Zone Entry (Camrose U, #1)

by Maia Kinley

“Or maybe I’ll take yours, golden boy.” “Golden boy…?” “You heard me. Or do you prefer campus hottie? Prom king?”

Fuck. I was wrong. He’s not a fake-ass golden boy. No… Nick Sandoval’s a fucking doormat.

“Never had a girlfriend, never will.” “Because of your pleasant personality?” He grins. “Wow, feisty. Actually, it’s because I’m gay as fuck.” Uh? I stare at him blankly. “What?” he asks. “You have an issue with that?” “Of course not. Sorry. I just didn’t realize. No issue.” “You straight?” The question makes my face burn again, and I hunch over my phone, hoping he can’t see me blushing. “Yes.” “Funny, considering you’ve been checking me out for the past three minutes.” I choke in surprise. “I’m not checking you out!” “Keep saying that,” he says, cackling as he turns away.

He suddenly closes the space between us and reaches for me, and it’s so sudden and unlike him, I don’t even have the time to react. Nick wraps long fingers around my throat and squeezes it, his eyes hardening. Show me the real you, golden boy. I can’t help but smirk. Jesus, I need help.

Note to self: Next time I want Caleb to shut up, all I need to do is grip his throat.

“Nick, go to bed,” I murmur. He huffs a laugh. “I like it more when you call me Nicky.”

And then I do what makes sense—I fist my hand in his hair and yank him closer, smashing our mouths together once more.

Then he pats my cheek as if I’m a puppy and whispers, “Good boy.” I choke in surprise and Caleb grins wickedly.

Inside it is a thick scarf that’s the same color as his beanie. “I noticed you wear that color a lot.” And I like how it matches your eyes.

“You’re a menace,” he says, his voice angry and hot. He yanks me up by the hair and his other hand slides up my chest and wraps gently around my throat, and my dick leaks at how turned on I am.

This. This was the Nick I’ve been waiting for.

It’s me falling in love with him, full speed ahead and with no hesitation.

“Nicky,” Caleb murmurs against my shoulder, his voice tired and barely audible. “Go to sleep, love.” My heart leaps and my fingers freeze in his hair, but he doesn’t seem to notice. I wonder if he even realizes what he called me—since the day we met, he comes up with all these new nicknames for me. That one may just be my favorite.

After a minute of me not moving and only studying him, Caleb looks up with a frown. “Why aren’t we leaving?” he asks. “I’m falling in love with you,” I blurt out.

“Chin up, babe!” “I can’t score,” I murmur. “Who cares? We’re up by two.” I glance up at the stands. “They care.” “Ignore them. Put on your stupid fake smile and play like you always do.” “You hate my stupid fake smile.” “Yeah, but I love you, and I know you’ve got this,” he says, and my heart thumps. I blink at him, stunned. Rhys pushes my shoulder. “If you two are done flirting, we’ve got a game.” Caleb gives him a mock salute. “Aye aye, Captain.”