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“You don’t need my consent because it’s school property,” I say. “But go ahead. Since I know what you are after, the broken condom is probably in the trash can in my bathroom.”
“Are you staying to watch?” he asks.
“No. I am going to the Lake down on Highway 6 with my ex, Liam,” I say. “He’s the only person I have in this world and…”
“I understand,” he says.
“Am I good then?” I ask.
“You are,” he says.
I turn and walk away, leaving them to open my apartment door and go inside. I have nothing to hide, so I don’t care.
When I get to the lot, Liam is waiting for me. He opens the passenger door and offers me his hand to help me up into the seat. Once inside, we take off without a word.
When we get to the lake, he parks us away from everyone visiting and unhooks my seatbelt. He doesn’t say a word as he pulls me over into his lap and hugs me so tightly that I fall apart all over again.
I’ll never admit to him that I’m slowly slipping under again, but he knows. He has never judged me for how I struggle, and that’s what hurts the most. He keeps showing up, even when it’s inconvenient for him. But that’s the thing: it’s never actually inconvenient for him. It’s fucking effortless for him to sit here and do this. He does it because he cares, and I want so badly to be the woman that he deserves, but I don’t think I was born to be loved in the way that he loves me.
“I’m going to tell you something, and I don’t want you to respond. Just listen,” Liam says softly as I keep my face buried. “Nora, I love you more than life itself. That will never change. No matter how much you push me away. You can yell, scream, and cuss me. Take it all out on me, but I’ll still be here. I don’t care if it’s the middle of the night and you just need someone to yell at. Call me and yell at me. Do anything but hurt yourself. Alex cared so much about you.”
“He’s dead because of me,” I whimper. “It’s my fault.”
“Even if that were true, Nora,” he says, lifting my chin. “We both know he’d do it all over again just to spend another night with you.”
“You don’t know that.”
“I do, Nora,” he says. “I know because I would die ten times over just to get to hold you like this again. Just to be the one you call when the world is falling apart. He was my best friend, Nora, and I am so damn thankful that it was you he got to spend his last night with.”
“I’m scared,” I admit with a whisper. “But I can’t tell you… I can’t…”
“Don’t tell me,” he says. “When you are ready, I’m here. If you need support without explaining, just tell me. Text me a picture of the lake, and I’ll be here.”
“You mean that?” I ask. “No questions?”
“Mhmm. None,” he says. “We can sit in silence. You can vent, and I won’t even respond. I can feed you or…”
“Or fuck me?” I suggest carefully.
“I will never say no to that,” he says with a chuckle, making me smile. “If fucking you is what you need to keep you from slicing yourself open, baby, I’ll make you see stars.”
“Since when? You’re always so gentle.”
“Since when have you told me you wanted anything differently?” he counters, raising an eyebrow at me.
“That’s fair,” I say. “No judgment?”
“None,” he says, turning me in his lap so I can straddle him. I rock my hips against his, and we both groan when I find he is hard. “Shit. I don’t have a condom.”
“I don’t care,” I say, moving to get my pants and panties off. He doesn’t argue; he just frees his cock and moves us to the center seat so I can lower myself on him.
“Fuck, Nora,” he grunts when I drop my hips and slam him into my pussy. I moan softly and bring myself up to drop again. He gently holds my waist as I start bouncing on his cock, taking him as hard and deep as I can.
“Oh, God!” I moan, my thighs shaking.
Liam grunts and turns to lie back. This allows him to pull me down to his chest and lift his hips. He thrusts into me so hard that I scream, “Fuck!” He does it again and again, pulling moans out of me that make the world around us disappear.
When he comes, he pounds into me harder, taking me down with him. I am left breathless and exhausted, but he doesn't make me move. In fact, he just rubs my back and lets me stay where I am.
