Page 4 of Wrapped in Red

“Yeah, we’re really excited,’ he says as if the words don’t cut right through JJ’s tough exterior. “We’ve been trying for a few months now and we finally got the good news.” JJ is still beside me and her eyes search the room. “You like the place? We decided to renovate after…” He’s obnoxiously talking about their breakup and I know I need to get her out of here fast.

“Well, it’s been fun, but I want to get my girl a drink, make the rounds then take her home so we can actually have a good time. Excuse us.” Derek says nothing as I lead JJ through the small house and into the backyard. We pass the keg that’s set up on the deck and down the steps that lead to a small wooded area. There’s a patch of trees a few years away and decide she definitely needs some privacy. Once we’re safely away from prying eyes she deflates against the side of a tree.

“She’s pregnant…” she whispers, as the tears threaten. My chest tightens. Before I think better of it, I press my lips to her forehead and my palm finds her cheek, making her eyes meet mine.

“He’s an ass. He never deserved you.”

She shakes her head, the tears falling from her eyes faster than I can wipe them away.

“He told me he wasn’t ready for a family. He told me he wanted to concentrate on his career and that a kid would complicate things…was it just me? Is there something wrong with me?” The tremor in her voice lets me into the torment she’s feeling, and I want to find Derek and punch the living fuck out of him. What gives him the right to flaunt his new life in her face like that? It’s a dick move, and if it wasn’t for the woman standing in front of me falling apart, I would do just that.

“There is nothing wrong with you. He’s an idiot for leaving you for her,” I say, kissing along her temple. Her tears continue and I find myself wanting to comfort her at all costs. My arms wrap around her, pulling her close. Once her arms are around me too, a sense of calm washes over me, and a smile threatens to show.

“You’re just being nice because I’m crying,” she mutters against my chest, and a laugh rumbles through me.

“True. Tears are my weakness.”

She laughs, but my jacket muffles the sound and I wish I could hear it. I lean back so our eyes meet. “I meant it, you know. He’s an idiot for giving you up.” A hint of a smile appears, and a single tear escapes, trailing down her cheek and I gently wipe it away with the pad of my thumb. Our eyes lock and my fingers find her pulse jackhammering almost as fast as mine is right now. Her tongue darts out, licking her bottom lip. Does she want my lips on hers as much as I do right now? I don’t ask the question, or wait for the answer, I just press my lips to hers.

The moment his lips touch mine, it’s like a fire is ignited. I forget about Derek and the baby. I forget my own damn name. All I know is I want more… so much more.

His hands are everywhere, as he pushes me up against the tree. My fingers tangle in the hair at the base of his neck as I pull him ever closer. The cry that reverberates through his body spurs me on, and I want to feel all of this without winter layers separating us. His tongue traces the seam of my lips and when I open for him, I sink. This kiss is beyond anything I’ve ever felt, the strainof his hands tugging at my hips, pulling me tight against him, makes my head spin.

“Jesus, angel, we need to slow down…” Liam whispers as his tongue traces a line from my jaw all the way down my neck, making me shake with every breath he takes. “Damn, I knew you would taste good, but damn, sweetheart, you are unbelievable.”

I weep at the admission, my head falling back against the tree and giving him free access to whatever part of me he wants.

“Don’t you dare stop…” I say breathlessly, pulling his lips back to mine. This time he doesn’t hold back. His hands find my ass as he lifts me off the ground. My legs wrap themselves around his hips as he pushes me onto the tree and his hardness grinds against me, and I lose my grip on reality. “Yeah, you can never stop,” I mutter as he laughs, making me smile against his lips.

“I don’t plan on it, but we either need to leave and go someplace private or stop right now because I’m not doing this where other people can hear you. Your moans are mine,” he growls, and I whine into his neck, loving the possessiveness in his voice.

“Are you sure you want to leave right now?” I say as seductively as I can, my hand traveling down his muscular stomach and feeling his hardness through his pants.

“Fuckme…” He groans as my fingers lightly trace the outline of his cock and his head falls forward. His tongue darts out against my neck and I wish with everything I have that we were anywhere else than this stupid fucking party.

“That’s the idea, angel…” I tease, taking the shell of his ear and nipping it hard enough to elicit a cry so primal his hips grind harder into my core, making me feel things I haven’t felt in years. Yeah, this needs to happen, and soon.

“Fuck, JJ, we need to stop because I am not fucking you at this party…especially in your ex’s backyard.”

One mention of Derek and everything comes crashing back to reality. It’s like a cold bucket of water is poured over my head and I automatically unhook my legs from his waist. He lets me go, but he doesn’t go far. “Baby?” he asks quietly, and I shake my head.

“I am not your baby,” I mutter. Loving the way that endearment feels coming off his lips doesn’t drown out the fact that this whole scenario is insane. I need to get out of here and clear my head. “This was a bad idea,” I say, gathering my bearings and looking up at him.

Why does he have to look so good after my hands have been through his hair? He looks like we just fucked and it’s a good fucking look on him.

“Bad idea? How is me kissing a woman I’m attracted to a bad idea?” he asks, and I look away because the truth I see in his eyes scares the living hell out of me.

“Good idea? How is any of this a good idea? I just found out my ex is getting married and having a baby with a woman he was probably cheating on me with. Then I go out into the forest and practically climb you like a tree…”

“Not complaining,” he says, his hands raised in surrender and a smirk on his lips.

“Plus, I just met you half an hour ago…this is not what I do. I am not this stupid. I make plans…I have plans…” I can see the war of emotion cross Liam’s face and I cringe. The last thing I wanted was to put my issues on him or anyone else. This should just end now. “You know what? I’m sorry you had to come here with me. I’m just gonna go and we can forget this night ever happened okay?” As if I could ever forget that kiss.

But before he can open his beautiful mouth and find a way to make me stay, I walk away. Well, I wouldn’t call it walking, more running like a bat out of hell through the house, avoiding Derek’s voice calling my name, and out the front door.

This is for the best…right?

Oh hell no.

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