Chapter 8
chapter
eight
Wren
By the time we pull into the driveway to Liam’s house the next day, I’m ready to run around the block to stretch my legs. But I am not a runner by anyone’s standards.
Keller has been excitedly chattering for the last hour, eager to see our new home.
“Try to remember that Liam didn’t have time to get things ready for us because we moved so fast. We’ll get your room set up just right later.”
“I know, Mom. I can roll with it.”
That makes me chuckle, and Liam laughs as well. Making us both laugh has my son smiling so big.
While my sweet boy is thinking about our new home, my brain keeps replaying what happened last night. All the kissing. The grinding. The orgasm that hit me out of nowhere. I’ve had a few before, always with a toy, though, so to say I was surprised would be an understatement.
And he’d climaxed too. Remembering that now makes desire pull low through my belly. I definitely am attracted to Liam. No big surprise there, he’s gorgeous. But I am surprised at how much I actually do want to have sex with him.
Everything he did to me last night—and let’s face it, we were basically like two teenagers doing some heavy petting—felt amazing. Like he knew precisely where and how to touch me. He hadn’t even been trying to get me off, at least I don’t think so.
I should text Winnie and see what she thinks.
“Okay, we’re here,” Liam says. “Who wants to never get in a car again?”
“Me!” Keller says.
“Me too, bud. My legs are toast.”
“Liam, your legs are made up of sinew, bones, tendons, ligaments, and a plethora of blood vessels. Not crunch bread,” my son says.
I suppress a smile and see Liam looking at me. “What? I mean, he’s not wrong.”
“No, he’s not. You’re going to teach me about all kinds of things, aren’t you, Keller?”
“We might want to start with basic anatomy because it seems like you might have been misled at some point in your education.”
That makes Liam laugh even harder. The rich rumble of the sound is nearly the best thing I’ve ever heard. And it hits me… we could be happy here. Keller and I could make a home with Liam, and maybe someday we’ll be a real family.
“Come on, you two, let me show you the house.” He grabs my hand, threading our fingers together, and we follow behind my son as he heads to the front door. “He’s hilarious,” Liam mouths to me.
“Yes, he is. But it’s not always intentional. He doesn’t always catch sarcasm or satire.”
He nods. “Me neither.”
I squeeze his hand to let him know how much I appreciate the way he’s been with Keller. I’ve never seen Keller open up to someone as quickly as Liam. Yes, they’d “met” a couple of times on video chat, but overall, they haven’t had much interaction. But somehow Liam knows exactly how to talk to my son.
Certainly more than Keller’s father ever did.
The house is a dark color, maybe blue, with white trim. It’s a single-story ranch-style, with several large windows across the front.
Liam quickly points out the bathrooms first so we can all have a quick potty break before we get an official tour. Then the three of us head down one hallway to Keller’s room. My son goes in first after Liam turns on the lights.
“Mom, you said it wouldn’t be ready. But it is. You were kidding with me, weren’t you?” Keller asks.
I stare, open-mouthed probably, at the room that’s decorated perfectly for my son. There’s even a wall that the lower half is covered in LEGO baseplates so he can build right on the wall.
Keller is busy exploring where he’ll be able to put his books and puzzles. I grab Liam’s hand and squeeze.
“How?” I ask him.
He smiles. “I’ll tell you later.”
“Do I have to go on the rest of the house tour, or can I stay in here?” Keller asks.
“You can stay in here, bud,” Liam says. “It’s not a super big house, so I don’t think you’ll get lost. I’m going to show your mom our room next, which is all the way on the other side of the house. So if you need us, just go back out into the hallway and keep walking until you find us.”
Keller nods, and Liam leads me out and down the hall.
“Seriously, how did you do that?” I ask.
“I had some of the guys from work set it up.”
I stop walking and turn to face him. “Why would you do that?”
Surprise flashes across his features, then he frowns. “I wanted him to walk into the house and feel comfortable. I wanted him to feel like that room was his from the moment he arrived. I know we have a lot of work to do to make this house a family home, but I knew the very first priority was Keller’s room.”
“But how did ‘the guys’ know what to do?”
“I sent them detailed instructions. I was their team leader, they know how to follow orders.”
I raise up on my tip-toes and press my mouth to his. “Thank you. You do not know how much that means to me.”
“Maybe now you’ll start believing that I’ll do anything for you, especially if you thank me with kisses. And you’re very welcome.”
I can’t help but smile. Winnie was right, I do still love Liam. I’m not sure if it ever went away or if he somehow managed to get me to fall in love with him all over again in the last three days.
He leads me the rest of the way to his bedroom—our bedroom, I guess. It’s a sizable room with a bay window to the right. There’s not one there now, but definite space for a bench. It would be a perfect reading nook.
Wow, I’m already mentally re-decorating, and I haven’t even seen most of the house.
The king-sized bed is on the far wall, flanked by wall sconces. Basic white bedding covers the bed. There are two doors to our left.
“This is the bathroom. It’s got a great tub if you still like to soak in the tub and read,” he says.
“How do you even remember that?” I once asked Colt to pick up my favorite bath bombs, and he had no idea what I was talking about.
Stop comparing them!
It’s pointless. There is no comparison, I knew that before I married Colt. Before I slept with him too.
“Because I listen, Songbird,” Liam says. “You’re important to me, so I pay attention and remember.”
I am in so much trouble here. Liam has the power to annihilate my poor, bruised heart. I don’t think he would do it on purpose, but it could still happen. Would I be able to pick up the pieces like I had to after Colt died?
“Also, a shower and two sinks. I was told the double sinks are a marriage saver,” he tells me with a wink.
He walks to the other door and opens it, then flips on the lights. “I told the guys to move my stuff around in here so you get most of the space.”
I follow him into a huge walk-in closet. It’s already set up with hanging bars, as well as shelves, and a floor-length mirror hangs on one wall.
“Holy giant closet, Batman!” I say.
He laughs. “Yeah. I picked this house because of the back yard, but the other amenities didn’t hurt. It was originally built in the sixties, but was completely updated and upgraded a couple of years ago.”
“It’s amazing. The closet and everything else I’ve seen. You’re amazing.” I blurt out that last bit and then wince because that was totally random.
But Liam just smiles and walks closer to me. “I’m glad you think so, wife. I happen to think you’re amazing as well.” He leans in and runs his nose up the side of my throat. “I can’t stop thinking about last night. How you looked falling apart on my lap. Fuck, Wren, you have no idea how much I want you.”
My nipples are like diamonds, they’re so hard. “I might know a little,” I admit. “If it’s how much I want you.” I’m not sure where the bravery comes from that allows me to admit that. Maybe it’s the lack of sleep. Or finally being in another state away from my nightmarish in-laws. Or maybe it’s just Liam.
Sweet, reliable, sexy as hell, Liam.
“Are you going to let me touch you tonight?” he asks.
“Maybe.”
“Maybe is a lot better than no.” He kisses me briefly, just teasing my lips with a swipe of his tongue.
My pussy tightens and arousal floods my panties.
“Mom, you gotta see this!” Keller’s voice comes from the bedroom.
I release a pent-up breath and step out of the closet. “What is it?”
“There’s a LEGO wall in my room!”
“I saw that. Isn’t it the coolest?” His excitement is palpable. I wrap my son in my arms. “I love you.”
“Love you,” he says. “Liam, did you see the LEGO wall?”
“I did, bud, and you know what else?”
“What?” Keller asks.
“I think there might be some new LEGO kits in your closet.”
Keller’s mouth drops open. Then he runs from the room.
I laugh. “Well, we won’t see him for several hours. He locks in on those.”
“Oh, maybe I shouldn’t have told him until tomorrow. I don’t want to mess with his bedtime or whatever.”
“He slept a lot in the car. So it’s okay for tonight.”
“How about I show you the rest of the house?”