Get you a boyfriend who knows how to satisfy your sweet tooth cravings.
I snag a brownie from the bunch, trying to mask my teasing grin. “Time to add professional chef to your résumé, Bob the Builder.”
I burst out laughing when he takes it upon himself to tickle me, his face shoved into my neck. I try to twist away from him, but I’m trapped in his embrace. It’s okay, though. I don’t ever want to leave it.
“Call me Bob the Builder one more time. I dare you,” he growls playfully, nibbling my earlobe when my tickle-induced laughing fit finally subsides.
I feed him a peace offering. The rest of my brownie. Liam makes sure to lick my fingers clean of chocolate traces. Why is that so sexy to me? I swear my ovaries are shaking.
“I really like what you’ve done with your room.” I wiggle my eyebrows.
His eyes soften. “Happy one month, babe.”
“Is it crazy to say that it feels like a lot longer?”
He pushes a lock of my hair behind my ear. “In my mind, you’ve been mine for two years, Bel.”
“Ditto,” I whisper and the megawatt smile on his face gleams bright like a diamond.
Liam kisses the tip of my nose—physical touch is my love language and the fact that he showers me with it at every opportunity makes my heart so happy—and reaches for a remote, switching on the TV mounted on his wall.
In ten seconds flat,The Vampire Diariesplays on the screen. I gasp. “Are we really watching this?”
“You once mentioned wanting to have a marathon. I figured we could start at the beginning and talk about how perfect human Elena and vampire Stefan were for each other.”
A man after my own heart. “For the record, this is the best date ever.”
“For the record”—Liam snags a banana piece with a toothpick and dips it into a bowl of melted chocolate, then takes a bite—“I know this is the best date ever.”
Liam has gained a lot of confidence in the last month and I love to hear it in his words, love to see it in his actions, just love it. Period. He’s still his usual shy, quiet self (I don’t see that ever changing nor would I want that because it’s part of his essence), but he’s more open now with his jokes and flirting.
I snuggle deeper into his body, backing my tush against his lap. His sharp intake of breath makes me grin. “All right,Bob, let’s get this party started.”
The next two hours are spent watchingThe Vampire Diariesand sharing commentary like we’re paid critics, while polishing the dessert board. Ioohandaahover the Salvatore brothers, Elena’s gorgeous hair, and how I’d love to spend a day in the fictional town of Mystic Falls. Rewatching the show from the beginning, Liam and I both agree that Caroline had the best character development and that selfless Bonnie deserved so much better.
With every passing episode, Liam seems to tug me impossibly closer until I can’t say where we begin and where we end. The low flame sizzling in my core rises into an inferno. After concluding the third episode, I graze my lips against the light scar on Liam’s cheek. “I have a gift for you.”
The undertone of lust flashes in his blue eyes, but I see him trying to maintain the gentlemanly façade. While I do havethatkind of gift for him, I want to show him what I spent days scouring the internet to secure.
“Show me.” His voice is a gruff purr. He may as well have said ‘Fuck me’ with the way my body reacts to those two words.
My bag is resting on the floor beside his bed. I scoot forward, well aware that it puts my ass in a perilous position for Liam’s roaming hands. The hem of my short knit dress rides higher.
Liam groans under his breath.
My smirk is victorious.
I pluck the wrapped gift from my bag and turn back to Liam, so I’m kneeling on the bed next to his reclined frame. “Here.”
Liam takes it from my hands, unable to keep the excitement from curling his lips. He’s silent for a moment as he weighs the gift, evaluating the shape. “Is this a book?”
“My lips are sealed. It wouldn’t be a surprise if I told you.” I pretend to zip my mouth and shoot the imaginary key away.
He takes out the little card I wrote him with the ‘HappyOne Month Anniversary’ message, curving his thumb over the writing in reverence. I know how much he cherishes my written words but seeing him now, I’m beginning to imagine his expressions when he’d read my letters.
I would have melted into a puddle if I’d seen the tender smile Liam is currently sporting.
I’ve always considered myself a headstrong, independent girl who doesn’t need someone to complete me. I strongly believe that no one out there needs another person to feel whole—you already are—yet Liam with his gentleness, soft heart, and kind mannerism calls out to something deep within me. I realize now that even those who are fully whole can have soul mates beyond themselves. Ones who understand and accept them as they are, flaws and perfections, and make life an adventure worth living.
