He slid it down my face and ran his thumb across my bottom lip, reminding me of the way he touched me that night in Puerto Vallarta, and the sensation it stirred made adrenaline course through my body.
“If you care about my safety, Liam, then protect me from this pain inside me right now.”
I was so desperate, so needy, and I didn’t give a damn as long as it ended with his body against mine, ridding me of the agony the lingering space between us created.
My eyes fixed on his beautiful mouth. I leaned toward him, wanting, needing. I just needed to go for it and put an end to all the speculation and curiosity. I made my move, pushing closer for a kiss, and he turned away, my lips tapping against his cheek.
Oh, my…fucking…heart.
Considering everything we’d just shared, I thought we were on the same page. That it was time.
His rejection was pure, unadulterated despair.
“Ty, I can’t do that. I’m not ready.”
His low, breathy voice shook me deep in my soul, which cried out for relief I now knew I wouldn’t be offered. My gaze shifted around the room, as though I was as lost in the living room as I felt inside.
“Oh,” I murmured, noticing his hand still against my face. I’d never been so confused in my goddamned life.
The tears that had stirred in my eyes fell down my cheeks.
I had to pry myself away from him, because even hating him in that moment didn’t keep me from being addicted to his touch.
“What the fuck was all that bullshit about not hurting me?”
That fucking asshole! I’d opened up, allowed myself to be so vulnerable.
But now I was intoxicated with my rage. He’d taken me to the fucking edge, only to shove me right off it.
“Ty—”
“No, you need to stop. Jesus fucking Christ, you must be a master manipulator because one second you’re all talking about how I scare you, how you wanna do things to me, and then the moment I make a move… Fuck that.”
“Will you just listen to me?”
He set his hand on my arm, so softly, so affectionately, in a way that just further confused and irritated me at the same time. “Whatever game you’re playing, I fucking quit.”
I tore away from his grasp once again and dashed upstairs to the bedroom. I slammed the door the way I might have after a fight with Mom, and collapsed onto my knees, wrapping my arms around my chest.
I was all nerves and turmoil as the tears continued streaming down my face. It was like being broken up with by my first girlfriend in high school. It was a weight on my chest, pressing down like it was going to crush right through my heart.
God, how can someone survive such acute pain?
My mind waged a war against the feelings he’d stirred in me, the words he’d shared, and then his goddamn actions, which had spoiled everything.
I hated Liam McKinney.
I hated what he’d made me feel. Hated what he’d done to me. He was some kind of physical addiction, and what he’d just done had forced me into some cruel sort of withdrawal.
“Fuck,” I cursed out loud, sniffling.
There was a knock at the door.
“Fuck off!”
“Can I come in?” His words were so calm, which only served to further irritate me.
Why did he wanna do this? Why didn’t he just go away?
