Page 20 of Filthy Ruck

I held up my phone and waved it from side to side. “And I'm not even late.”

“Punctuality is so hot.” He jumped up from his chair and pulled out mine for me.

“It really is.” I gave him a look before I sat and placed my lunch and coffee on the table in front of me. I didn't need him opening doors and pulling out chairs, but his doing so was sweet. “I'd never undersell the importance of being on time.”

“I'll bear that in mind.” He sat back in his own chair and started to open his lunch. Salad and chicken breast. Healthy, if not exciting.

I made a show of unwrapping my ham, cheese and mayonnaise sandwich and placing my chocolate cupcake beside it. I worked out so I could eat shit like that. Not enough to lose all of my curves, but some. Whatever. Unlike him, I had no one counting my calories for me. If they tried, I'd tell them to fuck all the way off. Life was too short not to enjoy a cupcake once in a while.

“How was the rest of your morning?” he asked before pushing some lettuce into his mouth. “I presume it went downhill after I left.”

I snorted softly and bit into my sandwich. “Absolutely.” I chewed carefully and swallowed. “All of those hard bodies. Such a stressful morning.”

The couple of players after him were more reserved, answering questions and doing as they were told before hurrying out of the infirmary. All very businesslike. All guys I recognised from past games and media interviews, not from the club. One was married and, from what I heard, the other was happily engaged. Not the kind of guys to bother with strip clubs.

“Are you trying to make me jealous?” Frost asked.

“You want to touch those hard bodies too?” I asked, slightly teasing, but mostly curious.

His face turned slightly pink. “It's not… I don't… I don't know,” he said finally. “Kinda. But I want to touch you too. I mean, women.”

I nodded. “Figuring out preferences can be confusing. Especially when you're surrounded by so much testosterone.” The pressure to be one of the guys must be immense. Looking at the wrong one, the wrong way could get you punched in the head. It would be easier to go with the flow, as they say. Not as satisfying, but safer.

“Yeah.” He stuffed a large piece of chicken into his mouth, punctuating his unease.

“Just so you know, I won't judge you,” I said. “You don't judge me for doing what I do.”

He cracked open a bottle of water and took a gulp. “Nope, why would I? Before I was contracted to play for the Smashers, I delivered pizza at night and couriered parcels during the day. You do whatever you have to, y'know?”

“I do know,” I agreed.

I had a feeling I knew a lot more than he did. This was Dusk Bay, a perfectly ordinary looking city run by organised crime bosses like Reuben Brantley. Frost could have been delivering severed heads without knowing. I wouldn't have even been slightly surprised. Did he know about that side of the city? I had a feeling he didn't, and I wouldn't be the one to fill him in. Not now anyway.

“Were you one of those naked pizza delivery guys?” I teased.

He chuckled. “I don't think that's a thing, but I totally would have. Remind me to deliver pizza to your place one day.” He winked and went on eating.

“It could be a thing,” I said. “Whoever starts a business like that would probably rake in the cash.”

“Especially if you're doing the delivering,” he said. “I'd pay to see that. Or better yet—” He leaned forward and whispered, “I'd pay to eat pizza off you. You'd be delicious. I'd lick you clean.”

“I'm sure you would,” I said. “But body shots are better.”

He grimaced. “I'm really hard right now.” He shifted in his seat and adjusted himself.

I leaned over and patted his bicep. “That's what you get for talking dirty to me.”

“I did bring this on myself, didn't I?” he said.

“Yes. Yes you did.” I opened my cupcake and bit into the icing.

“It would be inappropriate of me to suggest I lick icing off your chin, wouldn't it?” he asked.

“Given we both work here, yes it would,” I agreed.

“If we weren't here, would it be appropriate then?” He cocked his head at me.

“It would depend on where we were,” I said. “It might be inappropriate at Flirts too, but if we were, say, out on a date, then it would probably be appropriate.”

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