Free A Baby on Her Christmas List by Louisa George Page A

resonate against her lips. Then a groan. A growl. A need.
    * * *
    Liam registered the first touch of Georgie’s lips as his heart slammed loud and thunderous in his chest. For one split second a dark corner somewhere in his brain considered that this was the far side of madness
—
but then that thought was gone and he was left with nothing but heat and need raging through his veins.
    Cupping her face in his hands, he opened his mouth to her. Felt her shaking body, heard the guttural moan from her throat, felt her tight fists grip his trouser waistband as he dragged her closer. And each of her responses fed his need. She tasted wet and hot and soft. Of salty tears and fresh pure joy. He closed his eyes at the sweet sensations she instilled in him.
    Her hands made a slow trail to his backside as she clamped her body to his and she moaned again as she felt him harden at the press of her hips. He liked the way she felt against him. Liked the feel of her fingers on his body. The thrill of her touch.
    As his hands slid down her back he brushed against her bra strap and the memory of those perfect nipples covered in lace made him ache to touch them. Slipping his hand under her T-shirt, he worked his fingers to her breast, felt the hardening nipples beneath silk. He wanted to feel them against his skin. Naked. Wanted to suck those dark buds into his mouth. To taste her everywhere. Wanted to feel her around him.
    ‘Oh, God, Liam.’
    ‘Georgie...’ He opened his eyes, and immediately registered the harsh reality.
Damn.
This was Georgie. She was injured and pregnant and he was supposed to be looking after her.
    Not taking advantage of her. This was Georgie. His best friend. The hands-off friend.
    Who was pregnant.
    With his child.
    And, yes—ever since he’d held that picture in his hand and felt the deep singular ache in his heart he’d known that he’d fight heaven and earth for his baby. This was something that was a part of him and he couldn’t turn his back on that.
    He’d been about to tell her his plan. About the financial help he’d decided he wanted to give. About giving his son or daughter the best. Because they deserved it, Georgie did, too. But...when it had come to it, after holding the scan in his hands, he’d panicked. He needed to be sure.
    And then...this...had blown his heart wide open.
    My God.
Kissing Georgie.
    In the cold stark light of day that dark corner of doubt started to flourish. Another person he would let down. His life was littered them. He sure as hell didn’t want to include Georgie and the baby in that line-up.
    The shock of what they were doing made him break away. He did it with little finesse and immediately saw the embarrassment or disappointment or just plain confusion flash across her gaze.
    What the hell just happened?
He coughed, cleared his throat, tried to sound a lot less shaken up than he felt. ‘Well, that was unexpected. And not at all like kissing my cousin. But, then, Mike never was much good at tongues, apparently. You, however...’
    ‘Always the joker.’ She twisted away and stalked back into the lounge area, wringing her hands in front of her, clearly trying to work out how they’d gone from friends to...this. And what the heck they were supposed to do now they’d crossed an unspoken line. ‘I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have done that.’
    ‘No.’ He followed her but couldn’t find it in him to sit down. His first and only instinct was to get the hell out. But running out on a woman who was sick and confused would make him a jerk and a coward. Although he couldn’t help feeling that he’d already started to put distance there. He wasn’t sitting down and talking reasonably, he was edging subconsciously closer to the door. He made himself stand still and focused on her. ‘
We
shouldn’t have done that.’
    ‘No, Liam.
I
kissed you. Embarrassment totally one hundred per cent complete.’
    And he’d kissed her back
—
without any encouragement. What happened