His head tilts down closer to mine and he bites the bottom of his lip.
Dex Vanstone is giving me his bedroom face.
It’s the same exact expression his devil mask made at the masquerade before we— I need air. I can’t breathe.
I bolt up, dizzy.
His face lifts up and his brows instantly pull together in concern. “Nash?” He’s giving me that look now, like I’m pissing him off. “Nash, what’s going on in that head of yours?”
I giggle nervously. It comes out in some snorty-pig-like sound, and I hate my life a little bit more. “Bathroom.” That’s it. That’s a good ruse. I will pretend to use the bathroom and run out of here before I forget I’m supposed to be here to get Mr. Perfect to like me and instead fall for Mr. NoFutureAndNowhereNearPerfect.
“Let me walk you,” Dex says, sliding his chair back.
“No!” I yelp, pushing my hands down on his shoulders. My palms feel like they burst into flames.
Oh, I really need to leave right now.
“No, really Dex. I’ll be right back. Don’t be silly.”
He stares up at me, confused.
I stare back down at him, imagining how intense the orgasm would be if he walked me to the bathroom and I dragged him into one of the stalls.
He looks from me to the hand I still have on his shoulder and back up to me. I unclench my fist as my chest sparks with embarrassment. “Sorry,” I say pulling my hand away. I pat down the scrunched material of his shirt and smile. “I’ll be right back.”
No, I won’t.
I drag myself away from the table and don’t look back as I head to the bathrooms. The farther I walk, the clearer my head gets, and by the time I reach the restrooms, I’m laughing at how absurd I just acted.
I think I need to stay away from the male species for a while. I can’t seem to control my thoughts around some of them. And right now, the thoughts I’m having about Dex are some of the filthiest things I’ve ever thought. I’m grateful it’s so dark in here; it hides my blush.
Slipping clumsily between people and chairs, I almost make it to the bathrooms unscathed until I get elbowed in the side and stumble right into the arms of someone.
“Whoa, whoa.” A voice laughs. “You okay, Jane?”
I straighten and look up right into Nate’s face. “Oh,” I laugh. “Yes, I’m fine. I just lost my footing.”
“Good.” His voice is low and slurry.
We both stand still in the middle of the hallway between the men’s room and the ladies’ room. He steps closer to me and huffs out a sigh. “Did you know she was cheating on me?”
“What?” I blink up at him, shocked. “No, of course not. Why would I take you all the way to the hospital if I knew she was with someone else?”
His gaze is locked on mine and my heart is thudding so hard and loud against my chest, it’s painful.
“You and me kissed at the baseball game.”
I don’t say anything. I’m too scared. I don’t know where he’s taking this conversation.
“I’m your Mr. Perfect. Julia told me that.” He leans closer to me, laughing. “I should fuck you until I forget about her.”
Something deep in my chest cracks.
“You have a crush on me, don’t you? She said you were in love with me,” he chuckles like he’s said a joke.
“Nate, I—” I want to tell him everything I feel but he cuts me right off.
“You’ll get over it,” he smirks.
