“I’ve wanted to kiss you all day. All week, actually.”
“When we’re here,” I say, “or there”—I point to the wall where his apartment is—“we can do this as much as we want.”
He nods, licking his lips as he takes a step back. “Right.”
I know Liam wants more. And sometimes I think I could want more too. But I won’t let myself get ahead of things. Right now this is working for me, and he did say we could do this on my terms.
At this moment, though, with the way Liam’s looking at me it makes me wanteverything. His good mornings, his good nights, every in between of his day. I can’t wrap my head around how quickly my emotions have latched onto him. His kindness and how much he cares for me is constantly on display. He goes out of his way all the time to make sure I’m safe and comfortable.
At first I figured he’d be somewhat of a distraction for me. Someone I can hang out with, who I know truly wants to hang out with me, where I’d feel very much in control of the situation.
If I’ve learned anything since spending time with Liam Evans, it’s that as much as I think I have my emotions under control, my rapidly beating heart tells me otherwise.
“Liam.” I reach for his hand, pulling him back toward me and he closes the space between us, wrapping his arms around my waist.
“God, you smell good,” he says as he inhales and pulls me closer to him.
I tilt my head, looking up into those dreamy eyes of his and feel my core tighten. His arms are strong around me, his chest is warm and firm, and he too smells so fucking good.
I’m not exactly bold in intimate settings. Or at least my track record says that. But Liam makes me feel like stripping naked right now without a worry or care in sight.
His fingers draw circles on my lower back as his hands are still wrapped around me, and I lean up toward his lips, not holding back as I press my mouth to his.
Liam’s hands wander down my hips and he pulls me up in a sudden movement and holds me in place as my legs wrap around him. I rock my body against his, unable to stay still knowing what I want to happen. What I’m ready to have happen.
“Dem,” he breathes against my lips as he breaks apart briefly, his eyes meeting mine and I nod.
Over and over, I nod, before the word “yes” breathlessly leaves my lips. Liam won’t do anything I don’t want to do—he’s made that clear. And I respect him for it, but right now I need him to be the playboy. I want the Liam I’ve heard whispers about. The one I’ve briefly experienced—who knows what he’s doing. And likes to do it again and again.
His mouth crashes to mine this time—hard and consuming. It’s like he breathes life into me every time we kiss, and I keep coming back for more, afraid I might suffocate without him.
“Bedroom,” I mutter against his lips mid-kiss, and he walks down the hall. Although we both get a chuckle realizing he hasn’t actually been here enough to know which closed door is my room.
“Last one. Left,” I say as I run my tongue along his lips.
“Fuck,” he moans when I move my lips to his neck.
My back hits the mattress, and I take a look at him as he stands at the foot of my bed. My elbows prop me up and I just stare at him before me. He pulls his shirt off and tosses it on the floor, leaving him in those gray sweats, and I focus on the V-shape on his stomach. He’s toned and lean and every bit of a fucking fantasy.
“So we’re clear, I get tested yearly. Everything’s all good,” he assures me, and I lick my lips.
“I got tested after my divorce and I’m on the pill. But also I…” Hanging my head back slightly, I sigh. “I haven’t been with anybody in well over a year.”
“Dem.” He runs a hand over his hair. “I haven’t been with anyone since I found out you were divorced.”
I pause. “That was…almost a year ago.” My words are just above a whisper and filled with surprise.
He shrugs. “I know there’s this narrative that I’m some playboy who dates around—and yeah, maybe that was true for a bit. I was trying to find you in any woman I spent time with, but from the second I found out you were divorced I haven’t been with anyone since. I knew if anyone waseverdumb enough to lose you, I’d wait for my chance. And hope like hell to get one. I’ve always just been waiting for you.”
God, this man. I’ve never felt wanted the way Liam wants me.
I can’t find the words to say, pounding from my heart rings in my ears as I stare at him. His head tilts slightly, his jaw slacks just a bit before he speaks again.
“We can take it as slow as you need to. I can be tender.” The left side of his lip pulls up and that earns a smile from me.
I avert my eyes down. “What if I don’t want that?”
His eyes widen a little and he raises his eyebrows.
