His hands gripped her hips and drew her down to meet his mouth. The first stroke of his tongue made her gasp. It was slow and deep, like he had all the time in the world. His beard tickled against her sensitive skin, sending delicious shivers through her.
She let her head fall back, fingers gripping his at her waist as her hips moved in a slow, tentative rhythm. Liam responded with a low groan, tightening his grip, matching her movement with a hunger that made her dizzy.
She wanted to let go. God, she wanted to. But the closer she got, the tighter that wall pulled around her. Over and over again, she couldn’t break through.
She whimpered, frustrated, but Liam just murmured a quiet, “That’s okay.”
Like he knew.
Like he felt what was happening inside her and didn’t take it personally. Didn’t blame her.
Cassidy leaned forward, pressing her palms to the tree behind him, breathing hard.
“I’m sorry,” she whispered.
Liam slid his hands gently over her thighs, soothing and slow. “Hey,” he said softly. “Don’t be.”
She looked down at him, eyes blinking against the sting of tears. She felt like an idiot. This man was doing everything right, and she still couldn’t climax. And yet his expression held nothing but tenderness; there was no pressure, no demands.
She carefully stepped back, her movements a little unsteady as she stood and pulled up her jeans. He rose with her, brushing pine needles from his flannel.
“I didn’t… it just…” She hesitated, glancing away. “It’s not you. It’s never happened. Not with anyone.”
He reached out, cupping her cheek with one warm hand. “Cass.” He waited until she looked at him. “That was incredible. Hearing you. Feeling you. I wouldn’t trade it for anything.”
Cassidy’s chest tightened.
“I had an amazing time. Because it was you. Because you let me in.”
She didn’t say anything for a second. Just stood there, blinking at him.
Then finally, she nodded. A small, tentative smile pulled at the corner of her lips.
Liam leaned in, voice low and warm against her skin. “And don’t worry,” he murmured. “We’ll get you there next time. That’s another promise.”
TWENTY-SIX
LIAM
Wednesday, December 10th
One taste of her would never be enough.
That thought had hit Liam the moment his mouth touched her. She had gasped and squirmed, hesitant and unsure. He’d wanted to go slowly and gently, show her she could let go, that she was safe with him.
Cassidy was shy and more reserved than he’d expected, which only made him want her more. She looked at him like she wanted to trust him, like she wanted to believe this could be different.
When she’d confessed that she’d never climaxed with anyone, it had sucked the air from his lungs. He suddenly wanted that for her more than anything. He wanted to be the one to show her how it could be. Not just good, but transcendent.
Three years. She was with Jean-Paul for three years, and he never made her orgasm? Did the man even try?
She deserved to know what that kind of release with a partner felt like.
She deserved someone who cared whether she got there.
He didn’t care how long it took. He had time. He had patience. And he was more than willing to earn every soft sound, every trembling sigh, every ounce of trust she offered him.
When they stepped out of the pine tree forest, fresh snow was falling, blowing effortlessly through the cloudless blue sky. She was bundled back into her coat, fingers laced in his, and he still wasn’t ready for the morning to end.
