Page 77 of Craving the Player

The man smells like cheap body spray and orange juice, acombo that makes my nose crinkle and my stomach to churn. Iattempt to fight through my dry mouth and swallow away the uncomfortable feeling in my stomach. Just alittle bit longer, Sierra. Then you can hop in acab, sleep for acouple of hours, and wake up, ready to start your new life.

Sophie and Igot here about two hours ago, give or take an hour, but Ihaven’tseen her for at least half of that time. My anger towards her lack of company probably explains why Idrank so much so fast, and why the earth is doing the wave.

Hot breath crashes against my exposed neck, and Itilt my head to the side, as if on instinct. I’mtoo drunk to feel embarrassed for not pushing this guy away. And hopefully, tomorrow will just be ablur when Iwake up.

Ifeel the stranger pull away from me and shrug my shoulders, muttering something unintelligible under my breath. Straightening my spine, Iplace my palms to the side of my thighs and start to walk off the dance floor, but stumble backward when another set of hands grab me. My skin sizzles where we touch, and Igasp.

The stranger’schest is hard but welcoming, and it molds against my back in away that Ican’tcomprehend. His jaw is rough and covered in stubble. He brushes it against my cheek, nudging my head to fall to the side to allow him to run his nose along my racing pulse.

“Isaw you all the way from the bar. You’re impossible to miss. Just like you were the first time we danced like this.”

My eyes close when Ihear his voice, my entire body becoming aburning ball of fire and melting away the ice Ilet build up inside my chest. Whatever was left of my guard is dropped as Iturn around and reach for him. My palms lay flat on his rising chest and Iswallow the boulder in my throat before raising my gaze to his, eager to see what’swaiting for me behind those amber eyes.

“Braden,” Ichoke, legs growing weak from amix of the alcohol in my belly, my erratically beating heart, and the warmth swimming around in the sheen of his glassy eyes. The smell of whiskey is strong on his breath, reminding me that the sheen in his gaze probably matches the one in mine.

When he doesn’trespond, Isuck in asharp breath and drop my gaze to the black t-shirt that looks as if it was painted on his model-worthy chest.

Jealousy—one of the most unwanted emotions—claws up my skin as Ithink of every one of the other girls in this club that probably caught his eye tonight. Did he look at them the way he’slooking at me? Like he could take me right here, right now, and not care who watches?

“Why are you here, Sierra?” he slurs, voice rising to be heard over the bass thumping around us. “You shouldn’tbe here. Not dressed like that.”

His possessiveness sends shock waves directly to my clit. “What should Ibe doing then?”

His bottom lip slides between his teeth. “Anything. You prefer staying in, wearing those tiny little cookie monster pyjamas and drinking all of my orange juice. Why not do that?” He sighs heavily and moves his hands up my body to cup my cheeks.

“Ididn’twant to come here either. But I’mstarting to think it was agood decision.” Ilean into his touch and close my eyes, practically purring while attempting to think of my next words carefully. Idon’twant to scare him away.

“Stop thinking. Just let me kiss you before you leave. One last time.” He’sbegging, not bothering to try and hide it. It makes my heart soar, knowing how desperately he needs me. Even if it’sjust for right now. Because Ineed him too. So much it fucking hurts.

I’ve barely nodded before his lips are on mine, pushing against them with an unspoken goodbye. Agoodbye that makes my eyes burn with the fear that I’ve made amistake. One that I’ll never be able to come back from. He takes my mouth and owns it, pushing forward amillion different emotions and feelings that have my entire body in adisarray.

He pulls back slowly, eyebrows scrunched with curiosity, eyes later-focused on my cheek. It’snot until Ifocus on the wet feeling on my cheeks that Irealize I’ve been crying, and that he’sbeen brushing away every single tear with his thumbs.

“Ilove you,” Iwhisper, unable to take the pain of holding back any longer. My voice is so quiet, so broken. The only thing that lets me know he’sheard me is the instant look of fear that spreads across his handsome features.

Noise has never felt as silent as it does right now, as he drops his hands, almost as if my skin has burnt his fingertips. His head shakes, lips parting before meeting again, over and over until he jerks back, nearly tripping over his own feet.

“Fuck. Fuck. I’msorry,” he sputters, jaw tensing as his eyes harden to stone. “Ineed to go.”

Istand frozen, my feet glued to the dancefloor of the place Ican never come back to. Iwatch him turn from me and walk away with an urgency that has my chest splitting wide open and my heart slipping to the ground, two severed pieces laying at my feet.

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