“Our beautiful Donovan Kennedy has promised to bestow a kiss on our very own Liam Brooks. But only if we won today. Give the man his prize!”
Cheers and hoots begin to drown out the voice of reason in my head. Kai laughs and waves at the crowd to be silent again, before taking another gulp of his drink as panic fills my body. I didn’t think this moment would be such a spectacle. I didn’t think, that’s the problem.
“Don’t make us beg,” Kai chides, egging on the fevered crowd. I narrow my eyes at him, but he begins to chant silently, letting the crowd join in and creating a symphony of demand.
“Kiss. Kiss. Kiss. Kiss.”
I squirm out of Liam’s grasp and turn to look at him. I can’t do this, no matter what any of these assholes want. His sweet eyes stare down at me, the hint of a smile on his lips, and all I can see is his affection. It’s more than friendship but less than heartbreak.
It’s so charmingly Liam.
My eyes search his as his fingertips brush the side of my covered arms. He raises both eyebrows in question. Always so thoughtful. The noise drops off, not because it isn’t there but because we’ve fallen into our own little bubble. Me and Liam. The boy who always makes me laugh, will forever stick up for me, and the one who would give me a piggyback ride for life if I asked. He’s sincere and pure, and it makes me smile too. Suddenly what felt wrong feels natural. I don’t want to deny him even if I should.
I raise to my tiptoes, crawling my hands up Liam’s chest as he lowers his head to me, but I skirt his lips, pressing a kiss to his smooth cheek. His laughter hums against my face as I say, “Congratulations.”
There are a few “Boos” but mostly “Ooo’s” as I pull away, smiling at him, relieved that I didn’t lose myself. Maybe in another life I’ll kiss him, but it won’t be in front of a bunch of dicks frothing at the mouth for some PG-13 action.
He takes my chin between his forefinger and thumb, pursing his lips before he speaks, “No way, Van. You promised me more than that kiss. Let’s go.”
Shit.
Applause breaks out as Liam grabs my hand and tugs me through the crowd.
“Well, damn. Don’t count him out yet,” Kai calls out as we pass him.
Liam pulls me up the small grassy hill toward the tree I sat under to watch them the other day. I can barely keep up with his long strides as I giggle.
“Slow down. You’re crazy. What are we doing?”
He pulls us behind the wide solid oak with stark hanging branches, encasing us in the darkness, and my laughter fades as reality sets in. Fuck. His intention is everywhere, all over me, in my thoughts, and filling the space like a fog.
Our concerted breaths are the only noise we can hear as he places a hand on my stomach, pressing me back against the bark slowly. My eyes struggle to adjust as the heat from his body closes in on me, warming my chest and beyond. Jesus, he smells like a mixture of sweat and soap. It’s making my head spin.
“Liam…what are you doing?”
“You know what I’m doing.”
“This is a bad idea. We agreed.”
The rest of my words stick, barely making it over the lump in my throat as my chest rises and falls quickly. A million butterflies in my stomach flutter so hard that I feel paralyzed. He’s going to kiss me. I don’t lift my head as I lick my lips, too chicken to dare him by putting my mouth on display.
His finger gently presses underneath my chin and tips it up. The firm set of his jaw comes into view, now that my eyes have adjusted. He’s definitely going to kiss me, and I’m not sure I’m going to stop him. Memories of his mouth on mine flit through my thoughts as Liam wets his bottom lip, his face so close to mine that I hold my breath.
“I know why you did that today… at the table. You wanted to punish Grey. Didn’t you?”
Goddamn him for being so perceptive. And goddamn me for the truth I’m about to admit.
“Yes.”
His lips lower down so close that I can almost feel them as he speaks quietly, breathing himself into my body.
“Our first kiss was about him. But this one’s about me.”
Liam’s mouth presses against mine, his bottom lip slipping between my own, before he drags them away and dives back in. He tastes like peppermint and beer. It’s delicious. His hand runs up my cheek, curling into my hair around the braid he’s so fond of, pulling me closer.
Holy hell, this kiss is divine. Better than I remember. Soft and ethereal, making my body feel like it’s floating. I’m losing myself in him. In this moment. Our lips drift over each other’s again and again until Liam tilts his head to deepen it, pulling at my waist to press my body against him. My body hums because it’s rough and aggressive, but it’s not Liam’s face I’m picturing because this feels more like—
Oh shit.
The thought shocks me back into reality, and my hands find his chest as I push him back. “Stop. No. We have to stop, Liam.”
His fingers linger in my hair, as his breath comes out in quiet pants. “Van. Why?”
I can’t look at his face as I slow my breathing, so I focus on his chest.
“I can’t do this. We’re friends, Liam. We can’t. Dammit, you agreed.”
Liam presses against my hold. “Fuck that. Tell me you don’t feel something for me.”
Can I truly say that? That I feel nothing for Liam?
“What I feel doesn’t matter, because I love you more as my best friend, and there are things you don’t know about me.” Things that might change how you see me.
He lets out a frustrated breath, pushing in closer again, but I keep him at a distance.
“Tell me what ‘things’ because Van, we could be great. Just tell me, get it out, and then give us a chance.”
Not before you tell Grey. The thought screams at me, causing me to shake my head.
“Not right now—behind a tree, while people wait for us to come out.” My fingers curl into his T-shirt as my eyes lock with his. “Give me some time—not a lot, but a little. Okay? You’re unexpected, Liam. I did not see you coming.”
He stares down at me for a moment before grinning and pushing my hand off his chest to step in and kiss my forehead. “Of course, Van. Whatever you want. You know that.”
“My knight in shining armor.”
He lets out a small laugh as I say it, but that’s what he is. So gallant and good, even when he’s being bad. I drop my head to his chest and let him wrap his arms around me as he pulls us away from the tree.
“A knight, huh? What am I saving you from?”
Myself. The truth. A ruined memory of this moment. I think it all, but I answer with a smile and small shrug.
“Let’s get back. The longer we stay back here, the bigger the rumors will get,” he jokes, taking another step backward and me with him.
I peel myself from his hard body, raising a hand to wipe the gloss away from his lips. Liam’s fingers dart out to my forearm, halting my reach as he looks down at me.
“Leave it.”
“Why?”
“Because I look good with you on me.”
Jesus. Liam’s got game. He lowers my arm, staring at me skeptically. “You’re going to tell me everything soon. Right, Van?”