Series Starter Firsts in Series Collection - Kaylee Ryan Page 0,335

eyes aren’t deceiving me. Allison is standing at the sink, looking out the window. She’s wearing nothing but Aiden’s football jersey. My feet are glued to the floor. My heart is pounding. Allison is the most beautiful girl I’ve ever seen. She must hear my racing heart because she turns around and offers me a shy smile.

“Sorry, I hope I didn’t wake you up. I couldn’t sleep. Aiden’s a bed hog.” She smiles and holds up her cell phone. “I took the opportunity to call and check on Gran.”

And just like that my lust turns to annoyance. This beautiful, wonderful girl was sleeping in my best friend’s bed, wearing his jersey. He says she’s like family, but let’s face it, they aren’t related. What if he tried to touch her, and she’s just blowing it off to protect him? Aiden would never do that, would he?

“Did he hurt you?” I ask her, concern lacing my voice.

Allison’s mouth drops open in shock. “What? No, of course not. Aiden would never hurt me. He just likes to hog the bed, that’s all.”

I walk over to the sink and lean up against the counter facing her. Damn, this girl has a hold on me. I reach out and tuck a few loose strands of hair behind her ear. “It kills me to think of someone hurting you,” I whisper to her. What the fuck am I doing? I questioned the morals of my best friend. I know Aiden would never lay a hand on a woman. My mind is all over the damn place. I need to get my shit together.

“H...He didn’t hurt me, Liam. He wouldn’t ever hurt me.” She looks into my eyes, and I’m lost in her again. “Why would you think that?”

“I just—I feel like I need to protect you.” I cup her cheek with the palm of my hand. “Do you feel this, Allison? This pull I’m feeling?” I ask her softly. “Please, tell me that I’m not alone in this—this overwhelming need to be close to you,” I beg her.

Allison leans her face against my hand. “I don’t really know what this feeling is, Liam. I-,” she stops as if to collect her thoughts.

“Talk to me,” I plead.

“I’m not as experienced as you. I’ve never been in a relationship, never been on a date.” She laughs softly. “Unless you count Aiden at his family functions. I don’t know what this is.” She brings her hand up to cover mine against her cheek. “I know I can’t be just a hookup. I know, even though I don’t have the experience, I want more than physical. You can’t give me that.” She closes her eyes. It almost seems like it pains her to say that to me.

“Allison,” I breathe and rest my forehead against hers, “you deserve love and commitment, and nothing less.” I swallow the lump in my throat.

“I want that. I want to love someone with all that I am. It would be nice to have those feelings returned,” she whispers to me. “I feel it too, Liam. I just don’t know how to explain it, or what to do with it. I can’t settle for meaningless.”

“I know, baby, and I don’t want you to.” I kiss her forehead and back away. I immediately feel the loss. This girl is wreaking havoc on my senses and my emotions. No sooner than I pull away, Aiden walks into the kitchen. He walks straight to Allison and kisses her cheek.

“Morning, Ash,” he mumbles as he makes himself a cup of coffee. “Mac, you headed out for a run?” he asks me.

“Yeah, I’ll see you guys later.” I gulp down the rest of my coffee, burning my tongue, and head out the door. I’m turned on beyond belief. I’m pissed off he gets to be close to her, and I’m pissed off because I can’t have her for myself. I don’t have time for a relationship, and she deserves nothing less.

Chapter 9

Allison

“Did I just interrupt something?” Aiden asks me after Liam leaves for his run.

“No,” I say, shaking my head. “Why would you ask that?”

“It just seemed, I don’t know, tense in here.”

“Liam and I were just chatting. He’d only been up a few minutes, actually, before you came out.” I take a sip of my coffee. “I called Gran, she seems to be doing okay. I wanted to go home and see her today, but she says some ladies from church already planned to stop by and keep her