Defending Donovan (Face-Off Legacy/Campus Kings 6)

She peeks up at me, her long, dark hair framing her soft features. I stare at her for far too long, stunned by the sight of Taylor Bradshaw on the floor. With nothing more than pink gloss on her pouty lips, she’s gorgeous. She’s the one girl I’ve always noticed on campus but could never get anywhere near. Sometimes, I catch her looking at me, but not for long before she speeds away as if she thinks she’s too good for me.

“Drake,” another girl says from behind me.

I angle my body to glance at the girl I just sent a dick pic to, surprised to see her here. Her lips part for me, a tiny smile turning up the corners of her mouth.

Fucking hell.

“I was just thinking about you…” Becky holds out her hand and continues, “… and here you are… and with Taylor, of all people.” Her eyes glaze over at the sight of Taylor on the floor. “How weird is that?” Her voice reaches a higher octave the longer she speaks, and I’m now reminded why I prefer to text her.

I look down at Taylor, about to extend my hand when she snarls at me. Yes, fucking snarls like a dog about to rip my arm off. Okay…

With one woman on each side of me, I try to get rid of the one I don’t like first.

“Look, Becky,” I say before she interrupts me.

“Becky,” she snaps, crossing her arms over her chest. “My name is Jackie.”

At least I was right about the big tits part.

I give her one of my best little- boy faces which will usually get me out of trouble with women. It always worked with my mom and has gotten me pretty far over the years. This time it doesn’t work. Becky—who’s apparently Jackie—blows out a puff of air, her blonde hair falling in front of her eyes. When I don’t respond to her outburst, she storms off, leaving me alone with Taylor, who’s now standing at my right side.

“Well, if it isn’t the Grand Master of Dick Pics,” Taylor says bowing in front of me, with her hand outstretched in a joking manner.

This is why I’ve always liked her—that mouth of hers. She’s so damn sassy and the hardest girl on campus to score. Taylor’s a real challenge, one I would gladly accept.

I can’t help but laugh at her display.

But I have no idea how to reply.

For once, I’m at a loss for words.

“It’s customary when you knock a girl on her ass to help her up,” she says in a condescending tone. “Didn’t your parents teach you any manners?” She covers her mouth and laughs. “Oh, right. I already know the answer. No. Because what kind of person texts random girls pictures of their junk?”

“Were you with Becky? Ugh… I mean, Jackie.”

Fucking jackass.

“Yeah, I was with her when you sent those pics. She’s on my team, you idiot.” She raises her hand to give me a thumbs up. “Real classy, Drake.”

I’ve had a massive boner for Taylor since I saw her play basketball in my sophomore year, and now our first encounter is… fucked-up. This is not what I had in mind. I was hoping when I finally talked to Taylor it would be under different terms and with her being a lot less hostile.

She looks hot in her navy-and-white Strickland Senators basketball uniform with matching Chuck Taylors. Tall and toned, her body has curves that are making it hard for me to focus. Most girls fit under my arm but not Taylor. She’s around six feet tall, strong and built to perfection. At my height, it’s hard to find women I can kiss without breaking my neck.

“You’re just mad I haven’t sent one to you.” I wiggle my eyebrows at her and remove my phone from my pocket to gauge her reaction. “We can fix that right now.”

“Wow, are you serious?” She pushes her hands to her hips, glaring at me. “Like I would ever give you my number, you pig.” She practically growls the words at me. “You don’t have a chance with me, buddy.” She finishes by poking me in the chest with her finger.

Way to go, Drake.

Before I can get in another word, she disappears into a sea of people swarming into the cafeteria, leaving me wondering what the hell just happened.

What was I thinking? That shit will never work on her. And while I feel like she just left me standing here with my dick in my hand, she also left me with an impossible challenge.

By the end of the semester, Taylor Bradshaw will be mine.

She doesn’t know it yet.

Chapter Two

Taylor

My best friend is the luckiest bitch alive. Bex Bryant, my teammate and roommate since freshman year, walks alongside me through campus, rehashing the dinner date she had last night with Preston Parker. He’s one of the hottest players on campus and the captain of the men’s ice hockey team.