Page 112 of Best Kind of Trouble
I tense up, my jaw clenching. “They’re not going to touch a hair on your head ever again. I’ll see to that, no matter what happens between us. I won’t let them hurt you.”
“It’s not your job to protect me, Liam. I need to learn to stand on my own.”
“Not my job, no. Consider me a permanent volunteer.”
She smiles up at me, even more beautiful mussed and tired than she is usually.
I have to admit to myself that I could fall in love with this woman. It’s not rational to love a woman you’ve only known well for a couple of weeks, but I’ve always had big feelings. My mother used to shake her head about my rages, telling my father it must be from his side of the family, because all of the other kids in her family were quiet and well-behaved. I figured that was why she left—because Hannah and I had beentoo much for her, Connor, too colicky. Three courses of parenthood, when she’d only wanted a taste.
Sometimes life gives you more than you want.
Other times it feels like it will always be less.
I’d loved Julia, but not in the way she’d wanted to be loved, with flowers and anniversaries and parties. My love wasn’t loud—it was steady.
I asked Briar what she wanted earlier because I want to give it to her. Even if what she wants is for us to be friends and coworkers, and for everything else to fade away.
The way I feel about her won’t fade, but I’ll pretend if that’s what she needs, even though I hate pretending.
“You stayed,” she whispers to me.
“I was given little choice. I couldn’t risk being attacked by a featherweight woman. You were very intimidating.”
She snuggles in closer, wrapping an arm around my back. “Thank you.”
“You don’t have to thank me for doing exactly what I wanted. It was self-serving.”
“Yes, you’re incredibly selfish.” She tips her head up, her lips only a couple of inches from mine, and by God, I’d like to be selfish. I’d like to take exactly what I need, but I won’t do anything that might cause her more pain.
So I just continue to hold her, my fingers drifting up and down her back.
“You want me,” she says. It’s not a question, nor is it a guess. Lying in my arms right now, she can feel how much I want her.
“Obviously.”
She shifts and presses her hips forward, making me groan. “I want you too. Maybe we’re overcomplicating this.”
“Oh, I think it’s pretty damn complicated.”
Her gaze beats into me. “So why does everything feel less complicated when we’re together?”
I’m not supposed to kiss her again. That’s not why I came here. I was going to tell her she meant something to me and leave everything in her hands. But I’m in her bed, and she’s rubbing up against me, telling me she wants me—and I’ve never wanted anyone or anything more than I want her. Everythingdoesfeel less heavy when we’re together. Her smiles can carry me for hours. Her ideas always light answering fires inside of me. And the way she feels against me…
The way she feels against me defies words. It can only be described as transcendent. It’s the feeling of a dream sliding into reality, of hope swelling after years of darkness.
I lower my head to her, brushing our lips together—just a little taste of what’s been forbidden to me—but the moan she makes has me deepening the kiss. Her hair falls around me like a curtain blocking out the world apart from us as she kisses me back, and she’s right. Everythingisokay right now. It doesn’t matter that we weren’t supposed to do this again. All that matters is the two of us on this bed. She starts moving her hips as she kisses me, and I make a fist in her lush hair, tugging on it. My other hand finds her hip and guides her movements, because I enjoy torturing myself.
I’m so hard I might actually die if I don’t fuck her—and wouldn’t that be an interesting trip to the emergency room? But I don’t want to rush through this.
She pulls back slightly, her lips pink and inviting, glistening slightly. “Liam…”
I squeeze my fist in her hair. “You can say my name all you want, but don’t you dare say please like you did last time. I’m writing it on the list.”
She laughs. “Why not?”
“Because I’m not ready to come, and if I hear you begging me to fuck you, it’s going to put me right over the edge.”
Her eyes widen. “Really?”
