Page 51 of The Red-Hot Stakes

So I concentrated on him. I maneuvered my fingers through the opening of his boxers, skin meeting skin. His girth had me groaning. He bucked into my hand as his lips formed my name.

But Liam was persistent in his deft ministrations. The rhythm of his skilled fingers and his thumb on my clit made resistance futile. The orgasm crashed through me, ecstatic waves wracking me over and over. Two pumps later, he shuddered in my hand, both of us gasping for breath.

I stared at him as I rode out the aftershocks. I felt unsteady and unsure, the newness of our relationship still so fragile. Was I ready to open myself up again? To be this vulnerable?

I cleared my throat, pushing Liam away and adjusting my skirt. I’d let myself get so carried away. Embarrassment had my cheeks heating, but it couldn’t completely overpower the elation lingering within me. “I should go get cleaned up.”

Liam nodded, fumbling to button his pants and shirt so he was somewhat presentable, then we made our way inside the club.

Chapter Thirteen

The bathrooms weren’t too far in, and I wondered about the designer of this place. When I came out, Liam leaned against a wall as casual as could be, like we hadn’t just given each other hand jobs outside.

“I washed my hands, Red, but I can still smell you.” Liam shot me a wicked grin, lifting his fingers to his nose and inhaling deeply. “I think I have a new favorite scent.”

The hot words sent a jolt of desire through me though it tangled with my unease, and I glanced around nervously, wondering if what we’d just done was written all over my face.

“Chill,” he said, smirking. “More dancing, or want to sit for a few?”

“I’d like my drink.” Maybe it’ll help me relax.

He nodded, lacing his fingers through mine. We walked up the stairs, me feeling as if I were in a daze. Liam caught Derek’s attention from the balcony by our booth, and they signaled they’d be up in a few.

As I scooted into the booth, Liam pressed against me. I shifted, but there wasn’t anywhere to go. I was reeling from the time on the balcony—how fast things had progressed, how carried away I’d let myself get. When he shifted again, I wanted to cringe at how caged in I felt. He’s too close.

Avery greeted us with her normal cheeriness as she plopped into the booth across from us. “Where’d you guys disappear to? You were gone a while.”

I sipped my drink, trying not to panic.

“Red got a little overheated, so I took her outside to cool off.”

I kicked him under the table, but he only smirked, obviously proud of his double entendre. Avery’s penetrating stare would see too much if I wasn’t careful, so I deflected. “Did I miss any good songs?”

And that was all it took to get her going about what had happened on the dance floor. In the middle of her rambling, she piped in with, “I need to pee.”

She glanced at me, but I shook my head. Derek offered to show her where the bathrooms were, so she followed him down the stairs.

Left alone with Liam, I had no distraction from the images playing through my mind of our interlude, of how carried away I’d let myself get. We were moving too fast, he was getting too close. He took a sip of his drink, oblivious to my mounting distress. When he shifted again, his firm thigh touched mine and I couldn’t scoot any further away. Panic flared within me, doubts overflowing as I snapped into defense mode.

“Do you do this often?”

The furrow appeared in his forehead.

“Bring girls here to make them feel important.” My words were harsh, but my tone was flippant as the words tumbled out, and I was helpless to stop them. The trip wires had been triggered, my self-defense mechanisms in full swing as two words repeated in my head. Too close. He was too close. “Show off your phenomenal dancing skills to get them all hot and bothered. Then take them out to the balcony for a good time.”

The crease deepened as he read between the lines, hearing what I couldn’t bring myself to say outright.

“Dammit, Gina.” He dug into his pocket, pulling out a key and slamming it onto the table. Anger laced his words. “No. I’ve never done anything like this. Ever. This is all so fucking new to me that I feel like I can’t find my balance.”

His glare drilled into me, and I barely kept from flinching.

“I wanted you to have this, want you to come and go whenever the hell you want from my place. Because I love having you around.” He swiped his hand over his face. “Then you go and say shit like that.” He pushed away from the table with enough force that I was surprised it stayed anchored to the wall. And he stormed off.

The key taunted me from where it lay on the table, berating me for my hasty words and smart mouth. Guilt left a bitter taste on my tongue. I know better. I knew Liam well enough to see how hard he was trying, to see how different he’d been with me. But I’d insisted on fucking it up.

The atmosphere changed after that. I kept the key. I looked for any opening to apologize, to explain my awful reaction, but it never came. Derek and Avery stuck to us like glue the rest of the night while my words sat between us like a pregnant elephant the entire time, creating a distance I abhorred. At the complex, Liam ducked out of the elevator ahead of us, making some excuse about an early meeting.

I trudged into the apartment after Derek and Avery, guilt weighing heavily on me. I had to fix this, but I wasn’t sure how. As much as I hated to admit it, I needed help.

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