Rainey takes a step forward. “Are you okay?” she asks as she reaches for me. I pull back.
“I’m fine. Leave me alone.”
“No, wait.”
When I move to the left, so does Rainey. I quickly dodge to the right, but Rainey is fast and anticipates my movements. She looks me straight in the eye. There is no condemnation. No humor. Just concern. I’d much rather have the humor.
“Livingston, tell me what’s the matter,” she says quietly.
My chest rises and falls rapidly.
“You will be okay, and every breath you take is strength for tomorrow. You can make it through today. You’re Livingston Lacroix,” she whispers fiercely.
I don’t deserve Rainey’s kindness, but I’ll accept it because there are terrifying moments in my life when I need something to hold onto. But I don’t want to have to hold onto her. I want to be able to shake off her arm and say that I’m okay.
Grabbing her by both arms, I’m ready to tell her I simply can’t do this today, and she can find Serene or someone else better qualified. But when I do, Rainey’s dark eyes go wide, and this close I smell her scent.
She smells … clean and refreshing. And her eyes are wide, fringed with dark lashes. When she parts her lips and takes a deep breath, I notice how plump her lips are. When did that happen?
Frustration mounts as words become tangled in my throat and my body continues to betray me. It doesn’t help that Rainey isn’t saying a word, either.
“Just … just.”
Those are the last words I say to her before I groan and kiss Rainey Pleasonton. My best friend’s sister. I kiss her to silence the fear rocking through me, an urgent need for everything to be calm in my world.
At first, her body is as rigid as her lips. My fingers are locked around her forearms, keeping them pinned to their sides because Rainey’s wild. I can never hold her in one place for long. I’m afraid if set free, she’ll run or punch me in the face.
The longer the seconds go by, Rainey responds in a way I don’t expect. She’s hesitant, almost shy. My tongue repeatedly glides against the seam of her lips, but she doesn’t open her mouth, and that’s probably for the best. One of us has sense. I’ve clearly become unhinged.
I’m persistent and patient as I give her closed-mouthed kisses. Very slowly, I feel her body become pliant. I release her arms to cup her face, and her palms fall against my stomach as she tilts her head to the side. And then her lips part for me.
I don’t let this opportunity go to waste. When my tongue moves against hers, she breathes in deep through her nose but doesn’t pull away. I don’t know what she’s thinking. But I know what I’m thinking, and it’s that Rainey tastes amazing.
So amazing. A soft moan tears from her throat and rocks through me. Progressively, Rainey grows bolder. Her fingers spread and trail up my chest as her tongue touches mine.
Panting, I rip my lips away from her and stare at Rainey with shock. For once, we wear the same expression. And for once, we’re both stunned into silence.
Now it’s my turn for my hands to fall to my sides. I shake my head from side to side. What did I do? “I-I’m sorry,” I breathe and take a step back. It’s imperative that I do. Right now, my brain isn’t functioning properly.
Rainey’s hands snake out and curl around my wrists. I freeze and stare at her slender fingers as they make soothing caresses on my skin. Swallowing, I look back at her. “No. Don’t be sorry. I didn’t want you to stop,” Rainey says softly. She tugs ever so softly, pulling me back. With my eyes fixated on hers, I go willingly.
When she’s close enough to hold, she lets go, and it’s as though our bodies instinctively know what to do. She steps back into my arms, and I instinctively wrap them around her waist. Rainey gently holds my face. The hem of her gown brushes against my boots. She inspects me, as though I’ve spoken to her in a language she doesn’t understand. Then she leans in, and her nose brushes against mine. Her lips are inches away. She stays still, her fingertips stroking my cheek. It’s sweet and gentle and unexpected from Rainey. I find myself leaning into her touch.
Her touches cease as her lips brush across mine once, then twice. So soft, I question if I imagined them. But each one grows with intensity. By the fifth kiss, her grip on my face tightens, so she’s holding me in place as she kisses me deeply. My control is starting to break. Something close to a groan escapes my mouth.
Slowly, go, slowly, I remind myself.
Rainey is inexperienced but eager. I attempt to take control, my tongue moving against her bottom lip. Pressing her flush against me, I gather the fabric of her dress in my fists. Anything to get closer to her. To her bare skin. I feel Rainey everywhere, and it doesn’t feel close to enough.
She’s untamed and nothing I’ve ever held in my arms.
What were we precisely doing before this? Is it daylight or night? Where are we? Don’t know, don’t care, doesn’t matter. I hear nothing and feel nothing but Rainey.
She arches against me, allowing me to feel the outline of her body. Her small breasts rub across my chest, and it takes all of my power not to touch them.
Curling her fingers around the collar of my shirt, she jerks me toward her until there’s no space between our bodies. She stands on her tiptoes until we’re nearly the same height and sucks on my tongue.
My God, what have I unleashed?
She hums her approval. Her hands are wild as they unbutton my vest and the top three buttons of my shirt. I attempt to help her, but she bats my hands away and continues to fumble her way through. My shirt gapes open. The tips of her fingers touch my chest. My heart jumps as though this is the first time I’ve held a woman.
Although this is the first time I’ve ever held a savage woman. Any man with sense would be terrified, but I lost my senses the second I kissed her, so I let her have her way. Her hands trace each line and groove on my stomach so quickly she leaves behind scratches.
I intended to go slowly. I am capable of kissing and walking away. At least I have been in the past. But I can’t seem to stop and neither can Rainey. She grows bolder with each second, using her hands and lips.
Her back hits the wall. I wasn’t aware we were moving.
Unable to stop myself, I gently suck on her neck. She shudders but doesn’t crumple or become weak at the knees. No, not Rainey. Not my le savauge.
I’m certain she will match me kiss for kiss.
Touch for touch.
Passion for passion.
And it gives me something I haven’t felt for some time. Excitement. What courses through me, inflating my lungs and making my hands shake. My grip on Rainey tightens as though she’ll unexpectedly be ripped from me.
She’s desperately holding on, and I’m desperate to hold someone. My hands skim up her body, feeling the rigid grooves of her corset. I hear the hitch in her breath. Her fingernails dig into the skin around my hips. I don’t have to ask her if I’m the first man to touch her like this because I know I am. That makes me move a bit slower and savor the moment.
My lips find their way back to hers. And right as my thumbs brush the underside of her breasts, the door bangs against the wall. At once, I pivot so my body’s looming over Rainey’s, blocking her from sight, but I know it’s too late. Whoever is standing in the doorway saw us. Looking over my shoulder, I see my very pregnant sister-in-law and my niece standing there. Alex smiles widely, oblivious to what she’s walked in on. Serene’s mouth hangs open while her face turns as red as her hair.