Before I can think better of it, the words are shooting out of my mouth. “I need your help.”
“Oh?” One brow slides lazily upward. “Interesting that you would think I’d lift a finger to help you.”
Honestly, I don’t. But what other choice is there? Kingsley is a last-ditch effort on my part.
“Austin will move back to Chicago if football gets taken away from him.” I shake my head and clutch the blanket closer. “I don’t want that to happen.”
He tilts his head, all the while studying me with an intensity that is unnerving. “Why should I care about that?”
“Please,” I whisper. As much as it pains me to beg, I’ll do whatever I have to for my brother.
“I’m flattered that you think I hold so much power.” A grin flashes across his face. He is so loving this. “What makes you think I’d offer my assistance even if I could?”
That’s an excellent question. One I don’t have an answer for.
My shoulders collapse and I quickly glance away, staring into the swirling darkness of the yard as hopelessness fills me. “I don’t.”
I sense his movement before I catch it from the corner of my eye. Every step he eats up between us makes my heart pump faster and the adrenaline rush through my veins.
“That’s it? You’re going to give up just like that?” He makes a clicking sound with his tongue. “Not very persistent, are you?”
“What?” My widened gaze jerks to him as my mouth turns cottony.
He picks up a lock of my hair from my shoulder and twirls it absently around his finger. His movements turn lazy, but there’s nothing idle about the calculating look in his eyes. Thick tension builds between us as he continues to stare. It’s only after the air turns explosive does his gaze flick to mine. “You’re going to throw in the towel without even trying to persuade me to change my mind?”
A shudder of unease slides through me. “I don’t understand.”
Arousal ignites in his eyes as he tugs gently on the heavy strands. “I think you do.”
A strange concoction of caution infused confusion churn inside me. “Are you saying that you’ll help me?”
He shrugs, continuing to wrap the inky-colored lock of hair around his finger. “I haven’t decided if it’s worth my trouble.”
What does he want? For me to beg?
If that’s all it will take, I’ll do it gladly. I gulp and force out the word. “Please?”
His eyelids lower. “That’s an awfully pretty word falling from your lips.”
Nerves skitter along my bare flesh. Attraction tugs deep inside my core. As wrong as it is, I can’t stop it from spreading throughout my body like a virus.
“If I make this all go away, what do I get?”
“I don’t know,” I murmur. It takes everything I have inside to keep the nerves from overtaking my voice. “What do you want?” Whatever price he’ll extract will be steep. Of that, I can be certain.
“Everything.” He steps closer, his bigger, muscular body dwarfing mine. I crane my neck to hold his steely gaze. “Are you willing to give me that?” There’s a pause. “If so, you have yourself a deal.”
His hands settle on my shoulders as if grounding me to the earth. His lips hover dangerously over mine. “It’s a one-time offer. Once it expires, it’s gone for good and you’re on your own.”
When he nips my lower lip with sharp teeth, a groan escapes from me and I drop the blanket from my fingers. An explosion of pleasure-filled-pain jolts through my system, shaking me to the core.
His lips curve into a wicked smile. “Sexy little moans aren’t good enough. I want to hear you agree to the terms.”
What other choice is there?
None that I can think of.
Austin needs to stay in Hawthorne. I can’t face these people on my own. Not for the rest of the academic year. “Yes.”
“Good girl.” His fingers bite into my shoulders as he forces me to the ground. When I resist, a hard glint enters his eyes. “On your knees.”
Oh God.
I don’t know what I was expecting, but it wasn’t this.
When his hands press me lower, my knees buckle, and I drop to the thick grass. As I stare straight ahead, I realize that I’m perfectly aligned with the bulge in his shorts. I swallow thickly before raising my chin and meeting his gaze. The hot look in his eyes has my belly hollowing out.
He lifts one hand from my shoulder and trails his knuckles along my jaw. The other one continues to hold me in place. “How many guys have you blown?”
My tongue darts out to moisten my lips as his gaze fastens onto the movement. My breath stutters as his cock jerks to life inches from my face.
He chuckles darkly at my reaction and repeats the question in a voice that has turned shades deeper. “How many?”