Always Mine, page 3
I release a 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 going to run into each other. So it’s best we just pretend tonight is the first time we met. Don’t treat me like glass, Liam, unless you wanna get cut.”
Maddie narrows her eyes at me before turning and walking into the house. My gaze immediately goes to her ass, and I curse under my breath. Even though 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.
Chapter One
Liam
Sliding out of bed in only my boxers, I walk downstairs and enter the kitchen. My roommates are at work already, but it wouldn’t matter if they were here because it’s my house too. Mason and Sophie complain about it sometimes, but they’ve learned to accept and expect it.
Though it’s Wednesday, I’m counting down the days till Friday when I’ll have the place to myself. Sophie and Mason have been official for four months but haven’t had a chance to get away as a couple until now.
As long as I survive Thanksgiving tomorrow, the rest of the weekend will be pure bliss. The Corrigan sisters put together a potluck with Hunter and Mason, but I made plans to visit my dad and stepmom for lunch. I hate the holidays, but I promised I’d stop by and don’t want to let him down.
Grabbing the orange juice from the fridge, I take a drink straight from the bottle, then place it back. I can almost hear Sophie scolding me for being gross and inconsiderate and smirk at the thought. Sometimes pissing her off is too easy and fun. We’ve been friends since her sister Lennon introduced us over three years ago. Lennon was around often because she was dating my friend, Brandon. A year and a half ago, he passed away in a tragic motorcycle accident, and Lennon found solace with Hunter. They grieved the loss of Brandon together, and he helped her when she found out she was pregnant. Though Hunter’s reputation is similar to my own, he changed his manwhore ways to be with Lennon. He treats her like a goddess and loves baby Alison as if she’s his own.
Sophie moved in with Mason and me this summer because she had nowhere else to stay after the shitstorm with her boyfriend happened. Since we had a spare bedroom, it was a no-brainer. Plus, Mason wanted to protect her and keep her close. They’ve been through some horrific stuff over the past year, but now they’re happy together and have each other to lean on. Finding that kind of love is beautiful and disgusting all at the same time—especially when I hear his headboard slamming against the wall at two in the morning. Now that Sophie is sleeping in Mason’s room rather than her own, it’s a nightly occurrence. Thank God for headphones, though with my work and travel schedule, I’m rarely home anyway.
This weekend is extremely special because Mason’s proposing, but Sophie has no idea. I’m honored to be the only person he told. It took them years to finally get together, and honestly, it’s about damn time. After several horrific events involving her abusive boyfriend and then his psycho brother—who both tried to kill her—Mason knew he couldn’t be without her. I don’t know love like that. Relationships for me are nonexistent other than the occasional one-night stand and blow job in the back seat of my truck. I don’t get attached or let anyone get attached to me. No relationship means no responsibility, and the fact that I can’t get Maddie off my mind has absolutely nothing to do with why I prefer being single.
My stomach growls, and while I could cook myself eggs and bacon, I settle for the lazy route and eat a slice of cold pizza instead. Glancing at the clock on the stove, I realize it’s nearly two in the afternoon, and I’ve wasted most of the day being a bum. However, I needed sleep because I’ve been working so damn much.
While I enjoy being a bounty hunter most days, the past few weeks of tracking criminals who disappear after posting bond have been rough. I’ve staked out for hours, slept in shitty rental cars, not showered, and lived off junk food for days on end. Though I don’t allow many to slip through my fingers, there are times when it happens, so then I do whatever it takes to bring them in. Being home and not having to wake to an alarm or deal with assholes who can’t abide by the law is a nice break for once. I’m exhausted and worn to the bone, but I don’t complain because I’m an adrenaline junkie.
I nearly choke on my pizza as the thought of Maddie enters my mind again. The girl is like a firecracker with the fuse lit, and I’m just waiting for her to explode. She follows her own rules, which I knew three years ago when we met, but I never expected to see her again, or hell, have her move here two years ago.
Trying to ignore her when we’re in the same room is fucking torturous. She purposely tests and teases the fuck out of me. When Maddie came over for the first time, there was no way I could admit I already knew her. Not to my best friends and definitely not to her sister.
Maddie’s my best-kept secret, and it’s better for everyone if she stays that way—forever. She’s five years younger than I am and untouchable in every sense. Never has she allowed me to forget the night we met in Utah when she was still in high school. Like the vixen Maddie is, she continuously dangles herself in front of me like a piece of meat. Though her advances toward me and willingness to give up her V-card are said jokingly, I’m certain she’s serious regardless of the act she puts on around her sisters. If there’s one thing I’ve learned about Maddie, she loves being the center of everyone’s attention, especially mine. She’s a dancer and lives for the spotlight, capturing people’s hearts and souls with her graceful moves.
I can’t deny the instant attraction or chemistry we shared that night, and while it’s still there, nothing can ever happen between us. Not then and not now. Maybe if we were different people, or she was older and not related to Lennon or Sophie, the outcome would be different. Hell, if I didn’t have a job that puts my life at risk and wasn’t gone eighty percent of the time, then maybe we’d have a fighting chance. Or if I was capable of committing to someone long-term, but I’m not. The odds are stacked against us, and I refuse to cross that line with her, no matter what she wants. Maddie has a lot of growing up to do, and we’re just at different places in our lives. While she’s dancing and earning her degree, I’m hunting and tracking fugitives, trying to stay alive.
As much as I wanted to sleep with her that night, I can’t be the man to take her virginity. Yet the thought of her giving it away to some dipshit enrages me. She jokes that she’ll just sell it on the internet or find some random asshole on one of those ridiculous dating apps to fuck. It’s nonstop bickering with her, and every time she brings it up, it fucks with my emotions. I won’t allow myself to have her, but I don’t want anyone else to either. No one will ever be good enough to deserve Maddie Corrigan. It’s impossible for me to have my cake and eat it too, but it won’t stop me from trying. Thankfully, she hasn’t dated anyone seriously since she’s moved here because I’d probably have to kill some little punk.
Since she’s on my mind, I decide to send her a text because she has a tendency to put herself in places she doesn’t belong, and I don’t want her to ruin Mason’s plans this weekend. I’m sure I’ll see her before the happy, soon-to-be engaged couple leaves, but I might not get her alone, and Sophie could overhear me.
Liam: In case I don’t get a chance to tell you later, leave your sister alone this weekend while she and Mason are gone. If you need anything at all, I’m on call. So just let me know if you do.
Maddie: New phone, who dis?
I roll my eyes. I’m not sure what I expected from her. For once, I thought maybe she’d just listen.
Liam: I’m being serious.
Maddie: When are you not serious, Hulk? I got you, though. If I need a ride to the grocery store, a pedi and mani, or someone to bang, you’re my man.
Liam: Don’t push your luck. Just promise you won’t be your normal pain in the ass self, and let Soph and Mason have a nice getaway, okay?
Maddie: What’s in it for me?
Liam: A big hearty handshake from me!
Maddie: Pass.
Liam: A pat on the back?
Maddie: Now you’re just insulting me. You know I can text like a million words per minute, so you gotta offer something better than that before I start pre-writing random things to send her. Hmm…I know a lot of history facts she’d find fascinating. Could send her the Bible verses we were forced to memorize as kids. Oh wait, she’ll love hearing me ramble on and on about my date last weekend. Roger. Nice guy. Lean and fit. On the swim team. Big package.
I groan, tempted to call and yell at her to stop being a child. She says those things to get a reaction from me, hoping it’ll make me jealous. But knowing Maddie, she’d just get off on it more, so I try to keep my cool the best as I can.
Liam: Why are you a thorn in my ass?
Maddie: Because it’s my favorite place to be :)
Liam: Yeah, I’ve noticed that the past couple of years.
Maddie: Yet here you are, coming to me for help.
Liam: It’s not “help” when I’m asking you to let your sister enjoy a couple of days away without you or anyone else intervening. You’re not that selfish, are you?
Maddie: Jesus. You had to go there, didn’t ya? FINE. Consider me on board then.
I send her a thumbs-up emoji, and she replies with the middle finger one. Setting my phone on my nightstand, I jump in the shower. Just thinking about Maddie makes me consider taking a cold one. She has my heart rapidly beating and knows how to push my buttons, but that’s Maddie. She’s under my skin at all times, living there to torture the fuck out of me. I try to push the dirty thoughts of her away, but they come fast and unexpected until I’m hard as a goddamn rock. I’ve shamelessly jerked off to the thought of her more times than I want to admit over the past few years, and right now is no different. The thought of her tight ass, soft moans, and dancer’s body posed in different positions has me groaning and grunting as I stroke myself with fervor. The orgasm quickly builds and rips through me until I’m whispering her name. Thank fuck I’m home alone.
Leaning my forehead against the wall, I keep my eyes closed and allow the water to fall over my body, trying to find the control I’ve lost. Knowing she’s a virgin—that she’d give herself to me if I wanted—makes her nothing more than forbidden fruit dangling from a tree. I can look from a distance, but I can’t touch. And it has to stay that way.
After I’m dressed, I decide to go out for a few drinks. I text Hunter, but he’s too busy being the perfect family man, so that leaves me with no wingman, which means nothing but trouble.
The next morning, I wake up with a naked woman in my bed, but I can’t remember her name. She knows everything about me, though, and wants to make small talk in the morning, but I’m not having it. Thankfully, we both have somewhere to be, so she gets dressed, and I escort her down the stairs without running into Mason or Sophie. It’s a small miracle since I can hear them in the kitchen cooking for their dinner later today. I really don’t wanna hear them talk shit about my hookup’s walk of shame or the fact that I don’t know her name because they would have.
Once she’s gone, I go upstairs and climb back in bed to sleep a few more hours before I need to leave to go to my dad’s. I drank too much, stayed up too late, and it’s quickly caught up with me. When the alarm on my phone goes off, I get dressed, then head downstairs. I can hear everyone in the kitchen having a good time and walk toward them. Sophie and Mason smile, and Lennon waves as they eat appetizers while they wait for the turkey to finish cooking.
“You sure you can’t stay?” Lennon asks before eating a mini quiche.
I walk farther into the kitchen, look at the spread, and somehow force myself away. “Wish I could. I’m sure you’ll have a good time. Happy Thanksgiving,” I say, grabbing my keys, then heading toward the door. While I want to hang out, I force myself to leave since I promised my dad I’d visit.
It takes me thirty minutes to drive over due to all the holiday traffic, and he’s beaming when I arrive. I’m a man of my word, if not anything else. We chat and catch up as we eat turkey with all the fixings until our stomachs hurt and finish off with pumpkin pie.
After thanking my stepmother for a delicious meal, I come home and watch football with the guys. Maddie shoots me smoldering looks from across the room, but I try to ignore her, regardless of how damn pretty and tempting she is. Lennon and Sophie chat about work, not paying attention to the TV.
My phone goes off with a few last-minute job offers from a bonds company, but I decided to take the rest of the weekend off since I’m swamped next week. After the game ends, Hunter and Lennon take Maddie home, leaving just the three of us.
Sophie and Mason stand and yawn. “You two have fun this weekend,” I tell them. I try not to make eye contact with Mason, though I pop an eyebrow at Sophie.
“Oh, we’re going to have all the fun,” she says with a snicker.
“That’s code for tons of sex, right?” I chuckle, and she rolls her eyes.
“Good night, Liam,” Sophie singsongs, and Mason shoots me a wink before taking her hand and leading her upstairs. I turn off all the lights, then go to my room and lie in bed.
Before I fall asleep, all I can think about is heading back to Vegas and playing poker. Since I have the next few days off and more frequent flier miles than I know what to do with, I consider booking a flight. Before I even look at prices, considering it’s a holiday weekend, I know it’s a bad idea. The airports will be more crowded than usual, which I hate, but damn, I love the bright lights of the city. There’s something about the thrill of winning that gets me every time. Playing gives me an adrenaline rush like bounty hunting but without all the life-threatening danger.
By Friday, I’m bored as hell being home alone, so I decide to look up flights and see if it’s possible to book one without selling my kidney or using all my banked miles. Just as I find an airline that has one seat available for later tonight, I remember I told Maddie I was on call this weekend. Shit.
Maddie might text Sophie just to pry, and I don’t doubt she’d text Mason if she didn’t get an answer. I can ask her all day not to do something, but she doesn’t listen to anyone, especially not me. And I wonder if she’s suspicious. Apparently, she’s been sending Mason pictures of wedding rings she thinks Sophie would like for the past few months to help speed up the process a bit. She’s the annoying little sister whose approval of them getting married has been laid on real thick. It’s obvious how much Mason and Sophie are meant for each other. It took Mason years to find someone after losing his girlfriend, but the moment he met Sophie, everything changed. So I get it. But Maddie’s relentless. And Mason found it helpful because he had tons of ideas for a ring thanks to her.
A month ago, Mason told me what his plans were for Thanksgiving weekend, and I swore on my life I wouldn’t say a word. He didn’t want to tell her sisters in case they got too excited and ruined the surprise. Hunter doesn’t know either because Lennon has him by the balls, and he can’t keep anything from her. The only person to worry about is Maddie because she has no filter whatsoever, and she’s not stupid. Considering she’s blatantly told him to propose already, I don’t think she’d be too surprised, but still.
Knowing I can’t go to Vegas now, I decide to get out of the house instead of being lazy all day. I change into workout clothes and drive to the gym. My back hurts from lounging, and I need to get my blood pumping. I stretch before deciding to lift some weight. Just as I finish my reps, I get a phone call from Maddie, and I wonder if she’s just trying to get a rise out of me since Sophie and Mason are already on their way to Tahoe City. I’m half-tempted to give her a few choice words, especially if she’s just calling to agitate me. I decide to answer it anyway.
“Liam?” She sounds as if she’s been crying, which causes me to pause and change my attitude.
“I’m here. Are you okay? What’s wrong?”
“I’m fine, just a little shaken up. The apartment next to mine caught on fire, and I had just enough time to pack a bag before I was evacuated. We don’t know when we’ll be allowed back in. Liam, I don’t know what to do. Soph’s out of town, and I don’t want to bug Lennon because she doesn’t have room.”
I go into full-on protection mode. “Where are you now?”
“Standing outside my building with a hundred other students. Fire trucks are everywhere, and the roads are blocked off.”
“I’ll be there as fast as I can.” The call ends, and I hurry and drive toward the university. When I get close, I see people everywhere as well as paramedics and the fire department, just as she said. Forced to park five blocks away, I make my way through the crowd until I finally find her chatting with someone. Maddie’s wearing her dance tights, and her hair is in a tight bun on top of her head. She has her backpack on and a duffel bag beside her. Though she sounded worried as hell on the phone, she wears a smile as she talks. When she spots me, her eyes light up, but she continues with her conversation.
