Prologue #3
Trying to hold myself together, I straighten my spine, then walk down the stairs. I find Tessa to tell her I’m taking an Uber home since she’s been drinking, but I don’t give her any details about what just happened.
Once I’m dropped off, I let myself in through the back door and tiptoe back to my room without waking my parents. I refuse to cry for the man I almost gave everything to, but I’m frustrated. As I try to fall asleep, the feeling of his hands and mouth on me haunts me in my dreams.
Liam
ONE YEAR LATER
“Chug, chug, chug!” Hunter shouts, pounding his fist on the island counter as Mason and I race to finish first. I don’t know why the bastard keeps trying to beat me. I’ve kicked his ass four times already.
Slamming my cup down before him, I release a loud celebratory roar.
I pound a fist to my chest, then turn and smirk at Mason, who’s scowling at me.
We’ve been friends since we joined the same fraternity five years ago as freshmen and have been roommates for three.
Hunter played college football with us and parties just as hard as we do.
When we’re all together, it typically means trouble.
“Pay up, bitch!” I hold my palm out toward Mason, who slaps a twenty on it.
“That’s a hundred bucks already tonight,” Hunter taunts. “Double or nothing. Think you can beat me?”
“Fuck off,” Mason spits, glaring.
“Aww, Holt. Don’t be a sore loser.” I grin, making kissy faces while walking toward him with open arms.
“Get away from me, motherfucker.” He jumps out of my way, pushing Hunter toward me instead.
Our neighbor Kilan from across the street laughs at the scene unfolding in front of him and shoves me aside, going to the keg. He’s used to our antics. “Where’s your other friend? Brandon?” He looks at the other people partying around us and in the living room.
“Good question,” Hunter says, rolling his eyes.
He’s been a bitter asshole ever since Brandon’s girlfriend moved into their apartment two months ago.
I suspect it’s because he wanted to fuck her when they met last year, but Brandon claimed her first. Not like the bastard should complain, considering his serial-dater reputation.
Actually, date is too generous. More like a one-night stand kinda guy.
Though I’m not judging because I’m the same way.
“They had to pick up Lennon’s sister,” Mason responds before grabbing a new beer. The vein in his neck pulses, and I know it’s because he has a thing for Lennon’s older sister, Sophie, though the coward won’t admit it. He avoids her like a bad first date.
“Soph’s coming tonight?” I ask, testing his reaction.
He shrugs as if he doesn’t care. The helpless bastard. “Her other sister.”
“Lennon has another sister?” This is news to me, though I don’t pay much attention. Since she and Brandon started dating a year and a half ago, she’s come around several times, but I never heard about a second sister.
“She just moved here for college,” he informs me.
“Three Corrigan sisters,” I say, chuckling. “This ought to be interesting.”
“More like a nightmare,” Hunter scoffs.
“It can’t be that bad. Lennon’s nice. Sophie’s nice. I’m sure the other one is nice, too.” I line up four shot glasses, then fill them with whiskey. “C’mon, boys. Time to grow some hair on your balls.”
I hand them each one, then take the other. The front door swings open as I shoot it back, and before I can swallow it down, I spew the amber liquid all over Kilan.
“Dude, what the fuck?” he cusses, grabbing a towel to wipe off his shirt.
Hunter and Mason double over with laughter, but my eyes are frozen on the gorgeous brunette standing next to Lennon who nearly gave me her virginity a year ago.
I’d be lying if I said I hadn’t thought about Maddie.
That night quickly went from fucking amazing to horribly wrong, but how I felt kissing her soft lips and touching her body hasn’t been easy to forget.
In fact, nothing about her is. Yelling at her for lying about her age made me feel like an asshole, but she had to realize how much of a mistake it would’ve been.
I only hope she listened and didn’t give her virginity to some high school twat.
“Everything alright, man? You look like you’ve seen a ghost.” Mason slaps me on the back.
I wipe my mouth with the back of my hand and straighten myself. Brandon, Lennon, and Maddie are walking toward us, and I’m not about to give myself away. “Yeah, I’m fine.”
“About time!” Hunter gives Brandon shit as soon as they come closer.
“Aww…were you guys missing me?” Brandon taunts. Grabbing a plastic cup off the counter, he saunters over to the keg.
“Babe, you want one? Or are you drinking the girly shit tonight?”
Lennon announces she’s not drinking heavily tonight since her sister is here and Maddie can’t drink since she’s not of legal age.
I steal a glance at her and she’s just as beautiful as I remember. The moment her eyes land on me, she sucks in her bottom lip and looks as shocked as I am to see me.
What are the motherfucking chances?
“Guys, this is my baby sister, Madelyn.” Lennon wraps an arm around her shoulders and squeezes. “Maddie’s only eighteen, so no funny business…” She points her finger at Hunter, Mason, and me. “She’s starting college next week.”
“So you’re the only blondie?” Mason teases Lennon, which causes Hunter and me to laugh. Both of her sisters are brunettes, making her the odd one out.
“Yeah, yeah. Bite me,” Lennon snarls as if she’s heard it all her life. “Middle child syndrome.”
When I snort and take a sip of beer, Lennon narrows her eyes as she gives personal introductions to Maddie. “This one is Liam. Do not trust him.”
Acting as if I’m offended, I press a hand to my chest.
If only she knew.
I’m not about to out myself, especially to my friends who will, without a fucking doubt, give me shit for the rest of my life. Lennon seems loyal when it comes to her sisters, and considering Maddie was underage last year when we almost had sex, some things are better left unspoken.
Maddie’s jaw clenches as she moves her gaze to Hunter and Mason. “All three of them look like bad news, honestly.”
That causes Brandon to laugh as he walks over and places his arm around Lennon’s waist. “Oh, they are. Why do you think they’re all single?”
“You were single once,” I remind him.
“And now he has me!” Lennon wraps her arms around his neck, pulling him in for a kiss that has me rolling my eyes. Brandon’s a relationship man, no doubt about it, but the rest of us haven’t had any desire to settle down.
Hunter grunts and walks out of the kitchen with a beer in each hand.
Following, I head into the living room where a bunch of our friends are dancing and drinking.
My mind goes to the night Maddie and I met.
I can’t even listen to Halsey without picturing Maddie spread out beneath me.
The way she was ready to fully give herself to me, needy and willing, still haunts my dreams. We were desperate and frantic.
Greedy and hot. I haven’t been able to forget anything about that night, unfortunately.
An hour passes while Hunter and I chat and drink. Eventually, I head to the kitchen for a refill, then go to the back room where the pool table is. We don’t play as much as we did in college, but when we have parties, people flock to it.
I’m watching Kilan and another guy play when Maddie walks toward me.
“Any chance of sharing that beer?” she asks boldly.
My brows pinch together as I glance down at her. Fuck, that was a bad idea. She looks so fucking good in tight black jeans and a white shirt that barely covers her stomach. Blinking, I snap my gaze back to hers, and when she arches her brow, I know she’s caught me checking her out.
“Pretty sure you’re not allowed.”
“And last I heard, you’re not the cops.” She shrugs, making a valid point.
“Then go and get your own,” I challenge, knowing she won’t. But then she takes me by surprise and walks to the kitchen.
Intrigued, I follow her and watch as she grabs one of the cold beers from the fridge we keep stocked for ourselves. She acts as if she owns the place, which is sexy as hell.
Maddie keeps her eyes locked on mine as she twists the cap off, then tosses it onto the counter. Just as she’s about to take a sip, Lennon storms into the kitchen.
“Madelyn! Gimme that!” She yanks it from Maddie’s grip. “You cannot drink. I promised Mom and Dad I’d keep an eye on you.”
Maddie rolls her eyes. “I was getting it for Liam.” She plasters on a sweet smile, folding her hands in front of her.
Maddie’s a good little Christian girl to her family, but I got a front-row ticket to the real Maddie. The one who doesn’t follow the rules but bends them instead. I’m such a sick bastard because my dick gets hard thinking about it.
“You were grabbing Liam a beer?” Lennon challenges, pointing at me. “Is this true?”
“Yeah,” I say as casually as possible. “She was closer to the fridge.” I shrug as if that’s the most reasonable explanation.
Lennon stalks over, pushing the bottle into my chest. “Well, my sister isn’t your barmaid, so get your own drinks, okay? In fact, stay away from her.”
“What’s your deal?” I ask, then take a sip of Maddie’s beer. “Brandon not putting out?”
Lennon scowls, cocking her hip. “Don’t be an asshole, Liam. She just got here and doesn’t need guys like you all over her. Besides, shouldn’t you be with one of your weekenders, anyway?”
“I gave them the weekend off.” I smirk, knowing it’ll irritate her more.
“You’re annoying.” She sighs, and as soon as Hunter walks into the kitchen, she leaves.
“What’s she going off about now?” Hunter grunts, grabbing the bottle of whiskey. “I swear, bitchin’ is her favorite pastime. If she isn’t hogging the bathroom, then she’s screaming at me for not cleaning.” He grabs the three shot glasses we used earlier and fills them full.
“Shot time!” Hunter announces, handing me one. “So, Maddie. You want the third? Or should I ask your mother first?” He chuckles, which makes Maddie glare at him.
“I can see why she hates you,” she says. Grabbing the third shot, she downs it with pure ease.
Jesus fuck. Most girls cough or choke on whiskey shots.
“I like her,” Hunter says, smirking. Then we both take ours and slam the glasses down on the counter.
“She’s off-limits,” I remind him. “Keep your dick in your pants.”
“I’m right here, dummy,” Maddie chimes in with brows raised.
Normally, I wouldn’t give two fucking shits about who he touched, but I’m weirdly possessive of Maddie. I have no right to, but now that she’s walked back into my life, I want to protect her.
Protect her from guys like Hunter. Protect her from me.
I wasn’t lying, though. Maddie is off-limits as fuck. Too young, too innocent, too sexy for her own good. Not to mention, she’s Lennon’s sister, and that makes her forbidden fruit. Considering I don’t date, Brandon would have my balls if I created tension between Lennon and him.
Needing to remind myself of these facts, I push off the island, and walk to the back room with my beer. People are still playing and drinking, so I head outside to the back porch because I need a second to breathe.
“So are we pretending last year didn’t happen?” Maddie asks, coming out a few minutes later.
I lock my jaw, willing myself not to look at her. Because the minute I do, I’ll want to rip off her jeans.
“Yep.” I toss back my beer, keeping my gaze off her. “Not really wanting to get my ass kicked for nearly taking your virginity.” From Lennon, but I don’t add that bit.
She winces. “I’m sorry I lied to you.”
“Had you truly lied to me, we wouldn’t have stopped.
” I shrug, thinking of how that would’ve changed things.
Her breath hitches as if she’s thinking the same thing.
Turning toward her, I lock my eyes with hers.
“And if we had, I would’ve felt like a fucking asshole about it, and I don’t feel like that very often. ”
“Was it all because of my age?” she asks softly.
“Mostly, yes, but also…I’m not the guy for you. Something like that should be saved for someone special. That ain’t me.”
“And you saved yours for someone special?” she challenges, crossing her arms, which pushes up her tits.
“Nope. Definitely not, which is why you should.”
“I’ve been told what to do my entire life,” she says sharply. “What not to do, how to do things, when to do things. It’s annoying to feel like I have no control or choices. So please, save your bullshit.”
I shrug, not sure what else to say. “It’s just my advice. You can do whatever the hell you want, but it won’t be with me. Better to realize that now.”
She scoffs. “I figured that out the moment you kicked me out of that room like my ass was on fire and you were about to get burned.”
I release a ragged breath. “I’m sorry about that but—”
“Just shut up,” she cuts me off. “I didn’t tell my sisters because I was embarrassed, but you should know that I’ll be around because of Lennon, and as long as you’re around Brandon, we’re gonna run into each other.
So it’s best we pretend tonight is the first time we met.
Don’t treat me like glass, Liam, unless you wanna get cut. ”
Maddie narrows her eyes before walking into the house.
My gaze lowers to her ass, and I curse under my breath.
Although she’s five years younger than me and isn’t as sexually experienced, she effortlessly put me in my place.
Maddie’s the first woman to ever get under my skin, and I need to get her out of my head as soon as fucking possible.
The only way I’m going to survive being around her is to act as if she doesn’t exist. Block out the memories from that night and ignore the undeniable chemistry that crackles between us.
Hopefully, my dick gets the same memo.