Even my relationship with my mother had started to soften, which I would have bet money against six months ago. Liam was helping me enforce the boundaries that made the relationship with my mom even possible. He helped me regulate my nervous system just by being near. I’d never had that before.
Liam reached for another plate.
That was when I finally decided to stop thinking. I crossed the kitchen quietly.
When he made to put the plate in the rack, I took it from him and set it down on the counter instead, then I stepped forward and wrapped my arms around his waist.
“Dishes can wait,” I murmured.
He didn’t move for a beat, then he leaned down and kissed me.
Slow.
Deep.
The kind of kiss that made the entire room fade out around us.
I slid my hands up to his shoulder as his arms tightened around me.
I loved feeling him against me. The warmth of him. The solid presence of him.
I couldn’t wait anymore.
The words escaped before I could overthink them.
“I love you, Liam.”
He pulled back slightly and looked down at me. His expression softened in a way that made my chest tighten. He looked almost stunned. Then something even deeper moved through his face.
He cupped my cheek. “I love you too.”
His voice carried a weight I had never heard before.
“I’ve loved you for a long time.”
My throat tightened.
“More than anything,” he added.
Emotion surged through me.
He lifted me off the floor, and I wrapped my legs around his waist without even thinking about it. The living room blurred around us as our mouths found each other again. When wereached my bedroom, I pulled back slightly and pressed my forehead against his.
“I’ve been thinking about something.”
His fingers dug into my back. “What?”
“I know this might sound rushed.”
He waited quietly.
“But it’s not. I promise it’s not.” I took a breath. “I’ve talked to my therapist about it.”
He raised an eyebrow. “What are you talking about?”
My heart was racing now, but the certainty remained. “I want you to claim me. Tonight.”
Every muscle in his body locked.
