37. Liam
Returning to Emily’s room, I knock before entering. She’s not in the room but the sound of the shower tells me that’s where I’ll find her. I make my way over and freeze. Emily is crouched with her arms wrapped around her legs and her chin resting on her knees.
Instead of immediately trying to get her attention, I lean against the door frame and observe. She’s as still as stone. The room is humid from the heat of the water and my upper lip begins to sweat.
From where I stand, I can see her lips moving but no words are said.
I frown and shift nervously. Her attention immediately spins to me, and I tense.
“The voices… they never stop,” she whispers.
I remember her comment about the voices, and I swallow tightly. Pushing away from the door, I take the towel from the hook by the shower. Reaching in, I shut off the water and then drape the towel over Emily’s body.
Bending, I scoop her into my arms, and she rests her head on my shoulder. The fabric of my shirt becomes soaked and sticks to my body. Instead of setting her on the bed, I sit and set her on my lap.
So many emotions rage within me that I can’t focus on just one.
We sit in silence for an eternity. I close my eyes and listen to the sound of her breathing.
“I’ll be right back,” I say and plant a kiss on the top of her head before moving to set her down so I can stand. I walk over to her walk-in closet and quickly grab a pair of leggings and a sweater.
With it being early spring, the temperature outside is still chilly.
The clothes fall to the ground when I step back into the room. Emily is standing in front of the floor-length mirror that sits in the corner. She tips her head side-to-side, examining her naked reflection with an expressionless face.
I watch as sadness spreads over her face and her eyes gloss over.
“Emily?” I whisper, taking a step toward her, but she doesn’t respond.
The light coming through her window reflects off something in her hand and my eyes flick to it.
It’s a razor blade.
My stomach falls and I race to her just before the sharpened edge reaches her skin. I grip her wrist and spin her toward me. Her eyes are wide with shock as she stares at me.
“Don’t,” I say. My jaw clenches.
“I need to make them stop, Liam… Please let me make them stop.” Tears well in her eyes.
Releasing her, I step back and rip off my tee. I grab her wrist again and bring the edge of the blade to my chest.
“Give me your pain, Féileacán. If you need to cut something, cut me. Don’t…” I swallow the lump in my throat. “Don’t hurt yourself anymore, baby. “
Her stormy eyes flick between mine. Hesitantly, she pushes the blade into my flesh. I hiss through my teeth as it begins to slice into me. Her gaze repeatedly jumps from my face to her shaky hand. The warmth of my blood sliding down my chest sends a chill down my spine.
After cutting into my chest a few times, she steps back. Her breaths are erratic, her pupils are blown when she peers at up me, and her hands are trembling.
Her bottom lip quivers and I cup the back of her head, bringing our foreheads together.
“I…” she pauses and licks her lips. My eyes track the movement, and my heart rate increases.
She moves closer to me and places her palm against the cut. She stares in fascination. The rise and fall of my chest intensify. The feel of her skin against mine sends my blood into overdrive.
“Liam,” she whispers, and I close my eyes. I’m thrown into the past. Back to when Emily first entrusted me with her body. With her heart.
I release a deep breath and when I open my eyes, her gaze is soft.
“Don’t say my name like that,” I whisper. The corner of her mouth ticks as a smile tries to form.
She’s remembering it too. Remembering us.
I brush the tip of my nose lightly against hers and she hums. My lips hover so close to her lips, all I need to do is shift and they’ll press against hers.
Hesitance fills her eyes and I pull back. “What is it?”
She swallows tightly, her lips forming a frown. “I-They,”
“What?”
She closes her eyes and shakes her head. A tear rolls down her cheek. I don’t know what’s going on. What is causing this reaction out of her?
“Tell me, baby.” I whisper.
“They took my body, Liam… They’ve felt it.” Her voice breaks.
Understanding dawns on me and my blood boils with anger, but my heart cracks. Does she think this would change anything? Does she think I’d love her any less?
Taking her chin between my forefinger and thumb, I tilt her head. Her eyes flutter open, and they glisten with more tears.
“Listen to me, Féileacán. There is nothing in this world or the next that would change the way I see you, the way I want you. Your body is mine. Not theirs.”
I swipe away the tear that falls from her eye.
“I’m dirty, Liam.” She chokes out.
I shake my head. “I will never see you as anything less than perfection, Emily. You feel dirty? Let me wash away any remanence of their existence on your skin, in your mind, and in your soul. You belong to me, with me .”
Her eyes flick between mine. They’re sad but trusting. She nibbles on her bottom lip, never moving her eyes from mine.
Swallowing tightly, she whispers, “Kiss me.”
I pull back and search her face. Her freckles appear darker as a soft-pink spreads over her cheeks. I move my hand to the side of her neck and caress her bottom lip with my thumb. She raises her hand and holds onto my wrist, staring at me with warm, welcoming eyes.
Slowly, I inch closer. Our breaths intertwine, becoming one. She sucks in a breath when I place the lightest of kisses on the corner of her mouth. I place another on the opposite side.
She moves her head, chasing my touch and it sends a thrill through my body.
My eyes flick down to her naked breasts. Her dusty-rose nipples are peddled and my cock doubles in size. It presses against the confines of my pants.
The tension in the air coils around us. It’s so potent that I can taste it.
She gasps when I wrap my arm around her waist and pull her body into mine. My lips land on hers and I swear fireworks explode.
She immediately melts into me, and I groan when a small whimper escapes her lips. Our tongues move together effortlessly. Her hands explore my chest, the sting of the cut is a dull ache, but it only heightens this moment.
Bending, I cup the back of her thighs and pick her up. She wraps her legs around my waist, and I walk us toward the bed.
Without breaking our kiss, I kneel on the bed. Using one arm to support her weight, I use the other to push down my pants and boxer-briefs. I kick them off and they fall on the ground.
My cock is painfully hard and desperate to be buried in her pussy.
“Please… Please, Liam.” she begs between kisses.
I lay her down onto the mattress. Her still damp hair spreads behind her. My eyes roam over her face and for the first time in so long, her eyes are bright.
Warmth seeps into my soul at the sight.
I pepper her collarbone, neck, and jaw with kisses.
Gripping my cock, I slide the head up and down through her glistening folds, coating myself in her arousal. She moans and arches her back. Her head digs into the mattress, her breasts are pushed into my chest.
My eyes roll when press into her pussy. She welcomes me by spreading her thighs wider and I take full advantage of it. Each inch that disappears into her cunt elicits whimpers and moans from her lips.
“Fuck, Emily. I’ve missed this. Missed you.”
Once I’m fully seated inside her, I pause. Allowing her time to adjust to me.
“Okay. Okay.” She says, nodding rapidly.
I pull back to the tip and when in a slow thrust, push back in. She tips her head back, mouth falling open, and a deep, satisfied moan falls from her lips.