"I don't want us to be something anyone has to tip-toe around," I say. "I just… I want to give us time."
"I get it," he reassures, sinking his hand past my cheek. "We'll take it slow." I exhale, playing with the hair at the nape of his neck, and he hums. "With her and with us."
We seal it with a soft kiss that quickly turns heavy.
I whimper my need into him, and he bucks his hips at the sound. My nipples peak beneath my shirt, and when I brush them against him searching for friction, he growls.
"How slow are we going again?" he asks, barely pulling back.
"I didn't really think that part through," I pant.
Liam kisses me one more time—hard and devastating. The type of kiss that stays with you. That taunts you long after it's ended.
"Okay," he breathes, exhaling slowly. "I, um—yeah. Okay." He drags his hand behind his head, his eyes sinking shut. "You should, uh… unpack."
"Liam…" My tone is as desperate as I feel.
"No, you're right. We should go slow." He turns away, but not before I see the corners of his lips turn up slightly.
"You're mean."
He shakes his head, standing in my doorframe with tousled hair, red cheeks, and an undeniable bulge beneath his belt. "I'mlistening," he says confidently.
He turns to leave as my mouth hangs open and my leggings sit soaked at the apex of my thighs.
"Oh but, Tessa…" Liam looks over his shoulder, one foot already in the hallway, and I snap to attention. "Just know—tonight… I'll be thinking about you."
30
Liam
Moving around thekitchen, my steps feel lighter today. The avocado I sliced was perfectly ripe, the sourdough toasted to just the right bronze, and not one egg shell needed to be painstakingly scooped from the stupid pan.
Colors seem brighter. The air feels clearer. The sunlight streams warmer through the windows. Even Sammy begging at my goddamn feet is less annoying.
And that's all because of Tessa.
We finally talked—really talked—last night. No whispered half-conversations. No loaded looks or quick glances. But a full-on discussion about what this might be.
She feels it too, and her ex? Irrelevant, which I didn't realize was weighing on me so much until I blurted out the question. But most importantly… she feels it too.
We just talked, which led to a whole other set of issues for me personally. But I'm on cloud nine this morning just knowing that we're actually doing this.
She wants to take things slow? Fine. I'll crawl blindfolded if it means I get to have more of her. If anything, it's for the best. I was hesitant for all the same reasons as she was, so slow is probably what we need. But that doesn't mean it's gonna be easy. Especially after all this time without this feeling. Especially with her.
"Good morning."
I spin to find Tessa standing in the doorway in the baggy tie-dye tee I've seen her in at bedtime or before she gets dressed for the day. Even that familiar shirt seems different this morning. The purple and blue ink swirled in tight starlights seems more vivid today—new. Like the faded, washed-out patterns from years of wear have gotten their fresh start.
Like I have.
"Morning. I didn't hear you come down," I say in awe of her as Sammy saunters over to his second-best girl.
It's true, I didn't hear a thing. Maybe she snuck up on me, or maybe the low hum I've been feeling everywhere since last night drowned out the sound of her footsteps.
"I'm sneaky like that," she jokes.
The same smile I've worn since I walked out of her bedroom last night reappears. "Good to know."
