Page 10 of Swimming for Seduction

“You’re notmyanything,” she says with forced callousness. Now, it’s my turn to feel rejected, but unlike me, she doesnothingto ease the sting. “This was fun. You rocked my world, Batman. But I don’t do relationships…or friendships…or whatever you thought this was going to be.”

Despite knowing they were coming, her words hurt. She doesn’t know that she’s the first girl I’ve ever touched—the first girl I’ve ever kissed other than a light peck—but shedoesknow that I’m willing to bend my morals for her. Yet, she still won’t admit that she has the feelings for me I can see clear as day every time she looks at me.

If the rivalry we’ve created is the only way to keep her in my orbit, so be it. Because there’s no way in hell I’m letting her go after what I just shared with her. And there’s no way in hell she’s ever going to let us have this until she does what she came Thorngrove to do.

Without another word, we climb onto the bike and I start the engine before driving the long way back to her dorm. I both relish and hate the way she molds herself to my back and leans into the curves with me like we’ve been riding together forever. Our whole lives could be just like this, leaning in together instead of pushing each other away. But if she’s not willing to give in, then I’m not either.

The smile on her face when she removes the helmet almost stops my words, but I know that the ride is the cause of her exhilaration—not the fact that it was with me. So, I hold my hand up to stop her words before ticking off her transgressions on my fingers.

“So, public indecency, lude and lascivious conduct, and attempting to bribe a law enforcement officer with sex in exchange for alcohol.” Her smile falls a little with the first two before turning into an outright glare with the third, but I don’t let it stop me. “Those are all arrestable offenses, Miss Hargrove.”I use her last name out of spite because I want to hurt her the way she hurt me tonight.

“What’s it gonna cost me, this time?” Instead of the spunk I’ve come to expect from her, she looks utterly defeated. She thinks the only way she’s going to stay out of jail is to agree to whatever I ask of her. What she doesn’t realize is that I’d be in as much trouble as her if we’d been caught tonight.

“You’ll be my plus one to my family’s Christmas Eve dinner.” I cross my arms in front of me to look imposing, but also to put my own barrier between us since I’m finally realizing that I need one. “It’s at Aunt Chelsea’s house,” I deliver the final blow.

I’ve told her all about my connection to the brother she desperately wants to know but is too afraid to introduce herself to. Brady’s girlfriend, Skyler, is like a daughter of my aunt. So, there’s no way that they won’t be in attendance.

Ricki’s days of avoiding her brother are almost over. I just hope that this plan doesn’t backfire in my face. Because if I’ve forced her to meet him only for him to reject her, she’ll never forgive me.

Chapter 8

Ricki

“I don’t know what has been going on in your head this past month, but you need to get rid of it!” Coach Sheila snaps after I place third in the 50 meter freestyle.

If only it were that simple, I think as I wrap my towel around myself and stalk toward the locker room. Coach is right; my head has been a mess this past month.

After the two mind-blowing orgasms Tyler gave me, I realized that finding a stranger to get him out of my head wasn’t going to work. I don’t know how it’s possible to hate someone and crave them at the same time, but here I am, fantasizing about the way his hands and mouth felt on my body while wishing I could havepunched the smug look right off his face when he demanded that I attend his family’s Christmas dinner.

I’d climbed off of his motorcycle ready to apologize for my bitchy words. My snarky shield is my go-to defense, but I was willing to try to do better for him. I still didn’t want a relationship, but friends I could do. Friends with benefits would be even better.

Then, I found out that the whole night was just another game to him. Get me into a compromising position, make me break the law, and use it drag me to another miserable outing. The thing is, our previous ‘dates’ haven’t been miserable at all. I’ve enjoyed having someone to talk to who I don’t have to impress. But the one he’s forcing me to attend next month could very well shatter my world.

I let out a heavy sigh when I exit the locker room to see Tyler talking to my swim coach. Since he’s in uniform, I’m hoping his reason for being here doesn’t have anything to do with me. I turn the opposite direction, hoping to make it around the corner before they notice me.

“Ricki,” my coach yells, thwarting my attempt to get away without facing my enemy. I square my shoulders before turning to walk back in their direction. “Deputy Sheppard just informed me that it looks like someone broke into your dorm building. Since you’re the only resident still on campus this week, he wanted to escort you home to make sure they didn’t get into your room.”

“But we have the team meeting…” My words are cut off by her sharp scoff.

“I’ll call you later with the team stats if you want, but you need to go while you have on officer with you in case the burglar is still in your building.” She gives me a pointed look and I know there’s no use arguing.

After promising to let her know that my dorm is safe, I follow Tyler to the parking lot to see his cruiser parked behind my Escape.Escape…Ha! Apparently, there is no escape when it comes to Tyler Sheppard.

“I didn’t want you to leave before I found you to let know about the break in,” he says abashedly, and I wonder if I said my inner words out loud. “I’ll follow you to your building and escort you inside,” he says more confidently, but there’s a tightness around his eyes that makes me uneasy.

“How serious was the break-in?” I continue without giving him a chance to answer. “I mean…it’s probably just a fraternity prank or something since most of the students are gone, right?”

“It’s possible…” He shakes his head. “But not likely. The back service door was busted in and the housing office was ransacked. There are other deputies there, doing a sweep to make sure none of the rooms were broken into, but…” He swallows before he admits, “I wanted to make sure you didn’t get blindsided by the scene when you got home. Especially knowing you’re the only student staying in the building this week.”

“I’m surprised you’re not trying to find a way to pin it on me,” I say jokingly, trying to ease some of the tension that’s always between us. “Then, you could force me to your family’s Thanksgiving dinner tomorrow.”

It’s probably stupid of me to be giving him ideas like that, but since I haven’t done anything wrong today, I guess it doesn’t matter. I hate to admit how relieved I am when his smirk replaces his grim expression.

“If you’re looking for invite to dinner, you’ve got it,firecracker.” He laughs at my eyeroll as I fight to hold onto my scowl. “But first, let’s go make sure your dorm is safe.” He gets into his car and backs up for me to pull out.

Tyler

I follow Ricki to her dorm, wishing we were on friendly enough terms for me to convince her to stay at my apartment until her building has been thoroughly swept and the damage to the back door fixed. Hell, I’d even sleep on the couch and let her have my bed just for the peace of mind. But knowing that she will never agree to that, I’ll be sleeping on the floor in her hallway instead. Because there’s no way I’m leaving her alone in that building until it’s proven safe.

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