Page 53 of College-Virgin & Dark Bully Next-Door

She just keeps staring at the ice pack. I slowly rub up her thighs, pushing the hem of the dress up with each climbing inch. “So talk.”

“I like reliable things. Math, sciences, reading, swimming, photography. Anything that has a formula I can rely on really.” Her hair falls over half her face. “I like watching the same shows and movies over and over. It makes me feel … secure.”

“Okay.”

“You … you aren’t reliable. People in general aren’t.”

“No, that’s the fun. They can always surprise you,” I say softly.

“They can … leave or misunderstand or be plotting behind your back, just change for no reason.” She adjusts the ice again. “And, normally, if I’m confused about people or a person, I talk to Bonnie, and I can’t do that when it comes to …”

“Me?” I guess.

She carefully meets my eyes. “I don’t know if what you’re saying is honest when you’ll do whatever you can to fit in. I don’t know if you’re just going to flip your switch back and not want me around. I don’t know shit, and I hate not knowing.”

“Sorry,” I mutter.

“There’s no ‘how to’ book I can read about people. There’s no way to just know, even after reading psychology articles dumbed down for people like me.” She takes a calming breath. “I feel lost.”

“I have a habit of telling the truth since I started boxing. I’d forget all my lies, and it would come out anyway, considering all the concussions,” I tease. Then I rub her back when she doesn’t acknowledge that. “You can ask me anything, Sky.”

Sky sits there for a while, processing.

“If something happens between us, you’ll know. It won’t be like last time.” I take her hand, moving the ice off my face. “I’m trying to be more … myself.”

“Because you want to fuck me?”

“No.”

“So you don’t want to fuck me?”

“Sky,” I growl. “I don’tjustwant to fuck you. You told me no relationship shit, and I’m trying to hold onto that. I’m not going to manipulate you into sex.”

She takes a slow breath. “You’re not easy to trust.”

“Try actually talking to me instead of just getting stuck in that head of yours, no matter how pretty it is.”

“Suck up,” she says as she blushes.

I twirl her finger in my hair. “Aren’t you going to kiss my wounds better, nurse?”

Sky laughs, then kisses the corner of my eye, my nose when I point to it, my jaw, my shoulder, and when I point to my split lip, she hesitates. Her fingers brush through my hair, easing the tension I feel until her lips gently press to mine.

She sucks my bottom lip and threads her fingers through my hair again. It’s double the pleasure. I kiss her back, licking along the valley of her lips until she lets me in. Slowly, she melts into the kiss, stops thinking so damn much, and enjoys herself.

When I draw back, she hugs me, wrapping her arms around my head. “I don’t like you being all beaten up, Ash. Use your left more and read the other person’s footwork, okay?”

I cock my head curiously. “How’d you get so technical with your advice, anyway? Don’t tell me it’s from those boxing videos Chase and I watched back in the day.”

“Not really.” Her shoulder lifts with a gentle shrug. “Chase still watches boxing, and I join in sometimes. I think it’s his way of keeping in touch with you. He might hate your guts, but he still misses you.”

It makes my heart smile, and I acknowledge her comment with a nod. Probably not today or even tomorrow, but Chase and I will make amends.

“Anyway, just take my advice, k?”

I smirk. “I’m not useful to you with a dislocated finger and a bruised-up face?”

“Not when your fingers and face are your best features,” she huffs. “Plus, you’re a good boxer. If you would just focus a little more, you’d make pro. I’m positive.”

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