Chapter 36
A wave of adrenaline came over me, causing me to jump in the middle of that conversation, but I saw no other choice. A fierce, protective urge had me stomping in my Halloween slippers over to the mesh covered fence once I heard Liam’s voice and saw his father standing toe to toe with him.
I don’t throw the word hate around often. I usually think no person is actually worth that much effort, but I just witnessed first-hand the shit that Liam shared with me. And seeing it up close and personal made me sick to my stomach.
Although it was so fucking satisfying to correct him. Something I’m sure nobody ever has the balls to do.
My walk up to my apartment is quiet. Thankfully, because I’m mentally exhausted after such a long day.
I can’t help but wonder if Landyn knew it was me behind the fence.
I know there’s a mesh covering, but only so many people are allowed in those back parking lots, and there are only so many female employees.
Something I’ve been working to rectify, actually.
Still, even if he would’ve seen me, it wouldn’t have stopped me from speaking up.
No one deserves to be talked down to like that. And my soft spot for Liam has only grown in the last few months—so shit like that in front of me just won’t fly.
Once I’m finally settled on the couch with three chocolate chip cookies on a paper towel and my Netflix page loading, there’s a soft knock on the door.
When I look through the peep hole, Liam’s standing on the opposite side of the hallway against the wall. His head tilting back against the wall, eyes closed and both hands in the pockets of gray sweatpants.
“It’s Liam,” he roughly states. Although, it’s a low tone, ragged even.
I pull open the door, noticing he isn’t wearing his signature smile. There’s no witty joke spilling from his lips or smirk covering his mouth.
“Hey, are you okay?” I ask.
He walks toward my door, stopping right at the threshold.
“You didn’t have to do that tonight.” His hazel eyes are blasting with more blue right now. “Thank you. I’m sorry if that jeopardizes anything for you.”
“Come in,” I say, taking his hand and pulling him into my apartment. “You don’t have to thank me.” We walk toward the couch, and I take a seat, moving my cookies from the cushion to the table. “And don’t apologize. I made the choice to say something to him.”
He nods, looking around my apartment. I notice him cataloging all the books on the floor against the wall and he smiles briefly.
“I wasn’t expecting him to be out there, but I probably should’ve known,” he says with a shake of his head. “What’s with all the books on the floor?” His wave gestures to my mountain next to the television.
Liam takes a few steps, and I memorize his movements across my floor. The way he swiftly flows from one area to another.
“Well, I need another bookshelf.” I stand, matching his body language as his hands land on his hips.
He glances down at me, bright eyes and takes a step closer, leaning down just a hair as his hand cups my neck.
“Want me to build you one?” he whispers against my lips, and I feel my insides begin to quiver.
“You have no idea how hot that just made you,” I joke.
He brushes his lips against mine smoothly. It’s soft. Cautious almost.
Kissing is something we’ve been doing in the heat of the moment or after some intense banter, rarely has he kissed me during a simple conversation before.
“I’ve wanted to kiss you all day. All week, actually.”
“When we’re here,” I say, “or there”—I point to the wall where his apartment is—“we can do this as much as we want.”
He nods, licking his lips as he takes a step back. “Right.”
I know Liam wants more. And sometimes I think I could want more too. But I won’t let myself get ahead of things. Right now this is working for me, and he did say we could do this on my terms.
At this moment, though, with the way Liam’s looking at me it makes me want everything.
His good mornings, his good nights, every in between of his day.
I can’t wrap my head around how quickly my emotions have latched onto him.
His kindness and how much he cares for me is constantly on display.
He goes out of his way all the time to make sure I’m safe and comfortable.
At first I figured he’d be somewhat of a distraction for me. Someone I can hang out with, who I know truly wants to hang out with me, where I’d feel very much in control of the situation.
If I’ve learned anything since spending time with Liam Evans, it’s that as much as I think I have my emotions under control, my rapidly beating heart tells me otherwise.
“Liam.” I reach for his hand, pulling him back toward me and he closes the space between us, wrapping his arms around my waist.
“God, you smell good,” he says as he inhales and pulls me closer to him.
I tilt my head, looking up into those dreamy eyes of his and feel my core tighten. His arms are strong around me, his chest is warm and firm, and he too smells so fucking good.
I’m not exactly bold in intimate settings. Or at least my track record says that. But Liam makes me feel like stripping naked right now without a worry or care in sight.
His fingers draw circles on my lower back as his hands are still wrapped around me, and I lean up toward his lips, not holding back as I press my mouth to his.
Liam’s hands wander down my hips and he pulls me up in a sudden movement and holds me in place as my legs wrap around him. I rock my body against his, unable to stay still knowing what I want to happen. What I’m ready to have happen.
“Dem,” he breathes against my lips as he breaks apart briefly, his eyes meeting mine and I nod.
Over and over, I nod, before the word “yes” breathlessly leaves my lips.
Liam won’t do anything I don’t want to do—he’s made that clear.
And I respect him for it, but right now I need him to be the playboy.
I want the Liam I’ve heard whispers about.
The one I’ve briefly experienced—who knows what he’s doing. And likes to do it again and again.
His mouth crashes to mine this time—hard and consuming. It’s like he breathes life into me every time we kiss, and I keep coming back for more, afraid I might suffocate without him.
“Bedroom,” I mutter against his lips mid-kiss, and he walks down the hall. Although we both get a chuckle realizing he hasn’t actually been here enough to know which closed door is my room.
“Last one. Left,” I say as I run my tongue along his lips.
“Fuck,” he moans when I move my lips to his neck.
My back hits the mattress, and I take a look at him as he stands at the foot of my bed.
My elbows prop me up and I just stare at him before me.
He pulls his shirt off and tosses it on the floor, leaving him in those gray sweats, and I focus on the V-shape on his stomach.
He’s toned and lean and every bit of a fucking fantasy.
“So we’re clear, I get tested yearly. Everything’s all good,” he assures me, and I lick my lips.
“I got tested after my divorce and I’m on the pill. But also I…” Hanging my head back slightly, I sigh. “I haven’t been with anybody in well over a year.”
“Dem.” He runs a hand over his hair. “I haven’t been with anyone since I found out you were divorced.”
I pause. “That was…almost a year ago.” My words are just above a whisper and filled with surprise.
He shrugs. “I know there’s this narrative that I’m some playboy who dates around—and yeah, maybe that was true for a bit.
I was trying to find you in any woman I spent time with, but from the second I found out you were divorced I haven’t been with anyone since.
I knew if anyone was ever dumb enough to lose you, I’d wait for my chance.
And hope like hell to get one. I’ve always just been waiting for you. ”
God, this man. I’ve never felt wanted the way Liam wants me.
I can’t find the words to say, pounding from my heart rings in my ears as I stare at him. His head tilts slightly, his jaw slacks just a bit before he speaks again.
“We can take it as slow as you need to. I can be tender.” The left side of his lip pulls up and that earns a smile from me.
I avert my eyes down. “What if I don’t want that?”
His eyes widen a little and he raises his eyebrows.
“I just mean, what if I don’t want you to be gentle? Like I’m something fragile and breakable.”
“I don’t think you’re fragile and breakable, Dem. But I do think you’re worth taking my time with.” He kneels at the end of the bed and pulls me by the back of my knees closer to the edge.
His hands rest on top of my knees and he inches them up slightly every time he squeezes my legs.
I’m seconds away from just ripping my shorts off myself as he slowly works his way up my thighs.
I see what he’s doing—the playfulness, the edging—but I’ve never wanted someone to tear a piece of clothing off me as badly as I do right now.
“Getting antsy?” he asks as I squirm again. My heart rate is rapidly increasing as I bring my eyes to follow his hands. “I remember what you taste like.” He raises to his knees and leans in as he licks his lips.
Jesus, why is that hot?
He moves his hands up to my waistband, and I arch my back slightly, making it easier for him as he pulls my shorts and underwear completely off.
Lying here bare in front of him feels empowering.
Something I’ve never felt while being this exposed.
But it’s Liam. It’s how he makes me feel and how he empowers me daily.
“Un-fucking-believable.” He lowers his mouth just below my belly button, and I sharply inhale when I feel his breath against my skin.
I feel his finger slip between my thighs and I pant out. “Oh fuck.”
My body jerks as he slides another finger in, pushing into me with the most amazing pressure before he brings them both to his lips and sucks.
He nods as he smirks, both fingers still in his mouth as he licks them clean. I watch as he lowers his head between my thighs and I feel his tongue run through me slowly.
Dragging. Painfully, deliciously slow.
“Jesus, Liam,” I whimper. “Don’t stop.”
He brings his tongue through me again and again. Pulling every moan and gasp from my chest as he does. It feels so good. He feels so good.
I feel his fingers spread me wider and his other hand opens up my legs as he pushes on my thigh. His tongue pulses on my clit slowly and my body bucks every time.
“Oh god, I won’t last like this.” My words are breathy.
Liam drags his tongue down while his thumb rubs slow circles over my clit, and I don’t know which feeling to focus on more.
He licks up and down, whispering “fuck” and “I love this” every time he pulls his mouth away.
He pushes his fingers inside, and I gasp at the pressure, but desperately want more.
With his fingers he works in and out in strong motions as he brings his tongue back up to my clit. His movements aren’t slow anymore, they’re demanding and hard—exactly what I’m craving.
“Oh fuck, Liam. Yes.”
I feel his teeth as he nips, once and then twice and my back arches so far off the bed as he slams his tongue into me again and again, letting me ride out the best fucking orgasm while he doesn’t let a single drop go to waste.