Chapter Eighteen #3
“Yes,” he confirms. “I care about you, Maddie, even when it seems like I don’t. Not getting closer to you was so they’d leave you the hell alone, and when I tried to act indifferent, it hurt you. But I’ll never forgive myself if something happens to any of you.”
I take his hands and wrap my palms around them, scooting as close to him as possible. “Thank you for telling me. I won’t say anything. You can trust me.”
“I hate putting you in the position to lie to your sisters, but it’s for their own good.”
“They’d freak out and that’s the last thing we need right now.”
“If I go along with whatever Victoria wants, you’ll all be fine. She gets her money, my debt is forgiven, and I get to live, then once we’re divorced, everyone can pretend this never happened,” he says reassuringly, and I hope it’s as easy as it sounds.
I don’t know Victoria and avoided her when she was here, but after hearing the whole story, I wouldn’t want to cross her either. Especially if she has her daddy’s money and business to back her up.
“I hope she sticks to her end of the deal because I don’t like the idea of kissing a married man. Which, speaking of…” I push back. “I should slap you for kissing me two days before you brought her here and blindsided me.”
Liam smirks. “And I’d deserve it.”
“You get redemption points, considering you went back to face them the second they put a target on me.”
He leans in, brushing his fingers over my jaw. “I’d die trying to keep you safe, Mads. I was stupid to think I could hide from them, but if I had any idea what they were capable of, I would’ve never risked it. I’ve made a lot of stupid fucking decisions, and I’m paying for them now.”
I close the gap between us and press my mouth to his for a slow, passionate kiss. “We all make dumb choices, Hulk. But now that I’ve heard the truth, I can be here for you so you don’t have to go through this alone.”
“I don’t deserve you, Mads. I’ve known that since I met you.”
“Is that why you slept with everyone except me?”
He moves back, placing his hand over his heart. “Ouch, woman.”
“Oh, sorry.” I feign sincerity. “Did the truth of your reputation hurt your ego?”
He cocks his head with a grin. “That damn sassy mouth of yours. Always running.” Liam wraps his hand around my neck and pulls us together, but I stop him right before our lips collide.
“Wait.” I place my palms against his chest. “Have you slept with Victoria?”
His eyes widen as he jerks back. “What?”
I narrow my gaze, leaning away. “You heard me. Did you have sex with her?”
When he doesn’t look at me, it’s all the answer I need. “Are you bullshitting me? Are all the sweet Liam gestures only for show so you can keep me and your wife both happy?”
“It’s not like that,” he insists. “We hooked up once months ago before any of this shit went down.”
I swallow hard and look at the ceiling to keep the tears from falling.
“That was the only time?” I ask, filling my lungs with air. Again, he glances away. “Goddammit, Liam.”
I’m an idiot.
Victoria is gorgeous, rich, and probably well experienced in the bedroom. Of course he’s slept with her more than once.
I push off the bed, wiping my face, and when I stalk toward the door, he grabs my wrist and pulls me back.
“I didn’t have a choice,” he grits between his teeth.
“She knew Sophie wasn’t buying our story and wanted to make sure no one else was suspicious.
The more questions Soph asks, the higher the risk.
I’m not sure of the extent of what her father is capable of, but as I said, if he’s watching me, he’s watching them.
If your sister or Mason knew about the O’Learys, Johnny wouldn’t think twice about ending them.
Victoria knows that and uses my friendships against me to get what she wants. ”
I face him, my cheeks heating with anger. “Oh, so she forced you to have sex with her?” I yank my wrist from his grip and cross my arms. “That’s the story you’re going with?”
His nostrils flare as his head falls back. “She wanted to make sure Sophie was convinced. I told her no, but she wouldn’t listen.”
“Right. I bet it was a real hardship.” Tears fall freely, and I don’t bother catching them this time. Of course he’s slept with a lot of women, but to know he fucked her days after our kiss pisses me off to a level I’ve never felt before.
Spinning around again, I’m ready to bolt and pretend this conversation never happened. But before I can grab the knob, Liam grabs my waist. He twists me toward him, then pushes me against the door. His palm slams loudly on the wood next to my head as his other hand cups my jaw.
“It was a fuckin’ hardship, Maddie. I hated every goddamn second of it. Knowing how much pain her being here was causing you, I hate myself for what I did. When I said you were all that was on my mind when I thought I had seconds left to live, I wasn’t exaggerating.
“I’ve made bad choices and am getting bitten in the ass for them now. Giving into Victoria’s demands is nothing compared to how I feel about betraying you. But I’ll be damned if I let you walk out of here because you believe I want her over you.”
His eyes darken and grow more intense as he cages me in.
“I’m constantly lost in my head thinking about you while simultaneously trying not to think about you.
You’re way too good for me, and I’m man enough to admit that.
You deserve better. A man who can give you everything I can’t, but let me make one thing crystal clear.
If I were capable of falling in love, I have no doubt you’d be the person I’d fall for. ”
My heart nearly stops.
“You don’t think you’re able to feel love, Liam?” I ask softly.
“Not the way you deserve, baby.”
“Well, for the record, I think you’re exactly what I deserve. You’ve just proved a selfless act of love whether you realize it or not.”
“My heart broke a long time ago when I saw what love did to my father and it’s never been pieced back together.”
“Then the least you can do is let me try to prove you wrong.”
Liam looks at me intently as if he’s trying to find the strength to argue, but our connection is stronger than he’s ever wanted to admit, and he can’t deny it’s there. If we’re good at one thing, it’s pushing each other’s buttons, but he’s standing here, waving his white flag.
“I’m tired of fighting how I feel. Exhausted, actually,” he finally says, leaning closer until our foreheads touch. “I can’t promise you I’ll be any good at being in a relationship.” He pauses briefly. “But for the first time ever, I want to try.”
Happy tears fall as I wrap my hands around his neck. “I never thought in a million years I’d hear those words come from you, Liam Evans,” I taunt with a choked laugh.
Liam cups my face, and our lips crash into a desperate kiss, heat rising between my legs and every place we touch. His erection presses against me, and when I arch my back to meet his hard cock, he groans.
“Fuck, Maddie. Stop that.” He grins. “I said I’d give us a chance, but I didn’t say I had a lot of self-control. Especially when it comes to you.”
“And I’m testing to see what your threshold is,” I tease, then yelp when he smacks my ass.
“Well, unless you want your sister and Mason to hear us, you need to leave right now. Walk away before I rip off your clothes and eat your pussy against this door.” He steps back, putting space between us. When he adjusts himself and curses at how uncomfortable he is, I grin.
An unladylike groan releases from my throat as I desperately want him to do that. But in order to keep Liam’s secret, no one can find out about us. Everyone needs to believe he’s really madly in love with Victoria, his wife, and as much as that thought makes me sick, I know it’s for our safety.
“Fine,” I hiss. “But just know my panties are soaking wet and now BOB will have to take care of me.”
He furrows his brows. “Excuse me? Bob?”
“So uncultured.” I snicker, shaking my head at him. “Battery-operated boyfriend. Geez.”
Liam’s brow arches with a grin. “You have a vibrator, huh? Well fuck, thinking of you playing with yourself is gonna keep me extra busy in the shower.”
“Oh yeah?” I reach out and pull him closer so I can brush my lips against his. “Then add nipple rings and a shaved pussy to your spank bank.”
He growls, tilting my chin up with a hard gaze. “Don’t fucking mess with me, Maddie. Not touching you is testing my willpower.”
“And I’m giving you permission to give in,” I whisper confidently. “Touch me and don’t stop.”
Two seconds pass before Liam grabs me, hauls me against the door, and latches his mouth to my neck. We grind against each other, and the friction of his erection rubbing against me has me breathing hard. I want to rip off our clothes and let him slide deep and hard inside me.
“Fuck it,” he mutters before setting me on my feet.
Before I can ask what he’s doing, he kneels in front of me, slides down my shorts and panties, and flattens his tongue along my slit.
“Oh my God…” My hands grab his head, my fingers curling in his hair as he expertly flicks my clit and sucks it between his lips.
Liam helps me step out of my clothes, then puts my leg over his shoulder, spreading me wider for him. Without hesitation, he puts his mouth back on me, and when my back arches off the door, Liam slides a finger inside.
“Holy shit,” I whisper-shout, my pussy tightening around him. He’s not rough and uses just enough force to make it feel fucking incredible.
“Hold your leg higher, baby. I know how flexible you are.” He winks.
Grabbing behind my knee, I do as he says and lift it above his head. When his tongue slides from my ass all the way to my clit, my eyes flutter closed at the intense sensation. He repeats it twice more before sinking deeper, finger fucking and sucking my clit simultaneously.
I’m not sure how much longer I can stand, and when I start shaking, he brings a hand up to assist me. The orgasm rocks through me so hard, I bite down on my lip to keep from screaming.
Liam presses a final kiss to my swollen bud before we lock gazes, and he smirks, licking his lips. I drop my leg, struggling to catch my breath. He helps me back into my clothes and stands.
“I can die a fucking happy man now.” He smirks before brushing his lips against mine, and I taste myself on him.
“Don’t say that,” I whisper.
I’ve given myself plenty of orgasms, but nothing compares to that. To Liam. To his filthy mouth and perfect tongue.
“Well, I mean it.” He cups my face. “I’ve dreamed of doing that again for three years.”
“And?” I prompt.
“Worth the wait. Every goddamn second.”
I laugh, blushing. “Your orgasm-giving skills were very satisfactory. You should definitely, definitely do that again.”
“Wait. Only satisfactory?” His offended expression makes me chuckle. “Guess I’ll have to show you how much more satisfying they can be. Much, much more.”
“Look forward to it,” I mock. “Reach an outstanding level and you get a prize of a complimentary handjob.”
“You know…” He taunts. “For someone who’s flushed as hell from what is likely the best orgasm you’ve ever had, you’re quite sassy.”
“Isn’t that what you like most about me?” I swallow, drawing my bottom lip between my teeth.
Liam’s smirk deepens. “It certainly adds to your charm.”
I roll my eyes at his cocky tone. “Your arrogance knows no bounds.”
“Isn’t that what you love most about me?”
I snort, pushing his chest. “I better sneak out of here.”
Butterflies invade my stomach at the thought of having to keep this a secret from my sisters, but I know it’s for the best.
“Yeah, you should or I’ll be tempted to keep you captive and hold you as my hostage.”
“And who said romance was dead?”
He chuckles, bringing his mouth to mine and kissing me softly. His fingers thread through my hair, and I tug at his shirt to bring him as close as possible. I can hardly believe this is happening. It feels like I’m going to wake up at any moment and it’ll have all been a dream.
But at least now I know, Liam cares for me as much as I care for him.
Eventually, we break apart, and Liam palms my face. “I’m so sorry I got us into this mess, but I’ll do everything in my power to protect you.”
“I know you will.” Rising on my toes, I press my lips to his once more. Now that I can kiss him freely without fear he’ll turn me down, I’m addicted to it.
Liam lowers his hand and pats my ass, smirking. “Now get out of here before Sophie and Mason notice you’re up here.”
“Their heads are so far up their wedding planning’s butt, I doubt they’ll notice I’m missing.”
“Well, let’s not risk it any more than we have to.”
I roll my eyes. “Fine.”
“But to avoid them from being suspicious, you’re gonna have to be the inappropriate pain in the ass that you usually are.”
I bark out a laugh. “Can do.”