I think about the way Liam confronted that guy without hesitation. I think about how he put himself in harm’s way to protect me.
Emotion surges up my chest.
My heart beats faster the longer I look at him. He didn’t act like just some friend who I sleep with. He acted like a man who saw the woman he cares about in danger, and went into full-on protector mode.
He acted like a boyfriend.
Boyfriend.
The word settles in my chest, all soft and comforting. Nowhere to be found is that panicked feeling that I usually get when I think about getting into a relationship.
I sit with that realization for a second.
I look over at Liam. He absently runs a hand through his messy blonde hair as he stares at the TV. He’s wearing a hoodie now. I watch his throat work as he takes a long sip of water and swallows. I take in the hard angle of his jaw and the thick gold stubble along his cheeks. He looks so sexy and handsome.
My heart flutters in my chest.
He protects me from creeps and takes care of me when I’m scared and makes sure I’m fed and comfortable, and he’s so wonderful with my aunt. Not to mention he’s the best I’ve ever had in bed. He’s perfect boyfriend material.
Except you don’t want a boyfriend, remember? You want casual and no-commitment.
I quiet the chatter in my mind and clear my throat, not wanting to think about why I’m suddenly thinking of Liam in this way. I should just focus on the moment.
“Hey, I’m sorry things ended up the way they did,” I say to Liam. “We were supposed to spend tonight doing filthy things in bed, and now we’re on the couch, watching trash TV.”
“Hey.” Liam scoots closer to me on the massive plush sectional we’re seated on. He reaches out and cups my face in his hand. “You have nothing to apologize for. You’ve been through something awful. Your well-being is all I care about.”
I kiss his palm. “I’m sure you’d rather be in bed with me right now.”
That half-smile I adore appears. “I’d be lying if I said I don’t love having sex with you, Kendall. Abso-fucking-lutely I do. But I also like just being with you. We don’t have to have sex for me to like spending time with you.”
My heart squeezes. His half-smile turns full. It’s warm and bright and makes my chest do funny things.
“Are you tired? Do you want to sleep?” he asks.
I shake my head. “I just want to cuddle with you.”
He grins and pulls me close to him. He wraps his arm around me, and I snuggle into his chest. He runs his fingers through my hair, and I moan. He feels so good.
“Does that feel okay?” he asks.
“It feels so nice,” I murmur as I close my eyes.
I wasn’t tired a minute ago, but the more Liam runs his fingers through my hair, the sleepier I get. I slow-blink, my eyelids getting heavier by the second. And then I drift off to sleep, feeling cozier than I’ve ever have, snuggled into Liam.
Chapter 39
Liam
When I wake up, Kendall is cuddled into my chest, breathing gently as she sleeps.
I look at the nearby window and see the light blue of predawn peeking through the gap in the blinds.
I exhale slowly and softly, careful not to wake her. I don’t get up right away. I stay there, lying on my couch, holding her close.
Emotion surges through me. I need to feel her close to me. I need her next to me. Just for a few more minutes.
I think back to last night, when she called me while walking to my place, her voice shaky with fear.
