Page 143 of Endgame

“Fuck, I’ve missed you all day,” Rourke whispered in my ear, wrapping me up in his arms.

Rourke and I didn’t have any classes together on Fridays and it sucked.

I didn’t reply, but my heart screamed the words back at him, even if my brain tried to shield me with silence.

“Don’t say it back, Six,” Rourke teased. Releasing me from his hold, he opened the door of his truck for me and winked. “I’m in a real masochistic mood today and enjoy my girlfriend’s complete silence when I tell her how I’m feeling.”

“Are you all set for the game tonight?” I asked as I climbed into the passenger seat and fastened my seatbelt. I needed to veer the subject away from feelings because if I cracked and told Rourke how I felt, I had a feeling he would run like the wind. He hadn’t said the L word and I was determined not to be the first one to admit it. I knew Rourke cared about me – he treated me like a freaking queen this past month – but love? I had no clue if he loved me or not and thatterrifiedme.

I watched as he closed my door and rounded the truck before hopping into the driver’s seat. Rourke cranked the engine and pulled into the long line of cars trying to exit the parking lot. “I’m always ready, Six,” he finally replied, tone breezy.

I rolled my eyes. “You’re alwayscocky.”

“I’m that too.” He grinned. “You changed your mind about coming tonight?”

“Yeah.” I scrunched my nose up at the thought of it. “Molly threw a tantrum on me in econ. She’s practically forcing me to go to the game with her.”

“Forcingyou to go,” he repeated, tone deceptively low.

“Yeah,” I replied. “For someone so tiny, she’s actually pretty damn bossy.”

I watched as Rourke’s jaw ticked, but he didn’t respond to that, obviously lost in his own brooding thoughts.

“Rourke?” I said, staring at the side of his face in concern. “Are you okay?”

“Yeah,” he finally replied after a long stretch of awkward silence. “Did you get a dress for the dance?”

I nodded. “Molly’s going to loan me one of hers.”

“Six.” He turned to face me, blue eyes snaring me. “If you need money –”

“I’m fine borrowing a dress, Rourke,” I quickly interrupted. I hated that; him offering to buy me stuff. It was like the time heofferedto fuck me. It made me feel like a charity case. A burden.

“Fine.” He threw a hand up in exasperation. “Suit yourself.”

Rourke

I HAD NO FUCKING clue where I stood with the girl. One minute everything was rosy between me and Six and the next she was pulling away from me; retreating into herself. In all honesty, I had never been more confused in my life.

Females were hard fucking work and I was quickly learning that no two were alike. In my limited experience, I always thought girls loved to go shopping and buy shit. Hell, anytime I had offered to buy Britt something when we were dating, she had practically clawed the black American Express card out of my wallet. Six had proven to be quite the opposite.

I had unintentionally offended her when I offered to take her dress shopping for the homecoming dance last weekend. And bringing it up again this afternoon had been a stupid fucking move on my behalf.

Personally, I didn’t see what the big deal was. Six was my girlfriend and I knew she didn’t have much – the majority of her income from the coffee shop was spent on gas and maintaining her car.

Meanwhile, I had more than enough and was willing to share it with her. But every time I offered, she shot me down with a glare and a cutting remark.

She was so damn prideful...

“I booked us a suite at the hotel tonight,” I announced when I pulled into the driveway of our house a little while later and killed the engine.

“You did?” Six’s voice was full of surprise. She turned in her seat, giving me her full attention. “Really?”

“Really,” I replied a little cagey. I hadn’t been sure of what her reaction would be. I was half expecting her to get pissed with me like she had when I brought up the dress. “Figured it would be easier than trying to find a ride home in the middle of the night.”

“I’ve never stayed in a hotel before,” Six squealed. Seconds later, she had her seatbelt off and was straddling my lap. “Thanks, Rourke. This is so fricking cool!”

Relief flooded my body followed by a sudden pang of lust. Six bouncing up and down on my lap had me hard as rock. The tiny, grey school skirt she had on rode up from her movements, exposing the tiniest slither of pink lace.

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