Chapter Fifteen
By Sunday, I was itching to see Liam outside of work and lay more than my eyes on him. I had an afternoon shift that overlapped with the other manager who was staying late. But we were slow, so she offered to let me go home early. Liam had told me to text him when I was done, since he was watching football at Derek and Avery’s.
I decided to have fun with some new lingerie I’d bought. A bright red, lacy bra with straps that crisscrossed over the deep view of my cleavage. Matching hi-cut underwear showed off my toned thighs. I texted him.
Hey, how long till the game’s over?
It was a few minutes before I got a response. I spent the time making sure I was picture ready.
Almost done with the third quarter, so maybe half hour. Why?
Just have something you might want to see.
I took several pics, showing hints of my outfit. A glimpse of cleavage, my thigh with a peek of lacy outline, my hip with the same lace contouring against my skin. I lay on his bed, waiting for a response and frowning when I didn’t get one.
Then I heard the apartment door slam.
“Dammit, Red, a little warning would have been nice.” His voice echoed from the living room as his footsteps drew closer.
I posed on the bed, lying on my stomach so my cleavage was on full display with my ankles crossed in the air behind me.
“I almost opened those in front of—” His tirade cut off when he walked through the door.
I grinned. “What were you saying?”
“Nothing.” His gaze roved over my body, devouring every inch of me. “You look good enough to eat. I thought you were working longer.” He peeled his shirt over his head as I sat up to watch.
“Slow today. They let me out early.”
Off came his socks and his pants. He left his boxers on.
I peered at him through lowered lashes. “I thought I’d surprise you.”
The bed dipped with his weight as he crawled toward me. “You did.” He hauled me onto his lap as he kissed my lips. “There’s something I’ve been wanting to ask you.” His deft fingers explored the lacy bounds of the lingerie, the thin fabric doing little to dampen his touch.
“What’s that?” I squirmed impatiently in his arms.
“Be my girlfriend?”
I stilled, momentarily shocked, but at the same time, nothing felt more right. “Yes.” I kissed him thoroughly as I cupped his cheeks with my hands. When his mouth left mine to dip toward my breast, I tucked my finger under his chin, making him pause. “I thought I’d taste you first this time.” I ran my other hand along his waistband.
Eagerly he climbed out of his boxers and laid on his back for me. I bent to take him in my mouth, but this time he stopped me. “There’s a better way to do this.”
Confused, I let him guide me. He tugged first on my wrist, then on my leg until I realized what he wanted, and I hesitated. I’d never tried sixty-nine before.
“Come on, Red. Don’t deny me the pleasure of tasting you.” He ran a hand up my inner thigh, nudging me gently in the direction he wanted me to go.
Nervous flutters skittered through my stomach, but Liam hadn’t steered me wrong yet. I swung my leg over his head, opening for him as he threaded his arms around my hips. A strangled noise left his lips as he took in the missing part of the underwear in a most convenient spot. His cock thickened instantly.
“Surprise?” I whispered.
“Shit, Gina, you are amazing.” Then his tongue burrowed into me.
I moaned, leaning down to take him in my mouth. I’d never been great at suppressing my gag reflex, so I made up for it by stroking him with my hand. Except I kept losing my rhythm.
He fucked me with his tongue so well, I hummed with pleasure, his cock still in my mouth. He jerked at the sensation, moaning himself, so I kept doing it. I was determined to make him come, if not before me then at least with me. He grew harder and harder with my rhythm. I tasted my first drop of pre-cum just as I clenched the first time. I forced myself to fight it as I concentrated on him.
He was close, but it seemed neither one of us was willing to go over that edge first. Then he picked up his pace. I lost the battle, moaning loudly, just as he shuddered into me. We came together, pulsing for each other. When I’d swallowed all he offered, I flopped onto the bed next to him, breathing hard.
“Never done that before?”
I shook my head.
“What’d you think?”
“Eh. It was okay.” I had to suppress my giggle when his eyebrows furrowed. “Maybe you should practice a little more. See if you can improve those skills.”
He stared until I cracked up, and he pounced on me. “You’re going to pay for that!”
Unable to keep the delight off my face, I asked breathlessly, “Promise?”
* * * *
Every moment I wasn’t studying, I spent with Liam. I stayed over Monday, and we’d just sat down to a late dinner on Tuesday when his phone rang. He frowned when he saw the caller.
“It’s my sister.” He pushed back from the table as he answered. “Hey, Desi.”
I recognized the name as the one married to the troublemaker Brad. My gut twisted anxiously, and I picked at my food, trying to make sense of the one-sided conversation.
“Of course, I can help. I’ll be there in an hour, hour and a half. No, it’s no problem.” He shrugged at me in an unspoken apology before his attention turned back to his sister. “Okay, let me know if there’s anything else you need. Yep, I’ll see you then.” And he hung up.
My chair squawked as I hurried to stand. I followed him to the bedroom, knowing it was urgent. “Is she okay?”
“Brad’s in the hospital. Evidently his gambling debt was so big they beat him badly to pay for it.” Liam growled, banging his fist against the door jamb. “Desi has nothing.”
I gasped.
“He drained their accounts, their kids’ college funds, IRAs. He even took a second mortgage out on the house.” Liam grabbed a duffel bag from the closet and began throwing clothes into it. “She’s leaving him. Taking the kids and getting out of there. Dad’s out of the country on business. Our other sister is six months pregnant, so that leaves me.” He glanced at me again. “I have to go.”
“Of course you do.” I would’ve been more surprised if he hadn’t hurried to help her.
Relief showed on his face, and he hugged me. “Thanks for understanding.”
This time I glared, giving him a little shove. “Understanding? If you didn’t go, I’d be kicking your ass, Mister.”
He chuckled, bending to kiss me. “That’s what I love about you, Red.”
And he went back to packing as if he hadn’t just dropped the L-word on me like a nuclear bomb. My knees didn’t seem to want to hold me, so I sat heavily on the edge of the bed.
“What’s the matter? Cat got your tongue?” A smirk tipped his lips as he zipped his bag then plopped next to me, completely in my space, just the way I liked it. “Look at me, Gina. Please.”
I obeyed.
“I mean it, I do love you. We can talk more about it when I get back, but I couldn’t help myself.” He brushed his lips against mine. “Will you stay here while I’m away? I’d feel better knowing you have a quiet place to study.”
It took me a moment to find my voice. “How long will you be gone?”
“Four or five days. I’ll try to call when I can, but I’ve got to help them pack up then get them settled elsewhere. Desi sounded pretty upset on the phone, so I doubt this will be an easy thing. I’ve got to make sure she’s okay.”
“What about dinner?” Our food was sitting on the table, getting cold, and I immediately felt shallow thinking of food when his sister needed him.
His rough fingers touched my cheek. “Sorry, Red. I’ll have to grab something on my way. I’ve got to go now.” His eyes searched mine, waiting.
But I just sat there, staring like an idiot. Liam loves me. The words bounced around my mind, not finding a place to settle.
He kissed my forehead. “I’ll let you know when I get there.” And he strode out of the room.
I listened to his footsteps, heard the door close. At the sound of it latching, whatever was holding me back finally shattered. I ran after him, desperately needing to reach him.
“Liam!”
I raced into the hallway just in time to see the elevator doors shut. Undeterred, I flew barefoot down the four flights of stairs, barreling into the underground parking garage right as the elevator opened. Liam stepped out, and I shouted his name again.
He paused, turning toward me, an adorable crease in his forehead. I didn’t stop running. He set his bag down just in time to catch me as I flung myself at him, clinging to him like he was the only thing standing between me and death itself. He cradled me in his cedar-and-pine-scented embrace, making me feel safe, cherished and, above all, loved.
My lips brushed his cheek as I whispered, “I love you, too.”
Barriers crumbled inside me, that previously nameless emotion flooding me. I love him. He held me even tighter. Then I climbed down and stepped toward the elevator.
“Have a safe trip. I’ll watch the apartment.” I didn’t want him to leave, but I could let him go now that I’d said it back.
A tender happiness radiated from him as he picked up his bag to make his way to the car. He gave me one last wave before he left. His lips mouthed those three words one last time, then I watched the car disappear. I hit the call button on the elevator, sinking against the cool panel and leaning my head back to study the pristine ceiling.
Never have I ever made a scene like that in my entire life. Never have I ever fallen for a guy as hard and fast as I have fallen for Liam.
Never have I ever been so happy.
* * * *
The next morning, I was studying hard when a notification popped up, reminding me I only had a month until Avery and Derek’s shower. Avery insisted if she had to be showered with gifts and play stupid games, the guys had to suffer too. I pulled up my calendar on my phone. It was mid-October already, and her shower was in the middle of November. Her wedding would be over Thanksgiving, just six weeks away. Holy crap.
I was looking forward to the wedding and all the celebration going along with it. Avery and Derek had decided on a destination wedding at a tropical, all-inclusive resort in the Cayman Islands. Their treat. Since it was just them, Rhonda and Greg, and me and Liam, they’d booked us all for a whole ten days with the wedding smack in the middle.
They’d chosen the time over Thanksgiving for me, since I already had an extended break with school and we’d all planned to celebrate the holiday together anyway. Though Thanksgiving on a plane would be interesting. I’d never been out of the US before and was looking forward to getting my first stamp on my passport. Not to mention some warm weather in our typically cool November.
Rhonda and I had rented the place for the shower months ago. We’d planned out most of the details during the summer when I hadn’t been buried in homework and midterms. But it hit me that my best friend was really getting married.
And I’d hardly seen her.
An idea began forming. I’d need to pull a few strings to get it done, but it’d be worth it. Pushing aside my books, I grabbed my phone to make some calls. An hour later, I had a solid plan, along with all the green lights I needed. Including a thumbs up from Derek to kidnap Avery on Saturday morning.
The week rushed by with work and studying. Derek and Rhonda’s birthday was Friday, so I met him and Avery for lunch, FaceTiming Rhonda as well. Liam and I texted back and forth every day, even managing to get a few calls in. I missed him, and I was grateful for the excuse of apartment sitting, since it meant wrapping up in sheets that smelled like him.
Saturday morning, I arrived at Derek and Avery’s with Sweetwaters’ donuts, something I hadn’t done in way too long. When I knocked on the door, Derek answered, a conspiratorial grin on his face.
Avery called from her place at the table. “What are you doing here?”
I waved the box around. “Bringing my best friend breakfast.” The beaming smile on her face brought out a matching one on mine. “Bear claw, anyone?”
She flew from her chair, her arms around me in two seconds flat.
Derek shook his head at us. “All right, Cupcake, I’m going to work out. Love you.”
She let go of me to kiss him goodbye, then we settled in at the island, me helping myself to coffee.
“So what’s new?” she asked, pulling her favorite donut from the box.
I realized we hadn’t had time to really talk since the double date. Like, at all. I played it cool. “Oh, not much. Liam and I had sex, he asked me to be his girlfriend, and he said he loved me.” I shrugged, helping myself to a gooey glazed donut.
Avery’s jaw was practically on the counter.
“Um, sorry?” I took a sheepish bite.
Her glare hit me hard. “I thought you were busy with school.”
“I am. Midterms are this week, so I’ve been studying my ass off.” I set down my coffee cup. “I went over to apologize to him after we went to the club. You know, like we’d talked about. Well, one thing led to another, and we did it.”
“Was it any good?”
I gave her a ‘duh’ look. “Do you know what he said his favorite thing about women is?” I paused. “Our unlimited ability to orgasm.”
“No shit? Liam said that? Our Liam?”
“I was a boneless heap.” A thrill went through me just thinking about it and our several interludes since.
“And the girlfriend thing?”
I took my time filling her in. She went all swoony when I told her I’d run after him to tell him I loved him too. I stared at my coffee cup as she scrutinized me.
“This is different, isn’t it, G?”
I nodded. “I think that’s why it’s taken so long for me to be okay with trying anything with him. Because on some level, I knew.”
She reached over to pat my arm. “I’m proud of you, though. It takes guts to put yourself out there like that.” We shared a smile. “But next time don’t wait so long to talk to me about it!”
“I do have something to make it up to you.”
“Tell me, tell me, tell me.” She bounced up and down on her seat like a puppy, the caffeine finally kicking in.
“Donuts were just the start. I’m kidnapping you for the day.” I held up a finger. “I have to work at five, so it’s just for the day. And before you ask, I’m not telling you any more than that. But you’d better get dressed, because we have somewhere to be in an hour. Look cute.”
“Jeans cute or dress cute?”
“Dress cute. ‘I’m taking you to a semi-fancy lunch’ cute.”
Twenty minutes later, Avery emerged in an adorable teal sundress with a dark jean jacket, her long hair swept back in an elegant French braid. Her makeup was spot on as usual, and I envied her bubble gum pink lip gloss, a color I couldn’t pull off. “Am I good?”
“Mah-velous, dahling, simply mah-velous.” I opened the door for her, exaggerating my offer of holding out my arm. Our arms linked, we went down to the lobby where their driver waited. “Sorry, you had to provide your own driver. I’m not quite there yet.”
On the way, Avery caught me up on all the wedding drama. Derek and Avery had decided early on they wanted a simple affair and had told Derek’s parents in no uncertain terms not to expect invitations, but they could host as big of a reception as they wanted. After the wedding. Evidently his parents were now trying to outdo all past wedding receptions. And poor Ave was bearing the brunt of it.
I winced. “Yikes, that sounds awful.”
“Rhonda’s helped some, but their parents still aren’t thrilled with her dating the chauffeur, so they’re not listening like they normally would.”
I shook my head. Greg had been Derek and Rhonda’s chauffeur since they were thirteen. He also happened to be the heir to the Peterson Lumber Mill in Marquette, not to mention one of the most down to earth and nicest guys I’d ever met. Not only did he worship the ground Rhonda walked on, she lit up like a Christmas tree any time he came into the room. They were perfect for each other. I couldn’t believe her parents refused to give him a chance.
“Their loss.” I shrugged, unable to comprehend that level of snobbery. The driver stopped in front of Lit, and I smiled at Avery’s confused expression. “Come on.”
“What are we doing here?” She followed me onto the sidewalk then down the winding hall to the huge warehouse of clothes where the formidable Selena waited.
“I was told you still need a dress for your shower, and so do I.” I linked my arm through hers. “Since I wasn’t the best of company last time around, I suggest a do-over. Your dress is my shower present to you.”
Avery stopped, tears shining in her eyes. “Gina.”
“Come on, Ave.” I bumped her with my elbow. “Selena’s waiting.”
“Thank you,” she whispered.
“You’re welcome.”
We spent the next hour taking full advantage of Selena’s expertise. Thanks to Liam’s generosity in giving me an advance on my manager’s salary, I was able to afford both of our dresses. Derek had also slipped me an envelope to give to his future wife, one that had her blushing as she read it.
“What’s it say?” I prodded.
“He wants to make sure I have plenty of nice…underthings, befitting a bride, plus stuff for the honeymoon.”
I laughed out loud. “Hey, Selena, do you have lingerie too?”
Avery’s pink cheeks went a shade darker.
“I never thought of you as the blushing bride.” I nudged her, trying to get her to loosen up a little.
This time she laughed. “At least it’s just us, right?”
I gave her some privacy as they went through a whole fitting for her wedding night and the honeymoon. As close as we were, I really didn’t need to see all that. Though I poked through some of the racks they brought over, one piece in particular catching my attention. It was black, one piece, and nothing like I’d ever imagined wearing before. But I was drawn to it.
Selena saw me looking at it. “It suits you.” Then she went back to Avery.
I bought it before I could change my mind.