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“What does she want?” Vaughn asked, moving toward his own closet and pulling out clothes for the day.

“How the hell should I know?” I hissed. “We don’t talk. Not since the breakup.”

I shoved my laptop into my backpack before reaching for my phone and wallet and turning toward the door. Vaughn blocked it with his arms crossed over his chest.

“You’re not going to fuck her.”

My heart and stomach did a humiliating little happy dance. “And why is that?” I couldn’t help but ask, just to hear him say it.

He lifted one eyebrow and the side of his lips in a knowing, challenging smirk. “Ah. Renegotiating our deal already, princess? Should I call Rowan? Invite her over?”

Arden called through the door again. “Bett?”

“Fuck off,” I muttered, trying to make it sound like I was talking to Vaughn when we both knew I was actually talking to Arden.

The smirk dropped from Vaughn’s face. “If your coach tries a fatigue drill today, you tell him to fuck off. Okay?”

I tilted my head at him in confusion. “What? He wouldn’t do that. We have a game this weekend, and he already did it once this week.”

“McNeely. If he tries it, what will you say?”

“He won’t. Now, move, I have to go.”

I tried shoving him out of the way, but he grabbed me, making it clear he was stronger than I was, like I might have forgotten the way he’d literally picked me up and hauled me around.

Then his fucking lips grazed my ear and made all the little hairs stand up on my arms and legs.

“You will make an excuse and leave. Stomach problems. Family emergency. I don’t care. Tell me you understand.”

Even though I should have snapped at him to mind his own fucking business, that I was a fully capable adult, I had to admit his concern did something to me. Made me feel cared for in a way I wasn’t used to.

I wanted to lean into him, inhale the sleepy, woodsy scent of his neck, and feel the strong curl of his arms around me. But that wasn’t what this was. Not really.

“M’kay,” I murmured. “Now, move.”

He let me step past him, but before I could open the door, he flattened me against it with the weight of his body against my back. His dick ground against one of my ass cheeks. “Do not touch her, McNeely. Promise me.”

“Vaughn,” I breathed, a slight whimper in the name. He thrust against my ass again. “I promise. Fuck. Okay.”

I felt the light pressure of his lips in my hair for the briefest moment before suddenly, he released me and sauntered away. “See you tonight.”

I shimmied my hips and tried to think disgusting thoughts to get my half chub to disappear before opening the door. The sight of Arden, all balled up with stress, took care of my dick faster than an ice bath would have.

“I have to get to class,” I began.

“Bett, we need to talk. It’s important.”

“So are my grades. It’s going to have to wait.”

I moved past her toward the stairs, but she followed.

“Have dinner with me?” she asked, sounding more vulnerable than usual. I glanced over in time to catch her flashing a smile and a small wave at a girl from my hall.

“Sorry, can’t. I have practice, then a paper due tomorrow.” It was a lie, but she didn’t know that.

“Bett, I really need to talk to you.”

When we got to the main level and exited the stairwell, I noticed she was a little out of breath. “Is this still about you wanting us to get back together?”