My eyelids fluttered shut.
A yawn slipped free as I drifted.
It would be fine if … rested my eyes … for a few minutes.
I woke to the sensation of my blankets dragging across my skin.
“Wh-What’s happening?”I blinked up at Liam, confused to be in my bedroom.He stood beside the bed, tucking me in.
Wait.What?
I fought to push back the blankets as I struggled to sit up.“I’m awake.Let’s finish the movie.”
Liam chuckled.“I did,” he said.“And you’re right.It is a Christmas movie.Barely.But it takes place at Christmas, so that’s enough for me.”He smirked.“Not sure that Alan Rickman lives up to your hype in this one, though.He’s thebad guy, Maya.How relaxing can that be?”
I groaned.“I missed the whole thing?”
“You fell asleep before McClane made it to Nakatomi Plaza.You missed Alan Rickmanentirely.”
“So … you’re leaving?”
I was instantly wide awake.Andpositivethat leaving was thelastthing I wanted him to do.
He hesitated, rubbing the back of his neck.“I was going to head out.Unless… do you want me to stay?”
“Yes,” I blurted out before he finished asking the question.Heat rushed up my neck.“I mean … yes.You could stay.If you wanted.”
“Oh, Maya,” he murmured, grabbing the back of his shirt and pulling it over his head.“Yes, I very much do want to stay.”
My stomach flipped, and I swallowed roughly.
When he flicked open the button of his jeans and pushed them off his hips, revealing the barely contained erection straining beneath his black boxer briefs, my panties flooded with warmth.
A low moan escaped my throat as he lowered himself on top of me, trapping me beneath him.His knees and elbows boxed me in, and he lowered his lips to mine.
His kiss was soft.Teasing.But I wanted more.I grabbed the back of his neck, pulling him in.When I caressed his tongue with mine, he groaned—a deep, desperate sound that rumbled all the way to my toes.
Liam tangled his hands in my hair and shifted to my side, all without breaking the kiss.
The heat of the blankets was suffocating against my already sensitive skin, so I shoved them away and climbed on top of Liam.Straddling his hips, I settled onto his hard length.I rocked my hips, and his groan matched my own.
“Jesus, Maya.”
He slid his hands under my shirt, pushing it up, but he moved too slowly.Frustrated, I yanked it off with frantic movements, needing his touch everywhere.
“You are so beautiful.”His darkened gaze raked over me, his eyes blazing a trail across every inch of my exposed skin before locking onto mine.“So goddamn beautiful.”
A blush climbed up my cheeks at his compliment.Scoffing, I turned away.
He bolted upright, grabbing my face in his hands and forcing me to meet his eyes.“You’re the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen, Maya.Everything about you is everything I’ve ever wanted.”
My stomach flip-flopped with giddy excitement.But could I trust it?I didn’t really know what it was like to be wanted.Hell, my own parents didn’t want me around.Why would Liam want me?I’d already been thrown away once.
But how amazing would it be if he were serious?If, for once, someone wanted me—not for what I could do for them, not for the help I could provide, but simply because of me?
He must have sensed the emotions swirling inside me because he pressed a soft kiss to my lips.“What’s wrong?”
I shook my head, forcing a smile.“Nothing,” I said, injecting cheer into my voice.“I guess it’s hard to believe that someone who looks likeyoucould think someone who looks likemeis beautiful.”His brow furrowed, so I rushed to add, “I mean, I know I’m not hideous or anything, but you’re on another level.You’re like what would happen if Keanu Reeves and Chris Hemsworth and-and-and—what’s the name of that actor who plays Reacher on the TV show?”I snap my fingers when it hits me.“Alan Ritchson!That’s his name—not to be confused with Alan Rickman, but I digress.It’s like if Keanu Reeves, Chris Hemsworth, and Alan Ritchson had a three-way that somehow resulted in a man composed solely of theirmostattractive qualities.I’m not sure if you know this, but you’re like,inhumanlyattractive.It’s not natural, quite frankly.It’s like scientists made you in a lab.”
