Chapter 6
Caydence
Life can be complicated for some but boring for others.
I’m the one with the boring life. When I really think about things, I have few friends.
I don’t go out. I don’t have fun. I go to school, home, and work now.
The masked man has been on my mind lately.
Wondering who he is, what he wants? The thought that he’s out there somewhere waiting for me sends a chill down my spine, but in a good way.
He’s the only thrill I have going for me right now.
“Hey,” I hear someone speak, while I’m lost in my own pity party. I look up to see Colt, one of the football players, dropping into the seat next to me.
“Um, hi.”
“I’m Colt,” he says, offering his hand.
“I know who you are,” I tell him, not taking it. I don’t know what the joke is, but I’m not into it. None of the football players has ever looked my way before, so this has to be some kind of prank.
“You do?”
“Doesn’t everyone know the football players?” I ask. He shrugs.
“I don’t know what they know.”
“Did you need something?” I ask when he doesn’t speak after that. He smiles, and he isn’t bad looking, but I know there’s a reason he’s sitting here right now, and I probably don’t want to be a part of it.
“I was wondering if you wanted to go out with me later tonight. After the game,” he asks. Yeah, there’s the joke.
“Nice try. I’m not into the games.” I turn back to my book lying on the table when he clears his throat.
“Games? What games?”
“Whatever game you and your friends are trying to play. Get the nerdy girl to go out with you.”
“Is that what you think I’m doing?” he asks, sounding shocked, and when I look over at him, he truly seems shocked.
“Isn’t it?”
“No. I simply wanted to take you out.”
“You don’t know me.”
“Isn’t that kind of the point of going out together? Listen, if you have a boyfriend, I get it,” he says, scooting back away from me a little. What am I doing? Why do I always do this? Maybe he isn’t a bad guy. Maybe I’m just being too harsh.
“I’m sorry. I’ve just had a bad run with men,” I tell him. He nods his head.
“I get it. I thought I’d try,” he says, before standing. Before he can walk away, I reach up and grab his wrist. He looks back at me quickly.
“Really. I’m sorry. I’d love to go out,” I tell him. He smiles, and it’s a great smile. Most girls would dream of this, but I’m still a little on edge.
“What’s going on here?” I hear Devon’s voice. He walks over, and I pull my hand away from Colt’s arm.
“I asked Caydence out tonight. I’m going to take her to the race,” Colt responds.
“Is that right?” Devon asks, looking down at me. I look up at him, and our eyes lock, something dark dancing in his. “Is that the best idea?” he asks, glancing over at Colt.
“Why not? I’m getting her out of the house,” he says. Devon nods his head before turning and walking away.
“Do you and Devon have a thing?” Colt asks me. I shake my head.
“No.” We don’t. I work for him, and that’s it. He offered to talk to me at school, but I think that was more out of pity than anything.
“So I’ll see you at the game then?” he asks me with a smile. I nod.
“I’ll be there. Where do you want me to meet you after?”
“By the fieldhouse. I’ll come out quickly,” he assures me. I nod my head, and Colt walks off while I look back down at my book. Someone drops down next to me, but I don’t look over until I can feel his eyes on me. Then I turn my head to see Devon.
“Colt, huh?”
“What do you mean?”
“You’re going to date Colt?” I almost laugh, but I stifle it.
“I’m not dating anyone. He asked me to go out.”
“And you’re going.”
“Should I not?” I wonder if he knows something I don’t about why Colt asked me to begin with. It truly makes me wonder.
“I’m not saying anything. Just making an observation.”
“Which is?”
“I don’t think you should go out with Colt.” He blurts it out it but doesn’t even seem to be fazed by what he just said to me. He doesn’t think I should go out with Colt?
“Why is that?” I see him lick his lips before he leans in closer, his lips so near to my ear.
“I don’t like competition, Caydence.”
“What does that mean?” His lips move closer, barely grazing my earlobe, and a shiver runs down my spine.
“I think you know what that means. Don’t let him touch you tonight.”
“Why would he?”
“Because he’s a man, Caydence. I’d hate to have to cut his fucking hands off for laying one on you.” With that, he pulls away and walks off. I sit stunned by everything that just happened.
I look back down, but I can’t even enjoy my book after what just happened. And what he said to me? He doesn’t like competition?
I look up to see Megan coming toward me before she sits in the seat he left.
“Why do you look so pale?”
“I just had the strangest thing happen,” I tell her.
“What? What happened?”
“Colt asked me out tonight,” I say as she gasps.
“What?”
“That’s not it.”
“There’s more?” she blanches.
“Devon said something strange to me.”
“What did he say?”
“That he doesn’t like competition.”
“What? He’s into you? Holy shit, Cay!” I shake my head, running my hand through my hair.
“It’s a game. I’m sure of it. They’re just messing around,” I state.
“How do you know that?”
“Look at me and look at them, Meg. It’s a joke.”
“Well, what did you say?”
“I told Colt I’d go.” Her face lights up in a smile, and she claps her hands.
“You’re going out!”
“I don’t know if I should,” I tell her.
“Oh, you’re going. And you’re going to have a great time.
I’ll meet you at the house, and we can pick out an outfit for you to wear.
I have to go pick up some papers real quick.
” She says quickly before rushing off. I grab my book and shove it into my bag before standing and hefting it over my shoulder.
As I leave the area, someone grabs my wrist. I start to shake my arm to get them off when I look over and see it’s Devon. He doesn’t speak, just pulls me along behind the building with him. Then he shoves me against the wall and cages me in with his arms.
“This is a bad idea,” he murmurs more to himself than to me.
“Do you know something I don’t?” I ask this time. This has to be about Colt. He knows he’s only messing with me, doesn’t he?
“I’m a jealous man, Caydence.”
“What does that have to do with me?” Now he looks down into my eyes, and I can feel the fire burning beneath my skin. His touch is pure fire. His eyes are pure heat.
“It has everything to do with you.”
“I don’t get it.”
“Okay. Let me make it clear to you. I want you,” he says, keeping his tone even. At first, I nearly laugh because there’s no way he wants a girl like me, but when I look at him, I can see he’s serious.
“You want me?”
“More than I can say. And the idea of Colt putting his hands anywhere near you is making me crazy,” he adds.
“It’s not like that.”
“Not for you it might not be, but it is for him.”
“I don’t think so. He’s just being nice.”
“Is he? Or is he trying to take something I want?”
“I’m not a toy, Devon.”
“Not yet, you’re not, but one day you will be. My fucking toy. The one I get to play with. Only me.” I’m nearly breathless at the proximity, but his words are stirring heat inside of me. I shouldn’t like the way he’s talking to me right now, but I do.
“What’s stopping you?” I ask in a near whisper. His jaw ticks, his nostrils flare, and I can see the way his eyes darken right in front of me before he lowers his head slowly.
His lips barely brush against mine, and I suck in a breath right before he claims my mouth with his. His kiss is heated. His tongue dives into my mouth and slowly slips along mine. I’ve never felt anything like this in my life. The slow, sensual way he’s kissing me has my body trembling.
I reach up and grab hold of his arms to steady myself, and he releases a low growl. When Devon pulls back, I know my lips are swollen. I can feel them. He looks me in the eye but doesn’t say a word as we both stand here, me in shock at what just happened.
Devon leans in and presses a kiss to my forehead before turning and walking away from me, leaving me a heated mess.