Page 4 of Out of the Shadows
“Well, if it isn’t the beast,” an all too familiar voice sneered behind me. “And what’s this? Where did you find such abeauty?”
I looked up at the ceiling, and it took all my effort not to tug my shirt away from my body to make sure it wasn’t sticking to my stomach. A reflex from days long gone. Hailey raised her eyebrows as the perfect example of a medical or law student joined the group.
Alexander Fairfax III was every bit as pretentious and entitled as his name suggested. A long, long time ago, when we were kids, we used to be friends. Then I started to get more and more attention on the football field, and he got pissed off because he didn’t make the team. Somehow, we’ve not seen eye to eye since, and he’s taken his frustrations out on me.Fucking prick.
“Alex” — hehatedbeing called Alex — “this is Hailey. Hailey—”
“Alexander Fairfax III, it’s a pleasure.” He looked Hailey up and down, his gaze speculative and lewd. I wanted to punch him. After years of verbal put-downs from him, which had stung me but rarely elicited a response, that single look was the straw that broke the camel’s back.
“Right back at you,” Hailey said deadpan before skillfully ignoring the hand he held out and turning to face me. “Want to head back over to Hunter?”
Stunned but trying not to show it, I nodded mutely.
“Come on, then.” She grabbed my wrist loosely, her small soft hand unable to fully encompass it. I cast a murderous glance in Alexander’s direction before following her as if she were holding me on a leash.Fuck, was it possible to come without my cock even being touched?Because it sure as hell felt like it was.
Heat crackled up my arm like an electric shock, moving down my back and striking my dick like a bolt of lightning. I swear that motherfucker was twitching in my jeans.
I followed her small form perfectly displayed in the dark-green dress that clung like a second skin, and watched the ends of her black hair brush against the fabric at her lower back.
“Did you really want to get away, or did you think you had to leave because of me?”
“Both.” She didn’t look back at me.
“You don’t have to feel sorry for me. And you don’t have to hang out with me if you’d rather have stayed with any of them. I wouldn’t hold it against you.” Although, the thought of her with Alex, or any guy for that matter, made me sick. Oh God, I’d better get over this infatuationquickbecause this would not end well for me. A picture-perfect little cheerleader didn’t end up with the guy they calledthe beast.
This time, she glanced over her shoulder, leveling me with a scowl.
“Why the hell would I want to hang out with Butthead III? And what the fuck would I feelsorryfor you for? That you’reprobably more real than the majority of people in this room?”
I recoiled, my throat bone dry as I searched fruitlessly for a response and blanked.
She blushed before turning away again and continuing on her way. When we made it back to the armchairs, mine still unoccupied, I offered her my spot.
“Nah, you go ahead and sit down. No offense, but I think you’re a bit too big for my spot.”
“I could sit on the floor,” I mumbled.
“What for? Then I’d just feel guilty because you’re uncomfortable. Or did it bother you that I was sitting there?”
Did it bother me?At least now I had confirmation she hadn’t noticed the massive hard-on I was sporting.
“Nope,” I ground out, fully aware I sounded like a complete idiot, but try as I might, I couldn’t force any more words out of my far-too-constricted throat.
I plopped down heavily into the chair, careful to pull my shirt away from my stomach so it wouldn’t show. I wore clothes two sizes too big, but old habits die hard.
Hailey, on the other hand, settled next to me so elegantly that the differences between us were clear as night and day.
“That okay?” she asked.
I jerked my arm away, making sure it wasn’t resting against her ass, which was quite a challenge given my size, but I nodded. Of course, it was okay. In case this was the only and last time I was this close to her, I wouldn’t complain. The chances of me being that much of a lucky bastard ever again and getting anywhere near her were slim.
There was no way in hell no one else would snatch her up, and although I despised the thought with gut-twisting, deepest loathing, I knew it would happen. So, yes, it wasmore than okay, and I would take every last scrap I could get.
“Sure.”
Hunter sat next to us, quiet as ever, but she wasn’t fazed. In fact, Hailey didn’t seem the least bit interested in him, which struck me as odd. Whenever girls approached us, it was always because of Hunter.Always. He didn’t fit the norm either, with his silence and other issues, but his good looks usually overshadowed that fact — at least in their eyes, I suppose.
And yet, Hailey paid little attention to him. Instead, she gave me her full attention. Normally, I shrank into myself when someone, especially a girl, stared at me so intensely, but with Hailey, it was different.
