Page 93 of Best Kind of Trouble
“Turn around and hold the ropes,” he says gruffly before leaning in and teasing one of my nipples with his teeth. “I need to be able to touch you.”
I turn and do as I’m told, and he leans over me, his big, beautiful body cupping mine. Seconds later, he’s inside me again, only his hand slides between my legs. He gently rubs me there as his thrusts turn harder and more possessive, his other hand wrapped around my hip. His grip is firm, and I know he’d never let me fall. He’d protect me from anything.
I feel myself coming apart, my breath turning loud, embarrassing sounds gusting from me as I tumble closer to the edge.
“Are you going to come for me?” he whispers,his fingers toying with me as he thrusts in again, so big and wide and deep and?—
Another strangled sound escapes me as the pleasure takes over, painting over all the dark feelings I’ve had tonight with pure joy.
I clench around him, and he groans, kissing my neck as he thrusts in again, and again, and then harder. But just when I’m sure he’s going to pulse inside of me, he pulls out.
Confused, I turn around and see him moving his hand over himself, his arm flexing. Then he groans as he comes…into his hand.
I know without asking that he purposefully put that distance between us, and suddenly I feel very naked. I also feel like an idiot.
The emotion clogging my throat says this was more than a one-time release for me, but it’s very clear that’s all it was for him.
I force a smile, and he laughs and kisses the side of my mouth.
“Fuck, that was…” He trails off, the smile ghosting off his face, and then nods toward the locker room. “I’ll be right back.”
When he returns, I’m fully clothed.
A few minutes later,I’m clinging to Liam on the bike, feeling like I want to cry. Despite what just happened in the gym, there’s more space between us than ever.
When he parks in the lot outside my building, I half-expect him to take off as soon as I clear the bike, but instead he gives me a severe nod and says, “I’ll see you upstairs.”
“You don’t have to,” I reply, heat burning behind my eyes. Ididn’t want it to be like this with him. He’s one of my safe spaces—a person I’ve learned to rely on.
“I know,” he says, some warmth returning to his face. “But if you don’t let me walk with you, I’ll have to follow you to make sure you get in safely. You’ll be saving me from stalking you.”
It’s a lukewarm joke, his attempt to paper over this awkwardness that’s grown between us, but I nod. I don’t want him to go. Not yet. I know that once he does, this divide between us will only crack wider.
“Just be forewarned that my cat hates other men.”
He smiles at me, his eyes twinkling. “No worries.Catslove me.”
I shove his arm, but his double entendre feels like a salt-filled scratch. I’m sure it’s true, and I’m just one in a long line of women who’ve wanted to sleep with him.
I lead the way up the steps, surprised when he settles his hand on my lower back in front of the door. I don’t mean to lean into him, but I feel myself doing it as I unlock the door.
Before I walk in, I peer up at him and find him staring at me, his eyes full of…
I’m projecting.
Liam doesn’t feel longing for anything but solitude. He’s said so on many occasions.
I clear my throat and enter the apartment, caught off guard again when he follows me.
“So this is where Briar Sterling lives,” he says, glancing around.
“Would you like to look through all my drawers like Hannah did?”
He smiles. “Maybe.”
Karma emerges from the bedroom. I’m prepared to grab him when he inevitably starts hissing. But then my cat, who has hated every man I’ve ever brought home and once scratchedJonah’s bare bottom, starts to do figure eights around Liam’s legs as he releases a deep, low purr.
“He likes you,” I murmur in shock.
