by C. M. Owens
All the while, she laughs, and I curse, and then I laugh too.
Told you I’m a lunatic.
Chapter 23
Wild Ones Tip #32
The four-letter words are our favorites. Except hell. No one likes hell, though. Hell’s too pretentious with its ‘No Wild Ones Allowed’ policy.
KYLIE
Tap.
Tap.
Tap.
Tap.
The rain starts slowly, and suddenly it’s pouring, but I’m already inside because I smelled the rain coming.
A premature grin is on my face before Liam even dives into the cabin, soaked after just a few minutes.
“Holy shit that’s cold!” he snaps.
“Well, yeah. Summer is fading, and fall is starting. It’s going to get wetter and colder as the days drag on,” I helpfully point out, while propping up so I can enjoy everything that clingy, wet fabric of his shirt is showing off.
He shivers and curses, stripping out of his wet clothes by the door like he can’t get out of them fast enough.
It’s my favorite show to watch.
We just came back from his first auction with the Malone family.
He fit in so well that people wondered if he’d always been a part of us. My smile just continues to spread as I watch him without subtlety.
Even after having him back for almost four weeks, I’m still not tired of taking in all the beauty that is the freakishly gorgeous Liam.
The water drips down each crevice of his sculptured body that should come with warning labels. Everything about Liam should come with a warning.
Warning: Super hot guy with this easy-going, fun attitude and a crazy that almost matches mine with eerie perfection, and this incredible way of always making me smile.
I’ve been doomed from the beginning and was an idiot not to realize it sooner. If I had a phone, we’d be arguing about who had to hang up first before I came out of the bathroom and joined him in the bed.
He curses his jeans when they try to hang on, and I continue to soak in the sight, while he hops around, finally getting the last leg out of them off.
When he looks up to see me just smiling and shamelessly admiring him, he quirks a cocky eyebrow and smirks.
“Like what you see, Kylie Malone?”
Only he can flail around like an idiot for five solid minutes just to undress and still be smug when he catches me staring.
I pinch my fingers together to demonstrate a miniscule amount. “Just a little.”
He shoves his underwear down, and I deliberately lick my lips before he suddenly charges me. I’m laughing before he even picks me up, my feet dangling in front of his shins as I wrap my arms around his neck and kiss him.
“You’re wearing entirely too many clothes,” he murmurs against my lips.
“Because I didn’t get wet,” I remind him.
“Pretty sure I always get you wet,” he deadpans, his smirk fixed on his face like he’s waiting for me to pat him on the back for that quick wit.
He drops me and steps back before winking at me, and I look down at my soaked clothes.
“Told you,” he says, just as the front door flies open.
Liam snatches me and pulls me in front of him like a privacy screen when two annoying Vincents walk in, both of them dripping water everywhere.
“What the hell?” Liam groans.
“What’s wrong, lover boy? The little guy cold or is he always so small?” Hale Vincent asks with a grin.
“Why are you walking around naked in front of us?” Killian asks, as though he’s genuinely confused.
“Because it’s my house. Usually people knock before they decide to burst in unannounced,” Liam tells them dryly.
“We’re just here for sweet provisions before we start on the water cannon. You helping us?” Hale asks, going to the fridge like he has the right, as Liam keeps me plastered in front of him.
“I don’t have any sweets,” Liam tells them, exasperated as Hale rifles through the fridge. “And it’s raining.”
Killian disappears into a room, then emerges with a drill and a saw…
“Where are all the sweets from the girls who want in your pants?” Hale asks.
“I just told you there aren’t any. Haven’t been for weeks. In case you’ve forgotten, I have a girlfriend now, and she scares other girls away. And it’s still raining.”
I’m not sure why I get butterflies when he tells them I’m his girlfriend, but I do. I also mentally pick out pretty butterflies that would look good under his name for my boob tattoo.
I might need someone to slap me. Lilah would definitely oblige.
“We need to stage a breakup. That would definitely get the sweets back. Remember all those girls bringing Benson sweets when they thought he and Lilah broke up?” Killian goes on.
“We’re not staging a breakup,” Liam says without hesitation.
“You two, out. Now. We’re about to have sex and stuff,” I announce, moving toward them like I’m going to shoo them off, but Liam snatches me at the waist and drags me back.
Oh, right. He’s still very naked, and I’m the only thing hiding all the stuff he doesn’t want dangling for the world to see.
“Guess he’s a grower instead of a shower,” Hale says as he looks over to Killian.
“Why are you two installing the water cannon in the rain?” Liam asks, trying to redirect their attention most likely.
“Because what else are we going to do when it’s raining?” Killian asks, eyebrow arched in question.
“Any time it rains we shut off all the electronics in case of electrocution. It happens more than you’d think,” Hale tells us.
These two…
Killian tries to cover a grin, and I realize they’re deliberately cock-blocking right now.
I reach over and grab an apple before launching it right at Killian Vincent’s head. He catches it without even looking, and his grin finally spreads as he laughs and heads out, eating the damn apple like I gifted it to him.
Hale flips us off with both hands while walking out, and Liam grins like he finds them amusing.
He stops laughing when I start stripping. It feels good when he watches me the way I watch him. As though he can’t get enough either.
It’s something I’ve only ever experienced with him.
I’m usually the perfect rebound girl. Seems my enthusiasm boosts egos, but they’d rather be with the super hot chick all the other guys wanted but couldn’t have.
His eyes bounce up, and slow smile curves his lips as he backs up and locks the living room door.
As I peel off my shorts and underwear, I back up and lock the door in the kitchen.
We meet in the middle, just the small build up causing us to pretty much crash into each other instead of doing anything graceful.
We’re not going to survive our “honeymoon” phase if it continues to stay like this.
He lifts me, and my legs wind around his waist, causing my breath to hitch at the feel of so much skin touching.
He kisses me harder before putting me on the dining room table.
I fall back as his head immediately goes between my legs, and like the talented devil he is, he has me on the edge in no time at all. Liam would be even richer if he showed all men how to do this the right way.
My fingers twist in his hair as my back arches, and I…call him a string of really terrible names when he leaves me on the brink, raising up so fast I don’t have time to shove him back where I want him.
But then his mouth is on mine, and my fingers tighten in his hair as he thrusts inside me, one of his hands finding my deserted clit, and pushing me over that edge with him inside me.
I almost bite his lip, but manage to break the kiss in time, as my body violently shudders. His hips move like he’s on a mission, his breaths teasingly raking over my neck as his lips drag up the sensitive column of my throat.
The table is fortunately sturdy and good quality, since he’s fucking
me like his life depends on it.
Just as another surprise orgasm washes over me without any warning, Liam’s rhythm staggers, and he stills inside me, releasing a very sexy sound next to my throat as he pants for air.
“Fuck, I love you,” he on a breath.
We both go painfully still, and his body goes tight with tension so thick it feels tangible.
Did I hear that right? Was it my imagination? Did he blurt it out but didn’t actually mean it, since it was sort of a heat of the moment thing?
He seems really tense, so maybe he farted and I just thought he said those words?
I’m not even sure what to say, because I’m not sure what just happened.
Liam clears his throat, kissing the side of my neck again as he pulls out, and he glances over at the window.
“The rain stopped. I think I’ll go help Killian and Hale with their water cannon,” he tells me, not missing a beat. “Dinner later?” he goes on.
Okay…now I’m really confused.
“Um…yeah,” I state unsurely as he abandons me on the table and goes to pull on his clothes.
He dresses faster than I’ve ever seen him dress. I’m not even off the table yet by the time he’s out the door.
What the actual hell just happened?
Chapter 24
Wild Ones Tip #847
Life is like a box of rocks. Ever had a box of rocks?
It’s really hard and is constantly spilling to make a mess.
LIAM
I’m a motherfucking idiot.
I toss down the wrench, looking at the absurd amount of pieces the Vincents have laid out.
All I can think about is the fact I told Kylie I loved her while my dick was inside her, despite the fact she’s still warming up to me after my last colossal fuck up, and she didn’t say it back.
It’s like my brain shut down today, and I got lost in the fucking moment. Now I’ve gone and made shit awkward and pushed her way too fast.
“What’s your deal?” Killian asks as I toss aside a screwdriver.
“I made it weird.”
Both his eyebrows lift. “Made what weird?”
“Nothing. Let’s just get this put together. I’d like to not think for a little while.”
Chapter 25
Wild Ones Tip #209
We weren’t born with enough middle fingers to deal with people. Wear a helmet.
KYLIE
Wandering around aimlessly, I head into the hardware store to buy my supplies. Today is the first time in a while that I took a paint inventory, since I haven’t done much painting at all with Liam’s crash-landing back into my life.
Obviously I’ve been consumed.
How could I not be?
But now I need to think, because I’m still not really sure what happened this morning or why he ran off to hang with the Vincents right after. So, I buy some paint, since I think clearer or not at all when I paint.
Maybe he scared himself.
Maybe he regretted it.
Maybe it really was a fart.
Maybe it’s all in my head.
I blame the back-to-back orgasms for the mind-fuckery I’m dealing with.
Frustrated, I dump my basket out on the counter.
Max starts ringing me up, his eyes flicking to the paint then up at me and back to the paint. “What’s wrong, Max?” I ask, not really caring.
“Nothing. Are you sure you got all the right colors?” he asks with a hint of dread in his tone.
Frowning, I glance down at the counter, going over all the colors. Those are the colors I’m low on. Just to be sure, I check my list.
“Yeah,” I say with a shrug.
He releases a shaky breath, his hand trembling a little as he rings me up.
“Is someone holding a gun on you right now?” I whisper.
Nervous laughter flies out of him. “No,” he states with a trembling voice. “It’s just…are you sure those are the right colors?”
“Positive. What’s wrong with these colors?” I ask incredulously.
“Noth-nothing,” he stammers, proceeding to ring me out.
“Oh, dear,” Janice Holland—notorious Tomahawk busybody—says, coming up as her eyes flit over my purchases before Max can bag everything. “I knew you went from buying condoms twice a week to not buying them at all anymore, but I had no idea it’d gotten this bad,” she says on a sad sigh.
What?! I knew she was intrusively nosy, but not to the point where she took notice of the fact I haven’t bought condoms in a while.
“I stopped using condoms two weeks ago. Not that it’s any of your business,” I tell her with a dark smile.
She pats my shoulder.
Really?
Who touches me without permission? Why is she scared of Nila and not me?
“What’s your defect?” I ask, shrugging her hand off me.
She gives me a pitiful little look as I toss my cash to the counter for Max to take.
“You can weather the storm, Kylie Malone. You’re better than that rotten mother of yours,” she assures me. “It’s not your fault you don’t know how to be a normal woman for a man like that.”
Then she’s gone, literally hustling away like she’s in a rush to do something or whatever crazy, nosy women do when they’re not keeping tabs on the condoms you’ve bought or not bought.
“Can you believe that?” I ask Max, who is notably a few shades paler than a few moments ago.
“Change is in the bags with the receipt,” Max states, shoving the bags at me like they’re contagious.
“Everyone in this town is acting even weirder than usual,” I grumble as I take the bags.
When I reach the door, I see Max picking up the phone, his eyes darting to me very suspiciously. Great. Now I sound like Lilah. She’s the one suspicious of everyone. Not me.
I walk to my apartment, since it’s not far, and raise my flag before heading in. Shit. I forgot to lower my flag at Liam’s house.
Maybe one of the Vincents will do it.
My screen door is broken, so I actually have to use my front door for a change, and that blocks out a ton of natural light.
This day sucks, in case it isn’t clear enough yet.
Just as I get my paint put down, someone knocks at my door. Lilah walks in without waiting on me to call her in.
“Hey, I thought I saw you leaving the hardware store.”
“Were you banging your husband in the parking lot again?” I ask her, trying and failing to smile.
Her lips purse as she studies me. “Benson is helping my brothers with the water cannon.”
“Seems to be the thing to do today,” I say with a little more bite than I mean to.
“Okay, what’s wrong?”
Huffing out a frustrated breath, I go to drop down on my couch. Lilah takes a seat near me, her eyebrows up.
“Fine. I’m only telling you this because I feel like an idiot.” Taking a deep breath, I say, “I think Liam told me he loved me.”
“You think he did?” she asks incredulously.
“There were two really intense orgasms,” I decide to point out. “Then a quick disappearing act like he’s never done before.”
“Are you sure he didn’t fart?” she asks seriously.
“See? You understand me,” I groan. “But the more I think about it, I’m pretty sure he did say it. And since he ran, it either freaked him out because he didn’t mean to say it, or he regretted it.”
“He didn’t regret it,” she says immediately, acting like she was there and knows this for a fact. That’s Lilah. “Did you say it back?” she adds.
“Of course not,” I tell her. Did she miss the part where I wasn’t sure if he said it or not?
She gives me a look.
A have-you-pieced-it-together-yet look.
“What?” I prompt on a groan.
“If he said it and you didn’t say it back, then…” She lets her words trail off, and I just stare at her, waiting for this big
revelation she thinks she’s stumbled upon with all her married-life wisdom. A ring does not make you smarter at relationships, but she hasn’t figured that out.
She rolls her eyes.
“For fuck’s sake, Kylie, if you didn’t say it back, then he felt like an idiot.”
For a second, I’m confused. Then my eyes widen, my lips part to form an o, and I face palm myself.
“By George, I think she’s finally got it,” Lilah says sarcastically, while blowing a piece of hair out of her face. “Come on. Aunt Penny gives a great ‘love’ pep talk to help you sort out your feelings.”
“I don’t need help sorting out my feelings,” I tell her, not even bothering to ask what a ‘love pep talk’ is. I’m not sure I want to know.
I really am an idiot, and that’s my main point of focus right now.
Before she can say anything else, someone starts banging on my door. Really? I’m never this popular, and the first day I’ve been here for longer than it takes to pack a bag, I suddenly have visitors everywhere.
Nila stumbles in with Krysta, both of them slamming the door behind them and fighting to look out the peephole.
“What are you two doing?” Lilah asks, looking at them like they’re crazy people.
“Do you think they saw us come in here together?” Nila asks Krysta as she shoves her aside and takes another turn at the peephole.
“I have a window right there,” I say, pointing beside the door, but they both ignore me.
“So what if they did? This is important! They can fuck off today,” Krysta tells her. “We didn’t get to be there for Lilah because we heard the news late.”
“That’s because we went camping to get closer to nature—your suggestion,” Nila reminds her.
“What news?” Lilah asks, sounding just as confused as I feel.
Nila turns and exhales heavily, as Krysta turns and runs a hand through her hair. Both of them look at the bag I have on the floor, and Krysta goes to look inside it.
“It’s here. Just like Angela told Kerry,” she tells Nila.
