I groaned and pulled the pillow over my head. My head hurt, my body hurt, but worst of all my pride was shattered.

I was afraid to open my eyes and find Killian in my apartment. I didn't hear any noise, but continued to assess my surroundings for several more minutes. I finally removed the pillow and squinted into the daylight with one eye.

My poor, pathetic head.

My mouth tasted horrible and I thought I might be sick again. I scooted my legs around and slowly went to a sitting position.

Two pills, a glass of water, and a note rested on the bedside table.

Legs,

Take the ibuprofen, shower, and eat something. Get some rest today. I'm picking you up for dinner at six.

K

Over my dead body.

Killian MacGregor was not prancing back into my life.

My head pounded dully, so I took the pills because I didn't really have a choice. I also spent an hour in the shower, which pissed me off more because it was exactly what the note told me to do. I managed to eat a piece of toast before falling back into bed. I slept for a few more hours and felt half-human when I woke up. I took another shower, though this one shorter, dressed quickly, and with an overnight bag hung across my arm, left my apartment.

Fuck Killian MacGregor.

Amanda let me in.

"If you call that son of a bitch, I'll never speak to you again," were the first words out of my mouth.

"It was Lyle who called him last night, so keep your panties on."

"Lyle is off the best friend list for at least a week. I'm staying the night."

"I'll order pizza."

My stomach rumbled unhappily. "I'll watch you eat it."

Amanda laughed. "You really tied one on last night, girlfriend."

"I'm never drinking again."

"Probably a wise move."

We watched all the Jason Bourne movies and lusted over Matt Damon. Movie boyfriends and book boyfriends were the way I planned to go for the rest of my life.

My phone rang at seven, but I ignored it. Before we went to bed, Amanda sat with me while I put Killian's message on speakerphone.

"Hiding won't work, Legs. We need to talk."

Short, sweet, and to the point.

Too damn bad!

"Do you plan on calling him?"

"No."

"You know you love him, right?" Amanda showed me her sad face.

"I know, but I can't go through that again. I'll get over him eventually," I lied to Amanda and myself.

I tossed and turned the entire night. Amanda dropped me at my apartment early so I could get my morning run in. I hadn't packed my gear or I would have run to my apartment. I put on my shoes, tied the laces, and did a few mini-stretches. Closing the front door behind me, I turned and ran directly into Killian's chest.

His arms came up and he brought me in close. He felt so fucking good, but I pulled back.

"No, Killian. I'm not speaking to you. I'm not listening to you and I'm not going anywhere with you."

He released my arms. I turned and set off at a faster pace than normal. I heard Killian's shoes hit the pavement behind me. He was dressed in running clothes. I ignored him or at least tried. He made it to the same soccer field he had the first time before his steps faded into the distance.

I went to class and then practice. My coach took me aside.

"You know you've always been capable of winning, Cavanaugh."

"Well, maybe."

"No, completely capable."

What could I say?

"I plan to work you harder than you've ever worked. You're in a position to help this team and we need seniors to stand up and take the lead. You did that at the meet."

"Thank you, sir." I walked back over to my teammates.

The next morning, Killian was waiting outside my door again.

I ignored him.

It pissed me off that he was ruining my peaceful morning runs, but I refused to acknowledge him in any way, even if it was only to tell him how I felt. He made it farther, but I still left him in my dust.

Wednesday morning, the same thing. I was leaving the following day for an out-of-state meet. I was determined to make it silently through my run.

"How long are you going to keep this up, Legs?"

I stopped and turned. "Stop calling me that, stop following me, and please just get out of my life." I turned and started running again.

"No."

Killian made it an entire extra mile before he stopped.

I thought he might show up that night at Tillomans, but, much to my relief, he stayed away. I didn't run the following morning because of the road trip and couldn't help wondering if Killian waited for me to come outside. I left my apartment at ten in the morning and felt a sense of relief when the bus pulled away. Killian had me on edge and I needed to relax.

The meet was only between two teams, and the other college was smaller than ours. I'd placed fourth against them the year before and thought I had a decent chance of performing well this time. Fourth was my best run last season.

I was wrong. I didn't place well; I won. My long legs had finally decided to do me proud. It was a heady feeling and would have been perfect, but Killian stood outside the visiting locker room when I walked out, a few of my teammates by my side. Their eyes got huge when they looked from Killian to me.

"This is stalking."

Killian showed his killer dimples, but I wasn't impressed. He had no shame.

"This is love."

The ladies around me giggled and I wanted to groan and kick him in the nuts.

"Go away, Killian." I turned and walked away.

"Never, Rebecca."

I flounced onto the bus. We were staying in a hotel not far away and heading back to Phoenix the following morning.

"Did you just turn down Killian MacGregor?" one of my teammates asked.

"Yes, and it's not the first time."

"Is he really stalking you?" another asked.

"Yes, and it's not the first time."

More giggles released inside the bus.

The team left me alone after that. Unfortunately, I wanted to do nothing more than cry. My roommate went out for dinner and I begged off. I ordered a light meal from room service and flipped through channels until a soft knock sounded at the door.

I didn't bother looking out the peephole, which was terribly stupid because Killian walked inside as soon as the door opened.

"Don't do this, Killian, please, I-"

That was as far as I got. Killian's lips slammed into mine. He wasn't gentle. My breathing accelerated within seconds. His mouth, the taste of him, his tongue- I was home and the deep ache I'd carried with me for more than a month dissipated. His hands went to my breasts and I groaned into his mouth. He pulled my bra and shirt over my head. My pants fell to my feet within seconds. Killian lifted me up and I wrapped my legs around his hips. He hadn't taken his pants off, but his cock was untethered and poised to enter. He looked at me and slowly slid inside.

God, I missed this. I missed him. Him and all his messed up ideals about winning.

He fucked me against the door. I didn't think about the bruises he would leave on my hips or the large hole in my heart. The steady in-and-out slide of his cock was my entire world. And his eyes. Their intensity pierced me as deeply as his dick slid inside me.

My pussy tightened and that overwhelming achy feeling of need refused to settle. It builtdeep, mind-blowing heat. I couldn't hold back any longer. I dug my nails into his back, through his shirt, wanting to feel his flesh tear. I tried to kiss him, but he refused to stop watching me. My head tipped back and I screamed.

When I could finally take in my surroundings, I was on the floor sitting in Killian's lap. He ran his fingers through my hair and all my pent up emotions released. I started crying.

"Shh, baby. I'm sorry. You don't deserve an asshole like me, but I can't stay away. I love you."

I clenched his shirt into my fingers and balled my eyes out.

Finally, Killian moved me off his lap and stood, pulling me up beside him. He settled me into bed.

A knock sounded on the door.

"That's my dinner."

"Good, you need to eat."

Killian opened the door, took the tray, and brought it back over to the bed.

"Where's your roommate?"

"She went out to dinner and then probably a nightclub. You shouldn't be here; it's against school rules."

"I like breaking rules." He smiled so tenderly I almost started crying again. "But I'll leave as soon as you eat. You've lost weight and I don't like seeing you like this baby."

Killian removed the cover of the two dishes and smiled. I'd ordered the largest hamburger they had, which came with French-fries, and I added a side order of fries. I needed my calories after the race.

He sat on the side of the bed and watched me eat the burger.

"Have some fries," I mumbled through my food. I was hungrier than I'd been since Killian dumped me.

He took a few bites, but soon started feeding me. He'd roll a fry in catsup, just the way I liked, and put it to my lips.

"I've missed you, Rebecca."

"I've missed you, too, Killian."

He didn't say anything after that. When the last fry was gone, he wiped my lips with a napkin, kissed me tenderly but quickly, and walked out of the room carrying my tray. I rolled over to my side and wondered what the hell I was going to do. I didn't have enough willpower to resist him and didn't think any woman could. If there was an anti-boyfriend pill, I'd spend all my bar jar money to buy one. Killian would break my heart again and I didn't think I could survive.

Someone needed to put me out of my misery.