Page 72 of The Bad Boy Rule

“Thank you,” I squeak, suddenly nervous at the contact. Hisproximity.

I think there’s a part of me that’s still trying to wrap my head around the fact that this is even happening. The hooking up, the talking that doesn’t end up in bickering.

Beingherewith him at all.

“Wasn’t sure if your short little legs could make it up here,” Saint teases with a smart-ass smile.

I roll my eyes. “Shut up.”

The truck takes a sudden dip when Saint’s large frame slides onto the tailgate beside me and reaches for the box, pulling out the pizza burrito.

“Alright. This is about to change your whole fucking life. Get ready.”

I take it from him, resisting the urge to roll my eyes again at the dramatics, something that he has a flair for despite the broody, asshole vibe he exudes.

At least that’s what I think until I take my first bite, the warm, savory marinara sauce flooding my tongue, along with spicy pepperoni and so. Much. Cheese.

“Oh my Gooood,” I groan. My eyes slam shut as I chew slowly, savoring every second of the bite. “This is swooooo gwwoood,” I say around a mouthful, which is hardly ladylike, but truly, I’m having an out-of-body experience. “Howyyyy. Shit.”

Saint laughs. “I told you. Now, tell me I was right. C’mon.”

My eyes crack open, and I narrow them, shaking my head.

He reaches for the burrito and snatches it from my hand in a single breath, holding it above my head. Damnit, his arms are so freaking long there’s no way I’m getting it.

“Say it.”

I throw daggers at him with my eyes as he brings it to his mouth and takes a huge, ridiculous bite out of it, groaning loudly.

“Ew. Saint, what the hell? God, that’s worse than double-dipping!” I screech, attempting to snatch it back.

There’s a brief pause, and then his laugh spills out, the sound curling around me and causing my lower belly to tighten.

That stupid, delicious sound.

“Pretty sure we’re past that, yeah?” he rasps. “Or did I just dream about you sucking mycumoff my fingers?”

I reach out, slapping a hand over his mouth, my face burning with embarrassment. I’m fairly certain I’ll never get used to his filthy mouth… nor the way it makes me throb.

I feel his teeth nip teasingly at my palm, followed by the slow swipe of his tongue, and I drop my hand away, laughing as I wrinkle my nose. “You’re ridiculous. You know that?”

All he does is smirk.

AndIuse the opportunity to steal my burrito back. “Fine. Maybe… you were right.”

He sucks his teeth. “Damn, I know that had to taste bitter.”

As much as I feel like throttling him the majority of the time, the back-and-forth between us feels different today. Less vitriolic and more playful? I just haven’t quite figured out why yet.

Instead of answering, I take another bite and peer up at the inky, star-scattered sky above us.

I can’t even remember the last time I sat outside and watched the stars. My life has been a constant go, go, go for so long it sometimes feels like I never take a full breath, never stopping to enjoy moments like these.

There’s never been time. Between my parents constantly adding obligation after obligation to my plate, my classes and extracurriculars, serving on the board for the Social Club, volunteering, skating—before it was taken away—there’s never really been a moment to just… be.

“You got quiet,” Saint murmurs beside me, and I look over at him, “What are you thinking about?”

I look back up, my gaze moving over the stars until I find what I think might be the Big Dipper. “Just kind of realizing that it’s been a long time since I’ve done this.”

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