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  The Boy Next Door

  Jennifer Sucevic

  The Boy Next Door

  Copyright© 2021 by Jennifer Sucevic

  All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without written permission from the author, except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.

  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, palaces, events, locales, and incidents are either the products of the author’s imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental.

  Cover Design by Mary Ruth Baloy at MR Creations

  Editing by Kate Newman at Once Upon a Typo

  Proofreading by Sid Damiano at SD Editorial Services

  Home | Jennifer Sucevic or www.jennifersucevic.com

  Contents

  Also by Jennifer Sucevic

  1. Colton

  2. Alyssa

  3. Colton

  4. Colton

  5. Alyssa

  6. Colton

  7. Alyssa

  8. Colton

  9. Alyssa

  10. Alyssa

  11. Colton

  12. Alyssa

  13. Colton

  14. Colton

  15. Alyssa

  16. Colton

  17. Alyssa

  18. Colton

  19. Alyssa

  20. Alyssa

  21. Colton

  22. Alyssa

  23. Colton

  24. Alyssa

  25. Alyssa

  26. Colton

  27. Alyssa

  28. Colton

  29. Alyssa

  30. Alyssa

  31. Colton

  32. Alyssa

  33. Colton

  34. Colton

  35. Alyssa

  36. Alyssa

  37. Colton

  38. Colton

  39. Alyssa

  Epilogue

  The Girl Next Door

  Campus Player

  About the Author

  Also by Jennifer Sucevic

  Campus Player

  Claiming What’s Mine

  Confessions of a Heartbreaker

  Crazy for You (80s short story)

  Don’t Leave

  Friend Zoned

  Hate to Love You

  Heartless

  If You Were Mine

  Just Friends

  King of Campus

  King of Hawthorne Prep

  Love to Hate You

  One Night Stand

  Protecting What’s Mine

  Queen of Hawthorne Prep

  Stay

  The Breakup Plan

  The Girl Next Door

  Chapter One

  Colton

  Summer before freshman year of college...

  My lips quirk at the corners as I glance around. It’s fucking madness, and I wouldn’t have it any other way. This is exactly how you kick off summer vacation. Leave it to Beck Hollingsworth to throw the mother of all graduation parties. The three key ingredients necessary for a kickass party are present—scantily clad chicks, plenty of free-flowing booze, and last but not least, parents conspicuously absent from the festivities. Never let it be said that Beck doesn’t know how to do it up right. After all, this isn’t his first rodeo. This guy has thrown some over-the-top, police-called-to-break-it-up, someone-almost-drowns-in-the-pool parties over the years.

  There’s a girl tucked under each arm as they stare adoringly up at me. Albeit drunkenly. A few more crowd around, circling like sharks, waiting for an opportunity to home in on the action. Delicate hands stroke over my bare chest. Another female presses her breasts against my back as her nimble fingers slide their way across my waist and wrap around my ribs.

  One thing is for sure, I’m going to miss these girls when I leave for college next month. This is a carefully curated group I’ve trained since freshman year. I have rules when it comes to the opposite sex.

  And the first one is that I don’t do relationships. If that’s what you’re looking for, find your pleasure elsewhere. If you think you can parlay a one-night stand into a bona fide relationship, you’ve got the wrong guy. I have zero interest in getting serious or forming attachments.

  Rule number two—what happens at a party stays at a party. Don’t bring that shit to school Monday morning. As long as everyone walks away feeling good at the end of the night, it’s a win-win situation. I’m careful to cull out the ones who are secretly looking for more of a connection.

  Needy and clingy chicks need not apply.

  Rule number three—

  “Colton,” a female voice purrs in my ear, “let’s go upstairs.”

  My gaze flickers to Ella Sullivan. She’s become a fan favorite over the years. Pretty face. Banging body. And has demonstrated an impressive stamina when it comes to blow jobs.

  She’s got that elusive trifecta going on.

  “Yeah, Colton,” Marissa Dix adds, trying to get in on the action as she presses her sweet titties against me, “let’s get out of here. It’s way too crowded.”

  Did someone order a threesome for the evening?

  Yes, please.

  What I’ve discovered is the more, the merrier. Added bonus, it’s difficult to say that you were under the impression we were exclusive when you sat there and watched me bone your friend Saturday night.

  I’m about to let these girls have their wicked way with me when I catch a flash of long blond hair from the corner of my eye. Before I can stop myself, my head snaps in that direction. It’s like an automatic reflex.

  Every muscle goes whipcord tight.

  Alyssa Williams.

  What the hell is she doing here?

  I’d hoped she would remain conspicuously absent from tonight’s gathering. If there’s one chick I avoid at all costs, it’s the blonde firecracker. My gaze slides to the girl she’s dragging through the crowd like a ragdoll. By the stubborn set of Mia’s jaw, my guess is that her bestie wasn’t given much of a choice when it came to making an appearance. The dark-haired chick looks like she’s being held at gunpoint. Now that brings a smile to my face. Mia is Beck’s next-door neighbor. She hates the dude with the passion of a thousand burning suns.

  Possibly more.

  Interestingly enough, Mia avoids Beck in much the same way I steer clear of Alyssa, which hasn’t been easy since my dick has decidedly different ideas on the matter. Even now, it’s stirring in my boardshorts with piqued interest, attempting to rise to the occasion. Unfortunately for me, Alyssa doesn’t understand the word no. Even though I shoot her down on a regular basis, she continues to come at me hard every chance she gets.

  And that, my friends, only makes me want her more. She’s a girl who knows what she wants and goes after it with single-minded determination. And what she wants is me.

  Damn, if that’s not hot.

  I’d like to say that it’ll be easier once I leave for college, but that won’t be the case given that Alyssa will also be attending Wesley University this fall. At least there are ten thousand students on campus. With any luck, dodging her will be a hell of a lot easier than it has been in high school. Everywhere I go, there she is.

  As ridiculous as it sounds, air gets wedged in my lungs as Alyssa’s blue gaze steadily combs over the sea of drunken classmates before locking on mine. I steel myself for that little zip of electricity to sizzle its way through my blood. It takes everything I have inside to will down the growing erection.

  Just the sight of her is enough to get me hard.

  One of the girls wrapped around me like a python pretends to accidentally graze my wood with her fingers before
making an appreciative noise deep in her throat and pressing closer.

  If only she realized that my state of arousal has nothing to do with her.

  Then again, she probably wouldn’t give two shits.

  “Colton, baby,” Ella purrs before cupping the side of my face and turning my head until I have no choice but to stop staring at Alyssa. Once my gaze collides with hers, a seductive smile wreathes her face. “I thought we were heading inside.”

  A couple of seconds ago, that’s exactly what the plan for the evening had been. As much as I wish it were otherwise, these girls pale in comparison to the blond, blue-eyed dancer.

  “Not yet,” I mutter before shifting my stance, only wanting to shake off these chicks as my gaze fastens on Alyssa. Once my sights are locked on her, everything inside me settles.

  With a critical eye, I dissect her one feature at a time. What the hell is it about that girl that gets to me? I’ve spent more time attempting to figure out that conundrum than I’m comfortable admitting. Even privately, to myself.

  She’s gorgeous with a curtain of shiny blond hair that hangs down her back. Dark blue eyes that are, more times than not, lit up with mischief and laughter. I’ll be honest, she’s not my usual type. I like a big booty and nice round titties. Alyssa is long and lithe with a dancer’s body. She’s muscular and athletic with high, tight breasts.

  That being said, beautiful girls are a dime a dozen around here. And if they aren’t naturally alluring, they add extensions, fake lashes and have learned to apply influencer-level makeup to give the illusion. I could swing my dick around and hit five of them at this very moment.

  Whatever this is with Alyssa, it’s more than skin deep. I can’t put my finger on what I find so appealing, but it’s been simmering beneath the surface for as long as I can remember. We’re talking way back in middle school when I first noticed the opposite sex. Luckily, that was right around the time they became aware of me.

  Except for Alyssa. She was too busy dancing. It was probably better that way.

  Some time during sophomore year, her sights locked on me, and she’s been giving chase ever since. What I’ve discovered is that it’s exhausting to keep someone at a distance that you really don’t want to hold off. There have been times when I’ve been tempted to wave the white flag and give in. I have a feeling it would be nothing short of amazing. The attraction between us has always been combustible. It sputters and sparks to life whenever we’re in the same room together. The more I deny it, the more it ratchets up. Deep down, I know she’s the one girl who has the ability to weasel her way into my heart, and that’s the last thing I want.

  A look of resolve settles over her features as she shoves her way through the sea of half-naked bodies gyrating to the music pumping on the patio. The closer she gets, the harder my heart jackhammers against my ribcage. As tempting as it is to run and hide in an effort to protect myself, I’m no longer sure that’s a possibility. It feels like a losing battle. We are like two runaway trains barreling down the same track, destined for a head-on collision. There’s no averting disaster.

  Part of me wonders if I even want to.

  I’ve spent so much time not only denying her but myself as well. It’s all I can think about. All I want. The closer she gets, the more my self-control wavers. With her gaze pinned to mine, she pushes her way toward me.

  “Hey!” one girl huffs as she’s knocked aside.

  Alyssa doesn’t bother to glance in the brunette’s direction. She’s one hundred percent focused on me. Whatever happens tonight, I know I’ll regret it in the morning, and yet, that’s not enough to prevent it from occurring.

  I step away from the other girls as Alyssa halts in front of me. She cocks her head as a defiant gleam sparks to life in her eyes. I can’t help but answer the challenge and straighten to my full height, which is a good ten inches taller than she is, before looking down at her. She has to raise her chin to hold my stare.

  When electricity crackles and snaps between us and the boisterous voices fade to the background, I know I’m in trouble. I’ve spent too many years denying myself the one thing I’ve always craved, and tonight, for better or worse, I’m giving in. There’s no longer a choice in the matter.

  Chapter Two

  Alyssa

  Spring of freshman year of college...

  “Do you have any idea how badly I need coffee?” At this time of the morning, I’m barely coherent. A girl walking in the opposite direction knocks into me as we make our way through the throng of student traffic moving across campus. I bare my teeth, ready to snap. “Watch where you’re going!”

  “Easy, tiger,” Mia soothes, latching onto my arm and towing me forward. “Unfortunately for you, we don’t have time for a pitstop.”

  “Ugh.” I’m so blurry-eyed, I can barely see straight. I was up until the butt crack of dawn this morning working on a paper that is due for this class. If it had been any other instructor, I would have shown up during office hours and attempted to charm my way into a twenty-four-hour extension.

  But with this guy?

  No way. Professor Mendelson refuses to accept late work. Ever since I stepped foot on campus, I’ve heard horror stories about the man. And so far, I can say with absolute authority that they’re true. He’s already brought a few students to tears in front of the entire class. So, I do my best to fly under the radar where he’s concerned.

  Plus, I’ve been spending a ton of extra time in the studio rehearsing a dance solo I choreographed for the annual showcase at the end of the semester. Between that and keeping up with my classes, I’m burning the candle at both ends.

  “Hey, isn’t that Colton?”

  Those four words are all it takes for me to blink out of the thoughts I’ve become mired in. My head jerks up so quickly that I nearly give myself whiplash as the haze clouding my eyes evaporates. “Where?”

  Colton Montgomery sightings have become increasingly rare on campus. There are times when I have the sneaking suspicion that he’s deliberately avoiding me. Although, come on, that’s just crazy, right?

  “Well,” Mia chuckles as we traipse along the cement pathway, “that certainly woke you up. Probably more than a straight shot of caffeine right to your veins.”

  The girl isn’t wrong.

  I kind of hate myself for the ridiculous infatuation I have with the blond football player. I’ve been crushing on him for three years. Deep down, I was secretly hoping there would be so many new guys at college that I would forget all about him.

  That hasn’t turned out to be the case.

  Sure, I’ve met a ton of people since I’ve been at Wesley. In classes, at parties, and during football games. I even broke down and let a friend talk me into a blind date with her cousin. That, by the way, turned out to be a fiasco. Not one single guy has been able to obliterate Colton from my mind.

  How do you move on from someone who wants nothing to do with you? If there were some voodoo magic to make this yearning disappear, I’d conjure it up in a heartbeat.

  But there isn’t. Which is exactly why I’m still lusting after the guy like a total loser.

  What I need is a twelve-step program.

  Like an addict, my gaze roves over the crowd before zeroing in on him like a heat-seeking missile. He’s a little taller and broader than everyone around him. His hair is cut short on the sides and left long on top so that it falls over his forehead. It’s a constant struggle to keep the golden strands out of his bright blue depths. I’ve been tempted on more than one occasion to reach out and do it for him.

  That is if I could get close enough.

  I narrow my eyes as hot licks of jealousy burst to life inside me. It’s not even nine o’clock in the morning and he’s already being mobbed by jersey chasers. The crowd that surrounds him has to be at least three-deep.

  “I bet he’s slept with every girl on campus,” I grumble in irritation.

  “Everyone but you,” my bestie oh-so-helpfully points out.

 
I shoot her a glare.

  As if the reminder is necessary?

  The one and only time we hooked up had been at a Beck Hollingsworth party. I thought for sure we’d go all the way. We’d been in the pool. The making out had turned decidedly hot and heavy. I’d taken off my top and panties in an effort to hasten things along. Don’t judge me—I’m a girl who goes after what she wants. Even though there had been more than a hundred people in attendance, the rowdy party had fallen away around us. Just when I thought we would seal the deal, Colton pulled the plug and left me high and dry.

  Well, not so dry.

  More like wet and frustrated.

  I’ve heard many-a-story surrounding the sexual exploits of Colton Montgomery. Not a damn one of them ended with him walking away. It’s funny—in a not so amusing kind of way—that the one guy who has a reputation for being a manwhore won’t even look at me, much less have sex with me.

  Go figure.

  “And me, of course,” she tacks on promptly.

  My jealousy melts away as I flash her a grin before looping my arm through hers.

  Mia Stanbury has zero interest in meathead jocks with a penchant for sleeping with every girl they come in contact with, which means she’s definitely not into Colton or his best friend, Beck. Although, I’m pretty damn sure the dark-haired football player has a major thing for her. In fact, I have my suspicions that something might have happened between them, but Mia has never mentioned a word, no matter how much I’ve interrogated her. And you better believe that I asked all sorts of probing questions.