Page 33 of Fast & Reckless
“Mira …”
She pushed against him harder and he released her. “I can’t. I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have …”
When she opened her eyes and looked up at him, she looked on the verge of tears. His desire curdled into guilt. Was she drunker than he thought? Had he just taken advantage of her when she was too impaired to stop him?
“Hey, what’s wrong? Talk to me.” He reached for her, taking her gently by the shoulders, attempting to draw her back to him.
As she swatted his hands away, the tears spilled over. “I need to go to the restroom.”
She shoved away from him and pushed her way through the crowd, leaving him standing alone in the middle of the dance floor feeling like a massive arse.
17
Mira slammed the bathroom door and fell back against it, breathing hard. Her entire body was still vibrating. Her face was wet with tears, and her throat ached with a sob she swallowed down.
No, no, no, no, no.
Why did she do something sostupid?
She couldn’t even blame it on Will, even though he’d initiated it. Yes, she’d been drinking, but she wasn’t drunk, unless being drunk on music and a moment counted. Swept up in everything she’d been feeling out there on the dance floor, she’d turned to face him and sheknew. His intention was clear the minute she looked up into his eyes. She’d known what was coming and she’d stood still and let it happen. Welcomed it. Because she wanted it, too.
And when she’d gotten it …
I want you so much.
She closed her eyes and let out a helpless little moan. God, she wanted him, too. The aftershocks of that kiss were still firing through her body. She could still feel his fingertips on the back of her neck, his hand in her hair … she could still tastehis mouth on hers. Her nipples were tight, and between her legs, she ached with need, remembering his whispered words.
What waswrongwith her? Didn’t she ever learn? They were barely into the season and she was already making out with some guy in a bar. And not just any guy—Will. Will, who raced for herfather’steam. Will, whom she was beginning to think of as a legitimate friend. Will, the only guy—possibly in the world—who could ruin everything she was working toward. It was like she was determined to find some way to sabotage herself.
She ripped some paper towels from the holder on the wall and dried her face. Well, the difference was, last time she was sixteen and dumb. Now she was twenty-three and much smarter. Smart enough to step back and regroup instead of charging blindly forward into disaster. No matter how he made her feel, what happened out there could not happen again.
When she unlocked the bathroom door, Will was waiting outside, leaning against the wall, arms crossed over his chest. “Are you okay?”
“Look, I’m really sorry,” she said. “I never should have done that. It was wrong of me.”
He pushed off the wall, taking a step toward her. The smile he gave her made her heart twist up in her chest. “I’m pretty sure I did it.”
He reached out a hand toward her, but she backed away, shaking her head, on the edge of panic. “I shouldn’t have let you. I can’t. It’s—”
His smile melted away. “Why?”
“This can’t happen. You and me.”
He was silent for a moment, a silence so heavy it felt as if the weight of it might crush her. He was staring at her—shecould feel his eyes on her—but she couldn’t bear to look him in the eye.
“So you just want to forget this?” he finally said.
“I think that would be best.”
He let out a scoff of humorless laughter, but he didn’t argue. “Okay, yeah. It never happened.”
“I like you, Will.”
“What?”
Now she made herself raise her face and look at him. He was scowling, trying to puzzle out what she meant.
“You’re my friend and I really like you.”
