Page 74 of Ruthless Rose

“I don’t have to say anything. You’re sexy and smart and kind. And so beautiful.” He reaches over and brushes a lock of hair out of my eyes.

“Micah, we just had sex. That’s all I meant. You’re lying in my bed, holding me. You’re supposed to say you’d vote for me.”

“Yes, we did. And yes I am.” He pauses. “And I still meant it. I’d vote for you, no question.” He skims his hand along my back. “If I go stag, you’ll still dance with me, right?”

I lift my head, peeking up at him. “Yeah, of course. You’re really okay with me going with Max?”

“Absolutely. He’s your friend. And I don’t want to put you through any more of Alora’s shit. It’s getting fucking ridiculous.”

I take a deep breath and blow it out with a laugh. “Right. Okay. I guess I’ll go with Max, and we can do what we want once we’re there. Max won’t mind. I just need to figure out the dress.”

He frowns. “What do you mean?”

I drop my head to his chest again. “My parents don’t really have the money for anything extra right now. But I’ll figure it out. I’ve still got a few days.”

His chest rises and falls steadily under my cheek. “Can I ask you something else?” He shifts a little, then cusses, realizing he’s at the edge of the bed.

I chuckle internally, thinking about how funny it is that our first time was in my tiny twin bed. Amused, I smile.

He clears his throat. “If you hadn’t needed it for your college applications, would you have tutored me?” He hesitates for a few seconds, and I squirm, uncomfortable with where this is going. “What I mean is, the other day when we were talking about you being my spirit girl, you mentioned needing to do it, rather than wanting to. And I know you were kind of railroaded into tutoring, but you did it anyway, even though they aren’t paying you to do it.” He runs his hand through this hair. “Fuck. I don’t know if I’m making sense.”

My brows pinch and my cheeks flush pink as I meet his gaze. I don’t want to lie to him. “I admit I thought about getting out of it … at first. That was before I needed it for the appli—”

“You don’t have to explain. I wanted to say I’m sorry for being such a dick about it in the beginning.” He sighs, holding me closer. “I wanted to make sure you knew that I understand how important that stuff is to you now.”

“Yeah. I’m getting there. I’ve,”—my voice cracks—“got this.”

Micah pulls me more securely to him. “It’ll be fine. You’ll get the scholarship. You’re so fucking smart. How could they not give you one?”

I shake my head. “That’s not always enough.”

“Well, it should be. Like I said, you’ll be fine. You’re smart as fuck.”

My lips brush his pec as I whisper, “Micah, what would happen if we didn’t bring up your grades? Do you think it would mean you’d lose out on offers to go play football somewhere?”

He shrugs. “It doesn’t matter. I guess I’d just pick a random college if I’m not playing ball. I have a trust fund from my grandfather. Or maybe I’d just say fuck it. I don’t know. I haven’t discussed it with my parents. It’d probably really piss them off if I went and worked in a garage or something. I like to tinker with cars. Maybe I’ll ask Scarlett’s uncle for a job.” He clears his throat, tilting his head as if he’s considering it.

I raise up on my elbow, looking into his eyes. “Not that there’s anything wrong with that, but I thought you loved football? You’re so talented. You don’t want to play at the college level? I thought that was the whole point of me tutoring you—to help you do that.”

He sighs deeply, but doesn’t answer me.

That’s when it hits me. The idea that had begun to float around in the periphery of my mind had been right on the money. I prop myself up on my elbow, staring down into his eyes. “Tell me if I’m wrong. Everything you do—wild parties, messing up your grades, almost getting benched from the team—has all been a way to try to get them to pay attention to you.” I blink a few times and nudge him. I whisper, “You’re testing them. Proving to yourself that they don’t care.”

He draws in a deep breath, his steely gaze connecting with mine. He’s in pain. And I don’t know how no one else realizes it.

“Micah … I just—what the fuck? Do your parents not see what you’re doing? Or why? Do they not care at all?”

“They don’t. No matter what I do, they don’t. My grades can slip, I can fuck up, or I can do everything right. Either way, they don’t fucking care. They don’t give a damn about me.”

Oh boy.My heart tightens in my chest.

“I don’t want to talk about it.” He eases me away from him, then scoots down the bed, tucking a pillow under his head. “Come here.”

My brows draw together right before he grabs me by the waist, settling me over his face. I gasp, looking down at him between my knees. “I—”

“No more talking.” He grabs my ass and tugs me down to him, forcing my knees to slide outward until my pussy is spread wide and hovers just over his mouth. A surge of pleasure hits me like a tidal wave as he breathes in, a rumble sounding in his chest. “Fuck yes.” He swipes his tongue over me with maddeningly bold strokes until I’m forced to grab the headboard for support.

My limbs ache, but I can’t deny him.

He moans against me. “I fucking love to eat your pussy.” He’s ferocious in the way he devours me, using tongue, lips, and even his teeth to send me soaring.

It doesn’t take long before I’m on the brink again, body shaking.

“Fucking come for me, Daph,” he growls against my opening before he spears his tongue inside of me.

Shimmering explosions race through my body, and all I can do is moan. “Oh, God. Micah. Micah …”

He doesn’t want to talk anymore. And I’m mostly okay with that—at least for now, while his mouth on me makes both of us forget everything else.

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