I don’t think I even know what it means. I just need her inmy life, however she’ll have me. I don’t have the answer that she’s really looking for. Her eyes narrow and she pulls herself from my grasp, storming off the dance floor and out of the ballroom.
I catch up to her quickly, as her sky high heels make it harder for her to walk, and I stop her from rounding the next corner.
“Let go!” she shouts.
“Not until you talk to me! What I said over text was careless. Ineedyou.”
“Need me? For sex? To be your next grid girl?”
“No. That’s not what I meant, and you fucking know it, Brady,” I say, letting my frustration take over. Everything I say to her, she just twists to make it seem like I’m just being an asshole, when I’m trying to apologize. “What is it you’re scared of?” I ask. Her eyes darken with anger.
“I’m not scared of anything.” She jerks her arm from my grasp, turns down the hall, and walks into the woman’s bathroom.
I rake my fingers through my hair, not caring if I mess it up. It took way too long to get my hair to stay in one direction. I storm into the women’s room and lock the door with a notable click. She looks at me through the reflection of the mirror, still putting on more of the red lipstick that matches her dress.
“This is the women’s room, you sleaze.”
I stalk over to her, and without thinking I grab onto her thighs and lift her onto the sink, placing my hands on either side of her, caging her into my space.
“I don’t care what room it is, Brady. We are going to talk.”
She gasps at my demand, but doesn’t try to get away, either.
“Fine,” she says, her voice breathy. “You have five minutes.” She raises a brow in challenge.
Fine, two can play this game.
“You’re so fucking stubborn. I don’t know who hurt you to run away from me, but trust me, after I’m done with you, they will be wiped from your memory.”
“Four minutes,” she counters.
“I want to be near you, Regan, because you make me feel good, alright? You make me feel like there could be a life outside this racing world. I haven’t had that since Daniel died. I’ve lived and breathed racing. I need you, more than I’ve needed anyone. I’ll be here however you’ll take me, Brady.”
Her eyes soften at my confession. She knows that what I said is the truth and she’s taking it all in. She looks down before she speaks again.
“Of being hurt,” she says so quietly that I almost don’t hear her.
“What?” I ask, confused.
“You asked me what I’m scared of. I’m scared of being hurt.” I wait for her to continue. “My previous ex cheated on me, treated me like a second thought, and then tossed me aside for the next girl who came his way.”
My heart aches for her. That sounds awful; no wonder she was so upset about what I said. All the pieces of the Regan Brady puzzle are slowly starting to come together at her admission.
“Regan,” I dip my head to meet her gaze, “I promise to never do that to you. You have my word.”
She ponders for a moment longer, pursing her red painted lips together in thought. I can tell that she’s trying to pick her words carefully.
“Benefits only,” she finally says. I blink at her, taking in the information. “Sex only. No feelings or anything. No one knows.”
“Are you sure? You just said—” But she cuts me off.
“I know what I just said. This is the only way I can see us working in any capacity. Take it or leave it.”
Without a moment's hesitation, I say, “Deal.” I dive in and cover her mouth with mine, consuming her, claiming her. Her lipstick smears onto my skin, but I don’t give two fucks about it.
She tastes like fucking heaven. She tastes like…mine.
THIRTY-THREE
