Page 87 of Rear View
His stare narrowed. “You don’t drink?”
Crap. I wasn’t drunk. Not by any stretch, but said alcohol had gone and loosened my stupid tongue. I’d fallen deeper and deeper for Xavier. I loved the way he looked at me, like I was beautiful, and fun, andnormal. His career was soaring, so I didn’t need to add the weight of my baggage to his shoulders. Become a burden.
I shook my head. “I’m just paranoid.”
My phone buzzed again with another text.
Zoya: So, have you two…? *Wink. Wink*
Me: Wink, wink?
Zoya: You know what I mean. Now spill!
I bit my lip and eyed Xavier again.
Me: I’ll keep you posted.
Tucking my phone away, I drank deep, feeling the alcohol as it warmed its way down my throat.
Someone bumped my shoulder and instinct had me turning to apologize, but the hooded guy was already ten steps out, melting into the crowd.
The group around us thinned and Xavier angled my way. “Get over here.” He banded his arms around my waist before he dragged me to him so my back was against his chest.
I sank into him, loving every second as I breathed, “Thank you for letting me meet your mom.”
“You’re welcome.” He pressed a kiss to my temple. “Wish she could be here in person. See all this.”
My heart twisted. What was that like? To be completely alone. His brother gone, father in jail and his mother in hiding. I might’ve isolated myself, but I still had my family. Yet for Xavier, every success, every milestone, it was just him.
“How’d you do it?” I said, my voice soft and low. Only for his ears.
There was a flash, as if someone’d taken a picture. My head snapped around, scanning the room, but whoever it’d been, I couldn’t tell.
The music slowed, the song sultrier. Xavier moved us to it. “Do what?”
My gaze slid to his. “Survive?”
His Adam’s apple dipped low when he swallowed hard. “I did what I had to do. No rear view. No lookin’ back.”
No looking back.
The words struck my already heated blood. I was two drinks deep and feeling good. Relaxed. Happy. So damn happy. I sighed and leaned farther into him.
His warm, calloused hands stroked my side. “You doin’ alright, dream girl?”
My head brushed his shoulder when I nodded. The song changed, a faster tempo this time, with a heavy base. I started to sway, my hips rolling as I let my liquid courage guide me and I pushed my ass into him. He cleared his throat, his fingers tightening over my ribs like he was trying to control himself. But I didn’t want that control.
“Why don’t you touch me more?” I asked.
A deep groan rumbled through his chest. He canted forward, setting his mouth against my temple. “We move at your pace, yeah.”
I frowned. “I thought speed was your thing.”
He rasped a laugh. “When it comes to you, we go slow. With everything.”
Half-turning, I peered at him over my shoulder. Those arctic eyes held mine when I uttered, “What if I wanna go faster?”
His grip snapped to my hips, and he spun me to face him. My hair whipped through the air, brushing his pecs before it cascaded over my chest. He hooked his knuckle under my chin, angling me up. “There’s no brakes on this one. Once I start, I ain’t gonna stop.”
