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“My dad worked, but he was…distant.”
I don’t know why I’m tiptoeing around the truth. It’s not like I speak to the man.
“Distant? Is that code for jerk?”
“Ha! You’re always so blunt.” I pull her close to me. “Yes, he was a jerk. I don’t think my mom or I ever did anything right in his eyes. He basically said just as much on a regular basis. There’s something so insidious about using just your words. If he’d hit her or me, Mom may have actually considered leaving. But it was just talk, so we sat there and took it.”
“Damn. You’ve gotten quite the short end of the stick in the life lottery, haven’t you?”
The comment takes me aback, and I shake my head. “I don’t know. I’ve got a hugely successful business and the best kid any dad could ask for.”
“Elijah is great, and that’s definitely something to be thankful for. But I just mean—” Liv’s eyes fall to my chest “—when it comes to relationships, it looks like you’ve had some bad luck.”
The room falls quiet as I consider her words. Family has been an area of strain for most of my life.
“Maybe that’s why I fell so hard when I saw the opening with Natasha. I wanted to create a happy family so badly. And now…fuck. I’ve been awful. If Elijah thinks I…”
My words trail off, and I can’t bring myself to finish the sentence. Distant. That stupid cop-out word and it’s all I can think when I remember how I’ve been dealing with the divorce.
Liv’s hands go to my face, pulling me out of my head.
“Hey. It was rough. There’s no denying that. But it’s been so great lately. Bedtimes and the aquarium. You’ve been there for Elijah, really been with him.”
Putting my hands over hers, I stare into her beautiful hazel eyes.
“It’s because of you. You’ve helped so much. Called me out when I needed to hear it and helped me see all the things Elijah was trying to tell me.”
I can see the emotion filling Liv’s face and a new feeling blossoms through my chest. I’m making her happy, showing her she matters, and it’s all I want in the universe.
“Noah. You would have gotten there on your own. I just gave you a nudge.”
I take her face, placing a chaste kiss on her lips. “Don’t ever stop nudging me.”
She laughs. “I’m going to hold you to that.”
Pulling Liv onto my lap, I tuck a strand of hair behind her ear and hold her stare. I want this with her.
“Liv, you’re fucking incredible. I want this. I want you. I’ve never wanted anything more, not even my business.”
Her eyes go wide, but I stop her before she can object.
“Listen, I know it’s risky. I know it’s beyond risky, that we shouldn’t. But I want this too much. I’ve had to fight tooth and nail for everything I’ve ever gotten in this life. And I’m willing to fight just as hard to keep you here with me. We can make it work.”
She stares at me for what feels like forever, searching my eyes for something I hope she finds. Her eyes fall between us before Liv looks back up at me, fire dancing behind the hazel irises.
“It’s definitely risky. It’s a bad idea. A terrible idea. But—” Liv swallows hard, releasing a shuddering breath "—I want to be bad. I want you."
It’s all I need, and I’m crashing my lips onto hers. The kiss is a frenzy of tongues and teeth and taste.
I stand, carrying Liv up with me, and she wraps her legs around my hips. Without stopping the desperate kisses, I take us to my bedroom.
Kicking open my door, I bring Liv to the bed. Setting her down, I kneel above her, and everything else disappears.
This is different, but I like it.
Our eyes meet as I lean down to kiss her, Liv’s hand going around my neck. I slide my fingers up her side slowly, lifting her shirt to bring it over her head.
The bra she wears today is a simple black tank of sorts that I have to pull off as well. I toss the thing to the side as I get an amazing view of her dusky pink nipples.
