Hit & Run Bride (Hit & Run Bride Contemporary Romance Series) (14 page)

“Yeah. I know exactly how that feels.”

“Sometimes I feel like I don’t belong out here. Like everyone speaks a different language. Like no matter what I do, everyone only sees me a certain way. Most of the people I work with treat me like I’m a Martian because I’m not into the latest Paleo fad diet or running the latest marathon. People can be so dismissive and treat me like I’m an idiot who can’t put two thoughts together.”

“I don’t think you’re an idiot.”

She sighed. “I know that. Just...in general. In my last job, I was used to being on my shit, you know? No one questioned me.”

He reached out and toyed with a wayward curl. “So what happened, exactly? Why did you leave?”

“My boss was my mentor. She was terrific. Really showed me the ropes. Gave me skills I could use in any industry. But then, she married and moved with her husband to London. My new boss wasn’t so into the mentoring idea. And moving up became impossible. I thought it was because he didn’t feel like I was ready for a promotion. But he gave the job to someone with less experience in my department. Turns out he was dating her.”

“Shit. Sorry. He’s an asshole.”

Becca tipped her chin up. “Yeah, I know. So I got this job and a fresh start. I thought it was the answer.” She blushed. “Sorry, this is boring. You don’t want to hear about this. How was your day? I realize I don’t know much about you other than you’re a hell of a swim teacher, especially if you can deal with me.”

“First of all, not boring. I want to know about you. You have a way of looking at things that makes me smile.”

She studied him. “You realize you’re deflecting, right? Every time I ask you about yourself, you brush it off.”

Liam shrugged. “Not much to tell.”

She laughed. “You’re doing it again.”

He grinned. “Okay, fair enough. My dad is a huge asshole. Showed up tonight to read me the riot act for sending Henry to his main competition. He thinks I did it to get back at him.”

Becca frowned. “You wouldn’t do that.”

“You sound so sure of me.”

“You forget, I saw you with those kids. You really care about them. You would only do what you hope would be best for them.”

“Yeah, well, I told him as much, and he didn’t buy it. I don’t know, maybe he’s right.”

She wrinkled her nose. “I’m sorry, but I’m not a fan of your dad right now.”

He laughed. “Yeah, well. Join the club.” He reached for her nearly empty glass and placed it on the coffee table next to his. Tugging her up, he interwove their fingers. “Come on, follow me.”

“Where are we going?”

He led her to the window and pointed to Alexander’s restaurant. “That’s where I was going to take you on Friday.”

“I’ve heard great reviews.” It had been touted as one of the most romantic restaurants in San Diego.

“The food is killer.” His thumb stroked over her knuckles. “I had planned on doing this differently. Feed you, entertain you, the whole thing. But you’re standing here with me, and I keep thinking of how you taste.”

* * *

Liam prayed he wasn’t rushing things. Every cell in his body wanted Becca and wanted her now, right here.

Her voice was low, her brown eyes round. “How I taste?”

He placed two fingers under her chin and lifted her face to kiss her. Before he did, he trailed his thumb over her bottom lip and nodded. “You have a unique flavor. I feel like I can drown in you. I love the way your lips feel.”

She didn’t wait for him to kiss her. Instead, she lifted to the balls of her feet, looping her arms around his neck, and slid her lips over his.

Her lips were warm and tasted like wine...and Becca. He gorged himself on those lips and she moved closer, pressing her full breasts against his chest. Using his tongue, he parted her lips and dove deeper, needing to have more of her.

Suddenly, she made a little squeak in the back of her throat and broke the kiss. She took a step backward and smacked into the window. “Ouch!”

He released her immediately but couldn’t help chuckling as he ran his hand over the back of her head. “You okay?”

“Yes. No. Not really. I mean, I want you. But I…”

“Afraid to jump into the deep end?”

She heaved a sigh, causing her breasts to rub against his chest, and he bit back a moan.

“You know me so well. How is that possible?”

He put his hands on the sides of her neck and stroked her skin with his thumbs. “I actually don’t know you at all, Becca, but I want to.”

She licked her bottom lip. Her breath hitched. “And I...I want you to.”

“You make it sound like that’s a bad thing.”

“Not at all. It’s just...I recently broke up with my boyfriend.”

Ah. So she was on the rebound. He should show her the door, but he wasn’t willing to let her go. It felt too good to be with her. “And you’re scared to jump into a new relationship?”

“With anyone else, I would be. With you, I’m not scared of anything.”

“You sure about that?”

Her nod was adamant.

Thank God
. He lowered his mouth to her ear. “I want to kiss you until you don’t care about anything or anyone.”

She made a little noise again. Not a squeak...closer to a moan.

“And I’ve been dying to touch you,” he whispered. He lifted the hem of her shirt, trailing his fingers along her warm skin to the edge of her bra. Slowly, he dragged his thumb over the soft lace to her nipple. “Right here.”

Her body arched into him as if begging for more.

He’d gladly oblige.

He moved his mouth across her cheek, laying soft kisses on her as he went until he was looking down into her eyes again. He drew slow circles over her nipple, drawing it into a tight bud.

Another moan broke from her lips, this one louder.

She slid her hands into his hair and dragged him to her, fusing their lips together. Becca slipped her tongue into his mouth, and his brain short circuited. With a low growl, he palmed her breast, testing the weight as he pressed her up against the glass.

A shudder ran through her body as he unhooked her bra. She didn’t complain when he broke free of her embrace and lifted her shirt over her head. She lowered her arms and let her bra slide to the floor. Dear God, her breasts could be a wonder of the world, they were so lush.

He had to touch her, feel her satin skin. He wanted to watch her nipples tighten to stiff beads for him. With a low groan, he kissed her again. When she opened her mouth and licked his bottom lip, mimicking what he’d done to her, he cursed.

Heat exploded in his body and his cock throbbed, begging for relief. He filled his hands with her breasts and pressed his erection into her belly. “You’re so beautiful, Becca. Do you know that?”

“And smart,” she added with a grin.

He laughed, and so did she. “And smart, and courageous, and generous...should I go on?”

“No, you should kiss me again and lose those jeans.”

His hands moved to her waist, and he turned her to face the glass window. “You first.”

She unhooked her jeans and he shimmied them down her legs, sliding down to kiss the back of her thighs as he went. He tossed the pants over his shoulder before he propped her hands against the glass. She bit her lip, and he eyed her in the reflection.

She
was
beautiful and smart and funny. There was something about her that made him want to take care of her and cherish her in a way that he’d never taken care of anybody else. And she was
here
with
him.

He stripped completely, holding her gaze in the window. She watched as he undressed, soaking him up with her eyes like he’d done to her.

“Your body is amazing,” she whispered. Her gaze dropped to his swollen cock, and she licked her lips again. “Really, really amazing. It’s like you were carved.”

Her voice was low and throaty and dripped with sex and longing. His cock jumped, aching to be inside her. “One second…”

He disappeared into the bathroom, came back with a condom. She watched with interest as he sheathed himself. When he was done, he drew up behind her. Becca stayed positioned at the window, just the way he wanted her, hands on the glass, her chest rising and falling with her fast breaths, ass presented to him like an offering.

“Hurry,” she whispered.

He fingered the lace of her panties, then dragged them down over her hips. As he put his hands on her waist again, she arched her back and spread her legs.

He licked his lips as he slid a finger between her folds.
Damn
. She was so fucking wet. He’d planned to take it slow, but he wanted her so bad. He wasn’t sure if he could take his time. With his hands on her hips, he lined his cock up to her slick core.

“Liam, God. I can’t wait.”

He braced her hips and drove into her as deep as he could go.

She gasped, her sweet folds contracting around him.

He tightened his grip on her waist, holding her in place, not allowing her to move an inch. If she did, he’d be a goner. “Becca,” he gasped, “you feel so tight.” He dropped his head to the nape of her neck. “Are you all right?”

Her response was a moan and a nod. She arched her back more and bucked her hips, forcing him deeper. Her eyes were closed, and her mouth was open in a perfect O. “Please, don’t stop.”

Liam felt like he was spinning in an erotic haze. With every retreat and slow slide into her silken depths, he watched her face in the window. Her gaze locked on his as faster and faster they rocked in rhythm. He slid his hands over hers and intertwined their fingers, bracing against the glass as he drove into her.

Her breathing grew more and more ragged, and she licked her lips. “Liam, I’m so close.”

God, so was he. He’d known it would be good between them, but he was spiraling out of control, everything else forgotten but how she felt pulsing around him. He released one of her hands, and slid his to the spot between her folds.

Her eyelids fluttered shut, and he growled. “Look at me, Becca.”

She moaned but didn’t comply. “Feels so good.”

Liam was certain of it—he could die just like this. “I know, baby, but I want to watch your eyes when you come.”

She dragged heavy lids open once again, meeting his gaze in the reflection. The moment he touched her clit, the satin walls of her core tightened around him. She yelled his name as she gripped him tight. With clenched teeth, he continued to stroke her sensitive bud, helping her ride out the orgasm.

She bucked her hips again, and he couldn’t hold back any longer. As he came and came, he whispered her name, holding her as tight as he dared.

Chapter Thirteen

Liam
. Becca smiled as she snuggled closer to him. She could get used to this feeling. This hadn’t exactly been her plan last night, but sometimes it was good to veer from course. Like multiple orgasms kind of good.

She felt safe with him. But then, she had from the very beginning.

Words tumbled out of her mouth before she could stop them. “I almost drowned once. I was seven. My older brother thought it was past time that I learned to swim, and his method of teaching involved sink or swim, literally. He tossed me into the deep end of our uncle’s pool. Let’s just say, I sank. Well, I thrashed around for a while, but then I sank. He panicked because he assumed I’d float or something. By the time he got an adult to pull me out, I’d inhaled a lot of water.” She shuddered. “I needed CPR and the whole bit. I pretty much haven’t tried again since.”

Liam was silent for several long moments. “I’m so sorry, Becca. That sucks.”

“Yeah, it does. I wish I’d just told you when you asked. Probably would have made teaching me a little easier.”

“I’m glad you feel safe enough with me to tell me now.”

“I don’t know why I’ve been so afraid to put that out there. You know those little things that seem inconsequential that you’re deeply ashamed of?”

“Yeah, I know.”

“This is mine. I know I was a kid, but as an adult, I could have taken care of this years ago and never did anything about it. The rational, organized me thinks it’s ridiculous. That I’ve been a big baby.”

He held her tighter. “You’re not a baby, and you weren’t being silly. It was a real trauma. One you have to deal with in your own time.”

She rapidly blinked away the tears stinging her eyelids. “Thank you.”

He kissed her shoulder again. “Since we’re confessing here, I guess I should mention that I’m probably not as blasé about the Olympics as I might seem.”

She frowned. “What do you mean?”

“It was everything to me. It was all I thought about for most of my life. Or rather all my father drilled into me from the time I was two. At first, the pool was a way for me to spend time with him, but once it became clear that I had some speed, that dynamic changed, although I didn’t realize why at the time. All he saw were his own unrealized dreams. He pushed too hard.”

Becca’s voice was quiet. “Is that why you got injured?”

There was another beat of silence from Liam. “In a word, yes. But it’s more complicated. By then it was my dream too. So I was willing to do anything to get it. What I resent him for was the way he doled out love based on my performance or how well I followed his instructions. If I rebelled even the tiniest bit, he’d go cold and silent on me. After I got injured, it was like I didn’t even have a father anymore. Sure, he was there, but he wasn’t
there
, you know? All of a sudden it was like all he saw when he looked at me was a disappointment. I was a loser, and he didn’t have time for me.”