Page 85 of Playing Pretend

Fuck it.

I run for the fire escape, yank the door open, then sprint up the stairs. By the time I reach the third floor, the adrenaline and alcohol in my system have formed a volatile cocktail of lust that has my hands shaking.

I pull my room card from my pocket, my dick hard as stone when I place the plastic against the security panel.

I picture her on the bed, shy yet sinful as she waits for me.

I’ll make the agonizing years we’ve spent living without each other worth our while.

I’ll taste every part of her.

Kiss every inch.

There won’t be any sleep for us tonight. Maybe all fucking week.

I shove the door open, grinning as I step inside. “I’m surprised you—”

My words are cut short by the sight of her, my feet turning to cement as I pause in the entry.

Piper stands at the end of the bed, already changed into shorts and a T-shirt, her hair tied into a rough pony as she pauses in the middle of shoving clothes into her suitcase.

All the lust drains from my blood. All the excitement. The hunger.

Fuck.

Dread forms an icy pit in my stomach and evaporates my hope.

I release the door, letting the heavy wood fall shut behind me. “What’s going on?”

She stares at her suitcase, her shoulders rigid. “I need to go home.”

“Why?” It’s a stupid question. I already know why. She’s scared. I pushed her too far, too fast.

“I need space. I can’t play your game anymore.”

I continue toward her. “Piper—”

“Don’t.” She holds up a hand.

That icy pit grows, taking over my chest, infiltrating my lungs. “Talk to me.”

“I can’t do that either. Please just let me leave.”

“You can’t start the long drive at this time of night.”

She shoves a handful of material onto the already messy pile, then closes the case. “It’s not far.”

Fuck. “If you want space, I’ll give it to you. I’ll get another room.”

“No. I want to go home. I want to put all this stupidity behind me and start fresh in the morning.”

“What stupidity? I thought we were having a good time.” I thought she was with me on this. She enjoyed herself in the pool yesterday. She came undone in my arms tonight.

Her body doesn’t lie.

She ignores the question and drags her suitcase off the bed.

“Talk to me,” I demand. “Tell me what’s wrong.”

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