Jock Row (Jock Hard #1)(52)

“Groupies?”

“No. I was going to say I was away too much. She didn’t like it.”

“Hmm.”

“Hmm, what?”

“Nothing.”

He sets me on the ground, gazing down into my eyes. “Not nothing. What were you going to say?”

“I was going to ask about fidelity.”

“Why? I already told you I’ve never cheated. Fidelity was never a problem for me like it was for her.”

“Can you clarify that?”

“She said she was left alone too much and I wasn’t giving her enough attention.” The words come out slightly bitter, and in reply, no sound comes out of my mouth but for a short intake of breath.

“Do you mean she cheated on you?”

He grunts, running his fingers through my hair. “I got over it.”

“But you haven’t had a girlfriend since.”

“No.”

“So you’re not emotionally scarred or anything?” I blurt out.

He laughs. “What the hell kind of question is that?”

“I’m just wondering if you were traumatized by it.”

He rolls his brilliant green eyes at me. “I was eighteen, Scarlett. Nothing traumatized me back then. My shit didn’t stink.”

“Whatever you say.” I’m not convinced.

He sighs. “I didn’t lie in bed crying about it, if that’s what you’re thinking happened.”

Yeah, that’s a little bit what I was thinking. “I want to have sex with you—I do—just not against a wall.”

“Bite your tongue.” He bends at the knees, brushing my hair back and flicking his tongue along my lobe. Exhales into my ear. “I would never fuck anyone against a wall. Have you ever tried it? Stupid dangerous and way too much work on my end not to drop you.” He laughs into my hair. “Not worth it.”

“Shut up.” I laugh, wanting to smack him arm. “I’m being serious. I’m not a hook-up kind of girl, and you already know I’m kind of a pain in the ass—ask any one of your friends.”

“I’m not telling my friends shit.” After a few heartbeats, he adds, “It’s no one’s business but ours.”

I believe him, holding my breath when his palm roams up the smooth front of my top. Kneads my breast through the thin fabric.

“Scarlett?”

“Hmm?”

“I’m going to miss these boobs tonight when I get home.”

Whether he palms one for good measure or to torture us both, I’ll never know.

***

Rowdy: I can’t sleep, can you?

Scarlett: No. I tried sleeping then finally started playing around on my phone. Watching for you to message me, lol, how lame am I?

Rowdy: Not as lame as me doing the same thing. I gave up waiting—you’re a real stubborn PITA sometimes, Ripley

Rowdy: I should have just spent the night. My dick would be tucked nicely into your ass crack. Was that TMI? Too soon?

Scarlett: lol, I’m not sure that would have helped. And do you really think we’re at that point? Sleepovers?

Rowdy: We’re friends, which is more than most people have when they start dating.

Scarlett: Dating… Is that what you want?

Rowdy: I told you I was playing the long game, remember?

Scarlett: I didn’t forget, I guess I just didn’t realize that’s what you wanted.

Rowdy: Isn’t what EVERY girl wants?

Scarlett: I only want what you’re willing to give me.

Rowdy: Scarlett, it’s two o’clock in the morning; I’m way too tired to get philosophical.

Scarlett: Let’s talk about how you failed to nail me last night. What would we call that in baseball? A strike out?

Rowdy: JESUS you’re fucking savage.

Scarlett: I’m so sorry, I couldn’t pass that up. I thought I was flirting??

Rowdy: You could have taken a nice long pass on that joke.

Scarlett: Sorry I’m being a brat, especially when you’re being so sweet, but I’ve been dying to use the phrase “nail me” in a sentence.

Rowdy: If I wanted to be abused, I’d go to the gym and let the physical therapist work out the knots in my shoulders.

Scarlett: **takes mental picture of your body with no shirt on**

Rowdy: Next time you won’t need a mental picture. All you have to do is ask, and I don’t even care what tone you use.

Scarlett: I’m pretty good with my hands, maybe I’ll give you a rub down one of these days.

Rowdy: Don’t ever say rubdown because now a massage is the last thing on my mind. All I can think about is an actual rubdown.

Scarlett: You’re just…

Rowdy: Horny?

Scarlett: Do you suppose there’s a better word than that? Horny sounds so gross.

Rowdy: It sounds better than me saying I’m having lascivious thoughts about you.

Scarlett: Did you just google that word?

Rowdy: Yeah, the list of synonyms is terrible. None of them are dirty enough.

Scarlett: You’re right, they’re not. Weird, right?

Scarlett: When do you start spring training for baseball—like, what day?

Rowdy: January…twentieth or something I think, I’m not exactly sure, I’ll have to look at the schedule. I actually come back before break is officially over, we start a few days before class resumes.