Reckless (Brazen #2)(14)

If it were any other woman, he’d read a lot into that fact, but with Nikki, he’d never been sure of anything. She moved too fast, made his head spin and generally kept him in a state of befuddlement.

What if she did want more? What if it wasn’t all a game? What if he’d f**ked it all up before he realized he’d even had a chance?

He lowered his head and kissed her temple, letting his lips linger there for a long moment.

“I’m sorry,” he whispered. “So damn sorry.”

After touching her cheek one last time, he turned and walked out of the bedroom toward the living room. He’d crash on the couch, and then tomorrow he’d find out what the hell had prompted tonight’s uncharacteristic drunken binge.

Even though he had a bad feeling he knew.

Chapter Six

Nikki woke to a pounding head and a tongue that was dry and swollen, sticking to the roof of her mouth like fly paper. She was naked. In her bed.

Shame crowded into her mind until she wanted to scream. So much for not being her mother’s daughter.

She fought to try and remember what happened last night. She remembered drinking too much and having to force herself to swallow the nasty crap. The rest of the evening was fuzzy, though she did remember being pulled off the bar by a guy she’d never seen before.

Fear took hold. Please, please don’t let her have had a one night stand with him.

She scrambled out of bed, inspecting it for signs that she hadn’t been alone in it. Her stomach lurched as she hurriedly dressed, and she had to breathe deeply to keep from having to hang her head over a toilet.

She brushed her teeth then doused her face with water until some of the cobwebs cleared. Then she ventured out of her bedroom, afraid of what she might find in the living room.

When she saw J.T. sitting on the couch, TV remote in hand, she sagged in relief. No matter what he might think of her, he wouldn’t have allowed anything to happen to her.

He turned to stare at her, his expression indecipherable. Unable to hold his gaze, she ducked and headed for the kitchen.

“Oh no you don’t,” J.T. said as he strode after her.

He touched her shoulder then let his fingers slide over her skin before turning her around to face him.

“How are you feeling?” he asked, though his expression told her he knew damn well how she felt.

“Like shit,” she said bluntly.

He nodded. “I’m not surprised. That was one hell of a drunk you threw last night.

Want to tell me what’s going on?”

She almost laughed. Would have if it wouldn’t have split her head wide open. She shrugged indifferently. “Nothing’s going on. Just decided to give the public what they expect.”

His eyes glittered dangerously. “And what do they expect, Nikki?” She shrugged again, and his hand tightened on her shoulder. She was pissing him off.

Not that it was anything new.

“Drunken whore. Like mother, like daughter.” She would have shrugged again, but his grip prevented her.

He cursed under his breath, but the words still stung her ears. “You’re not a whore or a drunk, Nikki. Why the f**k would you want people to think you are?” She lifted a brow and stared straight back at him. “What else would you call a quick f**k?”

J.T.’s face darkened in fury. He spun her around and all but shoved her out of the kitchen and back into the living room. He sat her on the couch and plopped down beside her.

“Cut the crap, Nikki. You were a virgin. I was your first.” She couldn’t breathe. It hurt too much. She hadn’t wanted him to know, hadn’t wanted him to have that kind of power over her.

Then he cupped her cheek, his touch so gentle, she wanted to cry. He nudged at her chin until she was forced to meet his gaze.

“I hurt you, honey, and I’m so damn sorry. It shouldn’t have been like that. It should have been special, not a quickie on my office desk.”

“It was my choice,” she said defiantly.

“But why was I your choice?”

She refused to look at him even though he held her chin as he stared at her.

“Nikki, look at me,” he ordered.

She let her gaze flicker back to him. “Does it matter? I didn’t even think you’d know. And who would believe I was a virgin anyway?”

“I would,” he said quietly. “And damn it, Nikki, you should have told me. I could have hurt you badly. If it had been someone else, someone who didn’t have your pleasure or best interests at heart, it could have been a lot worse.”

“But it wasn’t,” she said. “Everything was just fine. My first time was all I could hope for, and now I no longer have my pesky virginity to worry about. I can lose the hang-ups over who the first guy will be and go out and have fun.” J.T. frowned, and he gripped her shoulders and shook her slightly. “Can you be serious for two seconds here? This isn’t a game. I know damn well you don’t take sex that lightly. Why are you acting so goddamn flip?” Pain centered in her chest and spread at an alarming rate. Rose up her throat until she couldn’t breathe. “I was being serious,” she whispered. “There was only one man I wanted. I thought…I thought he would be different than all the others. I thought he could see past who my mother was and see me. But in the end, I was just another quick f**k.