15. Hunter
Fifteen
Hunter
Early January
The stadium lights cut across the field in crisp white lines against the cold Tennessee sky. It was bowl game time.
Everything felt amplified: the pop of the ball being snapped, the rhythm of cleats on turf, and the roar of the crowd echoing through the stands.
Crouched at cornerback, I held my position with my fingers flexed, knees bent, weight forward, every muscle poised like a coiled spring.
On the next snap, the receiver bolted off the line. I mirrored him, silently and mechanically. The world narrowed until it was just him, the ball, and me.
Then, for just a moment, I caught a glimpse of her.
Ella .
Mid-stands, her hands gripping the railing and her eyes following every step.
My chest tightened, but not from fatigue — no, this was from desire. My focus split, and yet it didn’t.
The QB dropped back, and with a quick scan, I read the formation. He looked left, then right.
Before the play was fully executed, I was already in motion. The receiver cut again, attempting a double move.
Muscle memory kicked in as I undercut him, intercepted the ball, tucked it to my chest, and sprinted downfield, taking it all the way to the house.
Glancing up, I found her in the stands again, my gaze drawn to her like she was my beacon.
By the time I reached the sideline, the offense was already jogging onto the field, ready to take possession.
I pressed a hand to my helmet, catching my breath, my gaze still locked on her.
The noise of the stadium, the trash talk and my teammates all dissolved into white noise. Ella’s eyes were on me, and that was enough.
By the time the fourth quarter rolled around, we were up by three with only two minutes left. They lined up in a shotgun formation with motion from the slot.
Snap! The QB rolled right, searching for a deep pass.
My body moved before I could fully register it, taking long, precise, calculated strides. The ball arced high, and I leapt into the air with perfect timing, my fingers stretching to secure it to my chest.
The ball was secured; their victory prevented.
Crashing to the turf, my knees scraping across the ground and my lungs burning, I glanced up again. There she was, her hands over her mouth, but then she raised them to cheer.
The final whistle blew, and teammates poured onto the field, shouting and clapping their helmets together.
My personal sense of triumph was measured differently.
It wasn’t determined by the scoreboard. It was seeing her there. Knowing she was watching me, even if she didn’t know she was mine yet.
***
The buzz of an incoming call was reverberating through the wooden desk, my girl’s name flashing across the screen.
Ella . I loved the way her name just melted right on my tongue, a bite-sized morsel to devour, delicious and so fucking mine.
She was calling me. Not texting.
Calling .
That was new, but the beast inside me reared its head, thrashing and purring. It loved when she came to us and couldn’t wait to see her crawling for us.
Clenching my hands into fists, I let it ring once. Twice. It wouldn’t do to come across as eager. Pretending to debate on whether to answer her call gave me more of an edge.
With methodical movements, I picked up the device, my fingers curling around it like it was a fucking lifeline.
Blowing out a breath, I answered the call with practiced interest.
“Yeah?”
Cool. Collected. As if I hadn’t imagined this call every day for weeks .
“Hey, Hunter! It’s Ella.” My name on her lips short-circuited my brain, my dick instantly standing at attention. Fucker already knew who we belonged to.
“This is kind of random, but are you still looking for a roommate?” She sounded hesitant, a little breathless.
Fuck . I couldn’t wait to find out if that’s what she sounded like when I made her come.
You’re not going anywhere, baby. You just don’t know it yet.
“Wasn’t really looking in the first place. I don’t like people in my space,” I answered dryly.
I wanted her even more desperate than she already was. She needed to think this was what she wanted, so I couldn’t give in too easily.
Never mind that my cock was already throbbing so hard, I had to reach down and press my hand against the prominent bulge to stave off some of my need.
“Right. This was a bad idea, sorry, I’m-”
Nope. Wrong way, baby. “What do you need?”
“I just, um, well, it’s kind of a big favor, so I’m just gonna come right out with it.
I need a place to stay for one semester, and I’m pretty desperate.
Hailey mentioned Colt’s old room might still be available, but I know that’s probably not something you’re interested in.
” Her words were rushed, like she couldn’t wait to end this conversation.
“What do I get out of it?” I’d gotten up and was pacing the room now, with long and measured strides.
“Umm … rent?”
“I don’t need money.”
“Riiight. What do you want, then?”
You .
My jaw was clenched so tight from holding back a single word, I was afraid I’d crack a fucking tooth.
“Another favor. No questions asked.” I held my breath. Would she get suspicious or go for it?
“Only for you, my emotionally unavailable dark-web wizard.”
I could hear her smile through the fucking phone, and I wanted to taste that sound, wanted to own it.
My Blaze had called me hers … in a sense, at least. For the moment, I’d take it.
“Alright. The room is ready for you whenever. Just text me when you need the key.”
My pulse was pounding in my ears, like I’d just sprinted down the whole fucking length of the field, my body sensing the monumental shift this moment carried.
“Thanks for doing this, Hunter. Really. You’re kind of saving my ass.”
My reply was slow, deceptively casual. “Don’t read into it.”
After she hung up, I braced my hands against the wall, staring ahead, unseeing.
Holy fucking shit. It was finally happening. I blew out a breath I didn’t know I’d been holding.
Ella had no idea what she just walked into, had no idea the trap had been set months ago.
Colt’s former room had been ready for weeks.
There was a new mirror hung at the perfect height, fresh sheets with a high thread count and in her favorite color, and scented candles I’d tucked into the drawer — the same scent she lit when she studied.
Every “coincidence” in her house-hunting journey had been planned. Controlled. Executed. By yours fucking truly.
I’d created burner profiles, spoofed the number of anyone who could’ve fucked this up for me, and bribed a leasing agent.
There was nothing I’d stop at when it came to her. No line I’d leave uncrossed, if necessary.
She thought it was just a string of bad luck. But I knew better.
Welcome home, Ella .