Page 65 of Ruck Me

Chapter20

AOIFE

With the feelof strong hands softly stroking their way over my naked skin, I slowly came awake, the trailing end of my dream lingering in my consciousness. Eoin nuzzled against me and I moaned, craning my neck to give him better access.

His teeth grazed my skin and he bit down, softly. “Wake up, sleepy head,” he said, kissing the sting away. “We have to get to Ballycurra.”

I stretched my limbs and groaned, feeling an unfamiliar ache in new and exciting places. “I don’t wanna.”

Eoin plucked at my nipple with his lips and teeth, bringing them to stiff, hard peaks, and I arched my back in a silent plea for more of the same. Laughing, Eoin kissed my sternum and rolled away. “Come on. We still have to swing by your place to pick up yourbag.”

I cast him an aggrieved look. “I’m still not speaking to Colleen, and until she apologizes, I’m not stepping foot inside that house.”

“You’re just going to ignore her all night?”

“That’s the plan.” I rolled onto my side and pulled the covers up to mychin.

Behind me, Eoin was silent for a few moments. Then, as his hand traced a line over my neck, he said, “You could always come home withme.”

Caught off guard, I didn’t respond right away. I’d barely gotten used to the idea interacting with his family as his girlfriend, never mind spending the night at their house.

When I stayed silent, he continued, “It’s not like you haven’t slept there before, youknow.”

I rolled onto my back and rolled my eyes. “We were eight. And there were twenty ofus.”

“Yeah, but you’ve still slept in my bedroom.” He waggled his eyebrows, and I swatted hisarm.

Laughing, I answered, “It was your front room. And there were twenty ofus.”

“Okay, fine. You win.” Eoin wrapped his arms around me and in one smooth move, rolled me on top of him, the sheets getting tangled up between us. His eyes flicked between mine. “Are you sure you won’t stay the night?”

“I can’t sleep in your bed with your parents right down the hall. It wouldn’t be proper.”

He reached up and brushed a lock of hair behind my ear. “What if you slept in my bed while I slept on thesofa?”

I sighed, my determination slipping away in the face of his pleading stare. “Are you sure it’sokay?”

He canted up and placed a quick kiss on the tip of my nose. “Yup,” he answered, dropping back down and rolling us over again. Looming over me, he said, “It’s not a secret you moved out, youknow.”

I closed my eyes and groaned. “Let me guess. Colleen’s been playing the ‘woe-is-me’ card.”

“Something like that,” he said with a chuckle. “What did you expect?”

“Nothingless.”

“So, you’ll stay the night at my place?”

“I’m probably going to regret this, but yes, I’ll stay at your parents’ house tonight. Under one condition.”

“Anything,” he answered quickly.

“You’ll sleep in your bed and I’ll take thesofa.”

Eoin laughed, a sound that sank deep into my bones and had me answering with a smile of my own. “Good luck withthat.”

“I’m serious.”

“So am I. You try telling my mam you’re sleeping on the sofa and see how fast she marches you down the hall to myroom.”

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