Page 18 of Body Checked By the Defenseman

I nod. “Every exquisite inch of you.”

Our eyes lock. A fire consumes my body, but I know better than to reach for what isn’t mine. I learned the art of self-control a long time ago.

I watch her throat bob. She licks her lips. “What if I said I want it to be you who takes my virginity?”

I stare at her in awe, but also in fear of what she is offering because it will change everything.

“Periwinkle, you could have any guy you want. You’re smart and beautiful,” I confide to her.

“But I’m most comfortable with you. I always have been. It makes sense, Mack. I can’t get comfortable enough with other guys. I’m a freaking junior in college and I’m still a virgin. It’s pathetic. You need to help me.”

“First of all, there is nothing pathetic about you,” I assure her. “And I don’t deserve to take that from you,” I admit because I always knew I wasn’t good enough for Ruby. She was always smart. Always good in math and science. That’s how she ended up in software engineering.

I always struggled in school. I didn’t do well, and I struggled to like any of my subjects. Somehow my grades were good enough to meet the cutoff for Riverside U, but I know it was my hockey skills that ensured my entry here. I was a damn good player. Probably one of the best on the team, but I knew my place in the food chain. A smart beautiful girl like Ruby was out of my league.

“How can you say that, Mack? You’ve always been there for me when I needed you. You may have been an ass the last couple years and I still don’t understand why, but right now, in this moment, things feel normal again. The way they should be, with us talking and confiding in each other. I’m telling you. I need help.”

“And I’m telling you, I’m the wrong guy,” I counter.

“I can’t understand how you can say that to me. You admit to taking all kinds of girls to bed. You tell me I’m beautiful. . .” Her voice trails. “Wait. . .you said that so you wouldn’t hurt my feelings.”

I take a step toward her and caress the side of her face. “I was not lying to you, Ruby. I sure as hell wasn’t trying to make you feel good. I was just being honest. Since I am being open withyou, then the reason I’ve taken all those girls to bed is because they didn’t matter to me, but you matter.”

“That’s why I need it to be you, Mack.”

I groan, “You’re killing me. Your brother would have my head.”

“This isn’t about Hayden. I need you.”

“You’re breaking down any willpower I’ve ever had, Periwinkle.”

“That’s a good thing,” she says with a victorious smile.

“Maybe I should ask Hayden for permission?” I suggest.

“Are you effin crazy?” she counters.

“Maybe.” I tilt my head to the side.

“There is no way you’re asking my brother. This has nothing to do with him. This is me asking you for a favor.”

“We can’t just have sex,” I inform her. “We need to build toward it.”

“So you’ll do it!” she cheers and throws her hands around my neck.

“Have I ever said no to you about anything?” I retort. That’s answer enough. I just hope this decision doesn’t come back to bite me in the ass.

CHAPTER SEVEN

ICan’t Fall in Love with You

Ruby

It’s been three weeks since Macklin agreed to help me with my virginity, and we’ve been like two ships crossing in the night. He’s either at school, playing hockey, or hanging out with the guys. I should have asked him how this would work that afternoon, but our little conversation ran longer than I expected, and I had to get back to campus for a class.

With my best friend sneaking around with the hockey captain and coming close to getting caught on more than one occasion, I am a little hesitant to suggest to Macklin that we sneak around too, but I am also damn frustrated Macklin isn’t following through on his word. So I finally decide to text him.

Me:We need to talk.

---