“Oh,” I moan. “You were also doing that in my fantasy.”
Liam chuckles against my skin before moving to the other. He licks a trail of cum dripping down my breast up to my nipple, giving that one the same attention.
I’m ready to take back my earlier words—the ones telling him not to cancel his plans—when he slips an arm around my waist and pulls me up with him. Holding my body, now wrapped around him, he doesn’t take his mouth off of my nipple until we’re halfway to the bathroom.
“I need to get ready soon,” he says and sets me on the floor near the shower. “And I’m going to make sure you have everything you need until I get home.”
Smiling, I pull my hair into a bun. I hesitate to ruin the moment, but he should hear it from me.
“Hey, babe,” I say over my shoulder as I pin my short strands up. “I forgot to tell you something.”
Closing the glass door, he drowns out the heating water and looks at me with crossed arms. He’s stiff (not in the way I like) and broad, standing like a sentinel. “What? Did something happen with Ste—”
Not wanting to hear his name, I shake my head. “It’s worse…” I pause for dramatic effect. “My mom wants you to come to family dinner on Sunday.”
His chest deflates and he lets out a dry laugh. “In no universe is that ‘worse’ than your ex-husband.”
Pushing another bobby pin into place, I give him aget reallook. “You’ve turned down as many dinner invitations as I have.”
“Because you have vehemently stated how much you do not want to attend.” He tests the water before holding the door open for me. “Plus, I’ve already met your family.”
I scrunch my nose. “That’swhat my mom said.”
“So we’re all in agreement then.” He smirks and lathers a washcloth.
In a very productive manner, Liam is able to wash both of our bodies (something he insisted on doing) then get ready while calling in a delivery order from Bella Donna’s Diner for me.
He even checks on Rosie on his way out, so I’m lying in bed watching TV by the time she makes her way up. We fall asleep, both waiting for Liam to return.
Chapter Twenty-Four
Liam
Jo follows me to the back of the 4Runner like a little mouse, which is how she’s been acting since I extended the dinner invitation to her. She was reluctant to come to the Millers’ tonight, not wanting to overstep any more than she feels she already has. Calypso has tried to put her insecurities to rest, but it’s hard for Jo.
After Vivi gave her the apartment to use, Jo doesn’t want to put anyone else out. Calypso swears her family is excited to have us, and I’ve gotten to know them well enough to believe it.
Calypso said, and I quote, “It’s not a secret society, Jo.”
That made my sister laugh and relax enough to agree.
I open the liftgate while Calypso answers a call from Gavin. He doesn’t call on Sundays, so it must be important.
Jo is standing next to me and asks, “What are they like? I’ve only met Vivi.”
“And Lexi,” I say. “She’ll probably be here too. They’re all nice.Reallynice.”
She nods, looking unsure. “I feel… dumb. I don’t know.”
Turning to look at her, I rest against the side of the SUV. “You’re not dumb, Josephine. Where is that coming from?”
She shrugs and kicks at a pebble. It’s the most youthful I’ve seen her appear in a long time. “I’m the dumb girl who got cheated on, then ran away so her brother can take care of her. It’s not really the phase of my life I want to meet people in.” She eyes me. “People who matter to you.”
“Youmatter to me,” I say and lightly knock one of her fidgeting feet. “More than anyone else in that house, okay? I wouldn’t bring you somewhere if I thought it was only going to beat you down.”
She lets out a deep breath and sets her shoulders. “Yeah, I know. I’m just beingdumb.”
This time, she says the word playfully rather than deprecatingly. So, I smile and hand her the box of scones she was insistent on carrying.
