Page 60 of Body Checked By the Defenseman

“The plan is I am going to take a shower. Then I am going to make us breakfast, followed by a slow seduction.”

“Not too slow.” She laughs.

“Not too slow,” I agree.

She leans in and pecks my lips. “Thanks for the flowers and your thoughtfulness and just for being you.”

Her words feel jarring because I’ve gone through most of my teenage years feeling like I wasn’t enough. Hell, Leila also made sure I knew I wasn’t enough, but something about Ruby’s words in this moment make me want to believe her. She is so sincere and honest and she wants me. I see it in her eyes, and I feel it in my bones. I hope I can live up to all her expectations because she is the last person I want to disappoint.

CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO

Open Your Eyes

Ruby

I head to my room and take the lingerie I purchased weeks ago online out of its package. I knew this day would come, I just didn’t know when and I wanted to be ready. Thankfully, Finn finally convinced Aaron to go paintballing with him and Charlie because he didn’t want to leave the house at first. Now it was only Mack and me at home. He had gone to shower, and I was staring at my naked body for far too long in the mirror. I finally garner up the courage to slip into the lingerie. It’s a chalk-rose corset with a matching strap lace Brazilian panty. It is very sexy. I brush out my hair, leaving it to fall over my shoulders, and I use a touch of body spray on my neck. I then slip on the silk robe I got in the matching color, and I search the empty house for Macklin.

I am trudging across the main room barefoot when I see him coming down the stairs. His hair is wet and slicked back, he’s wearing a pair of gray joggers low on his waist, and he’s holding his T-shirt in his hand.

He stops a few steps from the bottom. “Periwinkle, I don’t know how we are getting through breakfast with you looking like that.”

“I could say the same for you.” I lick my lips, taking in his bare chest. I can’t stop staring. I don’t think it will ever get old because I found him attractive before he had this big strong body.

“You better feed me if you want me to have stamina,” I warn with playful laughter.

“I need to eat too. I went for a run this morning,” he agrees and we both head into the kitchen.

“What should we make?” I ask him.

“I bought some strawberries and blueberries, waffle mix, and whipped cream, it’s in the fridge,” he says. He takes out a waffle maker from one of the lower cabinets. “It’s a special breakfast but very efficient.” He winks.

“And good call on the whip cream,” I add.

“Periwinkle, I didn’t peg you for having a dirty mind,” he teases conspiratorially.

“Seriously? I think we’ve done some dirty things,” I remind.

“Fuck yeah, we’re hot together,” he agrees as he cracks some eggs and pours some milk into the mix.

I wash the berries and put them in a bowl on the table.

“Have you spoken with Hayden?” he asks.

I nod. “He called this morning. He’s having a great time with the team. He’s extending his stay there because the team invited him to their Christmas party.”

“Wow, go Hayden. I’m happy for him and happy for me. It means I get more time with you,” Macklin says, and he walks up to me and kisses my neck. Little goosebumps pebble my skin. “What about Cade and Luc?”

“They’re coming back tomorrow, then flying out to their families.”

“Sucks,” Macklin says.

“I know. Too bad our alone time is so limited. Hayden said we should head home without him and he’ll meet us at Abuela’s on the 24th,” I say to Macklin.

Macklin nods and pours the batter into the waffle maker.

“We’re going to need to tell him about us,” he says quietly.

“I know.”

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