Chapter 47 - Juliana
“I s she awake? Does she need me?” I murmur sleepily when Liam touches my arm that night.
I fell asleep on the sofa earlier with my beloved Austen miniseries playing in the background.
For a long time, it was pure comfort escapism from the shitshow my first marriage amounted to.
Now, I can watch it with that old familiar giddiness again, the way I felt as a teenage girl the first time I watched it while being grateful the tumultuous teen years are behind me. Until Archie hits that age at least.
Shaking his head, Liam mutes the television and takes a seat, pulling my feet into his lap. “She’s been out the past hour. No signs of stirring yet.”
He begins massaging my feet and he’s damn good at it, but I want more than that. Opening my arms, I beckon him to lie down beside me. He does, wrapping his arms around me, surrounding me with his delicious cedar fragrance and his powerful body. God, I’ve missed being held by him all night.
“What a brunch, huh?” he murmurs against my cheek.
“It was entertaining . I have faith they’ll figure things out.”
“Hudson and my sister or Santi and the poor girl he’s going to marry?”
“Both, I hope. I miss cuddling in front of the TV this way.”
He chuckles. “Me, too. I miss movie nights.”
“You mean you miss make-out nights.”
“Yeah, that.” His admittance has the butterflies stirring… in my pussy. “But she’s worth every long night. She’s worth a billion long nights.”
I smile, caressing his arm. “Yes, she is. But, since she’s asleep… Dr. Mallard gave me the all-clear for certain activities to resume a couple of weeks ago.”
“I know,” he says, huskily. He doesn’t say anything more and a less secure version of myself would’ve read things into that. Now, I don’t. I simply understand he wants to be sure I’m ready, regardless of what any doctor says.
I rub my foot over the back of his calf, enjoying the prickle of his hairy leg against my smooth skin. “Liam… I want sex.”
He tilts his chin down, giving me a playful grin. “Movie make-out nights are back with a blast.”
Chuckling, I nod as he leans in for a kiss, claiming my lips, my heart and stealing my breath away. Every damn time.
There’s something to be said for late-night sex on the sofa, especially when you’re desperate for it.
Smoldering kisses, whispered words, a bit of fumbling to get the most necessary articles of clothing out of the way, and then I feel his hot erection resting against my inner thigh.
“I need to prepare you,” he murmurs, trying to slide down between my legs.
“No, I just want to feel you in me. Now.”
He gives me that sweetly sexy, questioning look and I wrap one leg around his waist, squeezing it against his ass. His tip brushes my folds with the movement and we both groan. “Fuck, Juliana…”
“That’s exactly what I was hoping you’d do.”
“You’re not on the pill. Should I get a condom or…”
“Can you pull out? I want to feel you, and only you, inside of me.” He smirks, enjoying my desperation, and pushes forward, claiming me as his. My heart pounds as my fingernails graze his strong shoulders, the sweet burn and stretch of his possession fueling my desire.
“More?” he asks, making sure I’m okay. A quick nod from me, and he starts thrusting harder. Our eyes are locked as he moves above me, his powerful thrusts hitting deep and awakening the lovely ache I’ve been missing the past few months.
“Juliana… I need you to come soon, baby.” It’s been too long for him to hold out indefinitely.
“I’m right there.” I’ve barely gasped out those words before my clit gets just the right pressure from his body and I’m spiraling into bliss.
A helpless moan tears past my lips as final waves of my orgasm rocks through me, but his expression has turned so intense.
It’s clearly a battle for him to hold back.
“Get up,” I tell him, quickly. He rocks back onto his knees but looks perplexed when I push his hand away.
“I’ll be the one to finish you off,” I purr.
The brutally sexy, primal noise he makes when I take him into my mouth, casting my eyes up and silently begging for it, makes me feel like the most seductive woman to ever walk this earth. I know without a doubt, he’s the most beautiful man I’ll ever lay eyes on. And, he’s all mine.
After we’ve cleaned up, we creep into our bedroom to find Archie still sleeping soundly in her bassinet. For a few precious minutes, perhaps even an entire hour, we can lay in our bed together and rest. “I love you,” he murmurs, caressing my cheek.
I scissor my legs with his, closing my eyes. “And, I love you.”
“I want to marry you.”
My eyes pop open again. “You do?”
“Absolutely. It’s not something I’d ever demand of you but, someday, if you should decide you wouldn’t mind being shackled to someone again…”
“I’d marry you,” I say, peppering his stubbled jaw with delicate kisses. “I’d marry you, I’d marry you, you and no other man, Liam Culver. Will you marry me?”
“I thought I was the one asking.” I raise an eyebrow and he chuckles quietly. “Well, in that case…” He quickly scrambles out of bed, stalking over to his dresser.
“What are you doing?” I whisper as he shuffles around his sock drawer.
He spins back around with a wickedly handsome grin.
“Getting this.” He holds out a ring box, a beautiful diamond ring surrounded by blue velvet, the stone winking at me under the low lights.
Sitting up, I’m completely gobsmacked when he sinks down to one knee beside the bed.
“I checked with Wendy a few months ago. Just to be sure it wasn’t too much like your first one. ”
It’s not. It’s a different cut, different setting and a platinum band instead of gold. Everything feels different, and I appreciate that he thought of that.
Then, his words about my sister register. “A few months ago? How long has this been sitting in your dresser?”
“Since you moved into the house with me.”
“Pretty sure of yourself, weren’t you?”
“I was sure of you. From the moment I laid eyes on you.”
It might not have happened that fast for me, but I’m sure of him, too. “Will you put it on me?” I hold out my hand, allowing him to slip it on my finger. His smile shines brighter than the sun, and the ring is a perfect fit. Like us.