Page 25 of Lost in You (The Monroes 3)

“What? Maybe I’m done wondering what it would be like for you to kiss me, for you to actually admit that you have an ounce of feeling for me. Maybe I deserve—”

Liam’s mouth slammed onto hers and the second their lips collided, she melted against him.

Not enough. Not nearly enough.

He needed her closer. He released her wrists and framed her face as he stepped into her, lining their bodies up perfectly. Macy’s slender arms came around his waist, her fingers dug into his bare back.

She was everything he’d fantasized about and so much more. Since coming back he’d done his share of thinking of exactly this moment and absolutely nothing in his thoughts touched the amazing reality of Macy’s kiss.

The tip of her boots hit his feet, but he didn’t care. She was here, in his arms, and he was finally tasting her.

Just one more second. He only needed a bit more, though warning bells were sounding in his head. A second more wouldn’t hurt.

But then she sighed, ran her hands up his back, and threaded her fingers in his hair. Her touch was something he could get used to, and just one kiss, potent as it was, could get out of control so fast, and he would be utterly powerless to stop. He lifted his head, but one look at her closed eyes, her parted, wet lips, and Liam went back in. He wasn’t a saint, never claimed to be. He was selfish and human.

All of the reasons this was a bad idea vanished from his mind. Macy was in his arms, kissing him, clinging to him, and any other thought ceased to exist.

When her fingertips traveled over his shoulders, he trembled. When her hands framed his face, he jerked away.

The second he stepped back, a chill took over. Macy stood only inches away, hands at her sides, her body taking in deep breaths.

“This was a mistake.” One he couldn’t regret, but wouldn’t make again.

“Kissing me was a mistake?”

“One of them,” he confirmed, hating that he needed to be noble and brutally honest. “Moving in here was probably my first mistake. Bringing you into my room was another.”

Slowly, Macy ran a hand across her mouth. “I see.” She jerked the knot from her flannel, loosening it from her waist. Shoving her arms back in, Macy adjusted the material around her shoulders and left it unbuttoned. “I’ll make sure not to come around again. You can just give your rent checks to Zach to pass along. He’s in the store often enough. And you may want to get Sophie started on finding you another place. She knows of several rentals, since you clearly don’t want to set roots here.”

There was no warmth in her tone. She’d have more emotion leading a board meeting to discuss a toilet paper campaign. He’d done that to her, but he couldn’t let her leave without something of an explanation.

He backed up, blocking the doorway. “You have to know why this is a bad idea.”

“Do I? Because moments ago you had your hands all over me and everything felt like a great idea.”

He’d remember the feel of her beneath his palms for the rest of his life and that would be his penance for losing control.

“We want different things, Macy. We’re night and day.”

Bright eyes narrowed, then she threw her arms out. “You know what, forget it. Forget I came by, forget everything that happened in here. I thought we were making headway. I trusted you and opened up to you more than anyone else. I’ve wanted to kiss you since I was sixteen. But I didn’t know how bad I would feel after. I didn’t know you’d regret it.”

At the risk of more torture to himself, Liam reached out and grabbed her shoulders. “I don’t regret a thing that happened. I regret the fact that I can’t be what you need in your life. I regret that you had to face a monster all alone and then felt there was no one to turn to. I regret never asking you out to begin with because maybe our lives would’ve turned out differently.”

Macy placed a hand on his chest and gave a slight push. “Everything happens for a reason. I can’t look back. I can’t let my past define me.”

“And you think you’ve moved forward?” he countered. “Because the other night when I found you downstairs, you freaked out when I grabbed you.”

Her eyes wavered slightly as she glanced away. “I’ll always have memories, Liam. I can’t change that, but I can’t let them run my life.”

Risking so much, walking a fine line, Liam gripped her chin and forced her gaze back to his. “So when are you going to finish that degree and stop letting those bastards steal from you?”

When her chin quivered, he knew he’d pushed too far. He’d crossed a line he had no right to. But damn it, she’d let some assholes rob what she’d worked so hard for. He knew she’d had a softball scholarship, so if she never returned, she’d obviously forfeited it. Yes, her mother had passed, but Liam fully believed Macy would’ve gone back to school had she not been attacked.

The thought still sickened him.

“Move,” she whispered. “I need to get out of here.”

She was upset. Keeping her here was only making things worse. “I want to be your friend, Macy. I want you to know you can talk to me. I just can’t do anything else.”

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