We shared the tender moment in total silence, enjoying a long calm. Neither of us seemed willing to talk.
The sense that I had been missing out on something for years hit me. As I felt his body heat on my skin. I recognized it for what it was…
Safety.
Security.
Peace.
With his arms around me, I was overcome with the feeling that he would stay by my side no matter what.
"I can hear you thinking," Liam murmured, sounding amused. "You want to share with the class?"
I debated whether or not to tell him. It would probably sound stupid out loud. But—
"You make me feel safe," I confessed.
Liam didn't laugh, just hummed thoughtfully. "I imagine that's something you don't have much experience with, considering the way you grew up."
I shrugged a single shoulder. "It wasn't all bad. I had my friends. We were like our own little family."
"And then you lost them," he said quietly. "How long ago was that?"
"Five years."
I'd been nineteen.
Nineteen.
I wondered if he was doing the math. If he would put two and two together.
"I'm sorry." The words were muffled as he spoke them into my hair.
"It's still hard," I admitted, even though he didn't know all the details. "But I've got my brother, and Julian and Seth and Nate. And now I have you."
"We both have bigger and better things." He tightened his arms around me and kissed the top of my head. "We have each other."
