Power Play (D.C. Stars #2)

46. Piper

FORTY-SIX

PIPER

Me

Hi!

Liam

There she is.

How was your day?

Me

Good. How was practice?

Liam

My leg has been cramped for two hours.

Me

Sounds like loads of fun!

Liam

Want to come over and make it feel better?

Me

That was creepy. Try again.

Liam

Come over, wife.

Me

Yup. That’ll do it.

Unknown Number

Piper, it’s Steven.

Did you block my number?

What are you? Five?

Call me back.

Liam opens the door to his apartment before I can finish knocking.

I smile when I see him. He leans against the door frame in a pair of joggers. He’s shirtless, and his tattoos almost glow in the hallway light.

“Hey,” he draws out. “You look nice. Did you come from the arena?”

“Yeah. My feet are killing me.”

“Did you eat dinner?”

“No. I haven’t had a second to sit down all day. We finally hired a second announcer, so I was giving her a tour and helping her through the HR stuff.”

Liam gestures me inside and I groan in relief when I kick off my heels. I can’t make it more than four feet before he’s shoving a pile of clothes in my arms.

“Get comfortable,” he says.

“Did you have these waiting for me?”

“Yeah. Figured you had a long day and would want to change.”

I stand on my toes and kiss his cheek. “Thank you.”

“Come find me in the kitchen when you’re done.” Liam squeezes my ass. “And take your time.”

I head for the bathroom in the hall, changing out of the skirt and blouse for an oversized shirt that’s loose and soft. It’s one of Liam’s, well-loved and well-worn, and I smile at the scent of his laundry detergent hanging to the collar.

Pulling the socks on, I pad to the kitchen and find Liam standing over the stove, a dish towel draped over his shoulder.

“What are you making? Can I help?”

“Chicken parm again. You devoured it last time, and I thought I’d whip up some sauce.”

“Whip up some sauce,” I repeat, sliding next to him. “How casual of you.”

“Come on, Piper. I’m not going to buy a jar of tomato sauce. That’s fucking insanity.”

“Of course it is.” I smile when he holds out the wooden spoon. My mouth wraps around it, and I moan when I swallow down the small taste. “Holy shit. That’s better than the first time you made it.”

“I know it is. The first time I tried to get creative, but this is my mom’s recipe with a secret ingredient.”

“And how many women have you cooked this meal for?” I lean against the edge of the counter and cross my feet at the ankles. “Three dozen?”

“Just you. Only my wife gets to experience the Sullivan Sauce.”

“You know, that could have a double meaning if you think about it.”

Liam rolls up the dish towel and snaps it at me. My yelp turns to a laugh when he grabs me and holds me to his chest, easily avoiding my flailing and kicking.

“I missed you,” he says in my ear.

“I missed you too,” I say back, and I mean it.

He sets me down and dishes out a large plate of pasta. We sit next to each other at the island and talk about our days. He smiles when a drop of sauce gets stuck in the corner of my mouth. I nudge his foot with mine and wrap my ankle around his calf.

It’s exactly like what we’ve been doing for so many months, but it feels different .

There’s not a doubt in my mind he wants to be here with me, and there’s a lightness in the air. An easiness that wasn’t there before, and I like how natural it all feels. How relaxed Liam is and the way he keeps touching me, as if he’s been waiting months to have me like this.

“Your migraine prescription came.” He taps the box sitting on the island and pushes it my way. “Make sure you take it when you leave.”

“Thanks. Sorry it keeps getting delivered here. They had your address on file, so I went with it.”

“No big deal. As long as you take it.” Liam levels me with a look. “Are you taking it, Piper?”

“ Yes , and I’m getting monthly massages. I haven’t had any pain in weeks.”

“Funny how having access to things can make you feel better.”

“That’s what we can privilege, buddy.” I catch a flash of orange in my periphery and I scoop Pico off the floor, scratching behind his ears. “ Hola, Pico. Tuviste un buen día ?”

“When the fuck did you start speaking Spanish?” Liam drags my barstool over so our knees are touching. “Are you an undercover spy, Mitchell?”

“I downloaded Duolingo last month. Don’t get your hopes up. I only know about five phrases, and half of them are asking where the bathroom is.”

“Since you’re branching out, I guess I’ll tell you how I’m branching out.”

“Oh?” I kiss Pico’s head and look at Liam. “Are you finally interacting with people in full sentences?”

“You’re such a little shit.”

“It made you do that creepy smile again. Must mean you like it.”

“Debatable. I asked the guys if I could join book club this month.” He runs a hand through his hair and averts his gaze. “Hudson sent me an audiobook code and told me what book they’re doing next month so I can start early.”

“Liam. That’s incredible. I’m so proud of you.”

“Do you think you could read some of it to me when we’re together? I like listening to you. It helps me process the words.”

“Hey.” I stand and touch his jaw. His eyes snap to mine, and I smile. “I’ll read you whatever you want. Monster smut. Books about fairies. A thriller that includes graphic details about brutal murders.”

“Monster smut? Slow your roll there, Pipsqueak.”

I laugh and kiss his forehead. “Sorry. I’ll ease you into it.”

Liam tilts his head to the side and his lips land on mine. He takes Pico from me, setting the cat down so I can wrap my arms around his neck and step in close.

“Are you staying the night?” He pulls away to move his mouth down my throat, along the line of my neck, and I tip my head back so he can kiss the spot below my ear I secretly love. “Please say yes.”

“The only place I’m going is your room.”

His stool scrapes across the floor when he stands, a grating sound I block out as he bands his arm around my waist. Tosses me over his shoulder and heads down the hall.

“Is this my new mode of transportation?” I ask.

“Easier access to your ass.” Liam rests a hand on the curve of my backside and gives it a light smack. “And that’s one of my favorite parts of you.”

He kicks the door open and drops me on the bed. I bounce twice and scramble across the sheets to the pillows. Liam steps toward me, already hard. His hand disappears in his sweatpants as he strokes himself, his wrist moving up and down.

“Should I take this off?” I tug on the hem of my shirt and slowly drag it up my stomach. Liam follows my movements, his strokes turning faster as I drop my legs open and lift my hips. “And these?”

“Please,” he begs around a rasp that’s delightfully low. “I want to see.”

“All this talk about being good. Have you been good, Liam?”

“I think I have, but I’ll get on my knees and beg if you want me to.”

I pull off my underwear first and fling the pair at the wall. My shirt comes next, discarded somewhere else in his room. “How about you get between my legs?”

“ Fuck , Piper.” Liam gapes at me, mouth parted. Cheeks red. A bead of sweat just below his hairline. “My wife is so fucking pretty.”

He has to know what that word does to me.

He has to know it turns my brain into a pile of mush.

“If I’m so pretty, get over here and take care of me.” I lift my chin and smile. “Please?”

He climbs on the bed and positions himself between my legs. He shoves my knees open wide and runs his finger across my entrance. There’s no warning before he pushes inside and I gasp at the stretch, the quick burst of pain subsiding to the bliss he always brings me.

“So wet. And all for me.”

“ Obviously it’s for you. Who else would it be for?”

“I don’t know, but I like that it’s me.” Liam presses on my clit with his thumb and I gasp, sinking into the feeling of unbelievable pleasure. “No one else.”

He adds his tongue and another finger, working me up until there’s no doubt in my mind he’s the one who takes care of me. He’s the one who knows exactly which way to flick his wrist or curl his fingers.

I’ve tried to imagine other people touching me like this.

Having me like this and talking to me like this.

Would my body react the same way?

Would I like it so much?

When he spreads me open, his tongue diving deep inside me as the shockwave hits, I know the answer is unequivocally no .

My legs shake and he soothes me down, his touch turning lighter as the crest of the wave ebbs to an easy ripple. I groan when he pulls away, my nerves electrified and my heart hammering in my chest.

“That was good.” I smile at the ceiling. “Give me a second before we go again. I need to catch my breath.”

“Take your time, sweetheart.” Liam kisses my forehead and moves off the bed. I look over at him and find him tugging off his sweatpants. Stepping out of them and wrapping his fingers around his length. “See something you like?”

“I like the no-underwear look.”

“Do you? Think I’ll do it again.”

“How do you?—”

The moment breaks. My phone rings loudly in the kitchen, echoing down the hall, and I jump at the sound.

“Who keeps their ringer on?” Liam asks. “And at that volume?”

“Sorry. I like to keep it on in case there’s an emergency. With Maven and the baby and Emmy on airplanes every other day, I want to know if something’s happened.”

“Want me to get it?”

I gnaw on my bottom lip. Anxiety claws at the pit in my stomach, and I nod. “Could you? I’m sorry. I won’t be able to focus on anything unless I know it’s nothing serious.”

He turns without a second thought, returning a few seconds later. “It says unknown number.”

“ Shit . It must be Steven. I blocked his number a few months ago when he kept texting me. He started messaging me from a new number recently, and I haven’t had a chance to block him again. I don’t want you to think I’m talking to him or anything like that.”

“The only thing I think is that he’s a giant fucking asshole.” Liam tosses my phone on the mattress. “And that I fucking hate him.”

“I do too.” I reach for him, wanting to feel him on top of me. Wanting to shake off the old memories and replace them with new, better ones. “I want you, Liam. So badly it hurts.”

He plucks a condom from his bedside table and opens the packet, sliding it down his length. “How do you want it tonight, baby?” Liam rocks forward, the first inches of his length pushing inside me. I moan and grip his arm. “Fast? Slow?”

“Fast.” My other hand drops to his ass, urging him deeper in me, and it’s his turn to groan. “Hard.”

“Are you going to let me fuck you like you’re mine, Piper?”

“Yes,” I plead, closing my eyes. “Because I am yours.”

I revel in the manic, possessive way Liam moves. I slip into the stretch and twinge of pain. In feeling so full, so perfect, I fall into a trance.

The trek toward another high is interrupted, my phone ringing again and my restraint growing thin.

“Sorry,” I pant, and Liam thrusts into me with menacing intensity. “I should’ve silenced it.”

“And he should’ve stopped bothering you years ago. Answer the phone, Piper.”

My eyes fly open, and I stare at him. “ What ? You’re inside me.”

“Exactly.” He angles his hips torturously, getting deeper than before. Pulling me closer to the edge. I groan and grip the sheets, trying to enjoy the high a little while longer without giving in and free-falling so soon. “If he’s going to bother you, let him hear what he’s missing out on. Let him hear how I take care of you the way he couldn’t. Let him hear how well my wife takes my cock.”

Fuck .

Those two words almost cause me to combust. The first swell of an orgasm settles low in my stomach. My vision turns blurry. My mouth pops open and I’m gasping for air, burning alive.

Everything around me is hot, the room an inferno, and I’ve never been so turned on in my life.

I fumble behind me. My fingers wrap around the phone, and I slide my thumb across the screen.

“Hello?” I answer.

“Fucking finally,” Steven says. “What the hell are you doing?”

“Nothing,” I say breathlessly. Liam doesn’t like that answer very much, because he puts a thumb on my clit. Rubs in a slow circle and bends forward, crouching low so he can kiss my neck. “I’m busy right now. What’s up?”

“What’s up is I’ve been trying to get a hold of you for weeks. We have things we need to talk about. Money. Finances. Important stuff I’ve been waiting on you to look over and sign.”

“That’s not a good idea.” I moan as Liam pounds into me, and I slap a hand over my mouth. “You can go through my lawyer.”

“Are you— Christ , Piper. Are you in bed with someone? Fucking whore.”

My face falls and my blood turns ice cold. A look of rage takes over Liam’s face, and he gently works my phone out of my hand.

“What did you say to her?” he asks, deathly low.

I don’t know what Steven’s answer is, only that Liam holds my waist and doesn’t let go.

“Liam Sullivan. Oh, I’m on your fantasy team? The next time you see my name, I want you to remember I’m the one who fucks her in the way you never could. She screams my name, and I doubt she even pretend to moan yours. Stay on the line and listen if you want to find out for yourself, but if I hear you call her that word again, you won’t like what happens next.”

He tosses my phone somewhere in the pillows, not bothering to hang up, and brings my thighs to my chest. A moan laced around a laugh falls out of me, the last few minutes feeling like a fever dream.

“Look at me, Piper,” he says, and tenderness replaces the fury in his eyes. “I will never talk to you like that. I will never treat you how he treated you. With me, you’re safe. Okay?”

“Okay,” I whisper, and a word has never meant more. I reach out and touch his chest, my hand directly over his heart. “I’m yours, you know.”

He sinks into me again, and time passes slowly. I don’t know how long he fucks me, how long he stays inside me, only that it’s the most perfect place in the world.

We fall apart together in a mess of labored breaths as he kisses me then kisses me again, the phone and my past long forgotten.