Chapter 2

The heavy front door of the luxury athlete housing unit clicked shut behind Zara like the final nail in a coffin. The sound echoed through the sleek, modern space that smelled of expensive cologne and barely contained rage.

She stood frozen in the entryway, suitcase handle tight in her grip, eyes locked on the man who had just become her worst nightmare.

Kai Reynolds leaned against the kitchen island, arms crossed over his bare, sculpted chest. Gray sweatpants hung dangerously low on his hips, revealing the sharp V-line of his abs. His dark hair was still damp from a shower, and those intense, stormy eyes burned into her with pure, unfiltered hatred.

Neither of them spoke for a long, suffocating moment.

Finally, Kai’s deep voice cut through the silence like a blade. “You’ve got some fucking nerve showing up here.”

Zara’s heart hammered against her ribs, but she refused to let him see her fear. She lifted her chin, gripping her suitcase harder. “Trust me, this is the last place I want to be. I’d rather sleep on the street than share a roof with you.”

A dark, humorless chuckle escaped Kai’s throat. He pushed off the island and stalked toward her slowly, each step deliberate. He stopped just inches away, towering over her, close enough that she could feel the heat rolling off his skin and smell the clean, masculine scent of his body wash.

“You wrote that article like you had the moral high ground,” he growled, voice low and dangerous. “But you have no idea what you’ve done. My entire future, the NFL, everything I’ve bled for, is hanging by a thread because of you.”

Zara’s breath caught, but she forced herself to hold his gaze. Up close, he was even more intimidating. The hard lines of his jaw, the tattoos covering his left shoulder and arm, the barely restrained fury in his eyes. Her body betrayed her with a traitorous shiver.

“My brother can’t walk without excruciating pain,” she shot back, voice trembling with raw emotion. “He was a rising star too, until your team’s dirty plays ended his career. So don’t you dare talk to me about your precious future.”

Something dark flickered across Kai’s face, guilt? Anger? Pain?, but it vanished in an instant, replaced by cold arrogance.

He leaned in even closer, one hand bracing on the wall beside her head, effectively caging her in. “You think you know everything, don’t you? You have no idea what really happened that night.”

Their faces were so close now. Zara could see the flecks of gold in his dark eyes, the way his full lips pressed into a hard line. Her pulse thundered in her ears. The air between them crackled with so much tension it felt like it might ignite.

“I know enough,” she whispered, hating how breathless she sounded. “I know you’re the reason my family fell apart.”

Kai’s gaze dropped to her mouth. For one electric second, the hatred in his eyes shifted into something hotter, more primal. His free hand twitched at his side like he was fighting the urge to touch her.

Then he pushed away abruptly, turning his back on her as if she disgusted him.

“Your room is the last door on the left,” he said coldly. “Stay out of my space. Don’t touch my things. And if you even think about writing another word about me or my team while you’re under this roof, I’ll make sure you regret it.”

Zara’s legs felt weak as she dragged her suitcase down the hall. She slammed her bedroom door shut and leaned against it, breathing hard.

This was going to be torture.

She hated Kai Reynolds with every fiber of her being.

So why did her body still feel like it was on fire from being so close to him?

***************

Later that night

Kai couldn’t sleep.

He paced his room like a caged animal, fists clenched so tight his knuckles turned white. Every time he closed his eyes, he saw Zara’s face, those defiant eyes, the way her lips had parted when he caged her against the wall.

He wanted to hate her. He did hate her.

But there was something else. Something dangerous. Something that made his blood run hot.

A sharp knock on the front door pulled him out of his thoughts. He yanked on a black t-shirt and opened it to find the team’s PR coordinator standing there with a camera and a forced smile.

“Photo op,” the man said. “Coach wants an I*******m post tonight. ‘New beginnings’ or something. Make it look romantic.”

Kai’s stomach twisted. “You’ve got to be kidding me.”

Zara appeared behind him, hair loose around her shoulders, wearing an oversized university t-shirt that barely reached mid-thigh. She looked soft. Vulnerable. It pissed him off even more.

The PR guy clapped his hands. “Perfect timing. Stand close. Look in love.”

Kai didn’t hesitate. He grabbed Zara by the waist and yanked her flush against his body. His large hand splayed possessively across her lower back, fingers digging into the soft fabric of her shirt. She gasped, her hands instinctively pressing against his chest.

“Smile,” Kai muttered against her ear, his breath hot on her skin. “Or we both lose everything.”

Zara forced a smile, but her body was rigid against his. The camera flashed.

For a moment, neither of them moved. Kai could feel every curve of her body pressed against him. Her heart was racing as fast as his. The scent of her shampoo filled his lungs, and he hated how good it felt.

The camera flashed again.

“Great chemistry!” the PR guy cheered. “One more. Maybe a forehead kiss?”

Kai’s grip tightened. Zara’s eyes widened in warning.

He leaned down slowly, lips brushing her forehead in the lightest, most torturous kiss. Her skin was warm. Soft. His body reacted instantly, a rush of heat he couldn’t control.

When he pulled back, their eyes locked. The fake smile had vanished from both their faces. Only raw, confused, burning tension remained.

As soon as the PR guy left, Zara shoved hard against Kai’s chest.

“Don’t you ever touch me like that again,” she hissed, voice shaking. “I swear to God, Reynolds”

Kai backed her against the wall in one smooth move, hands braced on either side of her head. His body caged hers completely.

“You think I want to touch you?” he growled, voice rough. “You think I enjoy pretending to want someone who’s trying to destroy my life?”

Zara’s breathing was ragged. Her hands fisted in his t-shirt, whether to push him away or pull him closer, she wasn’t sure.

“Then stop,” she whispered.

But neither of them moved.

The tension stretched tighter, thicker, until it felt like it would snap.

Kai’s gaze dropped to her lips again. His head lowered just a fraction

Zara turned her face away at the last second.

“Get out of my space,” she breathed.

Kai pushed off the wall with a harsh curse and stormed back to his room, slamming the door so hard the walls rattled.

Zara slid down to the floor, pressing trembling hands to her face.

This fake relationship was going to kill her.

And the worst part?

A dark, terrifying part of her wasn’t sure she wanted it to end.