Series Starter Firsts in Series Collection - Kaylee Ryan Page 0,353

for me.

“Liam.”

“Shh. You’re in Aiden’s room,” I tell her.

“Here,” Aiden says, handing her a shirt of his to sleep in.

I glare at Aiden, and he smirks at me, yet again. He knows what it does to me to have her in his clothes. He knows I want her in my bed with me. Asshole.

Allison starts to sit up. “Let me help you.” I lean down and place my arm around her back and gently lift her, so she’s sitting on the side of the bed.

She looks up at me with a small grin. “Are you going to help me change?” My heart stops. This beautiful amazingly sexy creature is looking at me with innocent, trusting eyes, asking me to help her remove her clothes for bed. Before I can get my brain to function, so I can respond, Aiden is protesting.

“Ash, I can go get Hales. She just laid down, I’m sure she wouldn’t mind helping you,” Aiden suggests.

Allison looks at Aiden like he’s crazy. “Why would I wake her when Liam can help me?” she says it so matter of fact, like me undressing her is as normal as breathing. My stalled heart is now thundering in my chest. It’s beating so loud, I’m sure they can both hear it. Somehow, I’m able to make myself speak above the thunder inside my chest. I cup her cheek in the palm of my hand. “I can get Hales if that would make you feel more comfortable.” Please, say you still want me to do it. Hell yes, I’m being selfish, but my protective instincts are in overdrive when it comes to Allison. I’ll always want it to be me.

Allison smiles up at me before turning her gaze on Aiden. “Can you give us a few minutes, so I can change?”

Aiden gives me a warning look before nodding his head and backing out of the room. I know he’s worried I’ll hurt her, but what he doesn’t realize is I could never, would never. I’ll protect her with everything in me. I stand here staring into her green eyes and I’m overcome with emotion. I’m going to do it. I’m going all in with this girl, and I’m excited at the concept. There are no doubts floating through my mind. I crave her unlike anything I’ve never known. Suddenly, I need to make it real. I need her to tell me that it’s me. That no other man will ever touch her again, because the next time I’m not so sure I’ll be able to stop until I kill the fucker.

I drop to my knees in front of her, so we’re eye to eye. She raises her eyebrow at me in question. I place my hands on both of her cheeks before leaning in and placing a kiss on her forehead. “Allison, I know you said you want more, that you want it all.” I swallow the lump in my throat. Just because I’m positive this is what I want doesn’t mean I’m not scared as hell that I still won’t be enough for her, be what she wants. I take a deep breath and continue. “I want you, all of you. I never want to go through what I went through tonight ever again. When I saw his hands on you...” I shake my head to attempt to erase the memory. I gently pick up her hand and cradle it against my chest, right above my heart. Her eyes soften, and I know she can feel the thunderous rhythm playing inside me. Gently I kiss her hand. “I want to be with you, only you. I want to be the one who holds you at night, the one who gets your kisses and your smiles.” I brush my fingers across her cheek.

I feel her hand tremble against my chest. She’s just as affected by me as I am by her. “Liam, you know I don’t want casual. I don’t expect you to propose, but you told me yourself, you don’t want a serious relationship. How can I be sure you’ve really changed your mind?” She places her soft hand against my cheek. “I feel such a connection with you, it would only be a matter of time before I fall head over heels. You would have the power to break me, break my heart. I’m not sure I can take that chance.”

“Baby, I’m taking a chance too. I’ve never felt this way about anyone. Never has my entire world been