Page 31 of Teach Me to Laugh

“I can’t wait to be out of school.” She made a noise in her throat, and I crooked my neck to look at her. “I’m serious. I can’t wait.”

“When school is over you’ll just be consumed by work.”

“I’ll be consumed by my chosen career.”

“Work.”

“My choice.”

Twisting onto her belly, she demanded, “Is school not your choice?”

“It’s a requirement for my chosen career.”

“It’s your choice.”

“Fifty percent my choice. I had to agree to school in order to take what I want from life, but I never actually wanted to go to school.”

“Only you could talk your way around school being your choice.”

“I’m talented.”

“At some things.”

I rolled onto my stomach, facing her. She gasped, “At all things I put my mind to.”

Her lips parted and a pink tongue poked out to wet her lips. Her pale cheeks turned a hot rose color and I felt my cock stiffen, thankful I was on my stomach where I could hide my sudden arousal.

“Beckett . . .”

“I want to kiss you, Amara.” I said, watching as her pretty eyes blinked slowly, dazedly. Beautifully.

“I don’t . . .” she licked her lips again. “I want that too, but I don’t think it’s a good idea.”

Holy fuck. She wanted me to kiss her. She wanted it, but what wasn’t a good idea? What about me putting my lips on hers was a bad idea? What, about something so sweet, could possibly be bad? Nothing. That’s damn right. Nothing.

“Amara,” I tipped my head, and she pushed herself back so fast, I thought she was going to fall over the side of the couch. “Shit, babe, slow down.”

She was standing on the other side of the couch, breathing hard. Her eyes were wide and her face was pale, her hands trembling. “I’m s—sorry.”

“Hey, don’t be.” I got slowly up on my knees, never taking my eyes from my skittish little kitten. “Too much too fast. I get it.”

“Right,” she pivoted and dashed for the hall.

I heard the slam of her door before I became aware of my heart pounding with an unfamiliar violence in my chest. A deep breath rushed from my lungs and I let my body fall face first into the couch. Her blanket remained, and as I inhaled, I swore the taste of the woman fused with my next breath.

The club was wild. Bodies crowded the space and loud sounds thrummed through the airwaves, pulsing through my body with every beat of the bass. I was impossibly hot from dancing with Raina and Maddy. Maddy wasn’t big on dancing in clubs, or even clubs at all, but she was trying. Raina, however, was a natural. Her body moved with the grace of someone with an untouchedgypsy soul.

There was no darkness in Raina, and although I wished I could be like her, I knew I couldn’t. For me, that wasn’t possible. I wasn’t carefree. I’d never been carefree and I sincerely doubted I ever would be.

Hell, I wasn’t even sure if I wanted that. Something about being carefree seemed—well, it seemed dangerous. I didn’t like taking risks that could lead to danger with my body or my life. I’d had enough risks taken for me that resulted in danger. I’d learned my lesson many times. I didn’t need to learn it again.

That’s why when my body felt like it might overheat at any moment and I needed refreshment, I walked to the bar and called, “Water, please.”

A warm body caged me against the bar, two thick arms coming around my frame. My heart leaped as my mind fizzed with panic.

Then the voice sounded, “Water, peanut? Let go for just one night.”

Turning in the circle of Beckett’s arms, I lifted my chin. “I don’t drink at clubs.”

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