Campus Heartthrob (The Campus Series)

“What was that with Ethan?” he bites out. Sparks of anger fly from his eyes. Any moment and I’ll be singed alive.

If he were any other guy, I’d assume he was jealous. But that can’t be.

I blink, attempting to find my bearings. My heart pounds a painful staccato beneath my rib cage. Any second and it’ll burst out of my chest. “He wanted to talk.” It’s only when the words escape from my lips that I question why I’m even telling him this. The last thing I owe Brayden is an explanation. That certainly wasn’t part of our deal.

“Do you still have feelings for him?” He presses closer until his lips can hover over mine.

The feel of his warm breath drifting across me is nothing short of intoxicating. I want to squeeze my eyes closed and inhale a big breath of him.

Oh god, this is such a disaster. Lines have been crossed and all it’s done is blur our relationship.

When I remain silent, uncertain how to respond, he growls, “Sydney!”

“No,” I snap.

“And what about Ryder?”

I shake my head. Where is all this coming from? “I already told you, we’re just friends. Nothing more.”

My answer has the thick tension that had been wafting off him in suffocating waves gradually dissipating. The muscles that had been whipcord tight loosen one by one as he presses closer. Close enough for me to feel the thickness of his erection jutting into my lower abdomen. Arousal explodes in my core.

This is exactly what I didn’t want.

If I’m smart, I’ll stop this in its tracks. My palms land on his chest in a feeble attempt to keep him at a safe distance. If I don’t push him away now, I won’t be able to do so later. This entire situation has spiraled too far out of control. I’m able to see that, even if Brayden can’t.

“We need to end this,” I force myself to say. “It’s gone on long enough.”

Brayden jerks away as if my touch has scalded him. “Is that what you want?”

No.

“Yes.” It takes effort to swallow down the unexpected lump of emotion that has become wedged in the middle of my throat. “The lines have become too blurred.”

“Really?” He cocks his head as his eyes sharpen. “I don’t think they’re blurred at all. I know what I want, and I think you do, too.”

My throat grows parched, making it difficult to swallow. When I say nothing in response, he lowers his face until his lips can drift over mine.

Slowly.

So slowly that the movement becomes almost tortuous.

As much as I try to keep the sound buried deep inside where it can’t see the light of day, a whimper manages to escape.

“You want me, don’t you?” His voice is thick. Knowing. I hate that he’s able to see right through me. That somehow, in the short amount of time we’ve been together, he’s come to understand my wants and needs. It was never supposed to be this way.

Brayden nips at my lower lip, sucking the fullness into his mouth and holding it captive until my knees turn weak and it feels like I’m in danger of falling to the pavement.

Once the plump flesh has been released, he growls, “Answer me, Syd. I’m done playing games with you.”

That’s almost laughable. This entire relationship has been one giant farce from the beginning. The only reason we’re involved with one another is to fake another girl out. Doesn’t he understand that our very foundation has been built on lies and subterfuge?

Brayden’s mouth slides lower as he peppers hot kisses along the curve of my jawline. “Tell me.”

My brain clicks off as I bare my throat, giving him unrestricted access to my flesh. “Yes,” I groan, unable to hold back the truth any longer, “I want you.”

He pulls away enough to meet my gaze with a dark look. “Good. Because that’s exactly what I want, too. This might have started out as a fake relationship, but that’s not how it’s going to end. Whatever this is between us, I want it to be real. I want us to be real.”

Is Brayden saying what I think he is?

“You...want to actually go out with me?” My head is spinning so hard that latching onto one coherent thought feels impossible. I don’t know if it’s because of his kisses or what he’s telling me. Maybe a potent combination of both. “You want us to date?”

“That’s exactly what I want.” There’s a pause before he adds in a softer voice, “I like you, Sydney. I have for a while. I’ve never been one for relationships, but I want to give this a shot. I want you to belong to me.”

I can’t believe I’m hearing this from him. Brayden can have his pick of females on this campus, and yet, I’m the one he wants to spend time with?