Read Hard & Fast (Rules to Break #1) for Free Online Page B

about Cole or having a good time. Not anymore.
    “Relax,” Cole says in my ear. His breath sends a shiver across my skin. “All you need to do is stick with me. Have a drink, if you want to. It’s fine.”
    “You’re not having a drink,” I say, totally conscious of his body behind mine.
    “Don’t think my sponsor would approve,” he says, with a smile.
    Oh. Oh . I remember the headlines when he went into rehab. How could I have forgotten? “I’m sorry. I don’t need this,” I say, looking for somewhere to offload my drink.
    “Hey, what did I say? It’s fine.” He stills my hand on the glass, fingers over mine. “If you want a drink, you have one. You think I don’t get exposed to this and worse on a daily basis in my line of work? I’m okay with it. Really.”
    I nod. “Okay, Mr. Dean.” I finish the glass, but when a waiter appears, I decline the next one and leave the empty on his tray instead.
    Without a glass in my hand, I don’t know what to do with myself, standing at Cole’s side. He can barely take a step without someone wanting to talk to him and my cheeks start to ache from all the polite smiling. A lot of it is business talk, which is interesting, but I feel out of place and it’s not like I can give my expert point of view on any of it anyway.
    Eventually, I decide I need a break, and when a stunning woman calls out Cole’s name loudly, I quickly ask, “Where’s the bathroom?”
    Cole points it out and I make my way through the crowd. I glance back. Cole’s talking to birthday girl, Casey Devenport. Yes, the Casey Devenport, who is so incredibly beautiful in real life I almost don’t know where to look. Next time I meet up with Kate, tonight is going to make for a good story if nothing else.
    I push through the door into the biggest bathroom I’ve ever seen. It’s done out like an old-fashioned backstage dressing room – chaise lounges, strips of lights around the big mirrors behind the sinks, and even racks of dresses and feather boas against the walls.
    I’m washing my hands afterwards when I hear a click. I look up to see Cole behind me in the mirror. He steps forward fast, pushing his body against mine. His chest is hot and hard against my back and his gaze in the mirror pins me in place. Fire shoots down my stomach. I can’t look away.
    His jaw clenches as he holds my hips and runs his hands down the outside of my skirt. My high heels make me almost the same height as him. All of my muscles tense as he reaches the hem of my skirt and his hands run back up my thighs. I spread my legs a little further apart and hear him suck in a breath as he reaches the silky material of my panties. I know they’re wet, my whole body is screaming for him to touch me. I realize I’ve been on edge with it ever since we were interrupted in the trailer.
    But he takes his time, still staring straight at me in the mirror as his fingers push under the lace edges and then wait, wait, wait, until I gasp with wanting. When I make the noise, his whole body tightens, pushing me forward so I grasp the sink. I want to beg but all that comes out is a breathless sound.
    “You’re going to have to tell me,” he says in my ear.
    What? The look on my face must ask the question for me.
    “Well Rose, you did make me say I’d never do anything like this again. Have you changed your mind?” His fingers hover over my skin and it’s unbearable.
    “I changed my mind,” I breathe. If he doesn’t touch me, I’m going to lose it.
    His body is pressed into mine, words low in my ear. “I want to be really clear, though, Rose.”
    Dammit, he’s got a sexy half-smile on his face. He knows exactly what he’s doing to me.
    “Please,” I gasp.
    He trails his other hand lightly over my shoulder and down my arm. “Please what? I agreed not to touch you, didn’t I? I don’t want either of us to do anything you think is inappropriate.”
    Fuck inappropriate. “I want you to touch me. Now.”
    I’m on fire