Page 27 of Raise Me Up

Everything I’ve bottled up for this woman comes spilling out. Gliding my palm up her spine, I wrap it around her hair and tug until her neck is exposed to me. I press a lingering kiss to her warm skin. Her citrus scent has my mouth watering to take a bite. To mark her.

Nails sink into my biceps as I drag my flattened tongue up the column of her neck, pausing at the hollow behind her ear. Slowly, I kiss and nip my way to her mouth.

I’m barely containing my desire to flip her over and show her just how thoroughly I would wreck her.

Hovering over her lips, I murmur, “Don’t think I can ever be your friend, angel.”

Then I crush my mouth to hers, devouring the sweet, surprised sound she makes. Cupping her thick ass with both hands, I’m practically thrumming with the need to takemore.

Movement has us breaking apart. I look over to see Beau pushing up from the couch. It dawns on me what he’d been scheming all along. Fucker played me. Lured me up here and manipulated me to get with Stas.

I’d say I’m not upset about it, but I don’t like that sad look on his face.

Before I can speak, Stasi reaches out to grab Beau’s forearm. He glances down at where she’s holding him, brows furrowing. Then he looks at me in question.

Is he asking me for permission?Fuck. I’m not sure I can get any harder. It’s almost painful at this point.

Gripping Stasi’s jaw, I turn her head to face me. “Is this what you want? Both of us?”

She swallows, and I wait for her to summon up her confidence. I’ve waited years for this. I can wait longer if she’s not ready to blur lines.

“Please,” she replies breathlessly.

I let out a growl of approval before hauling her into my arms. “Let’s go finish what you started, trouble.”

nine

Beau

Stasi’s long legs wrap around Liam as he carries her out of the music room, kissing her like he’s been deprived of love his entire life.

I rub at the slight pain blooming in my chest. No matter how much I ache for this kind of passion, this night doesn’t belong to me. I enjoyed plucking at that invisible rope of sexual tension taut between them, but I promised myself I would step aside when they found the courage to come together.

And they did.

What I hadn’t planned on was Stas reaching out to me, too. She’s just… something else. Had I met her months ago, I would have chased after her without a thought. Shit, I would have fought Liam tooth and nail for her attention.

Things are different now. I’m not the same person. I’m not the carefree, troublemaking guy I was when my music was being praised. I’m jobless and potentially riddled with health concerns.

A painful breath escapes me as I turn toward the stairs. Tomorrow I’ll pack up and leave. I’ll move on. I don’t know what the fuck I’m doing here. I don’t know what I thought I’d get out of revisiting the past.

“Beau.”

The firm tone of Liam’s voice stops me in my tracks. Sighing, I drag a hand through my hair. Words of rejection sit on the tip of my tongue. I’m working up to voice them when he hooks his ringed fingers throughone of my belt loops and shoves me against the wall. He pins me there with his giant hands, and I’m drawn back into memories of him. How he used to toss me around and take control of me.

“Liam…” I whisper.

Surprisingly light fingers brush my forearm. I realize it’s Stasi touching me. Glancing in her direction, I blink a few times to adjust to the darkness. Once I’m able to appreciate those beautiful, warm brown eyes, my heart sinks at the fear swimming in them.

Fuck. I started this. I can’t leave her now, can I? No, that would be irresponsible.

It seems we’re both doomed to be shattered by this man.

“I’m here, sweetheart,” I tell her.

She stretches up onto her toes to bring her mouth close to mine. “Good. Thought we were playing.”

My cock strains to break free from my tight jeans. “Baby. Don’t tell me you’re secretly naughty?”