Gripping my ass, he angles my hips, hitting me just where I need him to with his every move. Flashes of light dance in my peripheral vision as my second orgasm swells and floods through me, leaving me a quaking, boneless mass. With a few more powerful thrusts, Liam buries himself deep inside me, letting out a long groan as he convulses, drawing out the pleasure for both of us.
He remains over me for a moment, his weight like a comforting blanket as aftershocks continue to rock my body. His heavy breathing shifts away from my ear, and warm lips press against my cheek. Our eyes meet and hold, something unspoken passing between us.
The serious moment dissipates as humor sparks in his eyes and one side of his mouth curves. I let out a breathless laugh and he joins me, kissing my cheeks and lips between soft chuckles. With a final kiss on the mouth, he rolls off me, flopping onto his back. While Liam stares at the ceiling, I take a moment to shamelessly peruse his naked body. When my eyes reach his face, I’m surprised to find him watching me, his tiny smile bordering on a smirk.
He pushes himself upright and reaches to help me into a sitting position. I’m not sure what I expect him to say, but it’s not, “I’ll go use the bathroom down the hall so you can use the ensuite.”
Right. This isn’t a movie where the couple immediately snuggle close and fall asleep in each other’s arms. Liam has to dispose of the condom, and I need to clean up. I expect him to grab his jeans or even his underwear, but he heads for the door in all his naked glory. He must realize I haven’t made a move to leave the bed because he glances over his shoulder, catching me staring. Again. He gives me another of those almost-smirks, and I lift one shoulder in a casual shrug, unable to hide my own smug smile.
As soon as he’s out the door, I bolt from the bed and snatch his shirt from the floor, slipping it on as I hurry to the bathroom. After doing my business, I stand in front of the mirror and examine my reflection. Mussed hair, red patches on my neck from where Liam’s stubble rubbed against my skin, and a satisfied smile that won’t go away.
I roll up the sleeves of Liam’s shirt and take my time washing my hands. I feel good—reallygood—and yet uncertainty is edging in. What do I do now? Go back out there and…what? Return his shirt, tell him it was fun, and show him out? Jump on him and suggest round two?
Realizing I can’t prolong this much further, I finish up in the bathroom and open the door. The bedside lamp is on, illuminating the ridiculously sexy man reclining in my bed. The sheets are pulled up just enough to cover him from the hips down. He smiles when he sees me, flipping back the sheets in invitation.
I cross the room and crawl in next to him, getting a brief glimpse of his still-naked body. He wraps one arm around me, and I nestle against him, enjoying the closeness. We fall into a comfortable silence; I can’t see his face, but I know he’s awake because he’s rubbing my back. My fingers drift lazily over his chest, lingering on the dinosaur tattoo. I’ll never look at a T-Rex the same way again.
“I was thinking…” Liam’s quiet voice has me tilting my head so I can meet his eyes. The renewed hunger I see there has my thighs clenching together. “That box of condoms was awfully big. It’d be a shame to only use one.”
I lift myself onto an elbow so I can see him better. His free hand moves to cover mine where it lays on his chest, then gently pushes my hand down his torso. I bite my lip against a smile when a tent forms in the sheets.
Sliding my hand free, I move quickly to grab a condom. Packet in hand, I push myself onto my knees and straddle him. His surprised expression slowly morphs into a heart-stopping grin. This man literally takes my breath away. Within minutes, I’m completely naked again with him inside me, and I’m breathless for a whole different reason.
*****
The next morning, my first coherent thought upon waking is how pleasantly sore I am. My next is how badly I have to pee.
I open my eyes, surprised to find the space next to me empty. Assuming Liam is in the bathroom down the hall or maybe in the kitchen, I streak to the ensuite, not worrying about grabbing something to cover myself. While sitting on the toilet, I peel an empty foil packet from the back of my thigh and toss it in the trashcan. Liam and I did justice to that box of condoms last night and early this morning before the sun was even up. Natalie would be proud.
Back in my bedroom, I realize Liam’s clothes are missing from the floor. I pull on a pair of leggings and a sweatshirt before going in search of him. My hunt ends at the front of the house, where I glance out at the empty driveway.
My heart sinks. Liam is gone.
A storm of conflicting emotions rushes through me. Disappointment is first; I expected more from Liam than to slip out without a word before I woke up. Relief is next; we don’t have to do the awkward daylight dance of acting as if things are normal between us after a night of passion. The disappointment wins out.
So this is what a one-night stand feels like. And the hollow, lonely feeling in the pit of my stomach is exactly why I always figured it would be a bad idea.
CHAPTER NINE
Just like that, I’m back to hiding out in my rental house. It’s fine. Completely fine. In fact, it’s better this way. This is what I came to Honeywell for, after all: solitude. I didn’t plan to make friends or linger in cute cafés or sleep with handsome men. I wanted to spend some time on my own, away from the world, away from my fame, and see if I could figure out who I am beneath everyone else’s assumptions and expectations.
And apparently who I am is someone who likes to catch up on movies and TV shows I’ve missed over the last couple of decades while I was busy doing other things.
Unfortunately, the need for supplies eventually drives me out of the house. After contemplating avoiding downtown Honeywell altogether and heading for the bigger grocery store in the next town, I decide to suck it up and shop in town. It’s been snowing on and off all week, so I’d prefer to avoid the highway, plus I’ll have to face people here eventually if I carry through with my plan to stay until January. It’s a small town; if I hope to avoid seeing anyone for the next several weeks, I might as well return to Toronto right now.
The only parking spot I find downtown forces me to walk the length of Main Street. Despite my determination to keep my focus straight ahead and get my errand done, I slow my brisk pace as I approach Sweet Escapes. The scent of coffee and baked goods fills the air, and a quiet moan escapes me. After years of healthy eating, I’m convinced I’m now going through sugar withdrawals from just a short time of eating Mae’s delicious creations. I’m gazing longingly through the window when I spot Liam inside, striding toward the door. His eyes lock with mine, which means it’s too late to pretend I didn’t see him and make a dash for it.
This is fine. Seeing him is no big deal. So we slept together and then he disappeared. So what? We’re both adults. It’s no biggie. Just like the way my mouth waters when he steps outside and my eyes drop to his thick, denim-encased thighs—thighs I straddled while naked just a few days ago—is no biggie.This is fine.
“I’m glad I finally ran into you.” Liam is breathless as he approaches me. His hair is a mess and the light stubble I’ve grown accustomed to has sprouted into the beginnings of a beard. He glances down at his phone, which he’s holding in his hand with a white-knuckled grip. “You haven’t answered any of my calls.”
“Oh, yeah, I’ve been—” I wave a hand around in a vague gesture. I may basically lie for a living as an actress, but I’ve never been good at lying in real life. Saying I’ve been busy wouldn’t be true, and I have a feeling Liam would see right through it.
“Avoiding me?” he asks.
That’s not what I expected him to say. Since it’s the truth, I simply give a rueful one-shouldered shrug paired with a nod.
“I’m so sorry about the other morning, Joss. I was—” His phone rings, cutting off his words. Jaw clenched, he glances at the screen, muttering something that sounds like ‘hold your fucking horses’. He shoots me an apologetic look as he jabs at the screen, sending the call to voicemail.
