Chapter 4
Liberty poured herself two fingers of bourbon and took it outside. She leaned against the porch railing and stared across the lawn.
Miles’ home was so much nicer than hers with his new roof and siding, perfectly manicured lawn, and beautiful landscaping that he took care of himself. His grass was this picturesque green that belonged in a home and gardens magazine and all his bushes and trees were filled with bright colors that made her home look like one big turd, especially when she knew damn well the layout of both structures was almost identical.
Light filtered through the front windows of Miles’ house. Those were the family room and possibly the master bedroom.
He was still awake.
Fuck it. She wasn’t going to let this linger. She owed him an apology and dammit, she was going to give him one.
Tossing back her head, she downed a shot of courage. She set the tumbler on the small table and marched herself across the lawns, feeling the difference between her crunchy grass and his soft plush turf.
Lifting her hand, she pounded on the door.
It opened seconds later. Miles stood in the doorway wearing only his jeans, which weren’t buttoned, and he was barefoot.
She swallowed. “Hi,” she managed.
“What are you doing here, Liberty?”
“Can I come in? I won’t stay long. Promise.”
He took a step back and waved his arm. “Would you like a drink? I was just about to pour myself a nightcap.”
“Sure, why not.” She followed him back into the kitchen. “Wow. This is nice.” She ran her fingers across the white and green granite countertop. “Did you do all this work yourself? Or did you hire someone?”
“Jameson and I did most of it. What was above our pay grade, we subbed out.” Miles pulled down two short glasses and waved a bottle of tequila. “I’m in the mood for something different.”
She nodded. “How long did it take you to finish this remodel?”
“I’m not done yet. The upstairs is a mess and right now, my master shower is out of commission.” He handed her a tumbler and leaned against the counter. “I don’t mean to be rude, but it’s late and I was going to have this one shot and go to bed, so what’s on your mind?”
“I see you’re still pretty pissed at me.”
He ran his hand over his mouth. “I’m not sure that’s the right emotion. It might be coming out sideways.”
“I’m sorry I implied you could be fibbing to my brother.” She tossed her shot back and inched closer. She curled her fingers over his thick biceps. A shock raced through her system like a lightning bolt. Her fingers stuck to his skin like hot glue. “People do it all the time and generally, they mean well, but if Gabriel learns the truth, it always ends up a mess.”
“Once again, proof he’s not that much different than the rest of us, because that would anger me too.” He reached out and tucked a few pieces of her hair behind her ear. His touch was tender. Gentle. Kind.
“I didn’t mean to insult you in my desire to protect my brother from more hurt and pain. I know you care about him and to be honest, I was both touched and little surprised by your big reveal to Gabriel. You’re incredibly sensitive to others and you’re one of the smartest people I know.”
He cocked his head. “I might give you the former, but not so much the latter.” He laughed. “Ever wonder why I listen to my texts most of the time over reading them?”
“No.” She shook her head. “And that has nothing to do with one’s intelligence.” Gently, she poked his chest, for no other reason than she wanted to touch his body. “Everyone in this town says you know more about cars than anyone else. I’ve heard from a few people that you’re pretty good with historical facts too.”
“Rote memorization is what got me through school. Doesn’t make me smart.” He folded his arms.
Damn, he honestly believed he wasn’t intelligent.
That tore through her soul.
She rested her hand on his shoulder, leaned in, and pressed her lips against his cheek, letting them linger longer than she should. “Thank you for all that you do for Gabriel and please accept my apology for being a bitch.”
“You’re welcome and it’s forgotten.” He grabbed her wrist. “But don’t ever call yourself that again. Now that we’ve talked, I understand why you thought I might have done that. Just in the future, lead with stuff like that.”
“I can do that.”
“Good.”
Her chest heaved up and down with every deep breath. She stared into his eyes and his captivating gaze wouldn’t let her look away. Her attraction to him confused her and she didn’t know how to contain it any longer. Desire and passion rippled across her skin like a rudder cutting through the water.
He took her chin with his thumb and forefinger, parting her lips. A moan escaped her throat, and his mouth covered hers in one of the most electrifying kisses she’d ever experienced.
Not that she’d had many.
She’d started dating Charlie when she’d been twenty and he’d been twenty-six. She suspected Miles had closer to ten years on her, but with him, it didn’t feel the same way. With Charlie, there had always been this odd parent-child relationship. He never treated her like an equal.
Miles did.
Slowly, his hand glided down her neck, landing on her breast. His touch was soft, barely a caress, until his thumb grazed her taut nipple.
Arching her back, she dug her fingers into his skin while he teased and tortured her body relentlessly.
Gloriously.
He lowered his head and drew her nipple into this mouth through her clothing as he grabbed the back of her legs, hoisting her up onto the counter.
She curled her fingers over the island’s edge and stared at him as he tore off her shirt and dropped her bra to the floor. She opened her mouth, but no words came out. His fingers and tongue explored her breasts and the rest of her body exploded like a rocket ship hurling its way toward space.
Kissing his way down her belly, he quickly undid her jean shorts. Before she could suck in a deep breath, those were thrown across the room and two of his fingers were thrust deep inside while his tongue danced wildly over one nipple and then the other.
“Liberty, do you want me to stop?” Miles whispered.
“No,” she managed.
He continued to stoke her insides, rubbing his thumb over her throbbing clit with soft, expert strokes. He stared into her eyes, increasing the pressure, and adding a finger. “Let go for me, Liberty.”
She trembled, her breaths coming in shallow, gasping bursts. She couldn”t believe how quickly she had surrendered to Miles” expert touch. She knew she was close, her climax building with each caress.
”Let go, Liberty,” he whispered again, his voice low and gravelly. His eyes locked on hers, demanding and desperate, needy and raw.
And just like that, Liberty shattered. With a loud, keening cry, she released her control, her body convulsing and shaking.
“That was amazing.” Miles kissed her cheek. Her neck. He traced his wet fingers up her belly, around her nipple, and then licked them with a wicked smile. “Just like honey.”
She was putty in his hands and he’d rendered her absolutely speechless.
He took a step back, yanked his wallet from his back pocket, and pulled out a condom, setting it on the counter. “We can end this here, if you’d like.”
She swallowed. “No. I want more.” She slid her hand inside his jeans.
Miles” smile grew wider as she reached for him. He helped her pull his jeans down, revealing his taut, muscular form. As he stood before her, naked and ready, a sense of awe washed over Liberty. This moment, this connection, it was unlike anything she had ever experienced.
With trembling hands, she wrapped her fingers around him, feeling the familiar yet overwhelming sensation of his hardness in her palm. As she ran her hand over his length, his eyes never left her face. He kissed her deeply. Passionately. The intensity of the moment left her breathless, and her heart raced in anticipation of what was to come.
He eased back onto the kitchen chair, tearing open the condom and covering himself.
She climbed onto his lap, gripping his shoulders and taking him slowly until he rolled his hips, each movement eliciting a new wave of pleasure.
Their bodies seemed to align perfectly, as if the universe had conspired to bring them together. Liberty felt the sweat on their skin meld into one, their hearts beating in sync with each other”s. She gazed into his eyes, seeing a world of love and lust, promise and desperation.
His hands gripped her hips, guiding her as she rode him. His breaths came in short, sharp gasps. Liberty felt the rhythm of their lovemaking intensify, the urgency and the tenderness of it all blending together in a perfect symphony of pleasure.
As Miles watched her, she could see a mix of emotions flit across his face—desire, tenderness, and something… something she couldn”t quite put a name to. It heightened her senses, making every touch more intense, every kiss more passionate.
The heat between them was palpable. Their bodies glistened with sweat and desire. Liberty”s movements became more frantic, her breaths shallow and ragged. Miles’ grip on her hips tightened. The rhythm of their bodies reached a crescendo, and Liberty felt as though she were flying, her world narrowing down to the two of them in this moment.
As the climax approached, a wave of euphoria surged through her system. She leaned in to kiss him, their tongues intertwining in a passionate embrace. Her orgasm exploded like the final few moments of fireworks on the Fourth of July. It was followed by Miles’ release, which tingled her insides, giving her another mini climax.
He wrapped his arms around her like a warm blanket as she did her best to catch her breath. It was a perfect mix of wild abandon, and something a little more.
He kissed her neck and ran his fingers up and down her back. It was so soft and tender. As if this was more than a fleeting moment.
A hookup.
Sex in the kitchen.
She froze. What the hell had she done?
He jerked his head back and cupped her chin. “Regrets already?”
She mustered up her best smile because there was no way she could honestly have any shame about what just happened. But it would be hard to move past it. “No.” She cupped his cheek. “I was simply brought back to reality and Gabriel wasn’t asleep when I left.”
“Ah. I see.” He kissed her softly. “I take it you want to go in case he’s looking for you or worried.”
“I never told him I was coming over here and I didn’t bring my phone. I’m sorry. It’s not like I want to rush off.” She suddenly became very aware she was naked, straddling him at his kitchen table.
“I get it.” He kissed her nose. “But I really don’t like your running out of here like this. I’d like to see you tomorrow. Actually, I’d like to take you out, proper and all.”
“We can talk about it later.” She kissed his sweet lips. There was no way she would get into a relationship with Miles. No matter how much she liked him, it would never work. Besides, there were too many things in her life she needed to work on.