Page 4 of Eff Marry Kill

Nova doesn't do defeat. She doesn't give up, quit, or surrender, either.

I know because I've been chasing her like the fucking wind since the first time her brother, Nate, introduced us after I signed with the Pirates a year and a half ago. She refuses to be caught. Has that stopped me from chasing her? Hell no. If I'm being honest, I doubt it ever will.

I've got fame and fortune. Neither of them keeps me warm at night. Neither does my baseball career. But the pretty little minx who spouts defiance at me like it's her job? Yeah, she'd keep me warm enough to burn.

Unfortunately for me, as far as she's concerned, I'm persona non grata in her life. Nothing I do ever changes her mind. I tell her that I'm wild about her, and she laughs. I tell her that I want to know what she tastes like, and she rolls her eyes. I'm polite and respectful, and she looks pissed.

It drives me up the fucking wall.

I kill the engine and climb from my truck, stalking toward her. She tips her head back, her big hazel eyes locking on my face. Her pupils are dilated, but she looks exhausted, like she's run out of energy.

The sight squeezes my heart in a vise. The rest of her turns my dick to steel. Nova is a firecracker with the sweetest curves and prettiest brown skin I've ever seen. Every inch of her is soft and thick, made exactly for a man like me. She's the kind of beautiful you can't buy or fake. It doesn't come from makeup, expensive clothing, or a lotion bottle. It's just her, inside and out.

I'm not the only one who notices. Every time she moves, all eyes are on her. It's hard not to watch when she laughs so freely, says whatever is on her mind, and smiles like she keeps secrets the rest of the world would kill to hear.

When I'm feeling particularly delusional, I convince myself that she doesn't date because she feels the same way about me. She certainly has options, but she never takes them. She's rejected half the damn league at this point.

I want it to be because of me so fucking badly it's unreal.

"Hey, Starlight," I murmur, holding my hand out to her. "You okay?"

If the prick in her bed touched her, he's dying tonight.

"Yes." She hesitates before taking my hand, allowing me to pull her up. And, just like always, as soon as my skin touches her, I feel her everywhere. I know she feels the same chemical thrill, too. She shivers and pulls away. "I told you not to come."

"Tough shit. I'm here." I tip her chin back, forcing her to meet my gaze. "How long has this been going on?"

"You mean, how long have random, half-naked men been showing up in my bed?" she asks. "Or how long has Larissa been an actual diagnosable psychopath? Because those answers are drastically different, Huxley."

"How long, Nova?"

"Months," she mutters. "She's been doing shit like this for months, trying to force me out of the apartment. Last weekend, it was a party she failed to discuss with me. The month before, it was her brother showing up at three in the morning, and then not leaving for ten days."

I jerk my chin in a nod, pissed but not entirely surprised. I warned Nate that her roommate was an issue. He didn't handle it. Well, he had his chance. Now, I'm handling it.

"Get in the truck and wait for me."

"What?" Nova's lips pull down into a frown. "Why?"

"Just wait for me, Nova."

She huffs a breath and then scowls before throwing her hands up. "Fine. Whatever. My wine is wearing off, and I'm not happy about it. I just want to go to sleep, and I can't! I have to burn my bed and buy a new one first."

I press my keys into her hand and then wait until I'm sure she's not going to drive off without me, just out of spite, before I take the stairs two at a time. I don't bother to knock. I just barge in.

The apartment is silent.

I head straight for Nova's room, my blood pressure spiking when I see the prick asleep in her bed, drooling on her fucking pillow. I want to kill him, but I have a feeling that won't solve anything. It'll just get my ass stuck in a cell. That's not a risk I'm willing to take, not if it means leaving Nova out here alone.

I kick his foot instead. "Wake the fuck up."

He jolts, blinking bleary eyes at me. "W-what's going on?"

"Get the fuck up."

"What?"

"I said get up," I growl, dragging the covers off him. "Before I drag you out of my girl's bed my goddamn self."