Page 38 of Push

I shot off the stool. I didn’t get far. His hand clamped a little too tight around my arm.

“This isn’t right,” I said, scrabbling for the edge of the counter to put some distance between us. “Toby’s your friend.”

“I don’t know if we can be friends after he hurt you. Besides…” Ian smirked. “It’s not like he has much time for me when he has his new girlfriend to entertain.”

My eyes widened. “Toby said he doesn’t…doesn’t talk to Kayleigh any…anymore…” I cleared my throat to stop the emotion from slurring my words. “She’s on the other side of the clinic now.”

Ian gave a slow shake of his head. “Iknowyou’ve seen all the shit she posts, and I know you’re not stupid enough to buy the weak excuses he comes up with to explain them all away.”

My heart shattered all over again. Toby had been saying and doing all the right things. I was nowhere near forgiving him, but he’d impressed me with his effort. I’d honestly thought he was trying.

“Why would he keep lying to me?”

“Why do you think, Gwenny?”

“The…the…money?” His trust fund. The house. All the money wrapped up in the clinic. There was no way Toby’s mother wasn’t in his ear about protecting himself if we divorced—she’d certainly had plenty to say when we’d married.

A reluctant nod from Ian confirmed my fears.

“I’ve never cared about the money,” I whispered. “No matter what terrible things Sarah says about me, it was never about the inheritance for me.”

“I know.”

“I only ever loved him.”

“And I wish he still felt the same way about you. I do.” Ian’s arm curled around my waist, and he pulled me close, his cheek pressed against my hair. “You deserve to be with someone who loves you. Hopelessly.” Soft lips kissed my temple.

I wriggled. “Ian, stop—”

“You deserve nothing less than devotion.” He brushed a kiss over my cheek. “Show Toby you deserve better.” His hand cradled my jaw, angling my face until his lips hovered above mine, the mix of mint and strong coffee scrambling my senses. “Show him, Gwen. Kiss me—just once—and Kay won’t win this time.”

I feathered uncertain fingertips over his. I didn’t want Kayleigh to win. “O-okay.” I ignored my heart slamming against my ribs and leaned closer.

Ian’s lips melted into mine. My eyes widened. He was only the second man to kiss me. His thumb stroked my cheek, his mouth soft but insistent in what I think was an expert kiss, but I had no benchmark other than the memory of Toby’s tingly, possessive mouth.

“That’s it,” Ian urged me in a whisper. “Kiss me again, beautiful.”

His lips landed harder this time, his tongue sneaking into my mouth. I gasped. My hand landed on his chest, and I pushed toend it. He didn’t budge. His grip tightened around my jaw to keep me close.

I twisted my face. “Ian, I—that’s—”

“One more.” Jagged breaths panted against my skin, and his hard body flattened against me—allof him hard. His hand clamped around my backside and dragged me closer. “You reallyareflawless.”

I stood frozen on the spot, my eyes darting around the room, desperately searching for an escape route while his mouth devoured me. Cold fingertips inched along my bottom, tracing the bare skin that edged the elastic of my unsexy mama panties. How had I not noticed Ian’s hand creeping under my dress? I yelped, but his relentless kiss muffled the sound.

Ian groaned. “Oh, Gwen…” Urgent lips found a new home on my neck. “You have no idea how many times I’ve dreamed about being inside you.” His palm squeezed the bare skin of my backside too hard.

In my silent panic, I was twelve again. My mind turned hazy. The memory of my brother’s icy glare as he’d shaken me to make sure I paid attention to his back-alley wisdom blocked the fear ricocheting down my spine.

“And when a boy forces you into a corner, what do you do?”

“Liam! No boy will—”

“What do you do when no one comes to save you, clever Gwen?”

The tremor in my hands stopped. Liam had instructed me to play dirty. Gouge their eyes out with my fingernails… Jab their throat… Kick them in the balls…

I jerked my knee up as hard as I could.

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