Excerpt of Losing Control by Nina Croft

“She’s drunk,” Dave said from beside him.

“Yeah.”

They watched for a second in silence. Jake took a sip of his
beer.

“I’ve never seen her drunk,” Dave murmured. “It’s kind of
scary.”

“Yeah.”

“And she’s going to break a leg in those heels if she’s not
careful.”

She did appear a little precariously balanced. But maybe a
leg in plaster would keep her out of trouble for a while.
And he’d have the perfect excuse to take care of her.
She stretched up and whispered something in Steve’s ear. He
shook his head, and Kim frowned. Every single one of Jake’s
muscles locked up tight. Beside him, Dave chuckled, and he
turned to glare.

“Hey, don’t take it out on me.” Dave threw up a hand. “It’s
not my fault your love life is a total load of crap.”
That was true, he supposed. Jake forced his muscles to relax.

“But all the same,” Dave continued, “I’ve got to say that
it’s been amusing as hell to watch.” He grinned. “How the
mighty have fallen.”

“Fuck off.”

“Why don’t you tell her how you feel?”

“Because she’d run a mile in the opposite direction.”

“Yup, you’re screwed."

Jake cast a glance in Kim’s direction. She was definitely
drunk. He sighed. “No, not tonight, I’m not.”

Dave laughed.

Yeah, Jake was a real funny guy. He’d had enough. The party
was over and not only for him. He placed his bottle
carefully on the table and rose to his feet. “I’d better
take her home.”

“Good luck.”

Kim glanced in their direction, and a smile flashed across
her face. Mascara smudged under her eyes, her crimson
lipstick was long gone, yet she was still utterly gorgeous.
A pain tightened around his heart; the problem was that he
wasn’t used to not getting what he wanted. He didn’t know
how to deal.

She waggled her fingers in his direction and started to wend
her unsteady way across the small, almost-empty dance floor.

She met him halfway and stared up at him through panda eyes.
“Jakey, will you dance with me?”

Jakey? No one had ever called him “Jakey” in his life before.

“Pleeeease. I’ve asked everyone else, and they’re all too
scared of you. Even Mitch and he’s the one leaving.” She
frowned. “He said you’d likely hunt him down.”

“He’s right.”

She ignored his comment. “I told them you’re nice, but no
one believes me. I think you’re nice, Jakey.” She blinked at
him. “So will you dance with me? Pretty please.” She slid
her hands over his shoulders and stared into his face. “Why
did you have to spoil it all?”

He wasn’t sure what she was talking about, so best keep his
answers vague. “Did I?”

“You did. You scratched my itch. It was wonderful,
mind-blowing. You are definitely well endowed, and you knew
exactly what to do with it.”

“Thank you.” Christ, she was going to regret this
conversation in the morning—when he reminded her of it. The
thought gave him a glimmer of satisfaction.

“I thought it could work, that we could be fuck buddies, and
it would be lovely. But you had to go and ruin everything.”

“I did?”

“You said the M-word, and now it’s all broken.” She heaved a
huge sigh. “You’re supposed to be dancing.” She tightened
her grip on his shoulders and tugged him closer.

How could he resist such an offer? “Five minutes and we’re
out of here.”

Five minutes of purgatory.

He tried to hold his body away from hers, but after the
first thirty seconds, he figured what the hell? He slipped
his hands around her waist and pulled her against him. Kim
rested her head on his chest and swayed slowly to the music,
which was impressive considering it was a fast rock track.
Closing his eyes, he reveled in the feel of her long,
slender body pressed against his. It was torture. Blood
throbbed in his dick, and his balls ached.

Finally, he could take no more. He pulled away. She tried to
hold on for a second but then gave in.

“Come on, I’ll take you home.”

“Are you going to look after me? Keep me safe.”

“Don’t I always?”

Her lips curved up in a sweet smile, and she nodded
solemnly. “You won’t take advantage of my inebriated state.”

It wasn’t a question. “You know I won’t.”

“I told you, you were nice.”

“Yeah, so you did.”

He was so not getting screwed tonight.