Page 20 of Ruck Me

She hesitated. “I don’t know. You’re my friend, and I guess technically hanging out is just us spending time together.”

Something clawed at my gut, a feeling I wasn’t familiar with. A need to make sure she knew this wasn’t just about hooking up. “As far as I’m concerned this isn’t a Netflix and chill thing. I’m not going to be calling you up to see if you want to come over and ride my cock. I want to hang out with you, properlike.”

“Properlike?”

“Yeah, you know. Study together. Maybe get dinner on my cheat night. That sort of thing.”

“But we’re not dating.”

“No, we’re not dating.”

“We’re just hanging out together?”

“Yes.”

“And what about …”

“This?” I asked, running the pad of my fingers over her kiss-swollen lips as she nodded. “Oh, I intend to keep kissing you. And at some point, I’m going to do more thanthat.”

“But I thought tonight … we’re stopping?” She looked at me, her eyes clouded with confusion.

“I know, I can’t believe it either, but I’ve changed mymind.”

“Why?”

“Because you know my granny.”

Her brows furrowed with confusion. “I’m sorry, but I’m not following. Because I know your granny you don’t want to touch me anymore?”

“Oh, I definitely want to touch you.” I looked down at the large bulge that nestled between the juncture of her thighs. “I really, really want to touch you. Don’t ever doubt that. But I don’t want to rush anything either. Let’s just hang out and see what happens.”

She stared at me, her teeth working her lower lip. “You realize what you’re describing sounds an awful lot like dating, don’tyou?”

Shit. It does, doesn’tit?

CouldI?

Shouldwe?

There were about a thousand and one reasons why we shouldn’t, but there were also a few really good reasons why we should.

For one, I genuinely liked Aoife and I enjoyed being around her. And I sure as hell wanted to keep touching her. I wasn’t looking for a girlfriend though. Honestly, I didn’t have time for one. But Aoife already understood what a rugby player’s life was like—how his time wasn’t his own during the season—so it wasn’t like she’d expect me to be at her beck and call all the damn time. If all she got out of me were a few texts on the day I had practice, she wouldn’t accuse me of cheating on her. If I could only see her one or two nights a week she wouldn’t think I was out fucking someoneelse.

Unbidden, an image of us hanging out on the regular popped into my head … and I didn’t hate it. In fact, I kind of likedit.

Maybe this couldwork.

Hmm, maybe I did want to date Aoife after all. I’d certainly heard worse ideas. Usually fromher.

Aoife might be the spontaneous one, but I was about to take a major leap of faith.

“I think it does,” I answered, watching herface.

I didn’t like what Isaw.

“I … um, I wasn’t expectingthis.”

“I know,” I answered, my smile dimming. “If you had been, I never would have asked.”

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