Page 35 of Ruck Me

“Which is why he’s going to be so pissed when he finds out,” Aoife said, rubbing her hand absentmindedly up and down my chest.

“I can handle him.” I grabbed her hand and held it still. If she kept stroking me my dick was going to get ideas and now was not the time forthat.

“I don’t know, Eoin. I’d feel terrible if my brother hit you too hard at practice or got you benched or something.”

“He’s not going to do that,” I answered, wondering if she wasn’t that far off the truth. Declan was less than predictable thesedays.

“He would try and you knowit.”

Okay, so maybe he would. Declan was a strange guy like that. As our captain, he was the best leader on the pitch, but there were things about him that made me think there was something … almost dark inside of him people chose not to see. I'd been shocked at how much he’d changed from the guy I’d known when I was a kid to who he was now. He had moments where he was this super chill, laid back guy, but lately he’d been more intense than usual and no one could figure outwhy.

“I tell you what,” I said, giving in for now. I didn’t want to fight with Aoife about her brother anymore, especially since we only had a couple of hours together this week and they were quickly coming to a close. “Since we don’t know where this is going, I’ll agree to keep things on the down low. But if things turn serious, we have to tellhim.”

Aoife leaned back in my arms and her eyes searched mine. “Deal,” she finally said, scooting out from my embrace. “Now come on. I promised youfood.”

* * *

“What arethe chances you can pick me up Saturday when the team gets back from Liverpool?” I said into my phone as I walked into the kitchen to grab a bottle of water. I had to keep my voice down so Tadhg, Donal, or Fergus didn’t hear me from the otherroom.

“What time do you getin?”

“If the plane leaves on time, the bus should be back from the airport around 8 o’clock.”

“Yeah, that works,” Aoife answered. “But why do you need aride?”

“A part on my car was recalled so it's at the dealership until Monday.”

“Gotcha.” I heard her moving around her room, readying herself for bed. I tried to push the picture of her in her skimpy pajamas from my mind since I couldn’t sport a boner in front of the lads without getting shit for it. “I’ll park at the back of the lot so no onesees.”

I gritted my teeth and pressed my fingers to the bridge of my nose. All this sneaking around was starting to wear thin. Since our date last week she’d been super cagey about going out together in public which had made things harder for us than I’d expected. Being with Aoife was great because she understood the demands of my life and didn’t press for time that wasn’t mine to give, but I’d mistakenly assumed things were going to be drama free. If we didn’t have so much fun together when we did manage to hang out, I probably would have given up on her bynow.

Just keep reminding yourself how much you actually like this girl, I told myself for probably the tenth time this week. Which was surprisingly true. Now that Aoife was my girlfriend, I couldn’t get enough. I was coming to know a different side of her, learn things I’d never suspected. It still amazed me that for as outgoing and boisterous as she could be, deep down she was actually shy, prone to pretty pink blushes at the oddest moments. I didn’t think she understood what a fucking aphrodisiac that was for me. I was in a perpetual state of arousal around thisgirl.

Which was probably the main reason I kept coming back formore.

“Yeah, that’s fine,” I eventually responded. “Park over by the supply shed and I’ll meet you there.”

“How do you like your chances against the Mariners?” Aoife asked, the bed springs creaking under the weight of her climbing under the covers.

“It’s hard to say,” I answered, sneaking past the lads to head to my room. Shutting the door as quietly as possible, I dropped down onto my bed. “Liam’s rotator cuff isn’t getting better with physio so Coach McCarthy is going to bench him until he goes under the knife. That means Paddy’s going to start. Poor kid is scared shitless.”

“Be nice, that was you not too longago.”

“Yeah, but unlike me, Paddy doesn’t have a hugeego.”

“Oh hush, you’re not sobad.”

“Oh, I promise you I am. I’ve just kept it hidden from you all thistime.”

“Come to think of it, you have always been full of yourself,” she joked easily.

“I’d love for you to be full of me.” When Aoife sucked in a startled breath, I realized I’d said that out loud. Shit. “Sorry,” I apologized automatically.

“No you’re not,” she answered, her voice coming through the line sounding like a long, slow drink of good whiskey.

“No,” I agreed, “I’mnot.”

I was trying not to push her too hard, but she knew exactly how badly I wanted her. After coming in my pants when she’d given herself an epic, toe-curling orgasm by humping my lap, I’d learned my lesson. Now, whenever I’d be seeing Aoife, I beat off beforehand.

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