Page 52 of A Taste of Trouble

He shook his head. What the fuck was he thinking? He swayed between laying his cards on the table and trying to protect the body he held in his arms, wanting to keep her for himself. If he had known one small agreement with his boss would have turned out to be such a clusterfuck, he'd never have agreed in the first place. But then he would have never met Liv.

Liv sighed softly and stirred in his arms. “Hi,” she said with a croak, staring up at him.

“Hi.”

“You're all serious.” She placed her palm against his chest. “What are you thinking about?”

“Nothing important.” You should tell her. Tell her about Shelton and your deal. “What's your family like?”

Chicken.

“You already know so much, Mr. Nosy.” She tapped his chest.

“I know superficial things. Tell me about you. What about your family?”

She grimaced. “My mom and grandparents live in Collingwood. That's where I grew up.”

“What about your dad?”

She tensed in his arms. “My dad?” Liv scoffed. “My dad left when I was ten and I haven't heard from him since.” She pulled away and pushed her head against the pillow, her muscles tightening and jerking in his embrace.

“I'm sorry. Some men just don't know how to be real men.” He had a perfect home life. And knowing what he did about Liv, the story about her dad made sense. He had assumed it was a love story gone wrong that tainted her ideas on relationships. That was not the case. Her father was the reason she shied away from love—and men in general. It would be hard to break her away from that mentality and get her to trust him. Trust? Why should she trust you, Jake?

The nagging feeling of guilt was back and this time he couldn't just shake it out of his head. He would do anything to take back his deal. Was that why he felt the need to show her the other side of himself? To purge his guilt? He squeezed her tight, wanting to keep her in this moment.

He slid his hand down her back and cupped her bottom, kneading her tender flesh.

She flashed him a sexy grin. “Feeling frisky?”

He moved his hand over her hip and between her legs and she gasped. “I guess so.”

Her heart beat against his chest, thumping quicker and quicker with every move of his hand. He slipped his fingers between her folds. She was still wet from their previous sex session. His fingers continued to caress; this time, he plunged one finger inside. “I'm sure you have a lot of things to do tomorrow before the big opening.”

“I do.” She moaned. “Lots of things I need to do tomorrow.”

“I guess I should finally make my way home. Leave you to get things done.” He thumbed her clit as his finger moved slowly in and out of her.

She looked up, affection staring back at him. She had given herself over to him. And he was a lying jerk-off. He didn't deserve her affection.

“You could always stay.” Liv moaned and pushed her head back as her body tightened around him. He loved the effect he had on this woman, the pure pleasure she embraced while in his arms. “I had the whole day planned and…there's something I want to show you.”

Tomorrow was Sunday. And every Sunday during the winter, Jake, Brian, and Tony would meet at their local outdoor rink to play hockey. Miles would sit in the stands and watch, nursing his allergy to sports.

He'd have to cancel on his friends. Another excuse for him to avoid real life…for Liv. But she had dropped her guard. Just like he had hoped. Liv moaned, lower and deeper with the stroke of his hand across her tender flesh. At this moment, there wasn't a trace of her defenses left.

A plan formulated in his mind. She wouldn't be the only one to reveal something tomorrow. If he had any chance of keeping her, he needed to step up his game. And he knew exactly where he

would take her to solidify his place in her heart.

“What's that?” he asked, wondering if what she had planned was her way of opening up.

“It's a surprise.” She whimpered as her body fell away. She lifted one leg, opening herself up, giving him better access.

“We won't be playing pool, will we?” A second finger joined the first.

“No pool.” She groaned and asked on a gasp, “Will you come with me?”

“Oh, I plan on coming.” He removed his hand from between her legs and shimmied below the comforter. “But you first.”

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