Page 71 of The Wedding Engagement

“What do you want, Aggie?” he whispered.

“I want you to kiss me.”

The words were finally out there after years of thinking them. Her heart raced so hard she thought she might pass out.

He rubbed a thumb across her cheek, drawing a shaky breath as he glanced down at her mouth. “Thank fuck. Because I’ve wanted to kiss you for months.”

Fireworks erupted in her chest.

He fixed her with those honey eyes and gently brought her face to his, closing the minuscule gap that remained between them. Somehow those two seconds seemed to last for hours. But when he brushed his lips against hers, an intense starburst of desire exploded inside her, sending a trail of fire down into her belly.

Arran moved his mouth over hers, the gentle grazing sensation of his stubble contrasting with the softness of his lips and intensifying the fire, pooling it lower and lower until her core clenched and her legs felt like jelly.

She held on to him tightly, breathing him in as he kissed her, the terror that she was forevermore spoiling their beautiful, tender friendship being scorched away by the intense desire rushing through her veins. Arran teased the seam of her lips with his tongue and she opened for him, reaching her arms up and around his neck, pressing her breasts against his chest. He swept his tongue into her mouth and she met him with hers, lifting herself onto her tiptoes to gain deeper contact and dragging her taut nipples against the fabric between them. The silk of his tongue slid against hers withan achingly intimate give-and-take that stirred up intense sensations she’d only ever experienced before during sex. When Arran looked at her it felt as if he were kissing and caressing her. When he kissed her it felt as if he were already inside her. So the idea of having sex with him blew her mind. He broke off for a split second to breathe her name and she gripped him more tightly, pressing her fingers into his scalp to bring his mouth down hard onto hers.

Footsteps sounded around the corner and they sprang apart, both breathing significantly more heavily than they had been a few moments before.

“Liv?” Elise’s worried tone rang out as she rounded the corner, Nico in tow. “Oh, thank goodness,” she said, stopping in her tracks and placing a hand over her heart. “I was worried when you didn’t catch up, but I see Arran found you.” She smiled at them both and Liv straightened a little, trying desperately to stop giving off the “we were totally just making out” vibe as she brought her hood back down.

“I’m fine, thanks,” she said breathlessly, meeting Arran’s blown-out pupils with a thunderbolt of lust. “I had a slight altercation with a pub patron on my way out, but then I broke his nose and Arran found me, so all good.”

Rattled, she started walking toward the house before she gave anything away.

Elise shot her a panicked expression as she walked next to her. “What?Oh my God, Liv. Are you okay?”

The others fell into step as they went around the corner toward the house’s sweeping driveway. Liv tried to drive down the intense feelings and sensations swarming inside her, hoping that the others wouldn’t notice.

“Course she is,” Nico said from behind. “Liv is the baddest ass among us. I’ve seen her in action at the gym.”

Liv managed to throw him a smile over her shoulder, accidentally(or maybe not so accidentally) meeting the intense heat of Arran’s eyes as she turned back again. He was looking at her like he wanted to devour her.Yes please, Mr. Wolf.

Elise flashed Nico a frown. “That’s not the point, Nico. I know she can handle herself. But she shouldn’t have to, especially when innocently enjoying a night out with friends.” She took Liv’s hand as they approached the front door. “Are you anxious about it? We can call the police with you.”

She squeezed her friend’s hand. “Thank you. That’d be great.” She’d pretty much forgotten about the broken-nosed twat, such was the strength of the distraction Arran caused. However, as they crossed the threshold into the house, a sense of unease gathered at the back of her mind, making her stomach start to churn. Gently at first, but then harder as they took off their shoes and jackets and convened in the living area.

Liv took a seat, hoping that taking the weight off would help. “Maya and Sam aren’t still up, are they? I’d rather not tell them until the morning.” That would definitely be a selfish, third-wheel move.

“Nope,” Nico replied with a smile. “They headed upstairs for someshut-eyeas soon as we got home. Brodie and Ben have retired too.”

Liv managed a smile, hoping they’d retired in the same manner as Sam and Maya. Score to Brodie, if so. Although he’d still be getting an ass whupping from her in the morning regarding his little stunts.

“I stayed up because I could tell the good Dr. Kowalski was worried,” Nico continued.

“You needn’t have,” Elise informed him. “I told you I could go and search for her alone.”

“And I toldyouthat Arran had stayed back to walk with her. Therefore, you would’ve been the only one out there alone, and that’s why I insisted on coming with you.” Nico gave Elise a patient look, which only served to heighten her annoyance, judging by thethin-lipped expression she gave him in return. She clearly hated it when he was right.

“Anyway,” Arran said, slicing through the tension. “We’d better call the police and get it reported.” He took her hand and gave it a squeeze, making her shiver in response. “Shall I make some tea while you talk to them?”

Ah, a man after my own heart.She closed her eyes briefly as said heart began spasming in hefty palpitations, a panicky feeling infusing her gut. “Yes, please.”

What is wrong with me?She took a deep breath. Perhaps her altercation had rattled her more than she thought. She tried to assess her emotions, remembering the sneer on the twat’s face and then the crunch as she’d slammed her hand into his face.

“Watch your temper, Liv.”

She took another breath.

“You’re just like your father, Liv.”

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