Page 35 of Rough and Rugged

“More of the slap it on the grill and bake a potato type.” She stands up and tries to clear our plates, but I lay a hand on her arm.

“Let me.”

“You cooked. It’s only fair.” She sticks her bottom lip out in a pout.

“How about I wash and you dry?” I stand up and not so subtly crowd against her, aiming to distract her so she’ll let me take the plate from her.

“Okay.” Her voice is squeaky, cheeks flushed, eyes bright.

We stand side by side at the sink and make quick work of all the dishes.

“Do you have to go right away?” Alex asks, wringing the towel between her hands.

I don’t want to, but if I stay much longer, it’s going to be harder and harder to resist pulling her into me and asking for things she hasn’t brought up yet. When I suggested that we have dinner at her house, I thought it was a good idea, but being so close to her with no one around, so close to her bed or the couch, it triggered a swirling eddy of ideas in my head all night.

Plus, we’ve been brushing against each other constantly. Each little touch stokes my hunger for her more.

“We could go for a walk?” It’s cool enough outside that it won’t turn us into sweaty messes. This week has had a late summer heat wave that’s been stifling.

“Or I was thinking maybe we could watch the next episode together for once?”

She looks so hopeful there’s no way I can tell her no. We started virtually watching the latest trendy comedy show together a couple of nights a week. “All right.”

Alex takes my hand and leads me to the couch, pulling me down beside her and then cuddling into my side. My arm finds its way around her shoulders, and she tucks her head against me, folding her feet up and inching closer.

God, she feels good. All her curves press against me, and I’m losing the fight with a raging boner. Not wanting her to see it and get uncomfortable, I shift a degree away from her and make sure there’s a pillow within grabbing distance.

Just in case.

She picks up the remote and cues the next episode. When she leans back, her boobs brush against my side.So soft.I inhale sharply, fist clenching against the back of her couch. Her only reaction is a quick glance out of the side of her eye before she settles in to watch the show.

I’m going to have to rewatch this later at home because there’s no way I can pay attention to what’s going on. Not with her so close and our sides pressed together.

Chapter Seven

Alex

WhenIaskedNoahto stay, I was harboring ulterior motives.

We’ve been flirting and kissing and touching when we’ve been together, but all I can think about is how long he’s going to be gone and how much I want to take our relationship a step further. I was hoping that I could find a natural segue during the show to bring up staying overnight.

But, so far, he’s putting up a truly valiant effort to keep things strictly above the belt.

I’m not blind, and I can see the way just being near me affects him. It’s heady, knowing that he’s so attracted to me that he’s struggling to resist.

How do I tell him I don’t want him to?

I’ve never been a very forthright person outside of the classroom, and definitely not with my romantic partners, but Noah makes me feel more bold. Braver than I have ever felt before.

When the episode ends, I turn into him more, letting my chest press against his side. My fingertips trail through the slightly curling hair at the base of his neck. His cheeks tinge pink, and when I glance down, I see the bulge in his pants he’s been trying to hide all night.

With his free arm, he reaches toward the throw pillow and shifts it so that it’s half lying over his lap. Feeling more in control than I have in a long time, I reach up and cup his cheek, turning his head so that we can look at each other. “Noah?”

His eyes flit down to my mouth, then lower to the cleavage exposed by the V-neck shirt I’d put on. “Yeah?” He swallows and drags his eyes back up. The hand he’s had wrapped around my shoulders slides in so that his fingers splay across my upper back.

I don’t answer. Instead, I lean closer, pressing our lips together and praying that he’ll get the message that I need him. Each tease starts light, but when I open my lips, licking deep with my tongue, something inside him seems to snap.

He forgets about the pillow and instead his hand finds my hip, tugging and shifting us so that I’m straddling him. The kisses turn devouring. Each brush, each clench, is needy and restless. One of his hands fists in my hair and the other presses into the small of my back, encouraging me to keep close so that every time I shift, I can feel him underneath me.

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