On the Record (Record #2)(11)

Since when had she pushed for it to become more serious?

“Hey,” he said, placing his hand under her chin and tilting her head up to look at him. “It wasn’t serious with Calleigh. She wanted more than I did. It is serious with you and that’s what matters. That’s all that matters.”

Liz stared up into those compelling hazel eyes in the darkness. They were almost brown with intensity. He meant every single word. She didn’t know why she had gotten so flustered about the whole thing. Calleigh got under her skin; that was for sure. But Hayden . . . the thought of this relationship with Hayden being a sham was even worse. It made her heart constrict to realize how much he really meant to her. They had been dating for nearly two months now, and while she had liked him for much longer, she hadn’t even realized that she had given away so much of her heart.

Calleigh was still in Hayden’s life as little as Brady was in hers. And it wouldn’t be fair to hold it against him when she was still trying to get her own feelings under control.

“I like that we can talk about these things, Liz,” he told her. “I don’t like to bottle up my feelings, and I don’t want you to feel like I’m ever hiding anything from you. I’ll always tell you everything.”

“I know,” she said, pushing his words away. There were too many things in her past that she couldn’t tell him about. She had been hiding from Brady and she wasn’t about to share that secret. Not now . . . maybe not ever.

Hayden’s hands found the curve of her waist and slid down to her hips. He gripped her through the thin material of her dress, and Liz leaned forward into him. His mouth came down on hers softly at first, gaining momentum as he rested her back against the wall again. Her hands dug into his black dress shirt, willing him to keep going.

Their tongues volleyed and she could feel her own breathing quicken. It had been so long since she had gotten completely wrapped up in a kiss. This new level of passion seemed to encase them like a cocoon.

Their bodies were pressed flush together, and she released a moan when he took a breath. She could feel the outline of him through his pants, and she pushed her pelvis up against him. His eyes shut and he groaned deep in his throat.

“Lizzie,” he said, fighting for words. “We’re in public.”

A thrill shot through her spine at the possibilities. The thought of people watching them should have made her stiff and uncomfortable, but it didn’t. It made her want to keep going. When her last relationship had been completely predicated on secrecy, it was exhilarating to have these moments.

“So?” she whispered.

She dropped her hands to the waistline of his pants and teased her fingertips along the material. His quick intake of breath told her more than his words ever could. She didn’t know how ready she was to push the limits, but the look of lust on his face sure made her want to continue.

“I’m not . . . inclined to . . .” He stopped speaking when her hand moved a little farther south. “Lizzie.”

The way he said it was an encouragement rather than a reprimand. But when her hand slipped farther down the front of his pants and skimmed the outline of his dick, he grabbed her wrist and pulled her away. His breathing was uneven.

“I want you,” he told her simply. “But not here . . . not like this.”

She sighed, disappointment hitting her. She quickly covered it up. He was right. They shouldn’t do this here anyway. “Okay,” she said. He released her hand and she dropped both of them to her sides.

He kissed her once more on her lips before moving out onto the dance floor to find their friends. Meredith was grinding on a guy hot enough to be a model, and it looked a bit like she might not be returning with them. Jamie squealed when she saw them, and tried to yell over the music, but Liz couldn’t hear anything. They all danced until sweat dotted their foreheads, alcohol coursed through their veins, and their legs and lungs burned.

As the evening came to the apex, champagne began to be passed out among the attendees and everyone cheered the countdown to midnight as they watched the ball drop in Times Square.

10, 9, 8 . . .

Hayden grabbed Liz around her waist and they raised their champagne flutes high.

7, 6, 5 . . .

Jamie sloshed half of her glass on the floor, but just laughed hysterically and leaned into James. He was sober and practically holding her upright.

4, 3, 2 . . .

Meredith was already making out with her model guy, their champagne nowhere in sight.

1 . . .

The entire ballroom erupted with applause, and balloons rained down on them from all directions. Liz released the laugh that bubbled up inside of her as the ball hit the bottom, ringing in the New Year. Hayden bent down and lowered his lips to hers. Their earlier discussion lost from her mind, she reveled in the feel of his lips on hers, knowing it was the very first thing she would remember about this year.

“Happy New Year, Lizzie,” he whispered, resting his forehead against hers.

“Happy New Year, Hayden.”

Chapter 4

VISION

Everyone except James awoke with a hangover from hell. Apparently mixing champagne, vodka, and tequila was not a good idea. Ever.

Liz was glad that she didn’t have to do anything but lounge around in the spare bedroom with Hayden until the art opening. Jamie was running around the house like a chicken with her head cut off, despite the constant expletives about how terrible she felt. James just followed behind her, helping where he could, and chuckling softly under his breath, reminding her that he had told her not to drink so much.