Page 49 of A Game of Ruck

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Now that she’s finally here?

I’m gonna make damn sure she never regrets it.

Not tonight.Not ever.

Chapter Twelve-Annabeth

I’m not nervous.

Not exactly.

I mean, I’m not a virgin.

I’ve had sex before.More than once.

And once you’ve done the deed?

It’s supposed to stop being this big, monumental thing.Right?

Just a normal part of adult life.A little sweaty fun.A few fireworks if you're lucky.

Except, well, it’s never really been that for me.

Because I haven’t exactly had a lot of luck.

Not with men who looked at me the way Luca Warden does.

Not with men who touched me like I was something theywanted, not something they were settling for.

God.

My heart’s thundering, and my skin feels like it’s been dusted with static, pulled tight over a body I’ve spent years learning how to hide.

And I can hear my inner voice—sharp and bitter—rattling in my skull.

What are you doing?You’re going to get hurt.He’s pretending.This is pretend.You paid him to be here, remember?

But when I look at him—Luca, standing there with that hungry look in his eyes and his body coiled like he’s barely holding himself back—I forget.

Forget the years I spent shrinking myself.

Forget every snide comment about what someone like me deserves.

Forget that I came here with a plan to survive this wedding, fake a romance, and leave unscathed.

Because none of that matters now.

Not with the way he’s looking at me.

Not with the way my body is aching for his touch.

Not with the way Ifeel.

So yeah.

I’m not nervous.

I’m terrified.

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