Dragging the salt air through my lungs, I take a moment to collect the thoughts that have been swirling with the frenzying speed of a tornado in my mind since the suggestion was made at dinner last night. Logan Stanley’s and Caroline’s contributions haven’t helped, either, and there’s entirely too much noise up there.
As excited as I am at the idea of having Liam in Paris with me, there’s a louder voice screaming that I’m not enough, and I’ll never be okay with Liam making a move across continentsfor me.If I’m reading him wrong and he likes living in Paris and the job, and I happen to be there too, that’s completely different.
“That depends, I guess. Would you still take the job if I wasn’t in Paris, or we didn’t have—whatever this is—going on?”
The nervous bob of his throat before he answers tells me everything I need to know.
I sigh. “Honestly, Liam, what I really want is for you to do what makes you happy, and if I’m in the picture, then I’d really love it, but I don’t want to be why you make this big life decision. This is still too new to be making a leap like that.”
“This isn’t new for me–” He shakes his head, and his shoulders sag. I don’t know if he was expecting me to jump up and down and be like “Yes! Yes! Yes!” even if a large part of mewantsto do that.
The idea of me probably isn’t new to Liam, but I’m anxious that with his far-off dreamy looks, there’s an idolized version he made of me in his mind that I can’t possibly hold a candle to. I will disappoint him with the reality of who I am; that’s the only logical progression here.
I should just stop this now. Put us both out of our misery before we get too attached.
I peek over at him, snapping a photo. His corded forearms flex holding the camera up to his face. My eyes follow the curve of his arm to the bend of his elbow and over the shirt sleeve cutting tight against his bicep. Ishouldstop this, but I don’t because I still remain, above all else, an absolute masochist.
“You know—” I look over with him, a sly smile on my face, hoping to cut the tension. “Today’s a pretty good day down there.” I nod to my pelvis. “If there were things you wanted to do, in maybe the bedroom or whatever—I don’t know. Maybe, you could show me some stuff.”
Look at me, natural seductress.
Liam’s head shoots up, a soul-crushing grin busting across his face. The dimples of doom pucker his cheeks as the gold flecks in his eyes twinkle in the warm rays of the sun. Excitement radiates off him, arcing between us. It jumbles the nervous energy bubbling inside me at the thought of what we’re about to do, and the pressure builds like a champagne bottle ready to bust its cork. “Fuck yeah, let’s go.”
I’m not sure how I made it off the rock jetty. Or into the car. Or off the island. But I swear I blink, and we’re back in Liam’s condo. I kick my shoes off, and they land on his hardwood floor with a satisfying thud. Liam wraps his arms around me and places me on the stone counter. He cups my cheek, laying a soft kiss on my lips.
“Still feeling good?” he asks in between kisses.
“Still good.” I unbutton his shirt. “Don’t feel like you have to be gentle.”
“Just taking my time,” he says against my lips. “You don’t have anything planned for the rest of the day, do you?”
“Just sleep.”
“We should have a good five hours before we need to do that.” Liam’s kisses grow rougher. His fevered hands rush over my sides, grabbing the edge of my dress and sliding it up and off.
“Five hours! Are you trying to kill me?”
“Just close to death. Don’t worry.” He winks before lowering his shoulder and wrapping his arm around my torso. In one smooth motion, he hoists me over his shoulder like it’s nothing and brings me into the bedroom.
He places me softly on the bed, and I prop up on my elbows, watching his own frantic undressing. He catches his eyes on me, his lips quirk, and then he slows, grabbing the collar on the back of his shirt, and lifting it over his head at an agonizing pace.
Light streams in from a picture window behind him, and I squint through a halo to admire the dips of his abdomen and the strength of his chest. “Hungry eyes.” He tsks. “Looks like I didn’t feed you enough this morning.”
“What can I say? I’m craving something sweet,” I say, shielding my eyes from the sun as his sure fingers undo the button on his denim, and he steps out of them.
“I hate to break it to you, but I think you came to the wrong place for that, Peaches.” He crawls up on the bed, hovering over me and then dips down, devouring my lips with his own. I didn’t know it was possible to be more attached to him, but I’m this close to considering being selfish and screaming“Yes, of course, you can stay with me in Paris for good.”
He hooks a finger and slowly drags my underwear down. I reach for him to do the same, and he gently grabs my hands. “Let me take care of you, Peaches.”
“Okay, but I feel like I should be doing something too. You’re just….”
“Lavishing you.” He smirks and climbs fully over me, settling on his side. “Worshipping you.” His hand draws slow, adoring circles on my abdomen. “Loving you.” He drags his finger along my pelvic bone and inner thigh crease. Butterflies follow wherever he goes.
“Torturing me,” I breathe out.
“You’re the one who accused me of being selfish in bed. I have to defend my honor, Peaches.”
Oh. I may regret that.
