Page 48 of Painted Truths

Mine.

The single word echoes inside my brain repeatedly as I take every single ounce of what she has to give me.

I move to deepen the kiss and cup her heavenly ass, only to hear and feel her low moan of approval in my mouth. Her reaction makes my cock weep in my jocks as I feel her move her hand to the front of my pants that hold my straining dick.

Grasping it through the material of my jeans, she moves her palm against my erection, giving me the friction I so desperately need. At that moment, despite the debauchery I’ve been part of in my life, despite how I have needed so much more to get off with someone other than my own fucking hand, I’m barely able to stop my cock from coming under her touch.

As I desperately try to focus on holding myself together, I hear a familiar voice behind me, pulling us both back to reality in a flash.

“Rico?”

Slowly and unwillingly, I relinquish my hold on the fractured creature held within my embrace, turning to face my seething half-brother.

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

Olivia

As Henry breaks our kiss, all my senses come rushing back as though they had been on hiatus while a heady mix of desperate longing and unchecked desire run riot throughout my being. The feeling of being back in this man’s arms, when it’s been my heart’s wish for more than two damn years now, it just feels so right. It feels like coming home.

The first thing I’m aware of is the distance he’s put between us, which makes me scowl indignantly at the loss of his warmth and the safety of his embrace.

The second thing, and what knocks the grimace clear off my face, bringing me back to reality with a bang, is Alex’s face, not entirely unlike a thundercloud, as he glares at both of us. I can see the disappointment in his usually soft gaze, sending my previously soaring heart hurtling into conflict.

“Liv? What did he do to you?”

His gentle but firm tone belies his frown as I struggle to set things right, knowing that some invisible boundary was crossed tonight. I don’t want to be the cause of further dissension between these brothers. I won’t be.

“Alex, I… I’m sorry. I lost track of time, and I—”

Alex reaches for me, putting his arm over my shoulder in a gesture that would look like he’s claiming his territory to anyone who didn’t know better.

Dropping a kiss to the top of my head in almost the exact same spot Henry had, he squeezes my shoulder. “It’s okay, sweet girl. I’ve got you now.”

My brow puckers in confusion. “Alex, what—”

I’m cut off by my best friend dropping his hand from my shoulder to rest lightly on the curve of my hip, just above my ass.

“What—" But before I can ask Alex what on earth he’s playing at, Henry cuts me off, his eyes narrowing as his coolness hits me like an Arctic blast.

“It’s been entirely too emotional, brother. Have a nice evening, Miss Parker.”

He turns curtly, marching directly out of the arena, our eyes on his wildly broad back the whole way, but he doesn’t look back. Not once.

Spinning to face my friend as I dislodge his arm from its perch on my lower back, I’m triggered and ready to do battle. He said he’d never tell me what to do, but his actions are a lot more heavy fucking handed, and that shit isn’t going to fly, but he steps backwards, giving me space before holding his hand up pleadingly, an agonised look on his face.

“Liv, I’m just doing what’s best for you. I told you, he’s not good enough for you. Can’t you see? He’ll ruin you.”

“Can’t you see? That’s my choice to make, Alex. Mine.”

Turning and walking away before I say or do anything that may damage us irreparably, I stop after a couple of steps, my back still turned. “I have been a puppet my entire life, Alex, you know that. I can’t—no, I won’t go back to being powerless ever again. I choose how I live my life, and no one, not even you, who I love beyond measure, will tell me what to do.”

I continue to walk toward the exit until Alex closes the distance between us, placing himself between me and the door with a hangdog expression on his face.

“Liv.” Alex heaves a sigh, like he has the weight of the world on his shoulders. “I won’t ever tell you what to do. That’s not my place.”

He takes another step closer.

“I’ll always have your back. I’ll always be in your corner. Always. You’re my favourite person in this whole world, and your happiness means everything to me.”