“Just give me a second,” she mumbles, stepping over to the side of the building and leaning against the wall. She drops her head back, closing her eyes and dragging in a deep breath.
“Cam tried to drink the pain away, too,” I murmur as I move to stand in front of her. “When his best friend died.”
Her eyes pop open, meeting mine as she tips her head forward.
“It didn’t work,” I clarify. “He just was drunk all the time. A real asshole, too.”
“Are you calling me an asshole?” she scoffs.
“I mean, you could be a little nicer when I’m just trying to make sure you get home okay.”
“Why do you care?”
I heave an exasperated sigh, dragging a hand down my face. “Because Ilikeyou, Blair.”
She furrows her brow, folding her arms tightly across her chest. “Why?”
My gaze unwittingly flickers down to her cleavage spilling from the top of her corset, pulse kicking up a notch.
She’s not the only one who looked in the shower.
I know exactly how nice her boobs are– along with the rest of her– and having that mental image is the sweetest torment. Because no matter how much she hates me, I still want her.
“I already told you,” I breathe, edging a little closer. “You’re smart, you’re beautiful. You do this thing when you’re concentrating, where you chew on your pen cap or bite your lip, and every time, all I can think about is what it would be like to kiss you.”
Her lashes flutter as she blinks back at me.
“Sorry,” I sigh, shaking my head. “I just…”
Blair suddenly dives forward, grabbing my face in both hands and silencing my apology by slamming her lips against mine. I’m so stunned that I freeze, heart tripping over its valves at the realization that she’s kissing me.
She’skissingme.
And even though I shouldn’t, I kiss her back.
Blair’s lips part, her tongue sweeping against the seam of my own. All rational thought flees my brain at the feeling of her body pressed against mine– scorching hot, even through the layers of clothing separating us. All my blood rushes south, primal instinct taking over as I sink a hand into her hair at her nape, backing her against the building. I tilt my head to deepen the kiss, andfuck, it’s even better than I imagined it’d be, the tension between us crackling like an electric current as we devour one another. I taste the tequila on her tongue as it tangles with my own, but I’m so lost in the kiss that it takes a second to register, reminding me why this is wrong.
Because she’s drunk. Letting this continue would be taking advantage.
It takes everything in me to break the kiss and pull away. We stand there blinking at each other breathlessly, like we’re both in shock at what just happened. Blair’s lipstick is smudged, her cheeks flushed. And I swear she’s never looked more beautiful.
“I’m going back in,” she announces, abruptly peeling away from me and turning to head for the door.
I grab for her hand, yanking her back in like a rubberband. “No, you’re not.”
“Yeah, I am,” she huffs, slapping a hand against my chest to push me away. “That sobered me right up, and now I need another drink.”
Her raven hair whips behind her as she spins around, dashing for the entrance to the bar.
“Blair!” I call after her, but she just flips me the bird over her shoulder as she yanks open the door and disappears inside.
CHAPTER SIX
the lie
BLAIR
The coffee waiting on the corner of my desk is more tempting than ever this morning. My head feels like it’s currently being squeezed in a vise, and my exhausted eyes are way too sensitive to the harsh overhead lighting flooding the command center. I’ve had hangovers before, but I haven’t had one likethissince…ever.
