38
Liam
Bliss.
That was what I experienced being inside my Pretty Thing. With each kiss, he erased those that had disgusted me so much in my past. He replaced shame with pleasure. And he tore at the cage around my heart, shredding the bars as I surrendered to him.
I had always judged others for these sorts of feelings, never wanted them for myself, and it was why I had fought so hard.
Now I understood why.
Because having him in my life meant fearing for his safety. However, I wasn’t interested in imagining a future without him.
Once we’d finally recovered and showered off, we found our way under the covers together. He nestled his face against my chest, his hand resting on my opposite arm as he relaxed into my hold.
I raised my hand and ran the tip of my thumb down from his forehead to his chin, then trailed back up to his bottom lip, outlining it. He looked up at me, and I leaned into him effortlessly as we enjoyed a kiss together.
Unlike the ones we’d shared while fucking—frenetic, primal—this one was more subdued, allowing me a moment to really appreciate the taste of Ty’s affection. But that could only last an instant before we worked up a frenzy again, Ty climbing into my lap as the intensity built right along with our erections.
He chuckled, and I kept him close because I wanted to know what it was like to feel him laughing and smiling against my face. “What’s so funny?” I asked.
“Whatisn’tfunny about this, about us, about everything that’s happened?”
“You want me to write up a list?”
Ty laughed against me once again. I gripped his nape and tugged him even closer. It was never close enough.
“You didn’t feel like I was pressuring you, did you?” Ty asked, and I knew he meant the kiss. “Is that why you did it?”
“No. I did it because it was time, Pretty Thing. It certainly helped knowing how much you wanted it. I like seeing you craving me so fucking desperately.”
His expression turned serious. “There’s this pain in my chest when you’re near. Like something inside me is tearing apart, ripping right through me, and it consumes my every thought. And then you touch me and it heals, but pulls open further when we part, and I need to make it better all over again.”
“You make it sound so painful.”
“It is painful, Liam, but I love the way it hurts.”
There was something disturbing as fuck about what he said, but I knew the feeling too. “I understand, Pretty Thing, because I love the way it hurts too.”
“Maybe we just need to keep kissing each other to make it all better.”
We did just that before I finally pulled away from those perfect lips. “Ty…would you…”
I hesitated.
What was wrong with me? What was happening to me? Who was I becoming? And why wasn’t I fighting against it anymore?
“Ty, would you go on a date with me?”
He looked surprised by the question or perhaps the way I grappled with it before asking. “We’ve been on quite a few dates by now.”
“No,” I insisted. “I want a real date without you being trapped with me in some cabin or going on a mission. Just the two of us having dinner, like everyone else gets to do. I’ve never had that.”
His lips curled into a smile. “Never been on a date? Like ever?”
“I’ve had times where I had to pretend to go on dates for missions, but never a real one.”
“Oh my God, Liam. Never just went out with someone you were interested in?”
