Boarded by Love (15 page)

His grin is killer as he moves his hands in and down the back of my sweats. I giggle as he cups my ass and then his eyes go wide. “Dirty girl, are you wearing no panties?”

“A thong and I’m pretty sure this is not allowed.”

His brows come together in such a perplexed way that I’m giggling even harder. “Whoa, we said no sex. Maybe we need to define that ’cause when I want to get me a handful of your sexy ass I’m going to, and if I want to bury my face deep between your legs, I’m going to do that, too.”

Heat floods between my legs as my knees buckle. “Jesus H. Christ, you can’t say shit like that during our two-week dating mode! That will lead to sex!”

“Sorry.” He chuckles and I know he isn’t sorry one bit. “Why don’t we start this tomorrow and go up to your room now, and I’ll do what I just suggested.”

I shake my head, trying to take a step back, but his grip on my ass is ironclad. “No, sir, not only is my roommate up there, but I don’t want this to be about sex. We both know we’re sexually attracted to each other, like intensely, so let’s make sure there’s more to it ’cause I don’t want to fall for you while you’re busy just fucking me.”

He eyes me, and then nods. “I get that, but I can fall for you and rock your world at the same time.”

I laugh. “After the two weeks. Come on.”

“Okay,” he says slowly. “But please don’t tell me I have to remove my hands.”

I think it over and then nod. “Fine, hands are fine but no other places, and watch what you say before I forget this mess and hump your face.”

“Yes, please do that,” he says and then we both start laughing. Wrapping my arms around his neck, I grin up at him as I take in his beautiful face. He has a little scar along his jaw and then one on his lip. I point to them and ask, “What happened?”

“I busted my lip last year in a fight after a drunken night out, and then I fell when I was a kid off my four-wheeler and a branch went through my face.”

I make a face. “Shit, that had to hurt.”

“Like hell, but my mom says it brings character to my face.”

“It does, makes you hotter in a rugged, mean way.”

His face breaks into a huge grin before wrapping me up tighter in his arms and dropping his mouth to mine. We kiss for what seems like hours, but I know it’s only seconds. His kisses are so damn intoxicating, and I feel like an addict needing another hit of his mouth. And as I watch him walk away with a promise that he’ll see me later, all I can think is that I don’t know when that will be, but I can’t freaking wait.

After my last class, I meet up with Skylar and we head to the rink. We’re both carrying our dance bags with the hopes we made it. I’m sure we did – we’re both fantastic and Skylar did get some tens from the guys – but still, I’m a little nervous I won’t. I would be so embarrassed if I didn’t. Not only would telling Reese and Phillip that I didn’t make it suck ass, but telling Jude would too. Oh my heart, anytime I think of him, it goes crazy in my chest, and my stomach does some weird flip thing that makes me breathless. I’m falling for him, even though I told myself I wouldn’t, which is bad, very damn bad.

“Heard you and Jude were making out in the quad.”

I smile as I glance over at Skylar, shrugging my shoulders. “Making out is a little overdramatic, we kissed and touched some but talked mostly.”

“About?”

“About taking two weeks without sex to see if there is something there.”

She stops mid-step and gives me a look. “And he agreed?”

“Yeah,” I say with a grin. “And I trust him.”

“Wow, I’m completely floored. Jude? A one-woman man? I’ve known him for the last two years and this has never happened.”

“Yeah, he says he’s never had a girlfriend.”

“And look, didn’t I say you were gonna rock his world. Once everyone finds out that it took one day with you in the sack, guys are gonna come out of the woodwork trying to get you to leave him.”

“Whatever,” I say, waving her off. “It wasn’t even the sex that got him. It was me, he said. He just likes me.”

“Aw, that’s so sugar sweet. Jeez, I have a toothache, get out of here with that mess. Jude does not say things like that!”

“He does to me!”

“Whatever, I feel like I’m in
The Twilight Zone
. There are men made for just sex and some who are meant for relationships, and Jude was thrown in the other category a long time ago. I don’t know how to adjust my categories in my head now. When I see him, I always see manwhore, not a one-woman, Claire-loving dude.”

“We’re not in love,” I stress. “We’re dating.”

“Weird,” she says with a shake of her head, and I laugh as we head toward the rink. Once inside, a group of girls from the day before is standing around a bulletin board, and slowly each one peels away, either happy or disappointed or crying.

“Ack, more Nos than Yesses, it seems,” Skylar says as we make our way to the list.

I see my name at the top, and while excitement envelops me, I quickly search the list for Skylar’s, and I let out a breath when I find it at the bottom. “Oh, thank God,” I say and she laughs.

“Preston is gonna be at the bottom! We all can’t be As!”

I smile and we embrace. I didn’t think I wanted this as much as I do. I’m so happy, especially to be doing it with my best friend. Pulling away, I say, “I’m proud of you.”

“Well, I’m proud of you. Now come on, let’s go rock this first practice.”

I agree and then turn, running smack-dab into Jude. “Oh hey!” I say with a grin, giving him a quick kiss.

He grins down at me and then pulls a rose out from behind his back. “Congratulations.”

“Oh, come on! You don’t give girls flowers!” Skylar whines, and I giggle as I take the rose, smelling its sweet scent.

“Sure I do, for the right ones,” he says before winking at me.

I’m turning into a giggler because that’s exactly what I do before saying, “Thank you.”

“You’re welcome. Wanna meet up tonight? Or do you need to study?”

“Study, sorry, rain check? Lunch tomorrow?”

“Of course, text me when you’re done with practice to let me know how it goes. Good luck and congrats again,” he says and then kisses me so deeply that I’m a tad bit shy when he pulls away, kissing my nose. “See ya, gorgeous.”

“I made the team too, Jude. Do I get a hug, kiss, or anything? Shit!” Skylar jokes, and I laugh as he kisses my nose again.

Holding up his hand, Skylar high-fives him as he says, “Congrats, Skylar, I knew you would make it.”

“A high five? Before you’d at least smack my ass!”

He laughs and I do too. I know she’s playing around. Skylar loves me too much; she wouldn’t hurt me.

“Yeah, that was before I started dating Claire.”

He sends me one last grin before walking away as both of us watch.

Beside me, Skylar says, “I have no clue who that is.”

“That’s my man, Jude Sinclair,” I say with a little wiggle.

When I glance over at her, she isn’t laughing or smiling; her face is contorted in a perplexed matter. “Why did you lie to him? Maybe you’ll study between sets, but still, you will be at work.”

My face burns with color and so does my throat as I avoid eye contact. “I don’t want to tell him about that. It isn’t who I am; it’s a quick dollar so that I can have a steady life when I graduate.”

“I get that, but you probably need to tell him.”

“I will, come on. Let’s go to practice before we’re late.”

Thankfully she agrees with not another word on the subject. While I know I need to tell him, I also think that maybe it doesn’t matter. I work midnight to three in the morning, and I wear a disguise.

No one knows it’s me. Hell, it’s not really me, so why does it matter?

As much as I want to think it doesn’t matter, I know it might matter to Jude, and that makes me more nervous than falling for him. I can’t quit; I need that money to make sure I never have to depend on anyone for the rest of my life. It’s gonna help me get my business. It’s gonna be the start to my new life, but I have a feeling that Jude won’t see it that way.

F
alling into my bed, a smile is on my lips as I dig my phone out of my pocket. It has been signaling a text for the last thirty minutes, but I really don’t care. My thoughts are solely on a certain fiery redhead who I can’t seem to get enough of. Glancing at the display, I see that I have twelve texts. Groaning, I scan through them all, seeing they all have the same thing in common.

Mandy: Jude, are you dating Claire Anderson? I thought you don’t date!

I didn’t really like you.

Julie: what the hell Jude, you told me you don’t date but everyone is talking about how you’re with that redhead!

Yeah, I said that so you’d suck me off.

Marianne: Why is that redhead good enough and I’m not. Answer me that Jude!

Have you been around Claire? Touched her? No? Yeah, you wouldn’t understand.

Stacey: Jude, you are a dick and a half. How dare you date someone when you said you’d date me when you decided to start dating?

Yeah, I lied.

Jamie: I hate you Jude. You’re a liar. That redhead isn’t even pretty.

Bullshit, she’s gorgeous.

And it goes and goes and goes. Everyone that I’ve ever fucked saying the same damn thing.

“Fuck, what is wrong with girls these days?”

Jayden looks up from his bed. “Huh?”

“Everyone is freaking out ’cause I’m dating Claire.”

He scoffs. “Well, when you leave a girl’s bed with the promise, ‘When I’m ready to settle down, baby, you’ll be the first one I call,’ that tends to happen.”

I glare. “Shut the fuck up. While I can see your point, I don’t want to hear it. I want these girls to leave me the hell alone.”

He laughs as he rolls his eyes. “Why don’t you just change your number? It’s gonna keep on and you know it.”

“I swear you are the smartest out of all of us.”

“This is true,” Jayden says with a nod before opening his laptop. When another text comes through, I go to ignore it but then I see it’s from Claire.

Claire: So, practice was canceled. People couldn’t stay, so yeah, sucks, I guess I’m gonna go study.

Quickly, I type back.

Me: Wanna hang with me for a bit? I gotta go change my phone number.

Claire: Why?

Me: Cause everyone won’t leave me alone.

Claire: Oh. Okay. Yeah. Do I want to ask why?

Me: I’ll tell ya when I get there. I’ll be over in a bit.

Claire: Okay. I’ll be waiting outside.

Me: Great.

Standing up, I tuck my phone in my pocket and reach for my helmet then Jayden’s. “I’m taking your helmet.”

“Why?”

“For Claire. I’ll order her one, but right now I need yours.”

“Whatevs.”

“Hey, I’m gonna text ya in a bit and then make yourself disappear.”

“No way!” he complains but I settle him with a look.

“Would you like to share a room with another freshman instead?”

“You’re an asshole, dude. I got homework.”

“Go upstairs. You’ll be fine. See ya.”

I don’t want to be an ass and kick my brother out of his room, but I also don’t want to be feeling Claire up in front of him. Do I even get to feel her up? Hmm. That’s something I need to ask about. Going out to where my bike is parked, I put my helmet on and slowly mount my black with silver chrome Star Bolt that my dad got me when I graduated. Jayden got a car, and usually we trade off whenever we feel the need to. I love riding my bike, though. It’s probably my third favorite thing to do after hockey and sex. Putting Claire’s helmet under the bungee cables that are on the back, I start the bike up, the roar of it vibrating underneath me before I slowly back up and then hit the gas to go.