AllFreeNovel
Share Us
It was on the tip of my tongue to tell him whatever worked best for him, but something had me forcing out a different reply.
“Tomorrow.”
His hand was still on my wrist, and I hated how much I liked it—and not because it was sexual in any way, but merely because I liked the sense of comfort. I hated how it seemed to settle the jagged nerves in my belly over the whole incident.
“Tomorrow it is. We’ll have to meet before the gym opens. You okay with that?”
I nodded, wetting my dry lips. His thumb traced a delicate line down the edge of my thumb.
“Also…” His rough voice trailed up my spine as if he were ghosting the space with his lips. His head turned, his eyes on me…his finger stroked mine and my heart burst into tiny pieces.
“I want you here when you’re spending time with the girls. I know Cole is next door at your place, but it will make me feel safer knowing you’re here. I have a lot of security measures in place to protect the house.”
“Of course.” I whispered, my gaze darting to his lips.
Why was my face so hot? My pulse thundered under my skin, and his hand was so warm on mine. I wanted him to stop, but I also wanted him to touch more of me.
“Haley?”
“Hmmm?” Oh shit, had I closed my eyes?
His body shifted, until his fingers gripped my chin and forced my face to lift, making my gaze divert directly to his.
“I think you’re bullshitting me about being okay. I think you’re rattled and scared, and I think you should stay here on my couch tonight.”
My mouth parted with a denial…but I paused.How did he know?
I couldn’t stay here. That would be too weird. I blinked and pulled away from his touch. “I can go to Cole’s, I’m sure he’ll let me stay there.”
Liam chuckled and then reached around me, grabbing a pillow.
“Just stay. You’re probably going to be here a lot anyway.” His gaze dipped to my lips before he added, “You know, for the kids. If I work late or anything, I would ask you to stay here with them.”
“True…”
He adjusted the pillow, his face coming within mere inches of mine.
“So stay. Then when you’re feeling ready, head home, grab your workout clothes, and we’ll go to the gym.”
I should turn him down, but I was so lonely.
Would it really be so terrible to stay the night in a house where other people slept, where I felt safe? He was right; I didn’t want to be alone. I hated being alone, and yet so much of my life, it was all I had ever known. I was sick and tired of accepting it, so why should I?
Giving him a tiny smile, I said, “Okay.”
“I’ll grab you a blanket and a shirt you can sleep in.”
I just watched him get up and walk away, as words failed me.
I had no idea what I would even say to him. I knew I should reject his offer, but I didn’t want to. I wanted to be selfish. So, when he came back downstairs and handed me a shirt, I walked into the guest bathroom without question and changed. My jeans came off—my wool socks would stay on—but my bra and shirt came off next. My nipples would show through the thin fabric, but if the lights were off, no one would notice. The shirt he gave me, went to my thighs, with a faded logo of boxing gloves and Croft Gym printed across it.
I flicked the light, grabbed my pile of clothes, and headed back out to the living room. Liam was standing near the side table, his arms crossed over his chest as he stared down at the pile of blankets like he was lost in thought.
There was a tiny lamp, right next to the couch, offering enough light to see by. The couch had been made up with three pillows, a sheet, and a fluffy down comforter.
“Thank you so much for making this up,” I said, setting my clothes at the end of the couch.
Liam’s eyes darted up, landing on me. He didn’t even try to hide the way he trailed my chest and legs, only to have his eyes bounce back up to my chest. I didn’t feel embarrassed or like I should cover up. It was the opposite; and the later it got, the more my inhibitions seemed to loosen. There was a piece of Liam that I wanted, and a part of me was desperate enough to try to grab it.
