Chapter 16 #3
She smiled before shifting off his lap and tugging him down on top of her.
The sofa was lumpy but oddly comfortable and large enough to accommodate them – especially when he was straddling her, which he was doing now.
He looked down and his dark eyes slowly skimmed her collarbone, bra and stomach.
Clara fought the desire to cover herself and, instead, lay there and studied him before she couldn’t wait any longer and she propped herself on one elbow so she could undo the zip of his jeans.
While she was there, Liam got rid of her bra and stood so he could lean down and skim his lips over her breasts.
‘Oh,’ she gasped as his mouth slid over her torso until it reached the top of the red tights.
Then he slowly pulled them down over her hips, taking her pants with them before sliding the lot over her thighs, knees and calves.
He kissed his way as they went, leaving shimmering skin, heat and a want so fierce Clara had to grip her fingernails into her palms.
‘You’re beautiful,’ he whispered as he pushed his jeans over his hips and dropped them, along with his boxers, to the floor before pulling off his socks and tossing them over his shoulder.
She wanted to tell him he was wrong, but just stopped the words from forming.
It was moments like this that made her realise how often she put herself down, how negative her view of herself was.
So, instead, she watched him, content to lay back and admire – to study the way the muscles and sharp edges of his chest were mimicked by the rest of his frame.
His legs were muscular and strong, his calves the same and in the centre, Oh Merry Christmas to me, she thought.
Clara’s stomach roiled and her centre began to pulse with anticipation.
‘You’re the one who’s beautiful,’ she murmured, holding out a hand. He stared at it before taking it and smiling down at her.
‘Here?’ he checked and she nodded. She wasn’t interested in going to Liam’s bedroom.
She liked his sofa, the smell of pine needles coming from the tree and the way the Christmas lights threw vibrant colours over the carpet – how the glitter from Doris’s card littered the floor.
She’d probably be washing pieces of it from her body for the rest of the week, but the idea that she was layered in sparkles just added to the magic of the moment.
Made her think about the older woman and her advice to get out from behind the curtain, to get on with her life. She was certainly doing that now.
Liam stared at her looking thoughtful, then he nodded and moved down the sofa, making himself comfortable before pressing his palms firmly to the inside of her knees.
He studied her for a long moment making her flush, smiling slightly, before he began to press gentle kisses to the insides of her legs.
Clara whimpered and shut her eyes, letting the incredible waves of pleasure roll through her.
She was all about enjoying the moment, taking what was offered – she wasn’t going to overthink this, or question whether her cries were too loud, or if it should be her making Liam moan.
Then his mouth met her centre and she stopped thinking at all.
Instead, she squirmed and groaned, then almost catapulted off the cushions as he continued his good work.
He was amazing at this – that was all her mind could muster – and she never wanted him to stop.
After a few short minutes, Clara realised she wasn’t going to be able to hold on.
No matter how much she wanted the pleasure to last. Something was throbbing at her core, a need so strong she couldn’t contain it and she exploded suddenly in one swift scream of pleasure, levitating off the sofa, trying to catch her continuing cries by biting her lip.
Her whole body was trembling as Liam made his way up the sofa and kissed her again, his mouth soft.
She felt dizzy and hot and filled with a need so deep she couldn’t explain it.
She tugged his shoulders, wanting the heavy weight of his naked body on hers.
He complied but pressed one elbow into the cushions so she didn’t bear all of his bulk.
He was warm and hard, and she wriggled under him and smiled when he groaned.
‘Are you sure?’ he asked as she wriggled again.
‘Oh yes,’ she said. She’d never been so sure of anything. And this was her decision, she wasn’t being persuaded into it or made to feel like it was the only way. She stared into his eyes, trying to signal everything she was feeling and he stared back, before nodding.
‘Okay.’ He glanced over his shoulder. ‘I’ve got—’
‘It’s taken care of,’ she whispered, flushing a little. ‘I’m protected and I haven’t slept with anyone for a while.’ Not Hudson – he hadn’t wanted her for months. She didn’t want to explain that, but Liam jerked his chin.
‘I haven’t either,’ he said softly, kissing her again. ‘Not since Mia.’
The kiss was soft, slow and devastating.
Clara immediately lost herself in it, although she squirmed again and felt Liam smile against her mouth.
She wanted to kiss him all day, but she wanted him inside her more.
Wanted to feel that connection, for them to be part of each other.
She already felt like he could see inside her head and she could see inside his.
She’d hardly ever felt so close to a man.
Now she wanted their bodies to mirror their minds.
Liam stretched and shifted, pushing slowly until he was exactly where she wanted him.
She hummed, the sound vibrating in her throat, mirroring the effervescent energy tingling through her.
He began to move and she moved too, rocking until he broke off the kiss so he could stare down into her face.
His eyes were dark and filled with pleasure, heat, and something else.
She swallowed again as the first wave crashed through her.
Then she shut her eyes and let him take her away as her mind rocketed out of itself…