Page 79 of Would You Rather
Her lips purse together. “With other girls that Ana set up?” she asks, a hint of jealousy coating her tone.
I can’t keep the smile off my face. “With James,” I correct her. “You’re the first girl I’ve danced with.”
Her lips curve in a smile, but she drops it and raises an eyebrow, determined to be stubborn as fuck. “Should I feel honored?”
My hand drifts lower onto the small of her back, pressing her even closer to me. How is it that we’re only a breath away, and it’s still not close enough? “Since I can’t remember any of the other girl’s names or what they even looked like when I can’t seem to stop thinking about you, yes, you should.”
Her eyes widen, and I wonder whether she’s freaked out, or intrigued. I wish I knew what she was thinking. I hope James isright and that she’s into me because I’m taking his advice. I’m going for it, and there’s no holding me back anymore.
Her lips part causing my eyes to drop to them, like a moth to a flame. So supple, so juicy, the red making me feel dizzy. Fuck, I want to kiss her so bad.
“Mads,” I whisper, staring into those beautiful brown eyes. My hand reaches up, brushing back her hair to clutch her face. “You look so beautiful.”
“Lucas,” she whispers, her eyes drifting closed at the feel of my hands on her.
It’s the longest she’s let me touch her, if I don’t count the night we spent in each other’s arms, and I fucking revel in it, exploring her face, rubbing my thumb over her cheek.
She’s so damn beautiful it makes it hard to breathe.
But when she opens her eyes again, the softness I felt a minute ago dissipates as she sucks in a breath and widens her eyes. Her hand drops from mine and she takes a step back, my body growing cold from the loss of contact. What the hell?
“What’s wrong?” I ask her, my heart thrashing against my chest. Did I go too far?
She shakes a head. “This was a mistake. I have to go.”
My eyes stay locked on her as she suddenly spins around, rushing toward the exit. There's an urgency in her steps that makes my heart race. It's like she can't get out of here fast enough as she pushes the door open and steps out into the lobby.
I stare at the door when it closes behind her, wondering what the hell just happened.
One thing’s for sure. I’m not letting her leave without an explanation. The two minutes I had her in my arms were the best of my life, and I’m not ready to let that go.
I don’t think I can let go of her ever again.
Chapter 26
Stop me, Madeline
So close.
I was so close to leaning in and kissing him.
Hearing him whisper beautiful words in my ear and his hands on me was too much for me to handle. I let myself melt into him, believe him, until I realized we were at a public event set up by Ana.
I was his fake girlfriend.
We had to play a part.
That was it.
How could I have been so stupid? How did I let myself fall for him when I knew that this was all fake? None of it is real. Not the sweet words, not the warm touches, nothing.
“Madeline.” I twist my head behind my shoulder, seeing Lucas behind me. “Where are you going?”
There’s no way I can stay here tonight. I can’t sleep in the same bed as him, an inch away, knowing I was stupid enough to fall for him when this has always just been a contractual agreement between us.
“Home.” I don’t know how I’m going to get there, but staying here is not an option.
“Now?” His hand clutches around my elbow, halting me, and my eyes fall closed at the feel of him. “We’re in New York, Mads.”God, there he goes with that damn nickname again. I wish he’d stop calling me that. It makes my brain all… fuzzy. “It’s late. You’ll never be able to catch a plane at this time,” he says. “Let’s just go back to our room and talk.”
