Jock Row (Jock Hard #1)(73)

Resting my lips on her shoulder, the sound of the waves lapping against the side of the ship, and hundreds of seagulls are on the playlist as we stand there, studying the horizon.

It’s warm—already seventy degrees—so tank tops and shorts are the order of the day.

And when Scarlett reaches behind her to run her fingers through my hair, I take advantage, sliding my hands under the hem of her prissy blue top. Sweep them up, cupping her breasts over her bra.

Kiss her neck again, this time sucking, too.

I haven’t had sex in months, and with all these emotions suddenly raging inside me along with my hormones, all I can think about is s-e-x; every attempt to dial down my sexual appetite has failed. Everything Scarlett does turns me on, from the quick way she blushes to the conservative braids in her hair and her quirky little laugh.

She’s not even doing it on purpose—that’s how affected we are by the sight of each other.

She made it easy to fall in love with her, she just…doesn’t know it yet.

Growling into the curve of her neck, I pull back and step away before I doing something stupid, like unclasp her bra and strip off all my clothes.

She would be so pissed.

“Should we explore the ship?” Her bright, toothy grin and dimple punch me right in the gut, spreading to my stomach.

“Whatever you want—this is your weekend.”

Her heads gives a bashful shake. “Stop it, Rowdy.”

“Stop what?”

“You did not do this all for me.”

The hell I didn’t.

The ocean, the beaches—it’s my gift to her.

I don’t know what my fucking problem is lately; I might be a ballplayer, but what do I bring to the table other than my body and a skill that’s practically useless unless I’m in the infield of a baseball diamond?

“Let me slip my sandals on and we can go.”

***

We spent the afternoon idle. Relaxed, lying about in deck chairs next to the pool and watching the ship leave port, the houses on land getting smaller and smaller.

Dots on the horizon disappearing from sight after a few miles.

Ordering fruity drinks, we talked and laughed the afternoon away like we’ve been a couple for years. Napped. Dinner with my parents, which ended up being painless because they showed up twenty minutes before it was over.

“Should we go see what the opening production is?” Scarlett glances up from the ships entertainment itinerary, reading out loud and chewing on a chocolate-covered strawberry. “The welcome aboard opening production is a thrilling prelude to a weekend’s worth of fun, including musical numbers, dancing, and a message from the entertainment director.” She turns to me. “Can we do that?”

“Sure.” Fuck, fuck, fuck. I’d rather poke my eye out with a dull pencil than sit through one of those onboard productions.

We set our napkins on the table, push our chairs out from the dining room table, and say good night to my parents.

“Breakfast in the morning before we get off at the island?” Dad asks.

I scratch my head. “Um, I’m thinking room service.”

Mom narrows her eyes at me. “If you order us anything, I will kill you.”

My palms go up in mock surrender. “I only did that one time—you’ve got to stop bringing it up.”

She shoots Scarlett a look. “There is a menu hanging on the back of your door. You fill it out and hang it outside your stateroom. Someone comes along and picks it up, and the next morning, they deliver whatever it was you circled.” Her lips purse. “Once, Sterling ordered us one of everything and had it delivered at seven AM.”

Damn that was funny—man were they pissed off.

“Hey, I came and ate it all.”

“But if you hadn’t, it would have gone to waste.”

I scoot to my mom’s side, planting a kiss on her upturned cheek. “Come on, you thought it was funny.”

“It wasn’t funny—not when you’re on vacation and your two-hundred-pound man child climbs onto the bed with trays of food, and especially not when you’re trying to be romantic with your husband whilst on vacation.”

“Jeez Mom!” Is nothing sacred?

She shrugs. “I’m just pointing out the obvious. Your timing always did suck.”

“Anddd that’s our cue to leave.”

Scarlett and I make haste, fingers laced together, hustling to find the ship’s amphitheater.

We’ve been here ten minutes when I first start to doze. On stage, costumed crew members dance across the stage, a large forest scene hanging in the backdrop. The shadow of trees loom, backlit by blue lights, and honestly, I don’t have a clue what the fuck is supposed to be going on.

My parents live for this shit.

I, however, am bored as fuck, and I lean back in my seat, legs spread, head hitting the wall so I can close my eyes.

I yawn.

Tune out, mind wandering.

Wonder what’s going to happen when we get back from this vacation, back to school. I’ve never done anything in half measures, and I’m not starting with her.

When we get back, I’m going to tell her I love her and hope we can make this relationship work.

Scarlett catches me stifling a yawn with the back of my hand, giving me a little poke in the ribs. Leans over to stage whisper, “Should we go? You look tired.”