Bad Judgment Read Free Page B

look that clearly says are you kidding me?
    I ignore it. “I’ll be right back.”
    Turning, I head for the back of the bar and the restrooms. As I walk, I mentally flip through my list of options for moving help. I come to a screeching halt because, oh wait, that’s right, I don’t have any other options. Chad was helping me out because he’s a good guy and I’ve known him forever. And now he’s screwed. My stomach twists with sympathy and disappointment and anger.
    I try Katie’s phone as I walk through the bar. It goes straight to voice mail four times before I give up. I hope to hell they figure this out. As much as I wish there was something I could do to help, I’m coming up empty.
    As I stare into the bathroom mirror, the liquor hits me hard.
    I’m drunk. And I need to get home.
    Pushing open the bathroom door, I keep my eyes trained on my feet so as not to pitch forward on my now-treacherous heels.
    “Oomph.” I run into a wall.
    Except it’s not a wall, because it wraps two hands around my hips. My palms go to his chest, and my apology is halfway out before I realize it’s Ryker and he’s backing me into the corner of the dark hallway.
    “What are you doing?” My back meets the wall and I’m trapped. Where’s my fight-or-flight reaction? Where is the panic I should be feeling?
    Instead, heat flares in my belly as he places one hand against the wall, next to my head.
    “We weren’t done with our conversation.”
    “Sure, we were.” My words are steady but my heart pounds so hard in my chest, I’m sure he can feel it.
    “You didn’t answer my question. You need help, Justine?”
    With everything that I am, I want to say no. But some shred of practicality rises up and fuels my words. “Yes.”
    “Then why are you running away?”
    “I’m not running.”
    He leans closer to whisper in my ear. “Bullshit.”
    Pulling back just enough for me to see his face, I swallow. “Fine, you win. I wish I didn’t need your help.” How’s that for honesty?
    A smug smile slides over his face. “Why? You afraid of what it’s gonna cost?”
    Of course he would put a price on everything. “How much?”
    “Not a dime. Just a kiss and a date.”
    The order throws me off. “I told you, I’m leaving tomorrow—”
    “A date next semester. The kiss is payment up front. Right here, right now.”
    I wish I could say the heat burning low in my belly is anger, but I’d be a liar. As his lips lower toward mine, alarm bells clang in my head. I should stop him. This is by far the worst idea ever.
    But my body stays frozen in place, and my lips part as he brushes his across them.
    Oh. My. Hell. Ryker Grant is kissing me. My mouth molds to his and my body curls into him.
    Oh shit. I’m kissing him back .
    Then all the sounds in my head are drowned out by the sheer force of the sensations rocking my body. My nipples pucker hard against his chest, and my hands grip his shirt as though I’m trying not to lose my grip on reality.
    His lips take and take, parting mine further until his tongue slips inside and I get my first taste of Ryker.
    He tastes even better than he smells.
    His hand slides down to cup my ass, and through the thin fabric of the short skirt, I can feel the pads of each finger make contact. He squeezes my cheeks and guides one of my legs to wrap around his hip.
    My body sighs at the contact, and it takes me a moment to realize the bulge pressing into me is his erection. And it’s just as huge as it looked, except now it’s even harder. My clit wakes up from hibernation, and I can’t help but rock my hips against him.
    All rational thought leaves my brain as a zing of sensation shoots from my clit to my nipples and lights up the pleasure center in my brain. Oh my God, that feels so good.
    He groans into my mouth, gripping my ass harder, pulling me into him. My panties are soaked, but I keep rocking.
    Ryker buries his other hand in my hair, and the change in angle intensifies the friction on my