Ready or Not (The Ready Series Book 4)(50)

I didn’t bother knocking on her door. Knowing she would have locked it, I fished out the key she’d given me after last week, and I slipped it in before turning the knob and stepping inside.

The house was quiet. There was no sign of Liv anywhere.

“Liv!” I shouted. “Where are you?”

“Upstairs,” she responded, seeming unfazed by my abrupt appearance.

Grumbling, I headed for the stairs, practicing my speech as I went. I would tell her how much I appreciated her help, how I understood her love for Noah, but I was the parent, so I made the decisions.

She would understand.

As I took the last step onto the top floor, I noticed an amber glow reflecting off the oak hardwood just outside Liv’s bedroom. It flickered and danced along the floorboards, creating a pattern all its own. Walking farther, I noticed the origin of the lights. Candles lined the entire entryway of her bedroom and beyond. Treading softly, I entered, seeing the same flickering pattern from the hallway dancing up the walls and across the bed—where I found her.

Covered in satin and lace, she looked like a divine virgin sacrifice ready to give up her mortal soul.

“Sweet Jesus,” I cursed.

Bad mood gone.

The only thoughts running through my mind were Liv, lace, and mine.

“You’re drooling,” she said, her lips curving into a smug grin.

“You’re nearly naked,” I replied.

“Did everything go okay with Noah?” she asked, sitting up slightly. It pushed the swatch of fabric passing as a bra tonight up and forward, accentuating her breasts even more.

I sucked back a bit more drool.

“If you mean, I stood there, completely confused, while my son disappeared for the evening, then yes.”

She smiled, a hint of amusement crossing her features.

My hand twitched as if the sheer torture of not touching her was driving it insane. I stayed where I was, knowing if I took even one step farther, there would be no going back. Every muscle in my body physically ached for the smooth touch of her skin and warm feel of her body beneath me.

“I’m ready,” she uttered, shattering the last remnant of control I had left.

My eyes wandered over every inch of her exposed skin as my heart raced into a gallop.

“How can you be sure?” I edged forward, only to halt myself.

“I know.”

“I need to know, Liv. I need to know that you’re ready for this, for me, because this is anything but casual for me.”

“I know you have to think about Noah—”

I cut her off, stepping closer, the adrenaline pumping in my veins so hard that I felt like Superman.

“No. Tonight has nothing to do with Noah. This has to do with me wanting you and only ever you. When I take you, I want to bury myself so deep that you’ll never forget. So, you might think you’re ready to give yourself over to me, but are you prepared for what will come when I give myself to you?”

“Yes.”

Thank God I wasn’t an adolescent teenager anymore because that one word from her lips would have ended me. As it were, I was rock hard, the need to take her consuming my every thought.

Moving swiftly, my legs hit the bed, and my hands found hers as she tumbled backward. A low growl reverberated from my throat as my lips found hers. My tongue traced the corner of her mouth, and I felt her teeth gently bit down on my bottom lip, causing my dick to twitch.

I needed all of her, naked—immediately.

Slipping my hands beneath her, I unhooked her bra with ease and watched the straps fall to the sides, giving me a glimpse of the tender flesh underneath.

Our eyes met briefly, and I recognized the same emotions that I was feeling in her gaze—desire, longing…maybe something more.

My fingers wandered up the path of her left arm, and I grabbed the bra strap to slowly begin its downward journey, exposing her body to me.

Exquisite.

Taut and pink, her nipple was begging for my mouth. I pulled it between my lips and sucked. Her body bucked beneath me, and she cried out.

“That’s it, Liv.” I soothed her, swiveling my tongue around her swollen bud.

I made fast work of the rest of her bra and moved on to her right breast, loving her body’s reaction to my touch. As I sucked up and down on that rosy tip, my hand meandered to the edge of her panties. Dipping lower, I found her already wet and ready for me. Smiling against her chest, I sucked harder on her nipple while my hand found her clit, swollen and tender.

“Shit!” she screamed, pushing hard against my hand.

So f*cking hot.

Still working her with my hand, I kissed a path down her chest and across her belly button until I reached her panties. “It’s time for these to go,” I said.

My hand moved up to shed the lace from her body, and I heard her whimper from the loss of my hand. I watched in fascination as I moved the fabric over her hips and down her long legs before it finally fell on the floor next to us.

What was left was nothing but Liv.

She was breathtaking.

“I planned on making you scream out my name with my tongue alone, but seeing you like this is driving me insane.”

“Please, Jackson,” she begged.

Kneeling before her, I watched as she propped herself up on her elbows and spread her legs farther apart, giving me the most beautiful view in the world.