Somehow, we’re so close. I rise on the tips of my shoes, my hand snaking around Liem’s neck, and I pull him down to me and kiss him. I kiss him with urgency like I’ve never needed anything else in my life more than this. More than him. He’s stiff at first and it makes me want to stop even though his touch is absolutely everything.
As I begin to pull away, he presses into me, his mouth reciprocating the movement of mine, and then he takes over, lifting me from the ground, my legs automatically wrapping around his waist. My cotton skirt easily stretches leaving my panty hosed backside exposed.
He walks us back to the wall and plants a hand on one side of my head, the other still griping my ass for dear life. I break away because if not, I’ll faint from the toe-curling need. I lay my head back, fisting his hair in between my fingers, and I moan, my voice carrying through the cold wind as he kisses me everywhere.
Devouring me.
Cherishing me.
We find each other’s lips again and take our time. I moan in pain—a good pain because I physically ache for him.
He breaks away, both of us panting, our foreheads touching. My ass cheeks still held captive by his vise grip.
I sense him. No, I feel him starting to pull away. “Don’t. Please don’t walk away. Please don’t leave me. Please,” I beg in a whisper yet violent tone. He can’t leave me here. He can’t walk away from this now. My heart won’t survive.
“I’m not. I won’t.” His lips are red and swollen.
“Your right arm must be really strong,” I state, our foreheads no longer touching but still so close I can feel his warm breath against my cold cheeks.
He huffs out a soft laugh with a genuine smile flashing across his face.
I pull back in awe. “Oh, wow,” I say in admiration. “It really is as beautiful as I imagined.”
His eyes turn to sorrow, but he crashes his mouth to mine again before slowly lowering me to the snow dusted ground.
“You can’t stay here.” His words are desperate, but I already know I’ll no longer be able to work here. The questions that’ll need answered. “Nothing will lead back to you—”
I hold a finger to his reddened lips. “I know.” My back is pressed against the frigid brick, and I shiver. My body finally catching up with my brain.
Liem sheds his leather, draping it over my shoulders. “Shit. I should have done that a while ago. I’m sorry.”
“It’s okay.” I tightly hold on to his jacket, casually inhaling, not caring if he notices.
He takes my hand and begins dragging us off across the street.
“Wait. My purse.” I detach his hold on me and run back inside, the glass crunching beneath my shoes.
I take one last look around, then scribble a note onto Lydia’s locker telling her everything is all right and I’ll be in touch. I’ll miss working with her and Thomas. This place sucked, but they made it more tolerable.
Leaving the diner one last time, I snag Liem’s hand, the lifeline he is, and lead us to my apartment.
Inside, the air grows thick but somehow, it’s clearer than ever. I drop my purse, locking the door behind me with Liem’s leather still draped over my shoulders and arms.
“We don’t have to—” Unable to finish my words, Liem prowls toward me, takes my face in his gentle hands and kisses me. It’s urgent like before, but unlike only minutes ago, he’s savoring me. With already having tasted me, he’s slow, taking his time. I claw at his forearms careful not to cause him pain and I moan into him. With every rhythmic move we make together, I fall deeper, and I don’t think I’ll ever be the same.
He lets me go, sharing a breath with mine. “Fuck. I’ve thought about this moment and what it would be like. It doesn’t even come close.”
I close my eyes, listening to the near silence, only the sound of our quiet panting filling the space. “It’s all I’ve been able to dream about lately. No more nightmares. No more replays ofhimon top of me. Only you and what you would feel like.” I grip his forearms, his hands still caressing me with maximum tenderness. “I want you, Liem,” I whisper, gaining the courage to look up into his full of life eyes.
“You already have me.”
The leather falls from my shoulders as I reach up and stroke his hair, his eyes close as he leans into my touch. Not only do we touch each other, but wefeeleach other. Like we’re one in the same.
I move with caution, brushing my fingertips along his chiseled jawline and down his muscular arms. I stop at the hem of his shirt. Without breaking eye contact, I ask, “May I?”
He nods and I pull his shirt up and over him. I’ve seen him practically naked before, but this is different. I’m not trying to take care of him as if he’d shatter.
He takes both my hands and lays gentle kisses to my fingertips, the ones previously feathering his skin. The small gesture goes a long way because I can feel myself wanting him even more. The ache between my thighs is an all-time high.
