Total pages in book: 80
Estimated words: 78257 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 391(@200wpm)___ 313(@250wpm)___ 261(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 78257 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 391(@200wpm)___ 313(@250wpm)___ 261(@300wpm)
He’s babbling. I squint at him, taking him in. “Question. Ever watch Twilight?”
“Team Jacob all the way.”
I shake my head. “I don’t even know you.”
He shrugs. “I have sisters. Girls love that shit.”
A slow song comes on, one of Ed Sheeran’s, and I see a group of frat boys eyeing the girls.
Hell no.
With a muttered farewell, I leave Blaze behind and head toward Penelope. The closer I get, the tighter my chest feels.
What’s it going to take to make her see I’m not the person she thinks I am?
Why does her opinion matter to me?
I watch her toss her head back and laugh, her hair curving around her shoulders, lying in copper coils.
“What’s up? Enjoying the party?” I say as I stop in front of them, giving them my signature cocky grin.
“Oh. Hey.” It’s Penelope and she’s staring at me—like she does—as she takes a sip of her drink.
I don’t even pretend to do small talk. She isn’t one for it, and I don’t want to give her the opportunity to run away from me.
“Let’s dance.” It isn’t a question.
I take her hand, clasp it in mine, and tug her forward. She follows.
“Brute. She didn’t say yes,” Charisma calls out after us.
“She would have,” I say over my shoulder.
Penelope hasn’t said anything as we reach the middle of the makeshift dance floor. She curls her arms around my neck and looks up at me. My hands linger on her lower waist, so fucking tempted to press myself completely against her, but I don’t because my dick is a steel rod.
My gaze wanders over her auburn hair. She’s so gorgeous it makes my teeth hurt. “Nice outfit,” I say. “Did you wear it for me?” I can’t stop the bullshit coming out of my mouth. Fuck—the truth is, I don’t know how to talk to her. Sure, I know how to flirt and fuck, but I don’t know how to really like a girl. I recall the fact that I asked her to do laundry with me. I really suck.
“I dress for myself.” She shrugs. “I didn’t know you’d be here.”
I nod, staring down at her. “You ran off today before we could finish our conversation.”
“Captain Obvious.”
“It wasn’t cool. I was trying to explain to you that I don’t give a shit about Sasha.”
Her eyes fly to mine. “Really? I figured you were into her…all big boobs and bunny-like. That isn’t me.”
“I know you’re not like that. It’s what I like about you.”
She bites her lip, and my eyes linger there, wondering how it would feel if I kissed her again, this time hard and intense and with so much feeling…
She exhales. “Look, can we forget about everything and just dance?”
“Hi. My name is Ryker. I play football. I love piña coladas and getting caught in the rain. I like making love at midnight, and…I can’t remember the rest of it. What’s your name?”
She giggles, and I know I’ve won her over. “Piña coladas?”
I pop an eyebrow. “Just going with the flow here. Don’t dis coconut and rum until you’ve tasted it.”
She laughs. “Okay. I’m Penelope, and I also love getting caught in the rain…and yoga?” She smiles. “Sorry. I can’t remember that song either.”
“I’m the football player you’ve looked for…”
“Come with me and escape.”
We both laugh.
“See, this is easy,” I say as I pull her closer, until her breasts are pressed against my chest. “I like getting to know you,” I murmur in her ear.
She tilts her head back, gray eyes glinting up at me. “Is that so?”
“Mmhmmm.”
Her lashes flutter down as if she’s hiding her emotions, and my hands tighten around her, my fingers trailing over the soft fabric of her skirt. I’m itching to run my hand over her ass and claim it as mine.
“I have a question for you,” I say.
“Yeah?”
“Did you come hoping to see Connor?”
She shrugs.
“Did you come hoping to see me?”
Those long lashes lie against her cheeks.
“Penelope?”
“Hmm?”
I want to say Let’s get out of here.
Let me get to know you…let me unwrap that skirt and show you exactly what it feels like when a man gives you an orgasm.
The air in the room changes, and I look up and see Archer coming down the stairs with a few other defensive players. Our eyes meet across the floor, and his lips tighten as he rakes his gaze over Penelope.
He turns back to one of the guys and points at us. They laugh and sneer.
My gut churns. Dammit. I don’t want him watching us together, wondering if I’m dancing with her just to win the bet.
“What is it?” she says, looking up at me. “You got quiet.”
I smile down at her. “Nothing, Red. Look, I’m sorry about today. I shouldn’t have let Sasha say some of that shit in front of you.”
“She was staking her claim. She wanted me to know she’d had you.” Her lips compress.