Page 145 of Forever Defiant
Dustin
We walked out of the classroom, and I wasn’t happy at the fresh turn things had taken.
What the fuck did I know about dating? Andfakedating Peterson? This was going to go wrong. So wrong.
We checked the room Dante and Savvy had been in — it was empty. She’d be okay, and he would be taking care of her.
“Oh, one thing.” Hadley turned around to look at me critically. “Apart from our incident in the street, how are you with PDA?”
“PDA . . .”
She pinched the bridge of her nose. “Tell me you know what that is.”
“Of course I do,” I snapped at her and saw her eyebrow rise. “Fuck. Just... Today’s been a lot.”
Her expression softened, and she stepped into my space, her hand catching my hoodie when I went to step back. “You’re going to have to get used to this,” she murmured. “I just outed our relationship, people will expect us to be up close and personal. Don’t look like you want to run, and instead look like youwantme in your space.”
“Okay.” I nodded; it made sense. “But I’m usually... more discreet.”
“I know.” She tapped my phone in my pocket. “Contrary to the evidence, I do know that. But the more open we are, the more pics will be taken of us, and the pic in your pocket loses more and more of its potency.” She looked up at me. “Do you get what I’m saying?”
I did. She was right, and I was very grateful she was handling this entire shitty situation that way. I’d expected her to spiral. Instead, I got a problem solver running plays in real time.
“Hey.” I pulled her back when she went to step back. “You handled that well, Peterson.”
She smiled. “I know.” She went to move away again, and I kept hold of her. “What are you doing?”
“Getting used to public displays of affection,” I murmured, my hand sliding around her waist and resting just above her ass.
“We’re not in public,” she said, and I loved that despite her confidence, she looked nervous. “There’s no camera here.”
“Shut up, Peterson.” I kissed her softly, the way I had the first night, only with less intent to get into her bed. I just wanted to kiss her. Her mouth opened, and I deepened the kiss; her hands linked around my neck, and my hand slipped lower to cup her ass. The heat between us grew, and by the time I pulled back, her face was flushed, I had a semi, and I think if either of us suggested going back into that classroom, we’d have gone.
Hadley swallowed, looking away for a moment. “I think less intense going forward,” she said shakily. “We don’t want to forget we’re trying to save your image, not put the final nail in the coffin.”
I grinned. “No one will believe it if I’m only half-assing it.” I adjusted my dick in my pants; her eyes widened at my openness. “You did this,” I told her, barely holding back the smile. “You’re going to have to accept it.”
“I’m not actually going to have sex with you,” she hissed at me as we walked toward the exit.
“Don’t be too sure.” I grabbed her hand, fingers linking, and I kissed the back of it. “I’ll remind you that you said that when you’re on your back begging for more.”
“Slater!” she whisper-hissed as the sunshine hit us. “Will you listen?”
I pulled her into my side, noticing a few people were already looking. “Play along.” I kissed her openly, just a brief brush of the lips, but it was new for me. I was usually in a bar, or in a club, or at a football party. Not in the quad in the middle of the morning, sober. “I’ll see you later. This is a brilliant idea. I need to tell the others so they don’t blow this up. Okay?” I kissed her again. “Thanks, Peterson, I mean it.”
She smiled, one of resigned defeat and acceptance. “Only you could make thissimpleidea complicated.” She leaned up and kissed the corner of my mouth. “I’ll see you later. Remember, no flirting with other girls,I’myour girl for the moment, not your PITA.”
I snorted. “You’remypain in the ass, you mean.”
“Goodbye, Slater.”
She walked away and was already on her phone, probably checking if Savvy was okay. I needed to find Noah and see if he was alright. Getting woken up suddenly and lashing out isn’t the reaction I’d have; I’d be confused and wondering where the hell I was. But Noah was a bit of a wild card— he’s the guy who challenged his teammates because Dante was going to. He was the guy who said ‘leave it with me’ when Dante said he was in trouble with some shady shit back home.
I know why Dante hithim, but again, it was not the reaction I would have had. Would I be pissed? Obviously. Would I know it was an accident? Of course. Mr. Cool-and-Calm QB was being too much of a hothead lately. I needed to calm him down.
I called Noah. He didn’t answer.
I called Dante. He didn’t answer.
