Page 4 of The Players We Hate (Rixton U #2)

Wren

Talon’s room was surprisingly neat. I’d half expected chaos, the way Wells always kept his when growing up. Without the staff cleaning up after us, his room would’ve evolved into something you’d find in a lab.

I hesitated near the edge of the room, glancing toward the door off to the right. “Bathroom?”

Talon gave a small nod and gestured with a flick of his hand. “Through there.”

I crossed the room, acutely aware of how quiet it was now. The door clicked shut behind me, muffling everything.

His bathroom was small. There was a navy towel hanging from a hook, and a Rixton U toiletry bag rested zipped on the counter beside a toothbrush and a bottle of cologne. The clean, sharp scent lingered in the air, the same one I caught when I first stepped into his room.

I caught my reflection in the mirror and froze for a beat.

My cheeks were flushed, my eyes too wide. I felt so out of place, especially being in a guy’s room. It was a first for me .

I ran my hands under cold water and pressed them to my face, hoping it would settle the nerves sparking under my skin. The water trickled down my neck, and I gripped the edge of the sink until my breathing evened out.

What am I doing here?

This night wasn’t supposed to go this way.

I dried my hands on the neatly folded towel, glanced around the space once more, and slowly unlocked the door.

I stepped out of the bathroom, smoothing the front of my blouse. Talon was leaning against his desk, arms folded across his chest, and my cheeks were warm the moment our eyes met.

A bottle of vodka sat on the dresser beside him. He caught me looking and tilted his gaze back to mine.

“You want a shot before we head back down?”

Without thinking, I nodded. My fingers brushed his as he passed me the bottle.

I twisted off the cap and took a swig. The burn hit instantly, sharp enough to make me cough, but it faded as quickly, replaced by a slow heat curling through my chest and warming my skin from the inside out.

He glanced up from his spot, the desk lamp throwing shadows across his dark eyes. “Feeling better?

I nodded, took another quick swig, then twisted the cap back into place. “A little.” I tucked a loose strand of hair behind my ear, mostly to give my hands something to do. “I’m… not much of a drinker.”

I glanced down at the bottle still gripped in my hand, the clear liquid swirling near the bottom, tempting me to finish it off.

“This is my first real college party. ”

He watched me carefully. “First party,” he repeated. “Like first… ever?”

“Not ever,” I said quickly, feeling heat creep into my cheeks. “I’ve been to things before. Galas, campaign fundraisers, black-tie events. You know, the ones where everyone smiles too wide and talks in circles.”

A dry laugh slipped out before I could stop it. I took a step away and bumped into the end of Talon’s bed. Straightening, I was suddenly aware of where I was, the air feeling heavier somehow. I shifted my weight from one foot to the other, the restless energy zipping through me.

“Nothing like this, though,” I admitted. “Not with red Solo cups and thumping bass and hockey players everywhere.”

Talon didn’t laugh. He nodded slowly, as if filing that away because it meant something.

The nerves got to me, and before I could overthink it, I twisted the cap again and finished the rest of the bottle. I didn’t know what had come over me. Maybe it was him. Perhaps it was the way he watched me, waiting for proof I wasn’t as uptight as he thought I was.

His jaw ticked, and there was something in his expression I couldn’t quite name—protectiveness, maybe, or something rougher simmering underneath. He pushed off the desk and crossed the room in two long strides.

My breath caught when he stopped in front of me. So damn close he was towering over me, all heat and stillness, carrying the scent of mint, clean linen, and something I couldn’t place but made my stomach flip.

“You look different tonight,” he murmured.

I blinked up at him. “Different? ”

“Not like the polished version of you I’ve seen in the headlines,” he said. “Not the version dressed for a stage you didn’t choose.”

His words landed with more weight than I expected. My chest tightened, not from panic but from something deeper.

“I feel different,” I whispered. “Out of my element, maybe? I’m not sure who I am right now.”

His eyes searched mine, and then slowly, he lifted a hand and traced a line from my shoulder to my elbow, his fingers barely brushing the fabric of my sleeve. My skin tingled beneath it.

“Do you like being out of your element?”

I swallowed hard. The truth? I was terrified. The only thing keeping me tethered to this moment was him and the heat in his eyes. “I… I’m not sure yet.”

He took another step closer. I felt his breath ghost across my cheek, and suddenly, the silence between us was louder than the music we left behind. My heart hammered against my ribs, desperate to break free.

I didn’t even really know him. Not beyond a few looks, a few smart remarks, the kind of easy confidence that made it impossible to ignore him in a crowded room.

I’d always played it safe, always worried about what people would say, about what happened after. But right now, with him this close, I didn’t care about consequences. I wanted to know what it was like to stop thinking for once. To do something reckless, even if it only lasted a night.

And God help me, I wanted that something to be him.

I looked away, only for a second, then forced myself to meet his eyes again. “I’ve never gone this far before. ”

His brow furrowed, but he didn’t move. “Gone how far?”

My voice was barely above a whisper. “The party. The flirting. The… being alone with a guy like this.” I paused, feeling heat creep into my cheeks.

“I’ve messed around before. You know, kissing and touching, but it never felt like this.

Not this strong. Not like I might actually want to keep going. ”

Something flickered across his face. Not quite shock but more understanding.

“So you’ve never—?”

I shook my head before he could finish.

He didn’t rush to fill the silence. His gaze stayed on mine, softer now but still burning with something that made my knees unsteady.

“You know I didn’t bring you up here for that reason, right?”

“I know.” My voice wavered. “But I’d be lying if I said I wouldn’t mind if you had.”

His expression shifted, and for a moment, I thought he might tell me no.

“It’s not the liquor talking,” I added quickly. “Well… maybe a little. It’s giving me courage. I’m not saying this because I don’t want it.”

That earned the faintest smile from him. It was only a flicker before it faded.

He reached for my hand, and I let him take it this time. My fingers trembled in his warm grip. With a gentle tug, he pulled me toward him.

I couldn’t tell if it was the alcohol, the nerves, or the charge running through me, but I leaned in and closed the gap. My heart pounded hard against my chest .

“I want you to kiss me,” I blurted, the words tumbling out before I could stop them. “But… I’m afraid I don’t know how.”

Talon didn’t laugh. He didn’t tease. He cupped my cheek, his fingers rough at the edges but careful against my skin.

“I’ve got you,” he murmured.

He leaned in until his lips touched mine. Unhurried in a way that promised I’d never forget.

My heart raced, my breath shallow as I kissed him back. It was clumsy at first, unsure, until his thumb stroked along the curve of my jaw, coaxing me closer. Every thought swirling in my mind slipped away.

My eyes fluttered shut. For a heartbeat, the whole world tilted and stilled. I swayed, and Talon’s arms circled my waist, anchoring me to him. My fingers clutched the front of his shirt, holding him there.

There was no noise. No cameras. No rules.

Only him. Only this.

When we finally parted, neither of us moved. He didn’t pull away. Instead, his forehead pressed against mine, our noses brushing slightly, our breaths tangled in the stillness.

“You okay?” he asked, voice barely above a whisper.

I nodded, dizzy and warm, every nerve prinkling through me. “Yeah,” I breathed. “I think… I really liked that.”

He smiled again. “Good.”

One hand slid to the back of my neck, firm and grounding, while the other pressed against my spine, holding me close as we stayed tangled in the moment. My skin hummed everywhere he touched, my breath uneven.

When I leaned into him again, his mouth brushed mine, and it was slower this time, deeper. His tongue grazed my bottom lip, and my fingers tightened around the edge of his shirt, afraid the moment might vanish if I let go.

Then, unexpectedly, something buzzed between us.

I froze. So did he.

It took me a second to realize it was my phone tucked in my front pocket, vibrating against his thigh.

Talon stepped back a fraction, eyebrows drawing together, but I shook my head quickly.

“It’s nothing,” I whispered, breath catching.

He didn’t push, but then it vibrated again. Somehow it seemed longer this time.

He exhaled slowly, voice rough but careful. “Something tells me you should probably answer that.”

“I don’t want to,” I murmured, gripping the front of his shirt again, trying to pull him back to me.

He tilted his chin down, enough to meet my gaze. His eyes searched mine for what I wasn’t saying.

“Wren…” His voice was quieter now, steadier. “You deserve better for your first time.”

I blinked up at him, heat blooming across my skin, confused by the shift. “You think this is me asking for less?”

He shook his head, brushing a thumb lightly along my cheekbone. “I think this is you trying to outrun something,” he said gently. “And I’d be the asshole who let you.”

My throat tightened, and I exhaled a shaky breath. “Isn’t losing your virginity at a party practically a college rite of passage?”

His mouth twitched, the ghost of a smile that never reached his eyes.

“Maybe. Doesn’t mean it should happen with a guy you barely know, in a place you’ll forget, just to prove you can. ”