Page 43 of Hard Pass

“I need to—” He groans, runs a hand through his hair as a crooked smile tugs at his mouth.

I nod, still a little dizzy, still caught somewhere between this moment—him—and reality.

“Condoms?” he asks.

Shit. I didn’t think this far ahead. He must see the panic in my face.

“It’s okay. My room’s down the hall. I’ll go get one.” He pushes himself off the bed and adjusts his erection in his shorts as I hand him the key to get back in my room. “Don’t go anywhere.”

He grins, quick and easy, and heads to the door.

But the second that door shuts, everything shifts.

It’s as though his absence sobers me up and brings everything into sharp focus. I lie there for a moment, breathing labored, lips still tingling, and skin humming everywhere he touched me.

God.

His kiss. I press my fingers to my lips like I can hold on to it somehow. Like I can keep it from becoming a moment I’ll regret.

What in the hell am I doing?

The question is not playful. It’s not part of the game. Real. Because this isn’t a dare I made myself staring at a man from afar anymore. This isn’t just proving I can be someone else for a night. This is . . .

I squeeze my eyes shut.

This is something I might actually want from a stranger I’ll never see again, and that’s what scares me the most.

It’s easy to pretend being playful and reckless, but now that I’m alone in the silence, it’s so blaringly obvious that this isn’t me. Not the version of me I recognize when everything isn’t blurred by tequila and a man who kisses like he means it.

The door beeps.

My heart stutters and before I can think—I go still.

Completely and utterly still.

Breathing slow.

Eyes closed.

“I’m back,” he says, voice lighter and unaware.

His footsteps cross the room. They pause as that scent mixture of sun and cologne tempt me.

“Hey?”

I don’t move, panic ricocheting around inside me.

“Trouble?” A soft huff of laughter. “You seriously fell asleep on me?”

I stay still, because if I move, if I look at him, I won’t be able to stop this.

And I need to stop this.

There’s a long pause and then the bed dips slightly as he sits on its edge. His hips rest against my waist, but he doesn’t try to wake me again.

Instead, he just sits there.

A long beat passes.