Rivaled Hearts

Chapter 5

I followed Harper through the crowd, my thoughts a tangled mess of anticipation and nerves. The roar of the crowd from earlier still echoed in my ears, but now all I could focus on was the rhythmic sway of her hips as she walked ahead of me. The campus was still alive from post-game energy, students milling about, but none of that mattered. All I could think about was Harper and what was about to happen.

She didn't look back, didn't say anything as she led me away from the stadium, past groups of students and towards the quieter part of campus. My heart pounded harder with every step, the tension between us thick enough to cut with a knife. This wasn't how I usually operated – I wasn't the type to chase after a girl, especially one who made it clear she didn't give a damn about my reputation. But Harper was different. She got under my skin in a way that no one else ever had, and I needed to know if this tension between us was real or just some twisted game we were playing.

Harper finally stopped in front of a building, one of the older dorms on campus. It was quieter here, far from the noise and chaos of the post-game crowd. She turned to face me, her expression unreadable, and for a moment, we just stared at each other.

"You sure about this?" she asked, her voice low and challenging.

I nodded, stepping closer. "Yeah, I'm sure."

She studied me for a moment longer, as if weighing her options. Then, without another word, she turned and headed inside. I followed, my pulse racing, every nerve in my body on high alert. The dorm was quiet, most of the students probably still out celebrating or at the game. We moved quickly through the halls, Harper leading the way with an air of confidence that was both intimidating and irresistable.

She stopped in front of a door and pulled out her key, unlocking it with a quick twist of her wrist. As soon as the door clicked open, she pushed it wide and stepped inside. I followed her into the small, dimly lit room. It was tidy, but with a few personal touches – a couple of posters on the wall, some books stacked on a desk, a bed neatly made in the corner. It wasn't what I expected, but then again, nothing about Harper ever was.

She closed the door behind us, the sound of the latch clicking shut echoing in the small space. Then she turned to face me, and the look in her eyes was pure fire. There was no hesitation, no second-guessing. This was happening, and we both knew it.

I stepped toward her, and she met me halfway. The second my hands found her waist, it was like a switch flipped inside me. All the frustration, the tension, the back-and-forth that had been building between us for months – it all came to a head in that moment. I pulled her against me, crashing my lips onto hers with a hunger that had been burning inside me since the first time we'd locked eyes.

Harper responded with the same intensity, her hands fisting in my shirt as she kissed me back. It was rough, almost aggressive, but that only made it better. This wasn't about romance or softness; this was about something raw and primal, something we both needed to get out our systems.

I backed her up against the wall, my hands roaming her body, feeling every curve, every line. She let out a low, breathless moan that only spurred me on. I wanted more, more of her, more of this. My hands slid down to the hem of her dress, bunching it up as I traced the skin of her thighs. She didn't stop me, didn't hesitate, just tugged at my shirt, pulling it over my head in one swift motion.

Her fingers were cool against my skin, her touch igniting every nerve. I pushed her dress up higher, finally lifting it over her head and tossing it aside. She was stunning, her skin glowing in the low light, her eyes dark with desire. I didn't waste any time, pressing my lips to her neck, trailing kisses down her collarbone, savoring the way she shivered under my touch.