Page 34 of College-Virgin & Dark Bully Next-Door

“Yeah, I’m interested inthatkind of strip tease,” I say sarcastically.

He jabs his index finger at me. “Keep your hands off. She’s mine.”

“Clearly, because Sky justloveschildish assholes.”

“It’s not childish. It’s strategic,” he defends.

Smothering a chuckle, I reply, “It would probably work if you were ten, Peter. Grow up.”

“Whatever. I’m playing the long game.” He points at me again. “Don’t get in the fucking way, Ashton. I’m serious. I’ve had my eye on her and made sure no one else has fucked her or kissed her or claimed her. She’s going to be mine and mine alone.” He pokes my chest. “I know how to handle her.”

“Sure.” Is that issue number one I spy?

Peter shoves at me, but I don’t budge. “I’m serious. I’ve been working on her for years. You fucked up my opportunity once, and you’re not going to do it again.”

“What the fuck does that even mean, dude?”

He storms out of my room without a reply, and I just stand there. He doesn’t have a chance with Sky. Not if he got his tips from some pickup artist ... or me. So I don’t need to worry about any of his bullshit. I’m just going to head out with the guys, enjoy my Friday night and not let him stand in the way.

And that’s exactly what I do. I drink with the guys, tell stories that make everyone laugh, and realize how drunk I am when I drop my keys twice, then try to get my house key in the car door. Tyler pats my back.

“No driving for you. Let’s go.” He puts me in his passenger seat, and I fall in and out of a nap on the ride over.

The car soon slows down. “I keep forgetting the boss’s house. Which one is it?” Tyler asks.

I push to a sitting position and squint through the window. The entire neighborhood looks blurry. “Right here is fine.”

“You sure, man?”

“Positive.” I stumble out and walk up to the nearest house, hesitate, then walk around the side, pushing open the back gate. I see a pool and groan. Wrong house. I’m so tired, though. I don’t care. I can’t make myself care.

Pulling out my phone, I text Sky, asking if she’s ready for the naptime date. Then I smile and let my head fall back against the fence.

Chapter 10

Sky

I stare at my phone. What the hell is he talking about? I nervously check the front door, trying to be as quiet as possible as I run through the house. There’s no one standing outside, so my eyes go to the back. I slowly creep out of the sliding glass door at the back, look in the pool, on the deck, and don’t see anything.

Groaning, I call Ash. I hear his phone go off and follow it to see him lying in the grass around the side. I sigh and lift his chin. “What kind of trouble did you get into?”

“My teddy bear,” he hums, pulling me down and into his lap to hug me. He buries his face in my neck, but I can still smell the beer on him and sigh. Of course, he’s drunk. “You’re so comfortable.”

“You’re drunk,” I say.

He nods. “And horny.”

“Keep it in your pants.”

“Is it out of my pants?” He gropes between us, his knuckles brushing my upper thigh. I should have put pants on. Why the helldidn’tI put pants on? Ash seems to realize it at the same time. He turns his hand and strokes along the inside of my thigh. “Sky …”

I grab his hand and hold it above his head. “No. Behave. Why are you here?”

He gives me a dopey grin. “You’re hot when you’re bossy.”

Closing my eyes, I fight the urge to slap him. I rub my forehead. What am I supposed to do with him? Ash rubs over my hips, then tugs my hair a little. When I open my eyes, I watch him tug and release my hair; it springs back up.

“Slinkies.”

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