Rush Too Far (Rosemary Beach #4)(34)

“Yes,” she answered. There was a hesitation to her voice. Something was wrong. She didn’t sound like herself.

“I couldn’t find you. Why are you out here? This isn’t safe.”

“I’m fine. Go back inside and continue your make-out session in our booth.” She was jealous. Fuck. But I wanted her to be jealous. It made a warmth course through me that felt so wrong, but I couldn’t help it. I liked knowing she was jealous. Even though there was nothing for her to be jealous of.

“Why are you out here?” I asked, slowly taking another step toward her.

“Because I want to be,” she said, shooting an angry glare in my direction.

“The party is inside. Isn’t that what you wanted? A honkytonk with men and drinks? You’re missing it out here.” I was trying to lighten the mood. The look on her face said it wasn’t working. She was really pissed. All this because she thought I was making out with the blonde in the booth?

“Back off, Rush,” she snapped. Well shit, she was mad at me. I hadn’t done anything. She’d been the one dancing with the cowboy wannabe.

I took another step toward her. I couldn’t see her clearly enough in the darkness. “No. I want to know what happened.” She was upset, and I had a hard time believing it was all because of the blonde in the booth with me. There had to be something else.

Blaire put both of her hands on my chest and shoved me. “You want to know what happened? You happened, Rush. That’s what happened.” Her voice verged on a scream. She turned and starting walking away. What the hell?

I reached out and grabbed her before she could go too far. I wasn’t letting this one go. She was pissed, and it made no f**king sense. All this anger, even though she’d seen me with other women. She had been dancing with another guy just minutes before. Had it all changed for her, too? Was this not just all me now? Because if she wanted more, then I wasn’t going to be able to say no. I was past that. “What does that mean, Blaire?” I asked, pulling her back up against my chest.

She squirmed in my arms, making frustrated little growls. “Let. Me. Go,” she demanded.

Not a chance. “Not until you tell me what your problem is,” I said. She began to twist and fight against me harder, but I held on to her easily enough. I didn’t want to hurt her, but I needed to understand what was wrong. Either I’d pissed her off or that guy in the bar had.

“I don’t like seeing you touch other women. And when other men grope my ass, I hate it. I want it to be you touching me there. Wanting to touch me there. But you don’t, and I have to deal with it. Now, let me go!”

I hadn’t been expecting that. She took advantage of the fact that she’d just surprised the hell out of me and jerked free from my hold, then took off running. I wasn’t sure where she thought she was going in the dark by herself.

She wanted me to touch her . . . there. Shit. I was sunk. I couldn’t fight this. I needed to. If I wanted to save us both pain later, I could turn around and go back inside. But damn, I couldn’t find the strength to fight this need. I wanted her. I wanted her so f**king badly I was ready to make this work. Denying myself was one thing, but denying Blaire was a whole other issue.

I didn’t think about it. I couldn’t. I just acted on instinct.

I went after her.

Once I was close enough to the Range Rover, I clicked the unlock button. I was touching her tonight. Right now. Right f**king now. And it was the stupidest thing I could do. For both of us. But I just didn’t give a shit anymore. I was taking what I wanted. What she wanted.

“Get in, or I’ll put you in,” I demanded.

Her eyes went wide with shock, and she scrambled quickly into the backseat. Her sweet little ass was stuck up in the air, and my dick was instantly hard. God, why did I want her so badly? I shouldn’t do this. Blaire was the one person I couldn’t have. She knew nothing about Nan and her dad and me. This would all end up destroying me. Or maybe it wouldn’t. Maybe she would listen to me. Understand all of this.

I climbed in behind her.

“What are you doing?” she asked.

I didn’t answer, because I wasn’t f**king sure. I pressed her up against the seat and took another taste. The innocence pouring off her was intoxicating. She was pure. Not just with her body but with her thoughts. She wasn’t spiteful. She didn’t seek revenge. She trusted me. I was the world’s biggest dick.

I grabbed her hips and moved her so that I could settle between her legs. I needed the connection. The warmth. Blaire didn’t fight me but did exactly as I prompted. I wanted to claim her. Completely. But it was wrong. Too much stood between us. Things she’d never forgive. Things she would never understand. Frantic, I reached for the hem of her shirt.

“Take it off,” I said, as I lifted it over her head and threw it into the front seat. The soft, perfect skin of her br**sts peeked out of the top of the lacy bra she was wearing. I needed to see it all. I wanted to taste it all. “I want it all off, sweet Blaire.” I reached for the bra clasp and quickly undid it, then slid the bra down her arms. She was beautiful. I’d known she would be. But seeing the hard pink ni**les against her creamy, smooth skin made me realize I wouldn’t be able to go back. “This is why I tried to stay away. This, Blaire. I won’t be able to stop this. Not now.”