Chapter 15
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
CHLOE
H ot water cascades down our bodies in the shower. We are magnets for each other, and it feels so natural.
Liam's lips are on mine, water droplets trailing down our faces. He pulls back slightly and gazes at me, steam swirling around us. Every inch of him is oozing with sex appeal, his muscles defined and glistening with the droplets of water running down his body. I feel the hardness of his manhood pressing against me.
"Are you warm enough now?" he asks, a hint of dark amusement in his voice.
I can't help but giggle.
"No," I reply eagerly. I want more.
Without hesitation, Liam captures my lips again and I am lost in bliss.
With pruned fingers, I wipe condensation off the mirror just enough to see myself wrapped in a towel, an insuppressible smile on my lips. The bathroom is still steamy and warm despite its size rivaling my entire apartment.
Although, the shower was running for quite a while. Liam took his time, and I don’t think I’ve ever had this many orgasms in such a short period of time.
I can’t help but smile to myself as I towel dry my hair. I’m alone in the enormous bathroom for the moment. Liam said he’d “be right back.”
I wonder if he’s taking care of something work-related again. Maybe Ms. Barron needed his further attention. I notice a small pang of jealousy but immediately feel silly.
I’m sure it’s work-related, but hell, our relationship is work-related.
Before my mind can start spiraling thoughts, Liam reappears in the bathroom mirror, surprising me with his quick return. He’s still clad in just a towel around his waist.
“Work again?” I ask casually, but I’m digging.
“No.” He steps closer, positioning himself behind me. Our eyes meet in the mirror. “More pleasure, actually.” He smirks, his lips finding my neck and my skin prickles with excitement. I reach up, my fingers tangling in his damp brown hair, enjoying the feeling of his lips on my neck, but he quickly looks back up, locking eyes with me in the mirror.
“I got you something.” His voice is soft as he gently sweeps my wet hair behind my shoulders.
Abruptly, he presents a sparkling diamond necklace, draping it gracefully around my neck.
I catch my breath, my hand fluttering to touch the necklace with round diamonds shimmering in an endless loop. It’s lavish and surely wicked expensive.
“I couldn’t decide between this one and another,” he reveals as he secures the clasp. “So, I got you both.”
Another necklace appears in his hand, and he drapes it around my neck as well. This one is adorned with a mix of diamond cuts—heart, emerald, oval, pear, and marquise—all set in a garland of white gold. It hangs slightly longer than the first, creating a fancy two-tiered effect that would not be out of place on royalty.
Speechless, I watch our reflections as he fastens the second clasp and runs his large hands down my bare shoulders. “You’re stunning, Chloe,” he murmurs admiringly.
“They’re beautiful,” I admit, breathless. “But this… it’s too much.” I shake my head, disbelieving all of this. I still have no idea what this means to him. Is this a gift for his fake girlfriend to wear around town? A gift in exchange for sex?
“It’s not,” he reassures me quickly.
“Why?” I turn to face him. I can’t help blurting out the dreaded question—asking for him to explain himself.
The fairytale may crash around me right now. I’ve asked him to pull the curtain aside and I may find a disappointing answer, but I can’t go along with the fantasy and accept this insane gift if it means I’m indebted to him somehow.
I’ve been down that road before—Lucas’ gifts were attempts to manipulate me—and I won’t do it again.
Liam’s eyebrows crease, but his gaze is soft. “I told you I would get you something real.”
I remember now, he promised me a new necklace after the last one left my neck red and itchy.
“But why?” The thought hits me—this could be pity. The motherless girl with a hole in her heart. He wants to take care of me, to fix things for me—a drive to protect developed early on with his mother. “I told you, I just wanted real talk,” I remind him.
Liam looks at me with a hint of amusement. “If you haven’t noticed, Chloe, it’s become very real between us.”
I feel heat flash across my cheeks, thinking of him inside of me.
“I don’t expect anything in return, if that’s what you’re worried about,” he assures me, as if he’s reading my mind.
Yet, doubts linger. Is it pity then? I can see he senses my unease.
He exhales, frustration tightening his jaw. And I’m frustrated with myself too.
Why can’t I just accept the damn gift?
“Chloe, I bought you the necklaces because I can’t stop thinking about you,” he confesses. “You’re the first woman to get under my skin in a long time—maybe ever, with your Jedi mind tricks and all,” he tries to make a slight joke, softening the moment, but I’m almost too overwhelmed to react.
Liam gently cups my cheek. “I can’t get enough of you,” he whispers earnestly, his beautiful eyes searching mine for a response.
I’ve heard enough.
Without saying a word, I reach my hands behind his neck and pull him into a kiss, rising up on my tiptoes. He returns the kiss eagerly, tasting of mint. We communicate everything through this one act, and I crave more of it.
He suddenly lifts me up and sets me on the bathroom counter. My body immediately responds, parting my legs for him to step between them. His kisses are intense, almost as if fueled by my questioning him earlier, until he abruptly stops and pulls away to look at me. We both gasp for air.
I don't know why he stopped, but he's studying me with an expectant look on his face, as if waiting for me to say something.
"Don't stop," I whisper, barely able to speak. "I want you too."
A small smile tugs at the corner of his mouth before he reaches for the knot at the top of my towel. Slowly, he loosens it until the towel falls away, leaving me completely exposed to him.
His gaze slowly roams over my body while mine remains fixed on him. I trust him completely in this moment. He reaches out and traces his thumb along my bottom lip. His warm brown eyes are filled with desire and a knowing of me that I can’t explain.
His fingers thread into my hair at the nape of my neck as he pulls me into another kiss.
This time, it's gentle and tender, sending warmth through me. As our bodies press closer together, I feel his own towel drop to the floor beneath us.
He takes hold of my hips and pulls me closer to him, the strength of his movement causing me to catch my breath and intensifying my arousal. Our tongues intertwine as he positions himself at my entrance.
I’m ready to receive him again and he does so slowly, stretching me in the most delicious way.
A gasp escapes my lips, breaking our kiss. I cling onto him, overcome with pleasure. He starts to establish a rhythm, thrusting shallowly into me.
Liam's gaze is fixed on mine, watching me surrender to him. His eyes convey a mixture of passion and tenderness that allows me to completely relax in his embrace.
This is not just a physical connection—I can feel myself falling hard for him—and the way he looks at me tells me that it's more than just sex for him too.
He pulls my lips to his again, his tongue eagerly exploring my mouth as we express our affection more than we dare to with words.
Suddenly, he lifts me off the counter and carries me away, his manhood inside me. He continues kissing me senseless as he walks somewhere, but I don’t care where. He’s the only place I need to be.
He lays me back on the master bed in the adjoining room and angles himself above me, moving rhythmically against me in a way that stimulates my clit with each thrust. I let out a loud moan, feeling the pleasure building up inside me.
“Oh, Liam,” I gasp, my fingers digging into his back.
His hot breath is on my ear. “Cum for me, Chloe,” he whispers. Then his tongue flicks the inside of my ear and I almost lose it.
Our pace quickens again, our desire insatiable.
As he thrusts deeper, I feel my body reaching its limit. His hand is strong and gentle as it caresses my breast.
He pulls his cock nearly all the way out before plunging deep inside me again, causing chills to rush through my body. My toes curl in pleasure and I experience absolute bliss. I hear him groan with satisfaction, signaling his own release.
Afterwards, when our breathing has steadied, we lay on our sides facing each other. My legs are still trembling, and my whole body feels like I ran a marathon—tired but on an intense high.
We are still completely naked, other than the glittering necklaces I’m wearing. Neither one of us tries to cover up.
Liam runs his fingers up and down the dips of my body, studying every inch of my anatomy, and I get goosebumps at his touch. I take this opportunity to openly admire his muscular torso and perfect cock, still semi-hard from our encounter. I can’t believe how amazing and right it felt when it was inside me.
When I look up at Liam's face, our eyes meet. I realize he’d stopped looking at my body, and he was watching me admire him instead.
I feel a slight heat in my cheeks and shyly smile at him. One corner of his lips tugs up, amused.
“What are you thinking?” I break the silence. Total girl move.
He grins. “I told you we wouldn’t need pajamas.”
I laugh. “That’s what you’re thinking?”
Liam’s smile fades, his expression turning more serious. “I’m thinking how incredibly beautiful you are and how lucky I am.”
Oh damn, my heart is melting. That was the perfect line.
I give him a smile, even though I don’t know what to say back.
“It all feels so surreal,” I admit after a moment.
He quirks an eyebrow. “How so?”
I shrug my shoulders. "It’s like those over-the-top dates on The Bachelor ."
“I’ve never watched it.”
“Well, everything is super romantic and over-the-top,” I explain. “There are always private concerts and fireworks and… I mean, how could you not fall in love?”
Liam’s brow creases as if he’s trying to understand what I’m saying, and I realize that it might sound like I’m suggesting that I’m falling in love with him.
“I mean…” I press on, trying to bury the implication in a heap of more words. “I always thought there should be a reality TV show where you see if people can connect during mundane or stressful situations, like sitting in traffic or going to the DMV together.”
“So, you’re saying I should cancel the fireworks?” he teases.
I laugh. “No, I would never say no to fireworks.”
“You thought the bioluminescent dolphins were too much,” he guesses, a faint smile playing at his lips.
I chuckle. “No, everything has been perfect,” I assure him honestly.
Liam studies me carefully. “On the one hand, you want fireworks and kisses in the rain, but on the other hand, you want love to happen during ordinary, stressful life.”
I grin mischievously. “Can’t a girl have both?”
He smiles back at me, clearly amused by my answer. He brushes his thumb against my cheek as his expression grows more serious. “Sure, you can.”
My gut tightens. What does he mean by that?
“Well, that settles it. I’m taking you to the DMV on our next date.”
I burst out laughing and he grins.
“No, thank you.” I giggle.
He frowns, thinking. “Joint root canal?”
I crack up, completely not expecting his sense of humor.
He props himself up on his arm, gazing down at me. “Chloe, I just want to give you what you want,” he says, half-teasing, half-serious.
My giggles subside as he tenderly brushes my hair off my forehead, looking at me with adoration.
“Okay, then give me what I want,” I challenge him.
He knows exactly what I mean. He presses his lips against mine, kissing me deeply.
I’m aware that, despite my best efforts, I am completely falling for Liam.
But we’re in Hollywood. Deep down, I know the twist is coming.