace.” She shove him away, earning a full belly from him. Someone call the fire brigade please. He had a sinful laugh that should be banned with the immediate imposition of order.

  She counted back from hundred to soothe herself. She shouldn’t be affected by anything. Especially not Chase who walked around with a neon sign on his forehead, flashing bad news openly.

  “Why are you resisting me, Elena?” Next thing she knew, she was so close to him, with his luscious mouth just inches away from her and his hand was holding hers while the other one traced a trail from her temple to cheek. What was his question again?

  Yeah, resisting him. Why was she doing that? she asked herself. It was obvious from the air around them that the chemistry between them was nothing but damn intense. He could give her a good time, a time that’d make her forget everything that’s there to be forgotten. He’d make every door of the past close that needed to be closed. Even if for a temporary period. Then why not?

  Because you can’t afford to spare that time. The only way to run away from the past that was shadowing her present was to get done with college with flying grades and then get the hell away from here where her father was unable to get his hands on her anymore. She couldn’t spare time because it was her scholarship that was on the verge of slipping out of her hands.

  “I have to go.” She stood up hastily and left. Her chest burned with pain, and she cursed her life and luck for being unfair to her. This was so not done. Why was she paying for the choice that her mother made?

  *****

  “Elena Winston? Mr. Andrews wants you to visit him after the class,” Elena was told while she was in the middle of Professor McKenzie’s lecture. Th
e smug smile on the professor’s face told her what this visit was going to be about. He had given her a C minus in the module. No wonder Mr. Andrews wanted to talk to her.

  She packed her stuff and hung her bag on her shoulder. This was it. She’d lost her scholarship. There was no way she could complete her degree now. The only thing that was steady in her life was now off the track. She went into the dean’s office.

  “Go straight in, Elena. He’s waiting for you.”

  “Thank you, Mrs. Lana.” She nodded at the elderly secretary, knocked on the cabin door once and stepped inside.

  “Mr. Andrews? May I?”

  “Elena, of course, come in please.” The fifty-year-old Malcolm Andrews waved her in. She took the seat before him and braced herself for what he was going to throw her way.

  He pulled out a file from the pile and opened it. “You must be aware of the direction that your grades are going, Elena, aren’t you? You started so well and kept going just fine until the final year. I am surprised.”

  She wasn’t surprised. “I’m sorry I disappointed, Mr. Andrews. But I’m trying hard to cover up.” If only Professor McKenzie would actually read her paper.

  “Well, I’m sure you are, but you know the scholarship policies. They don’t wait for you long.”

  There it goes. “I understand, sir.” If only she did.

  “I regret to inform you that we have to pull the scholarship from your account. You were required to secure at least a B plus in the Organizational Behavior course of Mr. George McKenzie’s, but you got a C minus. I’m afraid that was your last attempt. You know we have so many more deserving candidates.” Mr. Andrews went on telling her that the college was filled with immense talent and how her scholarship could make someone else, someone more deserving’s future.

  She sat there and listened without actually listening. When finally he silenced, she excused herself. She had no idea what to do next. Mrs. Lana gave her a sympathetic smile. She stepped out of the dean’s room and was greeted by Chase.