“I won’t bite,” he teases and shifts his other hand behind my back. “Not until you ask.”
The memory of his teeth scraping against my skin is like a phantom touch. It starts at my collarbone and scratches down to my nipple, which Liam then took into his mouth.
Focusing on trying to control my breathing, I can’t find the words to flirt back. He misinterprets my silence.
“Calypso,” he murmurs and leans closer. His mouth is only inches from me now. “Are we okay?”
“Yeah,” I breathe out. “Yeah, we’re okay.”
His fingers brush along mine before intertwining them. “I wasn’t hiding anything, not intentionally at least. I don’t know how much of my life you’re interested in.”
Biting my lip, I let his words roll over in my mind. Against better judgement, I say, “Everything—I want to know everything, Liam.”
The words fall from my lips like a dandelion caught in the breeze. There’s no pulling them back now. The declaration sits heavy in the air between us.
He nods in understanding but gives me an expectant look.
It has been years since I’ve opened myself up to someone new. After my best friend Juniper left, and my divorce with Stefan was finalized, there wasn’t any reason to put myself in that vulnerable position again. With Liam, I want that connection. I crave it so desperately I should be terrified, but the only thing that scares me with Liam is knowing there’s an end date to this.
In some ways it makes it easier, too. I won’t be surprised when he leaves.
To be fair, I’m not the easiest person to get along with. I prefer my alone time more than the company of others—Liam is somehow the exception, like Juniper used to be. I’m either too quiet or too opinionated, making it difficultfor someone to ever get comfortable in my presence. The closest people in my life are my siblings and Lexi, and I am so thankful for them. Sometimes I just want someone who ismineagain. Even when Asher and Juniper were dating, she washisgirlfriend butmybest friend.
It sounds so petulant that I hate even thinking about it. It’s always there, waiting in the shadows of my psyche, ready to remind me that if I don’t push them away first, everyone will leave me in the end.
“I’m trying,” I murmur.
I am.
In a matter of weeks, I’ve shared more with Liam than I have with anyone else. He draws it out of me like a magician’s ribbon. That has to count for something, regardless of the details I’m still not ready to share.
“I know, honey,” he reassures. “I can see that—seeyou.”
His words wash over me, truthful and warm. I’ve never felt more seen and understood by someone in such a short time. Even when we’ve had small miscommunications like earlier tonight, he’s quick to talk it through and set my mind to rest.
I know if I open my mouth, I’ll ruin the moment. Not purposefully, just out of pure instinct.
Instead I choose the silent acceptance of the moment—of us, whatever that may be.
With a slight tilt of my head, my lips brush against Liam’s. His are full and soft but the prickle of his beard creates an intoxicating juxtaposition I haven’t stopped thinking about for months.
Playing coy, I pull away before it can go deeper. I’m surprised by the desperate need on Liam’s face. Even with his eyes closed, his desire for more—for me—is evident by his barely parted lips, the heavy fall of his chest, and the way he searches for contact before looking at me.
Lightly shaking his head, he leans closer and grabs one of my thighs, keeping me close to his body. “Come back here.”
As if his words put a spell on me, I sit motionless. With heady eyes, I watch him slide his hand up my arm before tangling it in my hair. It’s only seconds before his warm breath fans against my jaw and his lips crash into mine, but it feels like a torturous eternity.
There’s no holding back once I get a taste of him again. He lets out a deep groan when my hand moves up his chest, my thumb flicking against his nipple, and I find the short hair at the back of his neck. I swallow down the sound, not wanting to share his pleasure—not even with the crashing waves or crackling fire that is our soundtrack for this moment.
Liam’s hand around the back of my neck slips down to my waist, pulling our bodies flush to each other. As our tongues tangle together and my nails scratch down the back of his head, he guides one of my legs over his lap until I’m straddling him.
We break the kiss to look down at our new connection. My denim-clad pussy is positioned perfectly over his hard dick. It’s a situation I remember all too well. From the way Liam’s hand naturally slips down to my ass and softly rocks me over his length, he’s imagining that night as vividly as I am.
“Fuck,” he mutters, already moving back to my lips. “You’re so fucking gorgeous, it’s almost cruel.”
His words heat my arousal and I pull his mouth to mine, closing the last inch of distance.
Our bodies move in sensual harmony despite the layers of clothing between us. Our tongues fight for dominance, and I tilt his head further back, giving myself more of an advantage. It’s short-lived as he bites my bottom lip before kissing down my jaw and neck.
