The Guy on the Right (The Underdogs 1)

“I got talked into it.”

“This little Indian summer must have put idiot in the air.”

“I can’t even argue with that right now.”

“Good thing, you would lose. Come on, I smell like a wet dog, but you’re going to have to deal with it.” Theo follows me inside as I gather half the contents of my medicine cabinet before I lay down a towel on my bed. “Strip to your boxers.” He complies, gracing me with a smirk. I wet a washcloth and take a seat on the mattress next to him before gently cleaning the cut over his eye.

“What happened here?”

“Elbow.”

“And here,” I say tapping the purple on his jaw before wiping over the small cut on his lip.

“Another elbow?”

“And your arms?”

“Barbed wire.”

“Jesus.”

“Lort,” he says through swollen lips in perfect Madea, and I grin shaking my head. “You’re something else, Houseman.”

“You’re everything else.” He’s so sincere with his sentiment, it damn near brings tears to my eyes. Clearing my throat, I rub some Neosporin on the cut and press the cooling cloth beneath his eyes as they trace my face and dip down to my chest before doing a slow climb to meet mine. “Did you take something for the sting?”

“Yes, Mom.”

It’s then I meet his gaze and see amusement. “Don’t you ‘yes, Mom,’ me. What in the hell are you trying to prove anyway hanging with a bunch of dumb ass jocks and get—”

Gripping my wrists to stop my fuss, he takes my lips in a kiss that dizzies me. With each swipe of his tongue, I melt into him, the fight leaving me.

“Mmmm,” I murmur into his mouth as he draws me into him, fully tasting me before he pulls back with a grin.

“You keep kissing me like that,” I say stupefied.

“You keep letting me,” he says, his voice hoarse.

“You want a pain killer?”

“I’ve got one, I’m staring at her.”

“Smooth. But that was a bullshit stunt. Seriously,” I say dabbing his lip. “Why would you do that?”

“Aren’t I allowed to do a penis thing once in a while?”

“Definitely a dick move.”

“You’re so clever,” he leans in for another kiss, and I turn my head.

“Seriously, what’s gotten into you?”

He shrugs. “I was basically raised by a bunch of women. I never really got dirty. I wanted to see what it’s like to roll around in the mud.”

“And?”

“And I got my ass kicked. And I don’t like mud. But in a way, I feel like I got into my first fight. It felt good…kind of.”

“Yeah well, you won’t be singing that tune when the beer wears off,” I say dotting the cuts on his arms with witch hazel. “Men. You guys claim women are a mystery, but it’s because you idiots run on impulse.”