“Sssshhh,” said Liam, quietly shutting the door and making his way to the bed. He slipped under the covers and nuzzled up to her.
“Thought you could do with a hug after a day like today,” he said, burying his head into her neck and trailing soft kisses up to her chin.
“I can’t say you’re wrong,” admitted Sunny, eyes wide, heart racing, “but this doesn’t feel like a hug, Liam.”
“Oh yeah,” he said, playfully. “The hug comes a bit later in the proceedings.”
Sunny surrendered to his touch. She still felt this was a bad idea, but he was here now, and she wasn’t in the mood to throw him out. Not now that his hand was cupping her breast and his fingers were gently rubbing her nipple, making it stand to attention.
He leaned down and sucked on it before flicking his tongue back and forth across the hard surface. Sunny let out a low moan as small currents of joy rippled from her chest.
His mouth found hers and Sunny was lost in Liam. In her primal need for him. She wanted him to ravish her. She wanted him to make her cum, with his tongue, with his cock. But she also needed the comfort of his strong arms, the reassurance that she belonged here. Morgan’s accusations still echoed in her mind. She want to expunge them with the white-hot joy of climaxing under Liam’s taut body.
In the early hours, Liam disentangled herself from Sunny’s warmthand crept to the door. She followed him to give him one last embrace at the threshold. After standing on her tip-toes to give him a goodbye peck, Liam opened the door.
Morgan, apparently an early riser, was in the hallway. Her eyes widened, then narrowed with malicious glee.
“Well, well. The truth comes out,” she hissed. “It always does, in the end.”
Sunny’s heart seemed to stop in her chest.
Liam’s face paled when he saw his sister.
“Morgan, it’s not-”
“Save it, Liam,” Morgan sneered. “I knew she was after more than just a paycheck. How long has this been going on? Does she whisper sweet nothings while your daughters sleep downstairs? You disgust me.”
“That’s rich, coming from you,” Liam retorted. “You, who only ever thinks of herself. Who only knows drama and recrimination. Sunny brings joy to this house, something you wouldn’t understand.”
“Joy?” Morgan scoffed. “Is that what you call rutting with the help? What would Kate say?”
“Kate would want me to be happy,” Liam snapped back, his voice low and sharp. “She’d want the girls to have love in their lives. But you… you’re nothing but poison, Morgan. A jealous, bitter woman who can’t stand to see others happy. You’ve made nothing of your life, driven every man away, including the husband who gave you everything.”
Morgan recoiled as if struck.
“You’ll regret this, Liam,” she spat when she finally regained her voice. “When she’s bled you dry and left you with nothing but broken-hearted children, you’ll remember my words.”
“Get out,” Liam growled. “Get out of my house, and don’t come back until you can treat people with the respect they deserve.”
For a moment, Morgan looked like she might argue. But then her face twisted into a sneer.
“Fine,” she hissed. “But don’t come crying to me when this blows up in your face. And it will, brother. Mark my words. It will.”
With a final, venomous glare at Sunny, she stormed back into her room.
Sunny felt shattered. Once again she’d been made to feel like she was was vermin. A leech in the Anderson house.
Liam turned to her, his eyes fierce.
“Morgan doesn’t get to dictate our lives,” he said, sensing her emotions. “She’s history, anyway. Good riddance.”
Sunny’s eyes welled with tears. She wanted to believe him, wanted it more than anything. But as the sound of Morgan’s suitcase slamming onto the floor echoed through the hallway, she couldn’t shake the feeling that their fragile happiness had just been shattered. The sun that had warmed their lives now felt like it was setting, leaving them in the cold shadow of reality.
Sunny
The blazing sun beat down on Sunny’s shoulders as she stepped off the plane in Saint Lucia, the island’s humid heat enveloping her like a warm embrace. She inhaled the scent of saltwater and hibiscus blooms, trying to calm her excitement.
Liam felt they all needed to get away after the recent stresses and booked a last-minute deal to the Caribbean. Sunny smoothed her yellow sundress, suddenly self-conscious under Liam’s intense gaze.
