Illicit (The Wrong Alpha 3)

His heart beating like crazy, Liam moistened his lips with his tongue.

Anthony’s gaze flicked down to them and just— looked, his blue eyes intense. Hungry.

Fuck, Liam couldn’t breathe. “Stop that,” he said, licking his lips again and trying not to look at Anthony’s firm, sensual mouth. Why was it so close all of a sudden?

“I’m not doing anything,” Anthony said, his velvety voice wrapping around Liam’s senses. Liam wondered if this was how moths felt as they unwittingly flew into the flame, unable to resist the pull. Liam couldn’t—he couldn’t—

With a moan of defeat, he crushed his lips against Anthony’s, so very hungry for him he felt like he could swallow him whole, take him inside and never, ever let him out. Growling, Anthony yanked him tightly against his chest, taking over the kiss immediately, his hunger rivaling Liam’s own. It was a messy, needy, forceful kiss, all spit and teeth and tongue, like a dam had broken between them and the water had rushed forth to greet the body of water it’d been denied meeting for so long. Liam couldn’t get enough, aching for this man so badly he could only squirm, slick dribbling down his thigh. Fuck, it felt so good. Anthony’s mouth—Liam wanted more. He wanted to consume him. He wanted—he wanted… He ran his hand down Anthony’s firm chest and pawed at the bulge under his pants greedily—

“Li—the fuck!”

They sprang apart, breathing hard. Liam felt hot, disoriented, and so unsatisfied he nearly wept. It took him a moment to focus his gaze on Jules.

Fuck, Jules.

His younger brother was standing in the doorway, his eyes wide and his jaw slack. “This is something I never wanted to see. Fuck, I need to bleach my brain.”

Anthony swore and turned away, raking a hand through his hair and taking a few deep breaths.

Liam blushed when he realized why: he was attempting to calm himself and will his erection away. Not that Liam was in any better state. He was suddenly acutely aware of the sticky wetness in his underwear. Thankfully, his shirt was long enough to cover his erection and it wasn’t as obvious as Anthony’s.

Jules was visibly uncomfortable, his face red. He glowered at Anthony’s back and then looked at Liam, clearly torn about whom he should be yelling at.

“Come with me,” he finally said, grabbing Liam’s arm and all but dragging him out of the room.

“I can walk myself,” Liam said uncomfortably as Jules pulled him toward his room.

Jules snorted. “After what I’ve just seen, I don’t trust you not to walk right onto his cock.”

“Shut up,” Liam said, his voice painfully awkward.

“I left you for five damn minutes,” Jules said, shutting the door of Liam’s bedroom. “Five minutes, Li! But I find you with Anthony’s tongue down your throat and your hand on his cock!”

Liam didn’t know what to say to that. There was nothing to say. Jules was right.

He dropped his gaze, wrapping his arms around himself. “You’re right, okay? I know that! I know I have no excuse.”

Jules huffed and started pacing the room. “Fuck, it’s so wrong on so many levels I don’t even know where to start,” he said, his expression pinched. “I got scarred for life, seriously!”

“I get it.”

“Do you?” Jules said with a laugh. “Imagine coming across me sucking Anthony’s face and groping his cock.”

Liam’s stomach turned, squeezing into an uncomfortable knot.

“Fucking hell,” Jules said, shooting him an incredulous look. “I didn’t tell you that to make you feel jealous! What’s wrong with you?”

Looking away, Liam scowled. “I’m not jealous.”

“Right.”

“Sarcasm is the lowest form of wit, you know. There’s no need for that tone.”

“There is, when I come across my brothers snogging each other.”

Liam pulled a face and turned away. He touched his puffy lips and suppressed a shiver, still tasting Anthony on them. It should have been impossible—it wasn’t as though Anthony’s mouth tasted of anything—and yet. And yet. Stupid pheromones.

“Seriously, Li. What were you thinking?”

Liam hugged himself, staring out the window at the cloudy sky. Just then, it started raining, fat drops beginning to fall against the window. Liam hugged himself tighter. “Clearly I wasn’t,” he said quietly. “What do you want me to say?”

After a moment, Jules heaved a sigh. “I don’t know. I’m just freaking out, I guess.”

Liam laughed without much mirth, watching the skies cry. You and me.

“What happens now? Are you still marrying Terlaine?”

Ignoring the way his insides tightened with unease, Liam closed his eyes and said, “Of course I am.”

“Really?” Jules sounded stunned.

Liam smiled bitterly. “What just happened only makes it clear that I need to do it as soon as possible. Can you do me a favor? Don’t let me be alone with Anthony.”

There was a long silence.

“Sure,” Jules said at last. “Though you know I can’t really be with you when Devlin is in town. I miss him.”