Page 18 of Next Time We'll Fall

“What?” he says as he grabs my wrists and pulls me into him. “Do you want me to show you what I would do if you weren’t Mia’s best friend?”

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

“I mean, if you were throwing yourself at me and entering a wet T-shirt contest and I was just a man who didn’t care, I’d very much take advantage of the situation.”

His thumb reaches down and brushes my lower lip, and I gasp as he slides his hand down the side of my body and pulls me into him. He thrusts slightly, and I can feel hardness poking into my stomach.

My eyes widen as he chuckles softly.

“You see, Juniper, you are not ready.”

“Not ready for what?” I say.

“Ready for what I’d do if you were to rip that T-shirt off …” he growls and then grabs my hand. “But that’s enough. Let me get you home before I do something that we’ll both regret.”

I want to tell him that I would regret nothing, but I’m not drunk enough to let my inner thoughts cause me trouble again.

Chapter 5

RAFE

“In the car, Juniper.”

“Excuse me?” She puts her hands on her hips and shakes her head like she’s not going to do what I say. Again.

This woman is desperately trying to drive me crazy. And she’s halfway there.

“I said get into the car. I’m taking you home.” I know this is all a game to her, but I’m starting to feel very turned on, and I don’t want to do something that I’ll regret later.

“But Rosie and Sage?—”

“I’ll call Mia, and I will tell her that she and Luke can take them home. But you’re wet. You’re cold. I’m not going to have you catching pneumonia. I’m taking you home. Your cousins are obviously having fun, so let them stay out for the rest of the night.”

“Who do you think you are, Rafe, that you think you can just boss me around?”

“You didn’t want to listen to me earlier, and look where that got you.”

“What do you mean, look where it got me?”

“It got you nearly half naked and almost being groped by three horny college guys you were about to give a lap dance to.”

“What? You’re just jealous because you weren’t the one up on the stage who I was about to give the lap dance to.”

“Not likely.” I stare at her for a couple of seconds. I’m furious, and I’m jealous, and I’m mad enough to admit that the thought of her grinding up and down on some strange man while he was touching her definitely caused me to take action. I’m not going to tell her that though. “Juniper, I know you’re at an age where you like to play these sorts of games, but I’m at an age where?—”

“You think I like to play games? You’re really condescending, Rafe. You act like you’re some eighty-year-old man. You’re not that much older than me.”

“Yes, but I’m far more adult.”

“Oh, yes. You are so mature. I forgot you were crowned Rafe Bishop, the most mature man in the world.”

I can’t stop myself from laughing as she pretends to bow at me and then shivers as a cool breeze passes us by.

“Juniper, I can tell you’re cold. Please let me just take you home.”

“Fine,” she says. “But I have my car here.” She pouts. “What am I supposed to do about that?”

“We’ll come and get it in the morning.”