Page 21 of Body Checked By the Defenseman

“Work up how?” I ask. “I thought you just take girls to bed all the time.”

“True, but you aren’t just any girl. If you’ve waited this long, then it means you have to feel things,” he says.

“I can’t fall in love with you, Mack.”

His lips pinch. “That’s not what I meant. I just meant we need to slowly work toward sex. We can’t just go at it.”

“Is it because I’m inexperienced? Be honest. Because I’m a quick study.”

Macklin groans like I am causing him physical pain. “Let’s start with dinner.” He rubs at his face.

We head into the kitchen and I heat up the food on the wok. I place a serving on each plate I prepared on the counter.

We sit beside each other at the kitchen table.

“Thanks for making dinner,” he says, and he places his hand on my thigh and gives me a squeeze. My breath hitches from the intimate touch.

“Is this what you mean by slow?” I ask him. Because if he keeps touching me, I’ll want to jump his bones.

“Yes,” he confirms, and he pulls his hand away.

We start to eat dinner. “I spoke with Abuela today. She was talking about Thanksgiving already.”

“It feels like school just started. I can’t believe Thanksgiving is in two weeks,” he replies.

“I can’t believe I’ve been living here that long.”

“Tell me about it,” Macklin says dryly.

“Will there be other girls while we are doing this?” I ask awkwardly.

He drops his fork. “Of course not.” He looks offended. “I would never do that to you. I haven’t touched a girl since you moved in here.”

His cheeks turn a light shade of pink.

“Why?” I ask.

“Because you ruined me the day I saw you naked,” he admits.

I watch him silently, unable to speak, let alone eat.

“I was so embarrassed. No guy has ever seen me naked and my first time was with you in the most awkward way. You seemed like I repulsed you. Like you couldn’t get away from mefast enough,” I confess since we are being open with each other. Although speaking so openly with Macklin feels forbidden and makes my heart race.

“I wanted to run because you made me as hard as a rock. I couldn’t show you or tell you what seeing you did to me,” he shares, and his eyes drop to my lips.

I lick my lips, feeling my mouth water.

I’m no longer hungry for food.

“What do we do now?” I ask. I’m hoping he’ll want to kiss me because I want to kiss him so badly.

He fills a forkful of stir-fry and then he feeds me. “We take things slow, Rubes. Even if it kills me.”

CHAPTER EIGHT

We Aren’t Sleeping Together

Ruby

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