The Taste of Trouble

I told myself tonight would be normal.

That I would go out, have a few drinks, laugh, pretend like everything wasn't falling apart around me.

I told myself I wouldn't think about Ethan.

Wouldn't think about Tessa's betrayal, about the danger creeping closer, about the warnings that kept coming.

Just for one night, I wanted to breathe.

I should've known better.

Because nothing about Ethan Carter and me was ever simple.

The bar was packed.

Loud music, dim lighting, bodies pressing together in a messy blur of distraction.

Tessa was somewhere across the room, pretending like we weren't still on uneasy ground.

I should have been with her. Should have been doing anything but scanning the crowd for him.

But I couldn't help it.

Ethan wasn't supposed to be here.

And yet—I felt him before I saw him.

I turned, heart stuttering, and there he was.

Leaning against the bar like he owned the place.

Dark jeans, a fitted black shirt, that dangerous smirk he always wore when he knew he had my attention.

His eyes locked onto mine across the room, and suddenly, nothing else existed.

No people. No music. No reason to stay away.

Just him.

Just us.

I should have walked away.

Should have looked anywhere but at the man who had already ruined me.

But I didn't.

Because deep down, I didn't want to.

He moved first.

Slow. Controlled. Like he had all the time in the world.

Like he knew I wouldn't leave.

By the time he reached me, my pulse was already betraying me.

"Liv." His voice was low, rough.

I exhaled sharply. "Ethan."

He smirked. "You gonna pretend you weren't looking for me?"

I rolled my eyes, even though he was right. "I wasn't."

His gaze dropped to my mouth. "Liar."

God, I hated him.

Hated how easily he could undo me with a single look.

Hated that no matter how many times I told myself to walk away, I never did.

One drink turned into two.

Two turned into him pulling me outside, away from the crowd, away from anyone who could stop us.

The cool air hit my skin like a warning.

I ignored it.

"You shouldn't be here," I whispered, even as I let him back me against the wall.

Ethan smirked. "And yet, here I am."

His hands braced against the brick, caging me in, pulling me under.

"You always do this," I murmured.

His eyes darkened. "Do what?"

My breath hitched. "Get too close."

A slow, knowing smile curved his lips. "Funny. I was about to say the same thing about you."

And then—

I snapped.

I grabbed his shirt, pulling him down to me.

His lips crashed against mine, and suddenly, there was no more push and pull.

No more second-guessing.

Just heat. Hunger. Desperation.

His hands slid to my hips, pulling me against him like he needed me closer, closer, closer.

Like he was drowning, and I was the only thing keeping him afloat.

I should have stopped.

Should have reminded myself why this was a bad idea.

But instead, I let myself fall.

The kiss deepened.

His hands gripped tighter.

I arched into him, fingers tangling in his hair, losing myself to him.

To us.

To everything we'd been trying to fight.

God, I needed him.

I needed this.

And for once, I didn't care about the consequences.

Didn't care about the past, about the mistakes, about the wreckage waiting for us on the other side of this night.

Because for now?

For now, he was mine.

Then—a voice.

Low. Amused. Dangerous.

"Well, isn't this interesting?"

I froze.

Ethan's grip tightened, his whole body going rigid against mine.

Slowly, he turned—shielding me behind him.

My pulse skidded.

And when I looked past his shoulder, I felt my stomach drop.

Because standing just a few feet away, watching us with a smirk that sent a chill down my spine—

Was Jax.

Jax tilted his head, eyes flicking between us like he was amused.

Like he had been expecting this.

Ethan stepped forward, muscles tensed, voice low. "What the hell do you want?"

Jax smirked. "Relax, Carter. I'm just here to talk."

Ethan let out a sharp laugh. "You don't talk. You threaten."

Jax's smirk widened. "And you don't listen. Which is why we're here."

His gaze shifted to me.

And suddenly, I felt like a target.

Like I was the real reason he was here.

"Gotta says, though," Jax mused, "I thought you were smarter than this, sweetheart."

A chill ran down my spine. "Excuse me?"

Jax shrugged. "Messing around with Carter? Not your best decision."

Ethan lunged.

Faster than I could react.

Faster than Jax had expected.

His fist, collided with Jax's jaw, sending him stumbling back.

I gasped.

Jax wiped blood from his lip, smirking through it.

"Bad move, Carter."

And just like that, everything changed.

Jax backed away, but the look in his eyes?

It wasn't fear.

It was a promise.

"You've got no idea what you just started," he murmured.

Ethan didn't move. Didn't flinch.

But I saw the tension in his jaw.

The way his hands shook at his sides.

Jax shot me one last glance, smirk still in place.

"See you soon, sweetheart."

And then, just like that, he was gone.

The moment shattered.

The danger was closer than ever.

And I had a feeling…

This was a night we'd never forget.

For all the wrong reasons.

Liv and Ethan give in—again—but this time, it costs them.

Jax catches them and makes a veiled threat.

Ethan fights back—escalating everything.

The consequences hit hard, and Liv realizes just how dangerous things have become.