Page 24 of Body Checked By the Defenseman

Ruby

“Come on,” Macklin urges.

“I can’t believe this is what we are doing,” I tell him. We came to some sand dune place and Macklin wants to rent ATVs.

“You either get on with me or you can get your own. It will be fun,” he assures.

“Fun?” I laugh. “I don’t do fun.”

Macklin frowns. “I know. You work too hard in school and on the track team. You always did, but you also need to know how to let loose.”

“Okay, now I feel like I’m out of my element here. I’ve been to my first college party since moving into the house, a boy saw me naked for the first time—that’s you, by the way—I am running off with my brother’s best friend, and cutting classes. Who am I?”

“Don’t overthink this,” Macklin advises because he knows me too well. “It’ll be fun. You can hop on the back of mine.”

The idea of holding on to him while riding this thing is enticing. We both get our helmets on and a guy who works here goes over the safety rules with us. I hop onto the back of the ATV.

“You’re going to need to hold on to me, Periwinkle,” he instructs with that deep sexy voice of his.

I wrap my arms around his middle, feeling the firmness of his abs. Macklin takes off slowly and then picks up speed.

“Holy shit,” I scream, but I am laughing out loud as excitement pumps through my veins in a way I haven’t felt before. Cool wind whips at my cheeks as Macklin drives us through the trail. There are sand dunes and dirt paths and so much open space and fresh air. It feels liberating. “This place is beautiful,” I shout over the noise of the ATV.

“That’s why I brought you here,” he shouts back. “We didn’t need another day in a polluted city. We need a break from reality.”

He is so right. I inhale the cool fresh air and enjoy the rush of the ride. We reach an opening to a forest and Macklin slows down. “We can take a break,” he offers.

I get off the ATV and remove my helmet.

Macklin does the same.

“Come here,” he urges and reaches for me. Looping his arms around my waist, he draws me into his body. His gaze rests on my lips. He’s breathing fast and so am I. My heart is still pumping fast when I move in and close the space between us. It feels like he is waiting for me to make the first move, and my lips feel like there is magnetic energy drawing me to him. I press

my lips to his and they feel cool at first, but we begin to really kiss and everything grows warm inside me. Our tongues mingle slow at first. Macklin groans into my mouth and something inside me snaps. I need more, no, I want more. I’ve kissed guys before, but no one has ever tasted like him, no one has ever made my body feel like it will combust if I don’t have him closer.

His hands come up and touch my neck and my cheeks as we kiss, and then he breaks the kiss and moves down my neck. “You taste so good, Periwinkle. Better than my wildest dreams.”

For a guy who doesn’t do relationships and is only about one-night stands, he is very sweet. He also has the art of seduction down pat.

Suddenly he’s pulling away. “Okay, break’s over.” He steps away.

“Uh, what? I thought we were just getting started,” I complain and pout.

He smiles like he finds me cute. “We can have a bite to eat,” he says instead. “Or we can have a picnic at our next location.”

“I’m not hungry for food,” I retort.

His gray eyes blaze. “You’re killing me, Periwinkle. But we aren’t doing more than kissing. It isn’t right.”

“You said you would help me solve my virginity problem,” I counter.

“That’s what I am doing. I’m romancing you. I’m seducing you. I’m showing you how sexy and beautiful you are. Besides, I have a hard time believing there haven’t been many guys who want to take you to bed.”

“That’s the problem. Guys are only interested in sex, not dating,” I explain.

“Knox was dating you. I heard all about what a nice guy he was and how he was willing to take things slow,” he reminds with raised brows.

“And all that was true, but it was me. I wasn’t feeling hot for him,” I confess.

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