Chapter Twenty
MADDIE
It’s been two weeks since Liam and I started sneaking around behind everyone’s back.
After the day Sophie almost caught us in the shower, we’ve tried to be extra careful.
I let Sophie drive me to work instead, and sometimes, Liam will pick me up if she’s busy.
I prefer he does anyway as it gives us some alone time in the evening before I have to act like he annoys the shit outta me—which he pays me back for later.
On the day I sleep in, the booming sound of Liam’s voice wakes me from a naughty dream, and I jump out of bed. I follow the sound to the kitchen, but I don’t go all the way in when I realize he’s on the phone.
“Victoria,” he snaps, sounding pissed.
He’s been super annoyed with her father’s team following him around, and I’ve tried to stay out of it for the most part and support him, but I hate seeing him so tense.
“Quit playing games,” he hisses. “I said I’d be there next month, but asking me to stay a week is a long time. I’ll miss too much work and have bills to pay.”
A whole week? The thought angers me because I don’t want her near him for seven days. I don’t want her near him at all.
“They’re still following me. When are they going to stop invading my privacy?” he asks. “I am behaving but that’s—” He stops as if she cut him off. He balls his hand into a fist and although I’m tempted to comfort him, I don’t want him to know I’m eavesdropping.
“No, that won’t be necessary.” His jaw locks as he inhales a deep breath. “Yes, I’m aware.”
Liam’s eyes widen when he notices me. His features soften as he gives me a little smile.
“I have to go.” He hangs up without letting her respond.
I walk over to him and wrap my arms around his waist. “Everything okay?”
He groans. “Just the usual Victoria bullshit. Reminding me it’s her game, her rules, blah, blah. Her father’s coming home at the end of August, and she wants me to stay for a week, and when I pushed back, she lost her shit.”
I roll my eyes. “I should’ve punched her in the face when I had the chance.”
Liam kisses my forehead as he pulls me into his chest. “Sorry if I woke you.”
“You did, but it’s okay. Almost slept away all my secret Hulk time.”
“You know, I always liked that you gave me a nickname. Think you can start using it in the bedroom?” He waggles his brows, making me blush.
I’m ready for more, ready for us to push past that final barrier in our relationship.
He insists we take things slow, but every time he touches me and we’re almost there, he stops us from going further.
Part of me doesn’t want to rush because this honeymoon phase or whatever it is has been a lot of fun, especially since it’s a secret.
However, the other part is scared I’ll lose him, and the chance to have him will slip through my fingers.
“Perhaps,” I say teasingly. “If I feel inspired, that is.”
“Oh, I’ll make sure you’re thoroughly inspired.”
He wraps his hand around my jaw and brings our mouths closer just as the front door flies open. Instinctively, I push against him, but apparently, it was too hard because he nearly stumbles to his ass. Luckily, the island steadies him, and I have to hold back my laughter at his reaction.
“Oops, sorry,” I mouth before opening the fridge and pretending to search for something.
After grabbing the coffee creamer, I shut the door just as Sophie and Mason waltz in with bags in their hands.
“Morning!” I greet.
“Hey,” Sophie says, dropping groceries on the counter. “Check this out!” She digs into her purse and grabs her phone, then swipes. Once she flips it over to show me, I furrow my brows.
“Why am I looking at a vagina?” I narrow my eyes, scrunching my nose.
“What? You’re not!” She looks at it. “Oh wait. Here.”
I shake my head. So many questions.
She shows me another picture. “What is it?”
“Serena. She had her baby!” she squeals.
“Oh!” My eyes light up. “What’d she have?”
“A boy! Isn’t he cute?” Sophie beams.
“Well, he’d be cuter if I didn’t just see where he came out of.” I shiver at the photo now embedded into my head. “Why do you have that picture anyway?”
Mason blows out a breath. “Don’t ask. I’m scarred for life.”
I snort. “That makes two of us.”
“Do you guys have more bags in the truck?” Liam interrupts.
“Yeah…” Mason grunts. “Only because Sophie wouldn’t help load all the bags onto my arms so we didn’t have to make more than one trip.”
“Sure, let’s smash the bread and eggs we just bought!” Sophie counters. “Totally smart!” Not even down the aisle yet, and they already bicker like an old married couple.
“I could’ve done it!” Mason retorts, showing off his bicep.
“Oh, pul-eese.” Liam rolls his sleeves up to his shoulders and strikes a pose. He’s twice as big as Mason. “Free tickets to the gun show, ladies and gents.”
I snort, shaking my head. “Why is one bicep bigger?”
“Why do you think?” Mason snorts, making a jerking-off motion.
“Oh my God. Why do we live with men?” Sophie groans, dropping her head back in exaggeration.
“Let’s kick them out and invite Lennon to move in,” I tease. “It’ll be our Girls Only Clubhouse. Snacks and booze only.”
“You’d miss me,” Mason says as he wraps his arms around Sophie, nuzzling his nose into her neck. Jealousy instantly rises, wishing Liam and I could freely show our affection, but it may never be that way for us. At least not until he divorces Victoria.
“I don’t know…maybe,” Sophie taunts as she giggles, glancing at me. “Why do you have creamer in your hand?”
“Huh?” I blink and look down at the bottle. “Oh, I was about to make some coffee before you guys came in.”
“I thought you didn’t drink coffee,” Mason says.
“I sometimes do.” I usually stick to tea, but there are times I’ll splurge for something stronger.
Sophie narrows her eyes at me suspiciously. Before she can say anything, Liam clears his throat.
“You gonna help, freeloader?” he asks, tilting his head to the door. “Let’s grab the rest of the groceries.”
I set down the creamer and throw him a scowl. “I’m not a freeloader, asshole. I pay my way by cleaning up after you slobs.”
When Liam walks ahead of me, I push him since my sister’s watching. I can feel her hard stare.
“If that’s the case, why is my room so messy? I have about three loads of laundry that need to be done. Chop chop, Cinderella!”
“Ew, I’m not your servant! I wouldn’t touch your dirty clothes with a ten-foot pole. Probably find a mistress handcuffed to your bed!”
“And how would you know anything about what goes on in the bedroom?”
We continue our banter until we’re out the door. As soon as we get to Mason’s truck, he pulls me around the back and pins me to the tailgate.
“God, I want that sassy mouth of yours on my cock.” Liam squeezes my hips as his lips find my neck. I giggle at the way his facial hair scratches me, the same way it does my thighs, but I love it so fucking much.
Liam sneaks into my room every night, then every morning he goes back to his room.
We quietly fool around the best we can, but Liam’s orgasm-giving skills often have me screaming into a pillow or biting my lip.
A few nights ago, one ripped through me so fast that I didn’t have time to cover my mouth, but he reached up and did it for me.
The weight of his hand against me turned me on even more, and now I’m determined to have him do it again.
I want just one night when neither of us has to hold back.
However, I’ve had the best two weeks of my life.
We kiss, lick, and suck each other—everything except sex.
Then when we’re both sated and relaxed, he holds me.
We talk and laugh until I fall asleep, and I never want this to end.
I’ve waited so long to have Liam like this and hate that we have to keep it from everyone, but I’m not taking a second for granted.
Liam’s always been mine, and I won’t let another woman keep us apart.
Speaking of which…shit.
Quickly, I shove Liam off me and scowl. He looks butt hurt, but when I widen my eyes and glance around, he finally understands.
They could be watching us right now.
Liam hands me one bag while he takes six.
“Go shower and get ready,” Sophie tells me as soon as I enter the kitchen. “Lennon’s meeting us for lunch in an hour.”
This is news to me.
“Everything okay?” I ask, unloading items.
“Yeah! I want to tell you both at the same time about the wedding plans we’ve come up with.”
An hour and a half later, the three of us are sitting in Frenchie’s Cafe, laughing and telling stories of Sophie as a child.
Although she’s the oldest, Lennon and I have many memories of us playing house and Sophie being the mom.
She’d stuff a pillow under her shirt and pretend to be pregnant with triplets.
It started with Sophie talking about the wedding, and then I brought up an embarrassing story that I planned to say during my bridesmaid speech. When I was done, Lennon added another embarrassing one. Now, Sophie’s threatening us with our lives if we repeat them.
“Oh come on,” I say, laughing. “You were cute waddling with your preggo pillow belly. Who knew Lennon would be the one who keeps popping out babies? When’s the third coming?” I ask, then take a sip of my drink.
“Hey, let me get one out before you’re begging her for another,” Sophie interjects.
“Yes, thank you! It was hard enough to get pregnant with Aaron, so we’re not putting any pressure on having baby number three. Although we’re not using protection, so you never know.” She grins, then blushes when we both gasp.
Sophie talks more about their plans to get married this December in the mountains of Tahoe City where Mason proposed. She wants a Christmas-themed wedding, which sounds super romantic. It’ll be close friends and family only, but that still means at least a hundred guests.
Just as we stand to leave, Lennon reminds Sophie to be over tonight by seven.
“Tonight? Why?”
“Mason and I are babysitting,” Sophie responds.