Page 24 of College-Virgin & Dark Bully Next-Door

“Something you’d prefer putting on my face?”

“A bug.” I arch an eyebrow.

He rolls his eyes but motions to where we were. I don’t mind the sudden change in conversation. Anything to forget how he followed me up to my old tree house after that fight with the neighbor boy, took care of my hands and reminded me I was not Rocky. How he sat with me and told me how to change my punch.

My stupid, moony self had wanted to kiss him. I hadn’t tried, but when he’d hugged me and told me how good I was, how proud he was, I’d felt like I was glowing all day. I swallow that knowledge and shake my head.

“Bumble bee.” I turn around, and he’s right there. Ash, glorious with his damp hair matted to his forehead, still trying to curl.

I take an unsteady breath, and Ash clears his throat. “We should go get warm before we, uh, get sick.”

I nod. “Yeah.”

And just like that, we’re back in the car and on the way to my place. An empty house with no one in it. I chew my bottom lip. Bonnie’s still at her summer job, Chase won’t be home until late since he’s on a double today, and Dad … he won’t be home until he has to.

I stand at Ash’s car and stare at my house. “Do you want to discuss the terms of the agreement … over pizza or something?”

“Sure.” He chuckles. “But, let me get dry first, and then I’ll come kick your ass at video games while we talk.”

“In your dreams,” I snort. “Don’t I own you in Mario Kart every time?”

“You used to,” he says. “But I went and played against college boys and upped my skills. I’m going to own you.”

“Wanna bet?”

“Absolutely. If I kick your ass, we’ll play truth or dare for real. If I don’t …”

“If you don’t.” I barter. “You have to hold my tarantula.”

“Creepy as always.” He flashes a wide smile, the boyish one I remember. “I’m in.”

“Not too creepy?”

“It’s on the line, but nothing less than I expect from you.”

God damn, why does that sound like a compliment I’d love to bask in forever? I run into the house and get through a warm shower, pulling on lounge pants with pizza slices on them and a black t-shirt.

We’re just hanging out. We’re discussing the agreement, it’s nothing more than that. Ash is just using his charm and our old memories to get what he wants. Nothing else. I see right through it. Even the wrestling was a fluke because I started it. But … what if … what if I’m about to make a huge mistake just by letting him in the front door?

Worse – what if I enjoy it?

Chapter 7

Ashton

This is stupid. I feel like I’m asking for trouble, but I can’t get Sky out of my head. It’s even worse after our wrestling match in the stream. The water plastered her clothes to her skin, showing off everything. And my stupid idea to rub her down with my shirt only made me want to rip hers off.

But I asked. I made sure it was okay to touch her, even with a shirt. Definitely not my style, but it’s getting harder to remember how to play my usual games around her. I groan as I jerk off in the shower. I hate myself for doing it, at least a little bit. But then I slap my palm against the tile as I finish and have a clearer head. I’m fine now.

We’ll just talk and play games and maybe I can ask more about her, what’s going on with her mom leaving, how she’s coped. I can’t imagine my mom just leaving and not coming back. It would be hell.

But talking to her about her will make her like me more, make her easier to figure out. She’ll show me how to act around her to get what I want, and I can be done with this damn … interest.

I drag on clothes and walk over to the Bennett house. I knock, and Sky opens the door, looking far too comfortable. But this is the version of her I know how to deal with. Soft, comfortable, nervous. The her that doesn’t know what she offers that isn’t tempting me or telling me to beg.

She waves me in and shuts and locks the door behind me. Like she’s worried someone is going to follow me in. She clears her throat and motions to the couch. “So, I’m not actually doing this for free.”

My brows lift at her. Did she miss the part where I had no money? “You’re not?”

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