Page 41 of Swerve (Boosted Hearts 1)

Okay, so he was hard. So what? That erection wasn’t for me. No way. He was a guy, and he currently had his dick pressed up against my ass. Of course it was going to get hard. Exchange my ass for someone else’s ass and the same thing would have happened, right? It was just a natural reaction, nothing to see here.

I tried to move forward, to give him some space, but his hold on me tightened. What the fuck?

A slow, needy ache began to build steadily between my legs. I squirmed again, trying to give him space. He didn’t let me budge.

“Sleep,” he said again, all rough and deep.

I shivered. Jesus. Like that was going to happen.

CHAPTER ELEVEN

Ruby

I walked out of the bedroom and into the living room. Neco was standing at the breakfast bar with Hunter. Zeke was there, too. They were deep in conversation. Neco was propped against the counter, feet bare, mug of coffee in one hand. The expression on his face was serious, eyes intense. They slid to me as soon as I hit the room. The intensity changed slightly, in a way that had tingles shooting up my spine, making me scalp tingle. Last night was the fifth night he’d slept with me. Every night he just . . . kept showing up. Lulu had been suspiciously quiet on the subject. Well, at least she hadn’t been grilling me about it. This morning, though, I’d woken up to find him gone. I was ashamed to admit how fast I’d jumped out of bed and rushed out here.

The realization that I was starting to need him, to expect to find him beside me, wrapped around me when I woke, was a shock to the system. I was also angry with myself for being so damn needy. Jesus, I couldn’t do this to myself anymore. Last night had to be the last time. I was slipping . . .

Who was I kidding, I’d already slipped.

Shit.

So much for being strong.

His pale eyes did their usual top to toe, then his lips compressed into a hard line and he pushed away from the counter and strode toward me.

He stopped in front of me and I tilted my head back to meet his darkened gaze. “What’s going on? Do you have news about Scott?” So far Scott was still MIA. No one had seen or heard from him, and getting information out of Neco or Hunter . . . or any of the guys, for that matter, was like pulling teeth. I hated being kept in the dark. Especially since it involved me.

He shook his head and surprised me by giving me something. “Nothing yet. Zeke stopped by Jimmy Mason’s, doesn’t look like Scott’s been there.”

Jimmy was Scott’s best friend, the only one I knew of, which is what I’d told Neco. Dammit. I wanted this over with already. “I can’t think of anywhere else he’d be.”

“We’ll find him.” Neco’s eyes dropped to my chest and he froze for a second before his eyes darted back to mine. “Go get dressed, Ruby.”

His words startled me. I frowned up at him. “What?”

“Get dressed,” he repeated.

I looked down. I was in my ratty shorts and baggy tank. I looked scruffy, but I didn’t get what the big deal was. “What’s the problem?” I asked. He was crowding me now, forcing me to take several steps back.

“I can see your tits clear though that tank.” He moved a little closer, so close I could feel the heat radiating off him. “You may as well be standing there fucking topless.”

Heat crawled up my neck. “Oh.”

“Yeah.” His intense gaze intensified further and he lifted his hand, fingers sliding over the bare skin of my shoulder, causing goose bumps to break out along my arms. “I don’t want anyone seeing you like this but me.”

What the . . . what?

I didn’t exactly want to flash my tits to everyone either, still I found myself pushing for him to give me more. “Why?”

“Why do you think?”

I swallowed, mouth suddenly dry. “I have no idea, that’s why I’m asking.”

His thumb brushed my wrist. “A lot of things have changed, Ruby.”

My heart started pounding. “How?”

“I think you know,” he said, voice dipped lower.