Page 18 of College-Virgin & Dark Bully Next-Door

“Can I ask for a favor?”

“Which I would say yes to, why?”

He pouts and folds his arms over the edge of the pool as I walk to the lounge and sit there, frustrated and damp and desperately wanting to take my own shirt off so I can feel less suffocated.

“I’m trying to make it back to the amateur league, and I need content for my Instagram page. Photos, specifically. Someone might have mentioned you’re actually taking photography seriously.”

“Yeah. My dad. At dinner,” I remind. “We were both there.”

“Oh, yeah.” He has the grace to look sheepish. “I’d really appreciate it if you could take some photos of me while I train. I’ll throw in free boxing lessons.”

“No way.”

“Come on, you didn’t even think about it.” There’s that damn pout again. It used to make me melt for him.

“I don’t have to. I don’tlikeyou,” I remind. “And I have plenty of reasons not to. You treated me like crap!”

“Let me prove I’ve changed as much as you have,” he insists. “You can name how. I promise, I’ll be good.”

“Something tells me you don’t know the meaning of the word.”

“Please, Sky,” he nearly purrs, pulling himself out of the pool and moving closer to me. “I really need this.”

“Tell me why.”

He huffs, and there’s the frustration I remember. Because he’s not getting his way. I arch an eyebrow at him and hold my foot out, putting it against his chest so he can’t keep gaining ground.

“Absolutely not.” I push my toes into his chest. “No closer. Why do youneedthis, and why does ithaveto be me?”

“Because you’ll do it for free if I ask nicely enough.”

I laugh, actually laugh. Is he that cocky? That sure of himself? That’s total bullshit, and it’s not happening. I won’t cave. He rubs across the inside of my foot, and I fight the tremor.

“I’m not playing this game with you. I’m not playinganygames with you. Do you get that? Anything friendship we had as kids, you went and ruined.”

“Sky. Just … just listen, okay?”

“No! Because you’re not listening to me. I said no. You’re not respecting the boundary and that’s really shitty behavior. I’m not one of your flings who’s going to bend over just because you say so. I don’tneedthis.”

He considers that for a moment, rubs his hand over his chin, but hasn’t let go of my foot. “But you haven’t walked inside.”

Because I’m a fucking idiot.

Chapter 5

Ashton

I stroke the inside of her foot again, bothered that her hard stare doesn’t soften, not even a little. For some reason, she’s furious about some childhood teasing and doesn’t want to hear a thing I want to say. And I don’t know how to deal with her.

But I force myself to take a step back even though I don’t want to. In fact, that’s a better reason to take another step back. I put my hands up and see Sky actually take a breath. She swallows, glances at the back door and then back to me.

She’s curious. I know she is.

“Why me?”

“You’re here, Sky. I want to prove I’m not the bastard I used to be.”

Because, for some insane reason, I can’t stand that hateful look in her eyes. The lack of trust, the way she’s determined to look too deep and rip through every angle I’m trying. She’s waiting for me to pull the rug out from under her. I can’t blame her.

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