CHAPTER TWENTY
The text from Bree I’d been waiting for comes a few minutes after Marcel leaves.
Interesting choice for a babysitter.
In spite of the situation, I laugh.
Figured Keegan or Sully would be too obvious.
When she doesn’t respond, I take a second to call her.
“You mad at me?” I ask as soon as she answers.
Her sigh and a hint of laughter come through the phone. “No. I should be, but I know you’re just worried.”
“He behave himself?”
She snorts. “Yes. Kimber pulled a Cujo act at first—”
“Good dog.”
Her laughter makes me smile and she continues as if I hadn’t interrupted. “But then she warmed up to him. Even let him rub her belly.”
“Hmm. No more cookies for her.”
More laughter and I take it as a good sign. She doesn’t bring up the car that drove by and that’s encouraging too. I’d hate it if she was home alone freaking out.
It was probably nothing. A tourist whose GPS took them the wrong way. Happens all the time.
Even so, the fact that it went by twice unnerves me.
“I’ll be home late. You don’t have to wait up for me.” Home. Right. I wish it were our home. That we weren’t just playing house.
Her voice turns serious. “Be careful, Liam.”
“Always.”
The red car turns out to be a rental and I can’t obtain much more information without turning it into an official inquiry. I place a call to Brady, a fellow deputy and friend. I trust him and feel comfortable asking him to check out Vince’s neighborhood. I even give him the vehicle information.
It’s probably nothing, but just to be sure.
I receive a call to assist with a D.W.I. and after that my night is full of taking statements and filing reports.
It’s much later than I planned when I finally pull into the driveway. Brady’s sitting across the street and I jog over. “What are you doing here?”
He shrugs. “You seemed worried and it’s been a quiet night in my area.” He lifts an eyebrow. “Heard you had some excitement.”
I fill him in on the details of the drunk who shot his own toes off, then tried to drive himself to the hospital.
“You always have all the fun,” Brady jokes.
“Yeah, real riot.”
We say goodnight and I watch him drive off before heading toward the house.
Lights flicker behind the curtains.
Bree’s still up.
Waiting for me?
Shit, I missed her tonight. Worried about her. Can’t wait to see her.
As much as I try to handle myself around her, it’s becoming impossible.
That she might have stayed up waiting for me, even though I told her not to bother, causes the corners of my mouth to curve up.
I make sure my heavy boots thud over the porch, so I don’t startle her when I open the door.
It takes a few seconds to make out her small form curled up in a ball at one end of the couch. Burrowed under a pile of blankets. Kimber’s on the floor right next to the couch, her alert gaze trained on the front door.
“It’s just me girl,” I say in a hushed voice in case Bree’s asleep.
“Hey,” Bree calls out, her voice raspy, making my mind wander where it shouldn’t. She aims the remote at the TV, pausing whatever she’s watching. “I’ll get out of your bed.”
If only.
If she were in my bed, I’d never let her leave.
She tosses the blankets back and swings her feet to the floor, stopping to pet Kimber.
“No. Stay.” She raises an eyebrow at the note of desperation in my voice, but fuck, I’ve wanted to see her all damn night. “I won’t be able to go to sleep for a while. Finish your movie,” I say, gesturing at the television.
Kimber’s apparently decided I’m not a threat and puts her head back down.
Sparks of satisfaction light up inside me when Bree eases back against the couch. My eyes are drawn down her long, bare legs, to the thick wooly socks pooled around her ankles. Some sort of loose tank top barely keeps her covered up top.
My gear lands on the floor with a thud, and she turns her head. Busying myself with unlacing my boots keeps my mind off of speculating about what else she’s wearing. When I’m done, she pushes the blankets aside and pats the couch.
Cautiously, I lower myself next to her. Close enough not to offend, but far enough away that none of our parts touch.
“What are we watching?”
I can barely make out the blue of her eyes when she turns my way, but I definitely catch the teasing smile playing over her lips. “First, how was your day?”
“Long.”
“Nothing exciting happened?”
Her gentle voice lifts the darkness that followed me home. I could get used to this. Floating in her sweetness night after night.
Except she’s leaving at the end of the summer.
And once Vince gets home, there’s no reason for me to stay.
“Nothing exciting until now,” I finally answer.
She twists her mouth in a way that suggests she doesn’t believe me.
“Honestly, this is the best part of my night.”
“That’s sweet, Liam.”
It is sweet. Sappy even. But so damn true. “What are we watching?” I ask her again.
She rattles off a story about the action drama, which centers around two British intelligence officers who alternate between screwing anything that moves and blowing shit up.
“Sounds right up my alley,” I tease.
With deliberate slowness, she inches toward me—as if she’s afraid I’ll deny her. I lift my arm and she eagerly cuddles against my side.
“I missed you today,” she says softly.
“Even with your visitor?”
She tips her head back. “Yes, even with.”
“You mad at me for asking him to stop by?”
“No.” She lays her head back on my chest and my fingers stroke through her soft tangle of hair for a few seconds.
“Missed you too.”
“Do you mean that?” she murmurs.
“Yes, Bree.”
Not sure what else to say, I keep stroking her hair. She tucks her feet up under her until she’s a little package nestled next to me.
“Do you have your phone?”
Without answering, she leans over and picks it up off the end table and hands it to me.
“No more calls. But I found a bunch of emails from Chris.”
“Fuck.” Did that asshole already violate the restraining order? “From when?”
“Looked like he’s been sending them since I left, but I didn’t see them until this morning when I went through my email.”
“You didn’t delete them, did you?”
“No, Sheriff Serious.” She picks her head up and I feel the weight of her gaze over my skin. “Can we not talk about that right now? Can we just be Bree and Liam? Friends binge-watching some kick-ass television tonight?”
Nothing has ever sounded better.
“You’ve got it.”
She places a kiss quick on my cheek and settles back into my hold.
Against my better judgment, I curl my arm around her, my hand resting on her hip.
Christ, she must have on another pair of those micro-shorts she seems to own in abundance, because I’m acutely aware that my fingertips brush bare skin.
On screen, agent number two is busy getting busy and things start to get uncomfortable behind my fly.
I clear my throat and glance away from the screen. “Uh, I guess this is on cable?”
Her head moves up and down against my chest as she nods. The sweet friction combined with her fresh clean scent tickling my nose doesn’t help the situation below my belt. Should I grab one of the blankets and throw it over my lap?
Fuck, I’m so hot, beads of sweat break out along my hairline. How can she stand all these blankets in this heat? Why isn’t the AC on?
Her fingers splay over my chest, her touch searing me through my cotton T-shirt. “Your heart’s pounding. Are you okay?”
On the surface, her question is all innocent concern. The way she peers up at me, though, is anything but innocent.
This is getting a little too intense.
My hand gently squeezes her hip before I unwrap my arm from around her body. I attempt to push myself off the couch, but her hand still resting on my chest stops me.
“Bree,” I warn.
No. Oh, shit. If she drops her gaze, she’ll definitely know where all my blood went. She pulls her hand away only to do something even worse. Pressing one knee into the couch cushion, she flings her other leg over me, straddling my lap.
Bad idea. Fuck me. Bad idea.
My body recoils as far back into the couch as the cushions allow. Unruffled by my reaction, she settles her hands over my shoulders, staring into my eyes.
“What’s wrong?” she asks. “Are you mad at me?”
“No.”
“I really did miss you tonight.”
Her low voice, her searing eyes, the weight of her in my lap—all of it hypnotizes me, leaving me powerless to do the right thing.
“We shouldn’t be doing this.”
She cocks her head to the side. Another gesture meant to be innocent that isn’t. “What are we doing?”
Over her shoulder, the couple onscreen are still fucking frantically. The woman’s happily bouncing away on top of the guy. Lusty moans and orgasmic shrieks from the surround-sound speakers fill the air.
Desire slams into me swift and furious.
Fuck me, but I want to carry her into the bedroom and copy every single position on the screen right this second.
“Do you want to watch something else?” she asks in a light, teasing tone.
No, I want to do everything they’re doing and then some. But it’d be a huge mistake.
“I think we should.”
With the room still bathed in shadows, I don’t see her hand approaching until her fingers trace the line of my jaw. At first my body flinches away from her touch.
“Brianna, don’t.” The warning comes out with zero authority.
Then I give in and close my eyes.
She shifts in my lap. Nope. No. Can’t think about all of her heat pressing against me. Even so, I slide down a little, placing my hands on her hips to keep her steady.
“Why?”
“We can’t.”
“Why?” she insists.
Can’t she understand I’m trying to do the right thing here?
“Vince is my best friend and you’re his little sister.” My gaze roams over her face, stopping at her plump lips that I really want to taste again.
She tilts her head. “I’m an adult. What does my brother have to do with anything?”
Nope. She doesn’t get it at all. Or if she does, she’s not buying it. “Bro code, Bree. Guys don’t mess with their friend’s sisters.” Jesus Christ, that has to be the lamest thing that’s ever come out of my mouth. Right about now I could use a punch from Keegan to shut me up.
She squints and laughs at the same time. “Did you really just say bro code?”
Any other time, I’d love Brianna calling bullshit on me.
Not tonight.
“Do you like Vince?”
I shake my head in confusion. “Of course.”
“If you had a sister, would you let him date her?”
“That’s not the point.” The words come out sharp. I so desperately need to gain control of this situation. My hands move to her thighs in an attempt to remove her from my lap.
Her smooth skin distracts me and instead of pushing her off my lap, I run my hands up her legs, under her shorts and grip the globes of her ass.
Not a single scrap of underwear obstructs my exploration. Soft, silky, hot skin glides under my fingertips.
Her head lolls back, her heavy-lidded stare the sexiest damn thing.
Any words I planned to say leave my brain in a puff of smoke.
“Jesus, the things I want to do to you aren’t right,” I murmur. The words rush out before I consider their implication.
Her head snaps back up, her eyes stinging me with sharp curiosity.
“Tell me anyway,” she insists.
My hands knead her ass harder, forcing her against the hard ridge of my erection. A low groan slips from her throat and she swivels her hips just enough to make me lose my damn mind.
She swoops in, brushing her lips against my ear. “Do you want to spank me, Liam?”
“Fuck!” I jerk back as if she’d slapped me.
She nods in a maddening way. Both teasing and knowing. “You’d like that, wouldn’t you?”
“Stop. I couldn’t. With you. Not after.” Christ, she’s fried my brain, and I can’t get any words out.
“You can admit it, Liam.”
My dirty mind conjures up a whole list of things I want to do to her. This conversation needs to end. I’m confused, pissed off, and so goddamn aroused I’m dangerously close to losing it and fucking her on Vince’s living room floor.
Grasping at something to stop this insanity, I blurt out what’s been bothering me since she came home and I realized how much I still want her. “You’re not thinking clearly. Even if I—you’re not ready to be in another relationship.”
She sucks in a deep breath, her blue eyes simmering with anger.
Well, that worked.
With deft movements, she plucks one of my hands off her thigh, guiding it to the V between her legs.
My brain says No. Pull back. But I can’t. No fucking way. I have to explore.
She presses my hand up against her hot center. The sensations take a second to infiltrate my foggy brain. Her shorts are wet.
My nostrils flare, and I sit up straighter, pressing my hand against her harder. Her nipples tease me through the flimsy material of her top. Does she ever wear a damn bra?
Heat pours from her. Those tiny shorts would be so easy to shove to the side. I press my thumb against her, seeking. I trace her slit through the damp material with several firm strokes. She leans back, bracing her hands on my knees, arching her back.
So beautiful. Perfect in every way.
She lets out a soft moan.
Her body trembles.
I’m completely powerless to stop even though the timing is so, so wrong.
Suddenly, she snaps her head forward, almost colliding with mine.
Pressing her fists into my thighs for leverage, she jumps out of my lap with the grace and quickness of a cat.
“Do you have any idea how insulting that is?”
My brain scrambles to sort out her words while my body struggles with the loss of her heat.
“Does that feel like I’m not ready?” she snaps.
No. She felt fucking amazing and I want to shove my face between her thighs and taste her next.
Before I can squeeze out an answer, she turns and stalks off to the bedroom.
Follow her.
She’s pissed. I should let her cool off. Hell, I need to cool off. I handled that like a complete asshole.
Kimber lifts her head and chuffs as if to say she has a stronger word than asshole in mind for me.
After a few minutes, I’m no calmer.
Bree’s end of the house is quiet. I duck into the bathroom. Like a creep, I listen against the door that opens into the bedroom.
Nothing.
I contemplate going in and apologizing, but I know if I step foot in that room we’re going to finish what we started on the couch.
The last time I was this crazed over a woman, it was Bree. Back when she was finishing high school and I was barely in my twenties. That was nothing compared to what I feel for her now. After the time we’ve spent together. The things we’ve confided in each other. We’ve created a bond different from any we’ve shared before.
And I don’t want to destroy it.
I turn to splash water over my face.
Bree’s little bag of personal items sits on the counter.
Open.
Toothpaste, comb, unidentifiable makeup items, hair ties. My lips twitch into a smile. There’s something sweet about all her girly stuff taking up space in Vince’s minimalist bathroom.
The smile dies on my face when I notice the little round plastic package.
Birth control pills.
A sharp ache twists in my chest. Bree’s not a little girl anymore.
Back then, pushing her away had been the right thing to do. I kept my friendship with her brother intact and allowed her to escape our small town to make something of herself. Now, she’s finished her degree and has a plan to continue. I’m so damn proud of her.
Denying myself back then made sense.
Now, it doesn’t.
The asshole in me pipes up. You could go bareback.
Shame slams into me, and I whip open the shower door, yanking on the hot water harder than necessary.
Tomorrow, I’ll fix everything.
Tonight I’m hard enough to pound nails and need to relieve some tension.
Deep humiliation keeps me from sleeping. Not only do I now have absolute proof Liam doesn’t care about me the way I care about him, I also managed to ruin our friendship. Let’s be honest, there’s no way to come back from what happened on the couch. Rubbing myself against him like I was in heat. Practically begging him.
Liam rejecting me.
Telling me I’m not ready.
That stung. My stomach twists with indignation. I’m so tired of having Liam treat me like a kid who doesn’t know what she wants.
In the darkest hours, I form a plan. I can’t stay here. Not after last night. I can’t be in the same house with Liam any longer. It’s slowly killing me.
Since he’s duty-bound, in more ways than one apparently, he won’t leave until my brother returns. Not even last night’s disaster will pry his stubborn ass out of the house.
I’ll have to be the one to leave.
Once I make the decision, I set my alarm. Sleep finally finds me for a few blissful hours.
I’m up, dressed, and have a week’s worth of clothes packed before seven. As soon as I open the bedroom door, Liam’s voice reaches me, and I freeze.
Sounds like he’s on the phone.
I scurry out of the bedroom and stop short at Kimber’s bed.
Shit. How can I leave her?
Her deep whiskey eyes peer up at me.
Crouching down, I run my hand over her fur. “I’ll be back for you.”
Liam’s voice sounds like he’s coming closer, so I give Kimber a final pat.
Ignore him. Keep moving.
Hang on to what little dignity remains. March out there and announce you’re leaving. Don’t ask. Tell him your plans.
Actually, fuck it, just grab the damn keys and go.
“Thanks, Keegan, I owe you.” Great, maybe Liam’s asking his big, burly firefighter buddy to come babysit me next.
No way.
“Bree?”
I turn and face Liam but can’t look him in the eye. “Where are you going?” he asks. His low, concerned voice sends shivers over my skin.
Ignore it. He doesn’t want you.
“I can’t stay here. I’m uh, going back to Empire to stay with a friend of mine.” This is actually a lie. I don’t know where I’m going. I just know I’m not staying here.
“No.”
“Excuse me?”
“You’re not leaving.”
Chin up. “Watch me.”
“Bree,” he says, following me to the front door. “Bree, look at me.”
“No. I can’t.”
His hand closes over my shoulder, and I shriek, ducking out of his grasp. “Don’t touch me!”
“Shit.” He holds his hands up in a gesture of surrender. “I’m sorry, Bree.”
My skin burns with embarrassment from my over-reaction. Another gift from Chad. I know no matter what, Liam would never ever hurt me.
“Stop and talk to me for a second,” he pleads.
I want to so badly. I want to talk to Liam. I want to rewind the clock and not have acted like a horny slut last night. But I’m too ashamed to even look at him.
Nope.
One look and he’ll know I’m in love with him. He’ll see how deep his rejection cut me. Again.
I yank on the doorknob, but it won’t budge. Too late, I realize Liam’s palm is flat against the door, keeping it closed. Blocking my escape from Humiliation Island.
“Move,” I demand, proud my voice comes out strong and steady even though I feel anything but.
“Not until we talk.”
I spin around so fast, he jumps back, but he’s quick and maneuvers himself in front of the door.
“Why are you doing this? Last night wasn’t humiliating enough? You need to rub my nose in your rejection a little more?”
“Bree, I’m sorry.”
“Not as sorry as I am.”
His hand slides under the strap of my backpack and he slides it off my shoulder, dropping it on the floor. Humiliated—again—and powerless, I can’t believe this shit.
Liam’s strong arms wrap around me, holding me close to his warm, strong body. The comfort I take from him only makes me angrier with myself.
“I don’t know where to start, Bree. I’m so sorry about last night.”
Backing away, I glare at him. “About what? Making me feel like a tramp?”
“Jesus Christ. I don’t think that. Bree, I love you. I never wanted to make you feel bad. I’m so sorry.”
His body was definitely attracted to me last night. But something about me, about who I am, obviously repels him. “I can’t do this anymore, Liam. I’m sorry. It’s too much.”
Because I’m a glutton for more blows to my ego, I have to know what it is about me that he finds so repulsive. Maybe I can work on it. “You keep using Vince as an excuse. Just be honest. What’s wrong with me?”
That has to be the most pitiful thing I’ve ever said.
Gentle, loving Liam disappears. Fierce Liam takes his place. His arms tighten around me and he spins us, pressing me to the door. My back hits the wood with a soft thump. I let out a startled gasp and meet his burning brown eyes.
“You want honesty, baby girl? Buckle up, because here comes a big dose of it.”
Startled by the change in his tone, I try to wriggle away from him, but he keeps me pinned to the door. His hands hold mine at my sides, his huge body enveloping my smaller one. He’s quick to wedge his knee between my legs, forcing them apart.
My heart thumps with excitement and a little bit of fear. The exhilarating kind. Like right before the drop on a roller coaster.
He brushes his lips against my ear. “You think I don’t want you? You’re all I fucking want, Bree. Everything I want.”
I gasp from his admission. “Then why—”
“No,” he says, placing one hand over my mouth. “Time you listen.” He waits to see if I’ll cooperate before continuing. “You’re right. You’re an adult now. If Vince has a problem with us, that’s too fucking bad. I’ll deal with him.”
Oh my God. Did he just say us?
He moves in closer, skimming his lips along my neck, gently pulling on my earlobe with his teeth. His next words are low and rough. “I’m sorry I couldn’t explain myself better last night. Your hot pussy in my lap scrambled my brain.”
I moan into his hand, loving dirty-talking Liam.
His eyes widen, taking in my response.
His thigh. Between my legs. Pressing just enough. Pleasure coils tight and hot inside me.
“Listen to me and hear what I’m saying before your fiery temper goes off. Can you do that? Nod once.”
Jesus Christ. I think I could come from just the friction of his leg and his low, demanding voice right now.
I nod.
“You have been through hell.”
I start to shake my head, but he stops me.
“No,” he says dragging the word out. “Listening, remember?”
When I don’t move, he continues.
“You need to feel safe and trust again. And I can give you that. I will give you that. What I cannot do is be your rebound guy, Bree. Once I have you, you’re mine and that’s it.”
Ohmygod.
“So as much as I wanted to fuck you on the couch last night—and trust me I did—I can’t do it without you understanding what it means to me. What it will mean for us.”
There it is again. Us.
“Okay,” he says, taking his hand away from my mouth. “Let me have it.”
Bree blinks and stares up at me. Her big blue eyes swimming with questions.
All the weight that had settled in my chest over the last few weeks disappears.
“What does this mean?” she asks, averting her eyes.
Gently placing a finger under her chin, I tip her head back so I can see her eyes. “What do you want it to mean?”
She ducks her head and wriggles out of my grasp. “I’m afraid to say.”
I stop her with a hand on her arm. “You’re my friend. But that’s not enough anymore.”
“I want to be more than friends.” She hesitates, eyelids fluttering closed. “But what if it doesn’t work out?”
“Impossible.”
She doesn’t seem convinced. Can’t say I blame her. I’ve done nothing but push her away since she came home. She peeks up at me again. So much need simmering in her eyes.
“Were you really going to leave?” I ask, furious with myself for making her feel running away was her best option.
She nods once, then shakes her head. “I can’t be here with you anymore. Not like this.”
“I’m sorry. You’ve been through so much. I thought I was doing the right thing by letting you deal with everything first. By—hell, Bree. I don’t know.” The slippery slope I’m headed down gets steeper with each word out of my mouth.
Reaching out, she grips my arm. “I appreciate it. I know it doesn’t seem like it, but I do. And just so you know. You’re—” She stops to take a deep breath. “You’re so important to me. You could never be…some stopgap until the next guy. I couldn’t use you like that.”
She might think that now, but what about later? I care way too much about her to ever let her go.
Then show her, jackass.
Curling my hand around the back of her neck, I pull her closer. Her lips part. To protest? Question me?
Her lower lip trembles. “You want me? Really want me?” she asks, so timid I ache.
“Yes, I want you.” I brush my fingers against her temple and down her cheek. “I want your mind, your heart, your soul, your body. You already have every part of me.”
Tears fill her eyes. “That’s what I want.”
All I can think about is kissing her. She reaches up, placing her hands on my chest, sliding them up around my neck. I lean down and kiss her with my heart and soul, showing her with every breath, every brush of my lips how much I want her. Need her.
Her body falls into me and I pull her as close as possible.
A thousand ideas demand attention in my overheated brain. Closer. Get her closer. Her scent. Her taste. Her heat.
We break away and I touch my forehead to hers as we catch our breath.
I slip one arm behind her knees and the other against her back, lifting her into my arms.
Her fingers trail down the side of my face and she presses her lips against my jaw. “Please don’t stop this time.”
Pain squeezes my chest. “Never again, Bree. I need you more than air.”
I carry her down the hall and have a brief moment of remorse for what we’re about to do under Vince’s roof.
But there’s no way we can wait another second.
In the bedroom, I set her down. She keeps her arms around me, staring up into my eyes.
“Next time we have to go to my place,” I say.
She cocks her head. “Next time? Next time what? What do you think is about to happen?”
That freezes me in place for a second, until her mouth quirks up, and I realize she’s teasing me.
“I guess I deserve that.” I reach out, brushing her hair back from her face.
Without thinking, I kick backward, slamming the door shut. Bree jumps, but a playful smile curves her lips. “Did you say something about spanking me last night?”
“No. You did.”
I pull her against me and hook my fingers into the strap of her tank top, slowly sliding it down her shoulder. She gasps. A sweet little noise because of something as simple as lowering a strap. Imagine what she’ll do when I put my mouth on her.
My hand slides down her back, squeezing her ass with just enough pressure that she meets my eyes. “I probably should, though, since you were about to leave me.”
“Your own fault.” Her tone is gentle, not mean.
Deciding I need to see more of her a hell of a lot faster, my fingers skim along the bottom of her shirt. My knuckles brush against soft skin and she jerks away. “You’re tickling me.”
I grip the shirt and strip her out of it. “That’s better.”
“Now you,” she says, fisting her hands in my shirt and yanking it up. I help her by taking it off the rest of the way and tossing it on the dresser.
“Wow.” She sighs and rakes her gaze over me from shoulders to shorts. My skin heats at the way she appreciates what she sees. She hooks her fingers in the front of my shorts, but doesn’t yank them down the way I expected.
No, she tortures me first. Skimming her finger under the waistband, stopping on my hip.
“What’re you doing, baby girl?”
“Exploring. I’ve waited this long. I want to savor every second.”
My hands cup her cheeks, tilting her head back. “You’re the sweetest person I’ve ever known.”
“Kiss me.”
“With pleasure.”
Our lips meet, gentle at first, then I take possession of her mouth. She sighs and presses her body against mine. My heart pounds while my hands touch her everywhere, cupping her jaw, the back of her neck, the slope of her shoulder, curve of her breast, down to her waist. Not about to waste another second, I push her shorts down her legs. If I strip her down completely, we won’t make it to the bed.
How long have I been dying to do this?
Too long.
We don’t break our kiss as I back her up to the bed. She falls against the mattress and I follow her down, covering her with my body. Each one of her kisses burns me up. Her blue eyes are hazy and unfocused. She flicks her tongue at the corner of her mouth, and I almost lose it. “Up,” I grunt at her, raising myself off her just enough to give her room to scoot into the center of the bed.
“Better.” God, she’s reduced me to one-word demands.
I take a second to absorb how beautiful she is before descending on her like a ravenous beast.
Hooking my thumbs in her underwear, I drag them down her legs. She’s shy, bringing her knees together. I let her have the second of modesty, laying kisses around one ankle, then the other. I trail my lips over her calf, stopping to lick the inside of her knee, before wrapping my hands around her legs and pushing them wide, making room for my big body.
She sucks in a breath. Fear? Or surprise? “Liam?” Her throaty rasp makes it hard to stop.
I meet her eyes. “I’m here.” She props herself up on her elbows, watching me.
“What’re you doing?” she whispers.
“Staring at your beautiful pussy.” I run my fingers over her skin.
She sucks in jerky breath.
I lean in and rub my chin over her inner thigh, tickling her with three days’ worth of scruff. My mouth waters to taste her.
“Uh,” she reaches down, covering herself.
“Don’t.” I grab her hands and pin them at her sides. When I’m sure she won’t move, I release her and rest my cheek against her leg. With lazy slowness, I drag my thumb over her impossibly soft skin. Teasing and exploring.
She whimpers when my thumb flicks near her clit. Slowly, I press a finger inside her, exploring wet, velvet heat. She gasps and raises her hips when I graze her G-spot.
I want to do everything to her. Pleasure her. Comfort her.
Lose myself in her.
My tongue darts out, licking, sucking, and kissing.
She tenses up, gasps, sighs, squeals. All sorts of delicious noises. Her heels dig into the mattress, lifting her pussy to my mouth. I grunt out a few encouraging sounds because I can’t take my mouth off her to form any words.
Spreading her even wider with my shoulders, I keep tonguing her, licking and tasting her. Kissing her lips, flicking my tongue over her clit, and finally sucking it into my mouth. Her legs quiver and she cries out. Her hands fist in my hair, tugging to the point of pain. A rough sound leaves me, my dick hardens.
Her body twists. Trying to get more or get away from me. She pushes me back, then grinds herself against my face. Soft noises work out of her throat, growing louder by the second.
“Liam!”
She trembles and shatters around me.
“Oh. Oh God.”
I rub my face against her thigh, smearing her wetness on her skin. When I look up, she’s covering her face with her hands.
“That was quick.” She misses my pussy-licking grin because she’s still hiding.
She peeks out at me. “You’ve had me wound up for days.”
Laughter rumbles out of me. Her giggles are muffled by her hands, but she shifts and squirms as I kiss her hip, then drag my tongue over her stomach. My teeth nip at her bra, pulling at it until the cups slip down, exposing her nipples. I can’t decide which one to suck first.
She lightly touches my face. “That was so…”
“Good?”
“Better.”
She leans up to kiss me, and I slip my arms under her body, rolling us so she’s on top. She slides down, her pussy bumping against my rock-hard dick. “God, Liam. I still want you so much.”
“I’m here.”
Slowly, she inches down my body.
“What’re you doing?”
“Returning the favor.”
I open my mouth to say something, not sure what, but her hand squeezes me through my shorts and I’m struck mute. She strips my shorts off and kneels on the bed next to me, her gaze running up my legs and stopping on my cock. “Impressive.”
“Why thank you.”
She laughs at my brass, reaching out to wrap her hand around me. She squeezes and slides her soft palm up. “Hmm, looks like I need both hands,” she teases. “And my mouth.”
She says that last one right before sweeping her tongue over the head of my cock.
“Fuck. Brianna…Bree…fuck.” I’m not sure what I want to say. I completely forget how to speak when she strokes me with her mouth and hands. I palm the sides of her head, needing to touch her face.
Pleasure and heat tingle along my spine. “Bree. Baby. Stop.” My fingers tangle in her hair, pulling her off. “Need your pussy.”
She flashes a lopsided grin and plants her fists in the mattress, crawling up the bed. “I like dirty-talking Liam.”
“Good. Get on my dick.” I even point at it so there’s no confusion.
She wiggles her eyebrows, and I reach out, tracing my fingers over her cheek and over her lips.
“Come on.”
For some reason she hesitates. “Condom?”
Fuck. I don’t want to tell her I snooped through her stuff and know she’s on the pill.
I sit up and reach around to unhook her bra, throwing it to the floor. “I just had my department physical. Healthy as a stallion.”
“Big as one too,” she teases.
“Thanks.”
The smile slides off her face. “They tested me in the hospital…”
Shit. I never considered—fuck, I’m a selfish asshole.
“I’m fine,” she says, reading my concern correctly. “I’m on the pill.”
“Then what are you waiting for? Get on top of me.”
“Feeling lazy, Liam?” she taunts.
“That’s it.” I power up and take her down to the bed, pinning her hands above her head. “Guess you’ll ride me some other time.”
One of my hands slides under her ass, tilting her hips for better access. Even though I’m aching to finally squeeze my cock inside of her, I take it slow. Tormenting us both. Staring into her eyes, I press against her opening. I hiss as I meet nothing but slick, tight, heat. Her eyes widen and she gasps as I slowly slide in. “Are you mine?”
She nods.
“No, baby girl. I need you to say it.”
Without hesitating, she gives me the words I’ve wanted to hear for so long. “I’m all yours, Liam.”
I circle my hips, pushing into her and sliding out. “Liam, please,” she whispers.
“Please what? Tell me.”
“Harder.”
I pick up my speed a bit. “Like this?” I ask, brushing my lips over hers. I slam into her harder. “Or this?”
“More.”
“You lost your chance to be on top, bossy girl.”
She snorts and wraps her legs around my waist. Reaching back, I hook her legs over my arms. She lets out a startled gasp at the different angle. “Too much?”
“No.”
It’s the last word she speaks. After that it’s just the sounds of our bodies crashing together. Breathless grunts mixed with whimpering cries of pleasure.
Her cries increase in volume just as my control snaps, and I hammer into her.
Everything’s so intense. Her husky moaning, our sweaty bodies sliding together, the bliss gathering at the base of my spine.
“Bree, come for me.”
“I…” She presses her head back against the bed, her mouth falling open, sharp little noises filling the air as I make her come.
I’m done. Pleasure fires through me, and I slam my hips into her one last time, fusing us together.
A few seconds pass, and her body relaxes. Her eyes flutter open. I’m still breathing hard, shaking from my orgasm.
She sighs as I slip free from her body. A satisfied smile curves her lips.
Bree is finally mine.
It’s much later in the day when we finally take a break.
“So, you’re done fighting this?” I ask, tracing my fingers over Liam’s chest. He captures my hand, bringing it to his lips.
“Yeah, I’m done. Well done. Done for. Done in.” He tickles his fingers over my ribs, and I yelp.
“Stop! Stop, that tickles.”
“That’s the point.”
He doesn’t stop until I’m out of breath from laughing so hard.
“Which one of us gets to tell my brother?” I ask after catching my breath.
“I’ll talk to him.” He turns his head, glancing around. “I’ll probably leave out the part about how we defiled his bedroom.”
“At least we didn’t use his condoms.”
He lifts his shoulders and fake-shudders in horror.
His hand finds his way to my hip, then strokes lower. “No, we didn’t.” His face turns serious. “I’ve never done that with anyone else, Bree.”
I stare at him unsure of his meaning.
“No condom,” he clarifies.
“Oh.” I’m not sure how to respond. I don’t want to picture him with anyone else. “Yeah, Nurse Linda seemed like she might be a germaphobe.”
The shock on his face is quite comical.
To me, anyway. Liam doesn’t even chuckle.
“Nothing before you even exists for me anymore, Bree.”
Before I can catch the breath he knocked out of me with that statement, he rolls to his side and runs the back of his hand over my cheek. “Are you all right?”
“I’m well-fucked if that’s what you mean.”
He dips his head, shoulders shaking with laughter. “No. That’s not what I meant.”
When he settles down, he captures my arm, running his gaze over my wrist. “I didn’t hurt you, did I?”
“Don’t start.”
“I’m sorry I’ve been such a prick.”
I place my hand over his mouth—much like he did to me earlier—and I tingle from the memory. “No more apologies.”
He sucks one of my fingers into his mouth. “You taste good.” He runs his gaze down my naked body. “Everywhere.”
Heat races over my exposed skin. “Careful, I don’t think you can handle another round.”
“You throwing down a challenge, baby girl?” He moves over me. “I’ll show you exactly how many rounds I have in me.”
Wailing sirens scream through the air, scaring the crap out of me. He drops his head, muttering, “Fuck.”
“What the hell is that?” I ask as the same pattern of sirens repeats.
“My phone. Not good,” he explains, launching himself off the bed, hurrying into the living room.
“What?” he barks.
Liam listens carefully, curses under his breath a couple times. “Okay. I’ll be there in twenty.”
I slide out of bed and tug on shorts and a T-shirt. Liam groans when he comes back into the bedroom. “Why are you dressed? I wanted to burn the image of your naked body into my brain for the night.”
“You think you’ll be gone all night?”
He pulls me into his arms and kisses my forehead. “Yes, it’s…not good. I’ll probably be late. If you need something and can’t reach me, call Keegan. His number’s on the fridge.”
“Okay.”
“I hate leaving you right now, so damn much.”
I run my hand over his cheek. “I understand.”
“Thank you.”
He gives me one last lingering kiss before getting dressed and hauling ass.