Licked (L.A. Liaisons Book 1) by Brooke Blaine Read Free Book Online

instead of my signature pink because it was going to smear if he kissed me…  
    Kissed me.
    My stomach twisted in knots, and my head swam.  
    Oh no. This was not how this was supposed to go. I wasn’t supposed to be nervous with dread. I was supposed to be nervous from excitement.  
    Ryleigh, this is what you’ve wanted. Look at that face. Who wouldn’t want to kiss those perfect lips? I begged myself to get it together so I could enjoy this. I was going to enjoy this, dammit. Because I couldn’t forever be known as the girl who passed out when Cameron Mathis kissed her.  
    His eyes searched mine, and he must’ve seen something there, because he asked, “Are you okay?”
    “I’m more than okay.” Liar. I’m such a liar. I rested my hands on his chest as his brow furrowed.  
    “Are you sure? Because your teeth are chattering.”
    They were? Shit. Pull it together, teeth. Cameron’s about to warm your mouth up in three…two…one…
    As I inclined my head and leaned forward, fat raindrops landed on my face.  
    What the hell?
    My eyes blinked open, and I saw drops smacking Cameron in the face too. And not just any raindrops. Cold-as-a-toilet-seat-in-an-igloo drops.  
    As soon as the thought crossed my mind, the skies opened up, and in seconds we were drenched. Drenched. In Southern California. Where rain is obsolete, and a heavy downpour is a smattering of sprinkles. Until tonight.
    Cameron’s hold on my waist left as he grabbed my hand, both of us running through the dunes of sand back to his car. My shivering wasn’t just limited to my teeth anymore, as my body was racked with shaking.  
    Hello, Mother Nature. It’s me, Ryleigh. Thanks for giving me a break with the panic attack, but next time, could you at least let him kiss me first? I just needed to get the first one out of the way, and then I’d be okay.
    At least that was what I hoped.
    He put the heater on blast once we got inside the car and then began the drive back to my place. Even the seats began to warm up, and for that, I was grateful. Once my body stopped convulsing, and God, isn’t that sexy, I relaxed into the seat, letting the warmth envelop me.  
    Cameron glanced over and smiled. “Better?”
    “Much better.”
    “Good.”  
    I wondered if he’d reach across the console and grab my hand. Did I want him to? What the hell, Ryleigh? Of course I did. Or I could just grab his. No, I’m not that bold. I’d probably reach for it and grab his crotch instead. Um, again.  
    “Hunter mentioned he’ll be taking over the renovations for your place,” Cameron said. He ran his hand over his wet face and hair. It was still styled perfectly in place, just glistening from the rain now. His chiseled face was picture perfect, even soaking wet.  
    How the hell was it fair he looked like he’d just shot an Abercrombie ad under rain hoses and I looked like a drowned rat? Okay, so I hadn’t looked at myself yet, but I knew it was true. When I’d run my hand over my hair, the elaborate updo I’d spent an hour on had sagged like a deflated party balloon.  
    I swiped my fingers under my eyes to get rid of my non-waterproof and probably now dripping mascara. “Yeah, he starts tomorrow. He moves quick. I can’t believe he was able to take over from Scott.”
    “You don’t know Hunter. When he puts his mind to something, he’s tenacious.”
    “Well, he’s saving my ass, so thank you. Free ice cream for life any time you come in.”
    “I’m not even going to pretend to turn that down.” Cameron pulled into an open space in front of my shop/apartment, and shut off the car. The rain was pelting the vehicle, the streams running down the windows becoming a shield from the outside. With Cameron shifting to face me, it was suddenly too dark, too warm, too enclosed. The guy couldn’t win for trying. The nervousness I’d felt on the beach returned.  
    Damn nerves. Go away.  
    It wasn’t like I hadn’t kissed guys. I had. A million guys.