She comes back into the living room and turns to make us both a drink. I move closer to her so I can swipe her hair to the side and kiss her neck. I breathe in deeply, smelling the lemon she’s squeezing into the sangria. When she rounds the glass with it, my teeth tug at the thin strap on her shoulder. “Take this off.”

Her breath catches as she sets the wine bottle down. She twists in my arms and does as instructed. I step back so I can watch her as she slips her negligee down her shoulder and lets it fall to the ground. She stands naked before me, and when she turns to hand me my drink, I cup her ass. We both gulp our drinks in silence until the desire for her overwhelms me. Setting my glass down, I take hers. She licks her lips and I can see the pulse in her neck throbbing. “Forget the bedroom.”

I slam my mouth to hers, then slide them down to her breast and suck on one of her ni**les. She moans and her hands go to the fly of my pants. She unzips them. “Maybe we should talk first,” she moans.

But her hands are already stroking me—we’re way past the time for talking. I try to focus, but I’m seeing two of her and I don’t want to discuss anything right now. “Talk is for later, gorgeous.”

Her hands continue their magic and mine roam her body. My fingers travel down over her hips and to her clean-shaven pu**y. I always loved that about her. I stroke my thumb back and forth over her clit and she purrs. I insert one finger inside her to find that she’s already soaking wet. A moan escapes her lips and I know she’s ready. I dip my head to kiss her and the smell of the lemon intoxicates me. In that moment the dynamics between us shift.

“Turn around,” I order through gritted teeth.

She turns and braces her palms on the counter and I reach into my pocket for my wallet and pull out a condom. I roll it on quickly and just as hastily push into her. I watch myself in the reflection of the microwave door as I slam in and out. Blonde hair turns into red and I lose myself back in time in a moment—in a fantasy come alive that I’ve never been able to forget.

She moans out in pleasure and I come fast and hard, not waiting for her. I crave the release and I can’t hold on. And the words slip out without intention. “Fuck, S’belle, you feel so good.” An instant later she’s pushed away from me. I look at her and she has tears in her eyes. “Kimberly, I’m sorry. I don’t know why I said that.”

She turns around, grabs her nightgown, and heads out of the room. She stops at the doorway leading to a hallway and looks at me. “I don’t know who S’belle is, but just so you know I was thinking about someone else too while you were f**king me. I just didn’t call you by his name.”

“I’m so sorry.”

Her hand swipes the room. “This wasn’t set up for you. So don’t worry about it.”

I ignore her jab and zip my pants up. The pain that never stays away for long comes rushing back worse than ever. Guilt assaults me. It was wrong of me to say someone else’s name with her. I respect this girl too much to be such a prick to her. It’s just everything that happened today has me all f**ked up.

I follow the hallway and see a light on under a door. I knock lightly. “Kimberly, I’m sorry.”

With a small sobbing voice she says, “I go by Kay now. Kimberly is long gone.”

I rub my hands over my face and try to figure out what to say to make this better. Nothing sounds right in my head so I do what she asks and leave, knowing this is just another relationship I have managed to f**k up.

Chapter 11

Rock Bottom

I’m flying down the road, seeking quiet. I’m almost at my destination when flashing lights appear in my rearview mirror. I glance at my speedometer. Fifty-five. Fuck, what’s the speed limit? Thirty up here, maybe? Fuck, f**k, f**k. The police car catches up with me just as I pass the overlook and I pull to the side of the road. I kill the engine and remove my helmet. Cool air rushes over me, but sweat pours from my brow.

A flashlight beam hits my eyes as the officer stands at a safe distance.

“Dismount the vehicle,” he calls.

I toss my leg over the bike. “I was going too fast, wasn’t I?”

The officer approaches and shines the light in my face and just stares for a few short seconds. “Have you been drinking?”

I contemplate lying, but I’m pretty sure I was swerving a little too much. “Yes, I have.” When I say those words, all that runs through my head is how f**king stupid I am to have put myself in this situation.

“Stand with your heels together and raise your arms to your sides,” he says.

“Now raise your left leg six inches from the ground while counting out loud to ten,” he instructs me, and I try, but by the time I get to five, I have to hop to keep my balance and by the time I get to eight I have to set my foot down. Shit, I don’t even think I could do that sober.

He’s conducting a field sobriety test. I’ve seen them on TV a million times. I’ve also heard they do nothing in terms of affirming or disproving one’s state, but I do what he asks. I already admitted to drinking. What more does he want—a formal confirmation? Fine.

“Touch your finger to your nose,” he says next, not saying a word about my inability to stand on one leg.

I think I manage that, though I’m not sure.

He has me complete two other tests and I have no f**king idea whether I pass either one. All I can hear is the sound of his pen scratching the surface of his clipboard. He looks up at me to ask, “Will you agree to a Breathalyzer?”