Accidentally claimed by the Hockey Alpha

Chapter 3

Shay's POV

Mal's fingers stop moving inside me. He rests his forehead against mine, breathing hard. For a second, I think he might ignore Maya and continue with me.

Part of me wants him to. The new part of me that's never felt anything like this before.

He fixes my zip, then reaches up to straighten my hair. His nose touches my neck as he breathes me in, like he's trying to memorize my scent. It should feel strange, but it doesn't. It makes my heart race in a way I've never experienced.

God, what is wrong with me? This is Malcolm Haywood. I look into his eyes as he brings me down from the counter.

Maya bursts in as Malcolm opens the door. "We need to go now. Tessa's here, and she's looking for Malcolm."

"Tessa? Who's Tessa?" I ask.

"Let's go, Shay." Maya pulls me toward the door. I look back at Mal, and he's watching me with an intensity that makes my knees weak.

Maya drags me through the party. People are still dancing, still drinking, still making out in corners, but all I can think about is what just happened.

My body is still humming from his touch. I can still feel the ghost of his fingers inside me. I've never felt anything like that before. Jake never made me feel like my skin was on fire, like I might die if someone didn't touch me.

Mal walks out of the bathroom behind us, and now I understand why girls lose their minds over him. He is trouble wrapped in perfection.

Then she appears.

A gorgeous blonde appears beside him. She leans into him, her hand sliding down his chest, and he doesn't push her away.

Is she the Tessa Maya mentioned?

She's everything. She’s tall, bold, with curves that make men turn their heads. She fits him perfectly. Gorgeous and confident, just like him

Of course, there's someone like her. What was I thinking? That Malcolm Haywood would be interested in someone like me?

I feel like I am watching Jake with Rachel all over again. This makes no sense. Why is my chest on fire? He's nothing to me. I'm nothing to him. But it still hurts.

God, I'm pathetic. Getting jealous over a guy I barely know after one heated moment.

"Maya, I’m leaving. I want to go home."

"Shay..."

"This whole night was a mistake Maya. I shouldn't even be here." The words tumble out before I can stop them.

I don't belong at parties like this. I'm the girl who works double shifts to keep my head above water.

I left work early, asked my boss for a favor just so I could spend our anniversary with Jake. And for what? To watch him f*****g Rachel? To throw myself at Malcolm?

"I just want to go home and sleep. I have to open the cafe at six in the morning."

We walk to her car in silence. Maya starts the engine and we drive through the quiet campus streets.

"So, how far did you and Mal go in there?" Maya asks, glancing at me.

My cheeks burn. "Maya..."

"Come on. I saw how you looked when you came out. Your lips were swollen and your hair was a mess."

I stare out the window at the passing streetlights, not knowing how to explain what happened. I don't have words for the way he made me feel.

"Shay, you need to be careful with Mal." Maya's voice gets serious.

"What do you mean?"

"He's dangerous. He's not like Jake or the other guys you know. Mal is..." She pauses. "He doesn't do innocent girls like… you."

"Why did those girls at the party call him an alpha?"

"What? Who?"

"At the party. Some girls were talking about Malcolm. They called him an alpha."

"Oh. It's just a nickname. You know, because he's the hockey team captain."

"That's it?"

She nods.

We pull up to our apartment building. Maya parks and we walk up the stairs. I kick off my heels the second we're inside.

“Get some sleep,” Maya says before disappearing into her room.

I lie in bed staring at the ceiling. I roll over, trying to get comfortable, but it's useless. My body is still humming, still wanting more of whatever Malcolm started.

Every time I close my eyes, I'm back in that bathroom with him. The ache between my legs is driving me insane.

I'm still wearing the lace underwear I bought because of Jake, but all I’m thinking is how I want Malcolm to see me in it, and taking it off me.

I press my face into my pillow, embarrassed by my own thoughts.

My hand finds my breast without me even thinking about it. God, I'm pathetic. I'm twenty-two years old and I've never even touched myself like this before. But I can't stop. I need something, anything to ease this desperate feeling he left me with.

When my other hand slides down between my legs, I moan his name. I'm so wet just thinking about him. The o****m hits me hard, and I'm gasping his name. My back comes off the bed. I'm breathing so hard.

Then suddenly I feel like someone is watching me. The hair on my neck stands up.

My eyes open fast and I see him. Mal. Standing by my window in the dark. His eyes turn gold, glowing, looking right at me.

But when I blink, he's gone.

I sit up fast, my heart beating like crazy. "Hello? Mal?"

I see nothing. Just me in the room. Am I going crazy?

I jump out of bed and run to the window, pressing my face against the glass. We're on the second floor. There's no way someone could be standing out there.

"Mal?"

No answer. Just silence and my own ragged breathing.

Did I imagine it? Am I so obsessed with him that I'm hallucinating now? I could swear I felt his presence in my room.