Kara barely got out the words, "I'm late for P.E.," before Rox's hand gripped her arm and slammed her into the locker.
Her breath caught.
His tall frame towered over her, close enough that she could feel the heat rolling off his body like a stormfront.
"You're not going to P.E. wearing that," he growled, voice low and dangerous.
Kara's eyes narrowed. "What's wrong with it? It's just jeans and a tank top."
Rox's gaze dragged over her like velvet. From the swell of her breasts, to the subtle curve of her waist, down to the tight outline of her hips, the look in his eyes made her skin burn.
Her breath came faster. His nearness wasn't just intoxicating, it was consuming.
"Rox..." she whispered. "What are you doing? What if someone sees us?"
His eyes burned into hers. "I don't care."
Her heart pounded. The air between them crackled.
Every inch of her skin was alert to him, the way his hand brushed her waist, how his fingers pressed gently into her side.
She felt like she was drowning in heat.
"What happened to not wanting people to think we're together?" she muttered.
He leaned in closer. "Fuck people."
A jolt shot through her like lightning. Her knees nearly buckled, and she shut her eyes, waiting for his lips.
But they never came.
She opened her eyes to find him smirking. His perfect smile, sharp and smug, twisted her stomach.
"I-Idiot," he said softly, before grabbing her wrist and dragging her toward the boys' locker room.
"Let me go!" Kara shouted, trying to twist free.
He released her roughly and opened a locker, tossing a football jersey into her face.
She held it up with two fingers like it was a diseased sock. "What is this?"
"Put it on."
"No. You're not my boss. You don't get to tell me what to wear."
He stepped forward, shirt discarded, muscles defined under the fluorescent lights. Her mouth ran dry.
"Put. It. On." he said again, his voice a slow rumble.
"No."
He stripped off his jeans next.
Kara yelped, shielding her eyes with both hands. "Oh my god! What are you doing?!"
He laughed, deep and low. The kind of laugh that vibrated through her chest.
By the time she peeked through her fingers, he was only in jersey shorts, walking toward the locker room doors.
"You won't behave?" he said with a shrug. "Guess I'll just lock you in here."
Her heart stopped as the door slammed shut behind him.
"Rox!" she screamed. "Please...open the door!"
"Put on the damn shirt, Kara."
She huffed, grabbed the jersey, and yanked it over her head.
It hung on her like a dress, but it was better than the crop top and skin-tight jeans.
"Okay! I've worn it!" she shouted.
The door creaked open.
He stood there with the cockiest grin imaginable. "That's my girl."
She glared daggers at him as she stomped out.
They arrived at the football field moments later. The place buzzed with players, cheerleaders, and blaring whistles.
"You're late, Middleton!" the coach barked.
"Sorry, coach," Rox said, not looking sorry at all. Someone tossed him his gear and he winked at Kara before jogging onto the field.
Kara tried to keep her cool as she sat on the bench.
But then, the whispers.
"She's wearing Rox's jersey."
The cheerleaders stared daggers into her soul. Her stomach churned.
Rox Middleton had just turned her life at Mountain High into something way more complicated.
And God help her, she wasn't even sure if she hated it.