Chapter 4
Four
Luca
That sweet, delicious sound that Harper makes fills me with a thousand fantasies, all involving her naked and moaning my name.
I snag the seat next to her as she blatantly attempts to ignore me. She retrieves her laptop from her bag, her attention straight ahead as if I don’t exist.
But I’m confident that she feels my presence as much as I crave hers.
And I fully intend to make up for the disaster of a party she attended because I know girls like Harper, and she’ll never want to attend another one.
The girl is a bit of an open book, and while I love a little mystery, it helps that I can read her, probably better than she knows herself.
The fact that she’s trying to avoid me, but the tinge of her cheeks and her stare keep telling me she’s inwardly fighting her feelings, denying herself the pleasure that comes with liking me.
Yes, I’m confident she has feelings for me.
Just about every girl at Evergreen has a crush on me. That sounds egocentric, but it’s true. It comes with the territory of being a star athlete for the university. I get tons of girls chasing after me, puck bunnies, as we call them.
But it’s the girls who don’t do the chasing that I’m drawn toward, girls like Harper McKenna.
Perhaps I like a bit of the chase, trying to win her over, and Harper isn’t an easy girl to win the affection of. She’s closed off, and as much as I know her type, there’s still so much that I don’t know about her.
I barely pay attention because I took economics in high school and it was a breeze. This class isn’t much different for me, and since our homework assignments are always online, I don’t worry about actually listening to the professor.
My focus is spent on watching Harper.
She’s typing away at the keyboard, trying to write everything down at once, but it seems to me like she’s not catching the bigger points and just trying to remember everything.
I could help her with that, studying.
We have a test next week, which doesn’t worry me too much, but it’s the perfect excuse to spend time together. “We should get together and study for the exam,” I say.
“Why, so you can borrow my notes? Take your own, Ricci.”
I tap my head. “I’ve got it all up in here.”
She glares at me, unconvinced.
Not a complete surprise, since I did ask her to send me her notes the first few weeks of class. I was trying to find a reason to talk to her early on, and she kept shooting me down.
Class is dismissed, and Harper closes her laptop and shoves it back into her bag. She doesn’t answer me.
I saw her grade on the last assignment. It wasn’t great. She could use my help, and she knows it.
Harper lets out a soft sigh. “Just studying,” she says, glancing at me. “I need to ace my next exam to bring up my overall grade.”
“I promise, if you study with me, I’ll make sure you get an A.” It’s not a promise that I should make, but economics has been a breeze, and I’m sure I can help her with her next exam.
Her gaze tightens before she relents. “Where should we meet up, the library?” Harper asks.
“Come by my place. My roommates will be out of the house. We can study in the lounge.”
She stares at me like I just suggested we go skinny-dipping in a frozen lake.
“I promise, no funny business, just studying,” I reiterate.
“Okay,” she relents and follows me out of the classroom. “Can you do later this afternoon or tomorrow?”
“Any time after three today.”
We settle on four o’clock, which sounds perfect because it’ll put her over my place into the early evening hours, and I can suggest dinner afterward. “Do you remember my address?” I ask, making sure that she doesn’t have an excuse for not showing up.
“It’s only been a couple of days,” Harper says. “I’ll catch you later.” She heads out the door, and I follow her, walking her to her next class. I’m not letting her get rid of me that easily. Besides, with guys like Ashton on campus, I don’t want to be fighting for her attention.
“I’ll walk with you,” I say, accompanying her outside.
She presses her lips together and smiles. “You don’t have to. I know you don’t have a class this direction.”
“What makes you so sure about that?” There’s no way that she knows I’ve been walking her to class and then doubling back to head to my place.
I’ve been careful, waiting until she’s inside and out of sight before turning around.
The last thing in the world that I want is for her to think that I’m desperate and trying too hard.
“I saw you the other day, walking back,” she says and points in the opposite direction.
“Oh, that’s because I forgot my phone in the classroom.” The lie comes out quicker than I intend. It flows naturally, a protective mechanism of sorts.
Her eyes squint, and she nods. “Okay.”
Does she believe me? I’ll have to be more careful.
“It’s okay if you walk me to class,” Harper says, and her nose wrinkles. “It would actually be kind of sweet.”
“You can’t go telling your friends. I have a reputation to uphold,” I say, nudging her as we walk alongside one another.
“A reputation, huh?” She bites her bottom lip, and my cock stirs in my pants. There’s something sinfully hot about her mouth, the way her tongue darts out after chewing on her bottom lip, and I imagine her warm lips on my shaft.
Fuck.
Inwardly, I groan.
Thankfully, she isn’t the wiser.
I have never felt quite so nervous in my life, and all this pent-up energy for a study date. It’s because I’m spending it with Harper. And the studying part is just a formality.
If I had suggested that she come over and hook up, there was zero chance that she’d have said yes. Even if I’d offered to hang out and watch a movie, I’m pretty sure that she’d have come up with an excuse.
I’ve cleaned my room twice. I tidied up the place, in case she wants to see my bedroom upstairs. I’m hoping Ashton comes home early and Harper suggests studying someplace quieter. And that someplace isn’t on campus, like the library.
It’s like I’m a teenage boy all over again, my heart racing and my stomach tangled in knots, when I hear a soft rap at the front door.
I hurry to the door. Right now, no one else is here. Ashton is at class, and Liam is barely ever home. He has a twin sister, Sophia, who comes and goes like she lives with us. She doesn’t attend Evergreen, but she does attend our parties and hangs out after our hockey games.
She’s off-limits, since she’s Liam’s sister, and all the guys on the team know not to date her. He’s made it clear that anyone who touches her will be subjected to his wrath.
And Liam’s got quite a temper. No one even thinks twice about hitting on Sophia, and it’s not because she isn’t gorgeous. Our teammates are afraid of Liam and that he might chop off their dick if they so much as hit on his sister.
Liam doesn’t know that I slept with Sophia. We both agreed it was a one-off situation and that it would never happen again. Plus, she’s afraid if Liam finds out, she won’t be able to hang out and party at our place.
I’m more concerned that Liam might murder me in my sleep. It’s best if he doesn’t find out.
Sophia has just as much to lose if her brother finds out, so we both have a reason to keep it a secret.
“Hey, Harper,” I say with an eager smile as I open the door.
“Hey.” She hurries inside, shivering. As she steps out of her shoes and removes her coat, I try not to let my gaze wander over her body, but it’s impossible.
She’s wearing a deep burgundy sweater that goes down to her knees and black leggings that hug her thighs. Her sweater accentuates every delectable curve on her body.
It’s hard not to stare.
Harper presses her lips together, and her eyes shine with mirth. “Are you ready to get started?”
I lead her into our study lounge and grab a seat on the sofa, leaving her room to join me. There’s a table situated in front of us, and I’ve already got my books stacked up along with some notes I printed off from our online portal for class.
“I wouldn’t have agreed to study with you, but I saw your score on our last exam,” Harper says, and her cheeks redden. “You’re pulling an A in the class, aren’t you?”
I laugh under my breath. “You noticed that?”
“What do you get out of studying with me?” she asks, sitting next to me on the sofa. She unzips her backpack and retrieves her textbook and laptop.
“Aside from enjoying your company?”
That catches her attention, and she glances up at me, raising an eyebrow. “You didn’t ask me to study so that you’d flirt with me the entire time, did you?”
“Maybe?” I laugh and realize if I lie, I’ll only bury myself deeper. I don’t want to chance her standing up to leave. “I saw how you did on the last exam and thought you might want a little help. And the benefit for me is that I do like spending time with you.”
Her gaze tightens as she stares at me.
“I didn’t come over to hook up or whatever.”
I smile. “I didn’t think I’d be getting lucky.” A guy can fantasize, but that’s all it would be, at least for now. I need to give her time to realize how much she wants and needs me. “Just let me do this for you, Harper.”
She emits a soft sigh and nods. “Okay, yeah, sure.”
We open our textbooks, and I go over her notes with her and explain the equations and concepts that she’s been struggling with for the past couple of weeks. After a solid hour of going over everything, she sits back and stares up at the ceiling.
“Is your brain fried?” I tease, sensing that it might be a little too much for one day. I wasn’t planning on doing a cramming session with her, but that’s about how it’s going.
“No, it’s just—you’re so much better of a teacher than our professor.”
I nudge her playfully. “I’m not sure that says much. It’s not like I pay attention in class. Well, not to the teacher.”
Harper grins. “I knew you were staring at me!” She glares at me playfully, and her cheeks are bright red.
Is she embarrassed or turned on? I’ve dated girls like Harper. Jumping in headfirst and being overly direct just pushes them away faster.
“Would I do that?” I laugh, feigning ignorance when she playfully smacks me on the arm.
“Yes, I think you would.”
I shrug with a smile. “Maybe.” That’s all I’m giving her. Not because I don’t want to be direct and scream to the world that I like her, but because that type of intensity would scare her away.
And she’s all I think about all the damn time.
I’m not sure when it even happened, when desire and lust turned to want and need. But I’d do anything to make Harper McKenna happy, and if that starts with helping her pull up her grade in economics, so be it.
We spend another hour going over what will be on the exam before I hear her stomach grumble. I’m growing hungry, as well, but I don’t want to chance the night will be over the minute I suggest dinner.
“I should probably go, eat.” Harper leans back and stretches.
Everything about her is both adorable and sexy. Her messy hair, her rosy cheeks. The soft breaths that escape her gorgeous swollen lips that beg to be kissed.
It takes everything inside of me not to lean over and run my fingers through her hair and steal a taste.
“I’ll order food,” I say, hoping the invitation isn’t too forward for her. “We can finish studying while it gets here.”
“Okay, but my treat, since you’re helping me more than I’m helping you,” Harper says.
There’s zero chance that I’m letting her pay for dinner. “What do you feel like eating?” I ask.
“What do you feel like eating?” she counters back. Harper runs her fingers through her long tresses, and damn, is it hot. I love that messy hair look on her.
“I asked first,” I say, suppressing a growl and the need to claim her, to tell her she’s what I want to devour. If I let my mouth run, she’d tear out of the place and never speak to me again.
“You can’t go wrong with pizza,” she suggests.
We agree on the toppings and where to place the order. She shoves her credit card at me, but I refuse to take it while I’m on the phone, turning my back on her. I retrieve my card from my wallet and read off the digits, finalizing the order before hanging up. “Forty-five minutes.”
“You said I could pay,” she huffs at me.
A smirk plays on my lips. “You can pay for the next date.”
“Oh no, this isn’t a date.” Harper’s eyes widen, and she gestures between us, shaking her head adamantly. “And who said anything about us doing this again?”
“Oh, come on. We’re only halfway through the semester. Admit it, you’re going to need my help for our final.”
She curses under her breath. Harper has to know that I’m right, but she doesn’t seem like the type to easily admit defeat. “Fine, but next time we order takeout, I’m calling it in.” Her eyes are blazing, and I like how easy it is to rile her up.
“Sure, sure.” I lean back on the couch, laughing.
Harper presses her lips together, her gaze tight as she stares at me. “I should just give you cash for the pizza.” She reaches for her backpack on the floor.
I grab her wrist, stopping her. “I’m not taking your money.”
“And why not?” she asks, tilting her head, staring at me with wide, doe-like eyes.
Her stare is invigorating. So is her tenacity. I release my grip on her wrist, and I swear I hear her whimper.
Fuck, this girl knows how to get to me.