“Had to. She’d have figured it out eventually anyway. She’s annoyingly perceptive.”
He nodded slowly, his gaze tracking around the living room before landing back on me. “So. This is your new place.”
“Yup.”
God, why did this suddenly feel so awkward?
“So which item were you thinking of from my list?” I asked, because someone had to break the silence.
Liam’s gaze heated. “I want you to touch yourself while I watch.”
Masturbate in front of each other.
Of all the items left on my list, this was the one that terrified me most. Not because of the act itself, but because of what it required. Complete vulnerability. No hiding behind the rhythm of sex, or losing myself in the sensation of his hands on my body. It would just be me, exposed in the most intimate way possible, while he watched.
“We don’t have to,” he added quietly. “If you don’t?—”
“I want to.” The words came out steadier than I felt. I needed to. I needed to finish this list because until it was done, I wouldn’t really know where we stood for certain.
His voice was slightly ragged as he said, “Lead the way.”
I led him down the short hallway to my room. It was small, but tidy. The fairy lights I’d had in my dorm room were strung along my headboard, and there was a collage of photos on the wall, some of which included him, although Drew was also in those pictures.
Come to think of it, we’d never taken a photo just the two of us.
For some reason, that thought made my heart hurt. There wouldn’t even be any evidence we were ever together when all this was over.
Liam grabbed my hand, his warm, rough palm sliding against mine, soothing me in ways only he could.
“Hey, come here,” he said, his voice low.
I came willingly into his arms and looked up at him just in time for him to dip his head and kiss me.
God, he could kiss.
He could kiss so well, it would make me forget what day, month, or year it was. I was addicted to his kisses.
Without breaking the kiss, he grabbed the hem of my shirt and pulled it up. I moved away just enough to take it off completely before our lips met again. His hands roamed over my body, divesting me of my clothes as he went. I was a needy mess by the time he’d gotten me naked.
He tore his lips away, both of us panting heavily in the quiet of my room. Without a word—or breaking our stare—he quickly got out of his clothes until we were both standing bare in front of each other.
He reached out, wrapping his hand around the back of my neck and bringing me in for another salacious kiss. “I want you to get on the bed and spread those sexy legs for me, show me how wet I just made you.”
I couldn’t hold the whimper back.
And I couldn’t deny him either.
As I walked backward to the bed, he wrapped his hand around his length, his eyes never leaving mine.
“This is what you do to me,” he said, his voice rough. “Every fucking time. I think about you and I can’t—” His breath caught as his hand moved. “I can’t think about anything else.”
I watched, transfixed, as he stroked himself. Watched his chest rise and fall, watched his jaw clench with restraint, watched his eyes darken with want. He was beautiful like this—undone, vulnerable, and completely focused on me.
“Ava.” My name sounded like a prayer on his lips.
I leaned back against my pillows, propping myself up so I could see him. So he could see all of me.
And then I let my hand drift down my body.
