Page 53 of The Red-Hot Stakes

“I used my key,” I blurted out. “I thought I could heat up leftovers.”

His eyebrows bobbed up, and I felt beyond idiotic because I hadn’t even begun to address any of my issues. This was going to be harder than I’d thought.

“Just help yourself, Gina,” he said. Resignation hung in his words and his movements as he strode past me.

“Liam, wait.”

He paused near the kitchen but didn’t turn to face me. This would only work if I opened up, so I sucked in a deep breath, trying to find the courage for the one thing I loathed more than anything. Making myself vulnerable.

But if anyone deserved it, Liam did.

I walked around and perched on the back of the couch, my bare feet dangling in midair. “I was out of line at Club 42.” He finally turned, and I couldn’t face the hurt in his eyes so I looked down, focusing on getting the words out. “I know you better than that.”

It took me a moment to gear up for the next part, his assessing stare resting heavily on me the whole time. “I’m sorry. It’s difficult for me to say this, but I get scared sometimes. It’s not easy to trust after someone shreds you to pieces, and growing up, I was in pieces more often than I care to admit.”

I swallowed at the thickness in my throat as I fought back the memories. “If people get too close to me, or I start to care too much, I hurt them as a way of testing them, to see…” I drew in a breath, digging for the courage to continue. “To see if they’ll come back, and you got too close, so fast.” The last words left me in a whoosh. “It’s terrified me to discover that I care about you, a lot.” I forced myself to look at him.

Liam stood stock still in the middle of the room as my words reverberated between us. I clung to the couch, tension tightening my chest as I lowered more of the barriers I always kept so firmly in place.

“I came here today to tell you that I’m sorry. And I want you to know that I—” I cut myself off, needing to swallow down the fear bubbling up in me. I raised my chin, determined to tell him. “I trust you.”

Then he was in front of me. He wedged himself between my legs, his lips inches from mine. Emerald eyes searched mine, hope shining brightly in their depths. “Do you? Really?”

His husky voice flooded me with desire, and I nodded, unable to speak.

His large hands on either side of my hips, he whispered, “You trust me to catch you?”

Again I nodded, and I was met with his brilliant smile.

“All right, Red. Prove it.”

He nodded to the couch behind me, and understanding dawned. He wanted me to fall backward, to actually let him catch me. I held his gaze, teasing and kind, but with a hint at a depth that scared me. All our little moments replayed through my head, his touches, his kindness, his jokes. And a peace settled over me as I let myself fall.

Warm hands caught me, strong arms pulled me to his firm, bare chest, and I wrapped my legs around him. My heart stampeded in my throat from the exhilaration of the mini trust fall.

“You did it, Gina.”

I smirked. “You should have bet on it, ’cause I was a sure thing.”

Heat flared between us as his eyes darkened and my smirk faded. His lips found mine in a passionate kiss as one of his large hands eased back to cup my ass, holding me tight against him. His bare skin under my fingers fed the flames dancing within me, and I was more than ready for the next step.

I tore my mouth from his, holding his gaze while I peeled my shirt over my head. His throat bobbed as he stared at my lacy bra. His other hand skated up my bare side, his thumb grazing my abdomen before I dragged his lips to mine once more. I swallowed his groan as my chest collided with his, and he carried me to the bedroom.

“Are we really doing this, Gina?” Rawness laced his voice, a vulnerability that surprised me.

I cupped his cheek. “Yes, please. Please, Liam, I want this so bad. I want you, all of you.” I pressed my chest to his, touched my lips lightly to his mouth.

His hand came up to the clasp up my bra, his eyes searching mine for permission. The fabric fell away as he sucked in a breath. “Fuck, you’re gorgeous. I’ve been wanting to get my hands on you since the day I saw you in that tank top when we played Never Have I Ever at Avery’s.”

The heat of his gaze should have left burn marks on my bare skin. I lightly traced his tattoo, allowing my finger to follow the dancing flames.

“I was surprised you didn’t wake up from me drooling on you earlier. Are you sure you’re not made of marble?” I raked my nails lightly down his chest, and goosebumps appeared in their wake.

He laid me on his bed, his scent enveloping me. His weight partially shifted onto me as if he wanted me to feel the heaviness of more than his words. “It’s not just your body, you know. It’s all of you. That mouth, that fight, that spark. Gina, you drive me crazy.”

“You do, too. You’re so sweet and kind and funny. I’m sorry it’s taken me so long to see it. You’re a great guy, Liam. When I said I wanted all of you, I meant it.”

His devastating smile appeared just before his lips descended to mine, devouring me. We lay there, the weight of him enough to keep me from floating away into the effervescent happiness flooding me. Every inch of him was hard planes, firm muscle, solid flesh and I let my fingers roam over his delicious body.

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