Page 67 of Not Safe For Work

Especially when she lays her arms over my shoulders, pulling me against her.

I think Liv asks me a question, but I can’t make out the words with the volume in here.

“What?”

This time she slides closer until our bodies are flush, and she whispers in my ear.

“Thanks for bringing me to Mexico.” She brushes her nose against my cheek, and I get a satisfying hit of déjà vu from last night.

She pivots until our bodies do a one-eighty and I find Ian staring from the bar. Did she see him? Is that why she’s doing this?

“Ian’s watching us,” I murmur, curious to see her reaction. She doesn’t move an inch.

“I don’t care.” She’s practically nuzzling me, her hips still swishing enough to give me a semi. My mind and body are at war right now with how to react to her.

“Are you trying to make him jealous?” I hate that I ask, but I have to. Ian’s dumb little smirk won’t get out of my head. I dare to look up and find him still staring, still seething. If he wants to throw down, I’m more than ready. Just have to make sure he gets in the first hit.

Liv pulls back from me, but I keep my arms around her waist, not letting her go anywhere. I might even let my hands drop a bit. This dress, that ass. I can’t help it.

“It’s okay. You can tell me,” I continue. Because I’m not sure I would stop either way.

“I don’t miss him,” she says, those gray-blue eyes making solid contact. “I don’t care what he thinks about me, not anymore.” I’m afraid to break this little spell we’re under, so I don’t ask what I’m really thinking, but she seems to figure it out anyway. “I like the way you make me feel, Scottie.”

She presses her face against my cheek, and I squeeze my arms around her, pulling her close again. I kiss her nose and she leans into me a little more. I’m aware there are people all around us and I’m sure Ian is still watching, but in this moment no one else exists.

“How do I make you feel?”

She pulls back an inch or two, just enough for our eyes to meet. I drag my fingers through her hair, pulling it behind her shoulder, greedy for more bare skin.

“Beautiful.” She swallows. “Capable. Powerful.” I can’t tell if she’s finished. Maybe I don’t want her to be. There are a million things I could add to that list. A million ways I want to make her feel. My knuckles graze her bare shoulder and I can just barely hear her breath catch. “Sexy,” she whispers against me.

“You are all those things, Sparkles. With or without me.” We both lean into each other, our lips close enough to share breath.

“I lied last night,” she continues. I feel the words brush against my jaw.

“What did you lie about?”

“I didn’t want to stop.”

I swallow thickly. “Then why did you?”

“I was scared of ruining it.” I wait for her to explain but she doesn’t speak, just blinks a few times, tickling me with her eyelashes. “I might kiss you again.”

“I dare you.”

“Not now,” she whispers. “I want you to know it’s not for anyone but us.”

“Then why are we still here?”

We sprintalong the beach as a shortcut back to our villa.

“You’re sure about this?” I ask as soon as we’re inside.

“Very.” We’re both a little winded from our jog but the way she pants just reminds me of her breathing last night. Her cheeks are flushed to the perfect shade of pink. Against her creamy skin and fiery hair, she looks like a goddamn sunset.

“Kiss me, Scottie.”

I obey and press her against the door for leverage. As soon as our lips meet, I know last night wasn’t a fluke. There’s something otherworldly between us, something that feels like fate.

---