I Dare You (Waylon University, #1)

by Ilsa Madden-Mills

“This.” He kisses me, an almost imperceptible touch as he brushes his full lips against mine. The contact of our mouths is electric, sparks of fire skating along my skin.

“What was that?” I ask, my voice breathless. “That’s your first kiss of the bonfire. Now you’ll never forget me.” And then, before I can think of a reply, he’s gone.

my cat, stands and hisses at me, his black and white fur

Shit not a good idea to read a book that has a cat in it, the day after I loose mine 😭😭

“Sorry, little man.”

Awhh that’s what I called my baby too

I read the text. Hey, sexy. I’m glad I have a library card because I was checking you out today. Do you have a Band-Aid? Because I scraped my knee falling for you.

Maverick likes Star Wars?

He’s hard to look at full-on, but I do, letting our eyes meet, my green and his pale blue. Almost iridescent, like a glittering opal, they contrast vividly with his tanned skin.

“Yeah, you know, the one girl who makes your heart pound like crazy every time she walks into the room.” He’s looking at me with an intensity that makes me breathless. Does he mean me? Don’t be ridiculous.

Yeah, I’m interested in her, always have been, but she is my teammate’s ex, and that’s touchy.

“At five in the morning? It’s still dark—you might get run over.” He’s got an obstinate look on his face. “I’ll stick to the sidewalks and areas with streetlights.” “At least wear pants. It’s cold as shit out there.” I huff out a laugh. “Dude, are you sure you aren’t a girl?” He shrugs. “Just worry about you is all.” “Bye, Mom,” I say sarcastically as I head out the door.

Truth: I haven’t been with a girl in months. I’m turning them down left and right. You’re so full of yourself. True, he says. But I am the best. Best at what? Football? Volleyball? Baseball? Why are you turning them down? I ask. I’ve been waiting on you. WHAT?

“Maybe I’ve been waiting two years for you to be free so I could ask you out.”

“She’s beautiful and she cooks?” “Stop flirting,” I snip. “I’m not beautiful.” “You are.”

“In case you didn’t know it already, I like how you look.” His eyes slowly drink me in, drifting over my face and lingering on my chest. “All that blonde hair, and your green eyes. I dig how tall you are…and your curves.”

I know when a woman wants me, and I want you too, Princess Leia. I have for a long time.

“Just do me a favor, okay? Don’t hurt him. He’s been through enough already.” My heart drops at the thought of hurting Maverick. Of course I wouldn’t.

“I’d do anything for some people—you’ll figure that out about me,” Maverick says softly, and suddenly it feels as if we’re all alone and not in a crowded studio surrounded by people.

“I’m not perfect, but I know what I want.” My eyes go heavy as I run my gaze over her, taking in the way her breasts push against the fabric of her dress. “You’re the one that got away, Delaney, the opportunity I missed.”

So do I. I swallow, feeling breathless. “I…I have to ask you something.” “What?” My chest catches as our eyes meet. I bite my lip. “Are you…He-Man?” His chin goes up as his eyes lower to half-mast. “Damn, Buttercup, I’ve been waiting weeks for you to ask me that.”

“Maverick is into her,” comes a gruff voice from behind me as two strong arms wrap around me and a nose finds my neck and inhales. “Damn, I’ve missed you.”

My body melts into his. God…yes. This is what I need.

“I can have sex even if I’m half-dead, but right now, I just want to hold you.”

Damn. I’m halfway in love with this girl.

“You’re too beautiful for me,” he says.

He tugs my neck forward and kisses me, his chest against my breasts. In between kisses he whispers, “You’re everything I’ve ever wanted.”

We’re moving so fast, but I can’t stop it. I can’t. I want him. Maybe I love him.

“Okay, fine. I can’t deny a few fantasies,” I murmur. “There’s this one in particular where you’re in a Han Solo outfit in my front yard holding an eighties-style boom box, trying to woo me.” “Do I have a light saber?” I grin, waggling my eyebrows. “Oh, yeah, a big one.”

God, yes. I do love him. Maybe I have since the moment he admitted he was He-Man. Maverick is in my blood, my skin, my bones. He’s the light, the sun I want to orbit.

Before I get far, he calls out, “We aren’t over, Delaney, not by a long shot. I’m going to make you proud of me.”

“I love you, Delaney. I love you so damn much, and watching you walk away from me and not being able to do the right thing for you…I never want to go through that again.”

“Will you still love me if I don’t play in the NFL?” “Hell yes,” I say. “That’s the answer I was looking for.”

“I’m taking care of her,” Delaney says proudly. “She’s my family.” Love slams into me. What I ever did to deserve her, I don’t know.

“I love you,” I mouth at her as she straightens up. She’s everything, mine, and maybe she has been since the night of the bonfire. We just had to figure it out.

Forget this being my year. I look at her and Raven. This is our year.

After winning the national championship with the Waylon Wildcats, Maverick went on to be drafted in the first round by the Tennessee Titans.

She lived with us until Maverick was drafted, and then made it clear that while she loved us, she did not want to be attached to us at the hip. So, we did some research and found her a facility nearly identical to Pineview in Nashville.

As for me, I’m designing a line of clothing for my new Geek Girl fashion label

“It feels like I’ve waited forever to do this. Delaney Renee Shaw, will you marry me and make me the happiest Jedi in the universe? I promise to always love you—and your cats—and give you everything you could ever want, body and soul.” Tears flood my eyes as I take him in: his pure heart, the way he fights for those he loves, the way he loves me. “Yes. Always. You are everything.” “You’re everything, Buttercup, and I couldn’t have made it without you by my side.” He stands up, cups my face, and kisses me, and I know that no matter what, he and I can do anything together.