Page 63 of Good Pucking Luck

“Okay.”

He gives me another of those quick pecks that feel much more intimate than they should, then rolls me off him and stands in one swift movement. Rylan holds his hand out for me, and I let him tug me to my feet.

He keeps hold of my hand as he leads me toward the ocean. There are a few people down the beach from us, but no one close enough that I’ve felt we didn’t have the privacy I’d like with him.

Once we’re in the water, Rylan wraps his arms around me. I do the same with him, clinging to him.

“Hey, are you really scared? Do you want to get out?”

“I have a fear of drowning, but I don’t want to get out. This is…nice.” I have a feeling I’m going to regret today, that all these truths I’m letting out will begin to stress me out, but I can’t help it.

“Yeah. It is.”

I lean my head on his shoulder as we bob in the water. Rylan doesn’t loosen his grip on me the whole time, his muscular arms like a vise around my torso.

“Only a little over a month left in the regular season,” he says.

Why is he reminding me that this is almost over? Because he wants to make sure I don’t feel like today means more than it does? “Yep. And then I can go show off all the things you taught me.”

His body stiffens, but I figure I must be imagining it. “I’m not sure I taught you anything. There’s always been a sex monster beneath the surface. I just helped you set him free.”

“Strength I never would have had, never would have seen it, without your help. It won’t be the same with someone else.” Holy shit. What the fuck did I just admit? What the fuck do Ifeel?Mayday, mayday, mayday!This is very, very bad.

Rylan groans, deeply, and he seems…frustrated?

My insides tighten. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean that I want more than friends with benefits with you. I don’t. Like at all.” I, in fact, think I do, and it didn’t hit me until this second, but I’m backpedaling because I already messed up the other night somehow. We didn’t have video sex, and now I’m making it sound like I want to marry him. Plus, as much as I like Rylan, I’m so damn afraid of getting hurt again, of being made a fool of.

A small wave hits us, and I feel like it might have hidden a face Rylan made, but suddenly he’s leading us back to the shore. “You’re killing me here, baby. I can’t figure out which way is up.”

That makes two of us. Why is he upset? “Where are we going?” I ask.

“Home.”

“You’re sending me away?”

He blanches. “What? No. My home.” His face softens, his strong jaw relaxing. His scruff is a little longer than usual, andI want to feel it against my skin. “I think I’ve been an idiot. I’ve been seeing this all wrong.”

“Maybe you can let me in on what you’re talking about.” The water pushes at us again.

“I will. Let’s go.”

Rylan keeps hold of my hand as we head back to our blanket. He quickly packs everything up. My heart is racing. It’s not hot outside, but I’m sweating. I have no idea what’s going on, but I have a feeling I did something wrong—not because Rylan ever really makes me feel like that, but because I can’t help it.

Without a word, we walk back to the house. Rylan sets the things on a table outside, then goes straight for the outdoor shower and turns it on.

So…I guess we’re showering? Doesn’t he know I’m losing my mind here?

As soon as we’re naked and under the spray, Rylan pumps soap into a sponge and begins…washing me? I’ve never had a man wash me before, and I’m not sure what to think about it.

He still doesn’t speak, and I don’t either. I just let him do this, let him take care of me and move me around while he gets sand and ocean water off me.

My head spins with confusion.

When he’s done with me, Rylan does the same to himself, and I just stand there like an idiot.

Seconds later he shuts off the water and hands me a towel.

The moment we’re out, Rylan paces the deck, towel wrapped around his waist, running a hand through his hair.

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