Chapter Sixteen
After Lit, we had a delightful lunch then went window shopping as we finished catching up. The hours flew until it was time to return to the apartment. We stepped inside, and Avery threw her arms around me again. “Thanks so much, G. I’m so glad we got to do that!”
I squeezed her tightly, a flutter of worry gripping my midsection. “Promise me we’ll still do stuff like this, Ave. Even after you’re married, and I’m a bar manager. We’re going to stay friends, right?”
Her expression was almost affronted. “Of course. You can’t get rid of me that easily.”
The band of tension eased within me, and I was able to let her go with a smile on my face.
* * * *
After working Saturday night, I’d taken Sunday off to study. One last day to cram before my big exams, and I woke up to the panicked realization that I knew absolutely nothing.
I’d forgotten all of it.
Frantic, I threw on some coffee and hit the books. I berated myself for working last night, for taking time off to see Avery. What was I thinking? I have to pass these tests, have to pass these classes. It’s my senior year, for crying out loud. I put my phone on Do Not Disturb and buckled down.
* * * *
“Gina.”
I realized someone was shaking my shoulder, saying my name. I found Liam staring at me with a furrow so deep between his eyebrows I could plant corn in it. My eyes didn’t want to focus on him after staring at the pages for… Wait, how long has it been?
That crease somehow deepened as he frowned. “I said your name four times. Are you okay?”
“What time is it?” A glance outside showed it was dark. My stomach growled, my insides filled with a gnawing hunger as if they were eating themselves.
“It’s seven at night. How long have you been studying?” He set his duffel bag on the floor with a thump.
What time did I get up this morning?“Maybe eight?”
“Eight hours? Without a break?” He folded his arms.
“No, since eight this morning.”
“Gina!” He found my empty coffee cup on the island then scanned the counters. “At least tell me you ate something.”
Judging from the noises my stomach was making, no I hadn’t. I shrugged. “Tomorrow’s the big day.”
He pulled out his cell phone and made a quick call for pizza.
I glanced back at my notes, trying to remember where I was. But my book closed with a hard snap, nearly catching my nose. “Hey!”
“You’re done.” His words were firm.
“No, I’m not.” I tried to shove his meaty hand away, but he wouldn’t budge.
“You’re exhausted. You haven’t eaten anything all day, and you’re not doing yourself any favors by pushing yourself like this the day before a big test.”
I started to pout, but he wasn’t finished.
“You’re going to pack up all this crap while I run you a hot bath. You’re going to drink some water and eat some fruit until the pizza gets here. Then you’re going to relax the rest of the night, giving your brain a nice break so it can recharge before it needs to perform tomorrow.”
When I glared, his firm demeanor softened, and he touched my cheek. “It’s no different than an athlete trying to run sprints for ten hours straight the day before a big game. It’s not a good strategy.”
I sagged against my chair, which he took for acceptance.
The furrow lessened as relief flooded his face. “Good. I’ll run you some water. You pack this stuff up, and if I catch you studying, you’ll find pineapple on all the pizza!”
My nose wrinkled at the thought. I still couldn’t believe he and Avery liked ham and pineapple pizza. Pepperoni, yes. In fact, all the meat, all the tripe—anything but pineapple. I hurried to pack my books, carefully organizing my notes so I had them in the right binders for tomorrow. After I laid out what I needed for each class, Liam met me in the hallway.
He had a bottle of water, an apple, and a mai tai. “You drink this, you eat this, and you can have this”—he held up the alcohol—“in limited quantities. Don’t want you getting blitzed on an empty stomach.” He set everything on the side of the tub, which was half full of steaming water.
I stared at him from the doorway as he straightened.
“What?” He cocked his head.
“I missed you.” I walked right up and leaned into him, knowing he’d hold me like I needed. His strong arms swallowed me, wrapping me in their sturdy embrace. I breathed him in, feeling like I was home.
“All right, into the tub with you. Forced relaxation begins now.” His tone was gentle and teasing.
I stepped back, happy to strip and step into the blissfully hot bath. I devoured my apple and sucked down my water, then I must have closed my eyes because the next thing I knew, Liam was holding a piece of pizza under my nose like smelling salts. I sat up, snapping at it as if I were a frenzied shark surrounded by bleeding swimmers.
Liam chuckled. “Dry off. We’ll scarf pizza and watch a movie. Your choice.” His stare lingered on my wet body as I unabashedly stood, water sluicing off me. He handed me a towel.
“The Princess Bride,” I said, without hesitation.
“Why that one?”
I laughed. “Because it’s my favorite, of course.”
“No way.” He shook his head. “I used to love that movie, watched it every day when I was little.”
We stared at each other, blown away by the fact that we had something so simple in common all this time but had never known and never bothered to ask.
“I’m gonna go find comfy clothes.” I racked my brain trying to remember if I had any here. “Can I borrow—”
At the same time, he said, “If you need to borrow—”
We both stopped, then started laughing. Wrapping the towel around me, I followed him to the bedroom.
“What are you thinking?”
All his pants would just fall right off me. “How about a hoodie?” He tossed me one, and I caught it, my towel slipping a little. He tried to peer at my newly bared skin, but I smacked his arm. “Out. Give a lady some privacy, would ya?”
He pretended to pout then said, “I’ll get the movie going.”
A few minutes later, I waltzed out into the living room in his navy-blue hoodie and a pair of underwear. The sweatshirt was big on him, so it almost reached my knees. It was perfect.
“Here’s your mai—” He stopped short at the sight of me. “Where are your pants?”
“Don’t have any.” I plopped in the middle of the couch, leaning far over for my drink and baring my thigh in the process. Not that he hadn’t just seen me climb naked out of the tub, but it was still fun.
He was having all of it. “You are evil.”
“And you love it.” I snuggled into him, snagging two slices of pizza. “Now play the movie. Don’t get annoyed if I quote half of it.”
He grinned. “That’s the best part.”
* * * *
The next night, I walked up to Liam’s apartment, my brain completely mush after four midterms. I didn’t want to think about anything else. No more decisions, no nothing. Just easy food, a drink, and veg.
Hopefully Liam would be onboard with that game plan. I opened the door, inhaling a cacophony of delicious smells.
Liam hurried over. “Hey, you’re home.”
The word hit me hard in the chest, but it felt right, resonating in me. Home. “Yeah, I am. Something smells amazing.”
“It’s just leftovers, but there are plenty. I figured you’d be hungry.”
I walked over to wrap my arms around him. “You’re the best.”
“Want to watch a movie?”
“How about Phantom?” I wanted the comfort of one of my musicals right now.
He wrinkled his nose, handing me a mai tai. “Isn’t that a musical?”
My jaw dropped. “You mean you haven’t seen it? We’re definitely watching it.”
He arched an eyebrow, but he didn’t protest further. We piled up our plates, then settled onto the couch and queued up the movie. I sighed as the opening chords came on, feeling more relaxed by the second.
I tried not to sing along, but it was so hard. I didn’t want to ruin it for Liam though. When it was over, I turned to him. “What’d you think?”
He lifted a shoulder. “Eh. It was okay.”
Annoyance flared in me. “Okay? That is one of the best musicals ever, and you thought it was okay?”
“For a musical.”
I stared for a moment longer then decided to let it go. I wasn’t going to argue with him, and I knew I wouldn’t change his mind. Besides, I was still riding my Phantom high. He wasn’t going to kill that buzz.
* * * *
Tuesday, I finished my last two midterms and was home by midafternoon, so thankful to be done with classes for the week. I set my bag down, following the sound of music. It led me to the bathroom.
The water was running—Liam was in the shower. Music played as well, and it took me a moment to register he was singing along with Phantom of the Opera. I barely stopped myself from bursting into laughter. I paused at the cracked open door, listening as Music of the Night came on. When Liam started to sing, I froze, entranced by his gorgeous voice nailing one of my favorite songs.
Holy shit, that’s hot.I hurried to our room to grab a condom.
As quietly as I could, I pushed it open and stepped inside. His deep voice combined with the intense lyrics had me clenching my thighs together. Hot damn. Desire gathered in me, fast and furious as the song built. I started stripping. I flung open the shower curtain, Liam yelping at the sudden motion.
“Shit, Gina, you scared me.” Then he sucked in a breath as I stalked right up to him. “What?”
“I heard you singing.” I put all my longing into the words. My gaze lingered on his lips, my hands slid to his chest.
A sheepish smile crossed his face. “It’s your fault for introducing me to that stupid movie. I couldn’t get the songs out of my head, especially this one. I listened to the soundtrack all day.”
He was completely clueless to the effect that song had on me. I stepped closer, my bare breasts grazing his chest. “Liam, if you ever want to get me in the mood, sing this song for me.”
“Yeah?” The one syllable was deliciously husky.
I nodded, tilting my head up for a kiss. He brushed his lips over mine, his cock stirring between us, and I moaned as he deepened the kiss.
“Turn around.” He stepped away so the shower spray cascaded between us. The warm water cascaded down my shoulders and back. Then he closed the distance, his head resting on my shoulder. He nuzzled my neck with his scruffy chin. His hard cock pressed against my ass as he reached his arms around me. And started singing again.
His cashmere voice was like a cattle prod to the already heightened desire skittering through my veins. I leaned into him. He ran his hands over me, down my arms, over my hips, across my abdomen, cupping my breasts. His lips brushed my neck between the lyrics, and I felt as if the music was stirring in my very soul.
“Liam, please.” I fumbled for the condom I’d brought in with me, handing it to him.
“Please what?”
Now he was just teasing. I wriggled against his hard length. “I need you, inside me. Now.” Desperation coated my words, and I started to turn, but he didn’t let me.
“Hands against the wall.”
His fingers danced along my ribs, caressing one of my breasts and rolling my peaked nipple between his skilled fingers. I moaned as I did what he asked. One of his legs nudged mine apart, but the tub wasn’t wide enough. I propped my foot up on the side, knowing he’d keep me steady. He slid one hand down, guiding a finger inside me.
And he sucked in a breath. “Damn, Gina. You weren’t kidding.”
Anticipation made me clench as I heard the condom wrapper rip open. His cock nudged my entrance, finding its way inside me, and I let out a relieved groan. One arm circled my waist, holding me in place, while his other hand joined mine on the wall. Then he started thrusting.
It was a perfect angle, deep and hard. Jolts of pleasure shot through me immediately, and I started quivering, setting off a mini orgasm right away. He chuckled but kept pounding into me as the waves stopped, a new tension building right behind it. Shit, this is going to be intense. I moaned again, adjusting my hands on the wall, pushing against him, wanting more. He quickened the pace.
“Yeah, just like that,” I gasped.
His breathing was as heavy as mine, and I knew he was right there with me. I held off, waiting for him, but I was barely able to keep a grip on my sanity. As soon as he said my name, I let go. My climax left me shuddering, quaking, and I squeezed every last drop of pleasure from him. When he finally pulled out, I almost collapsed, but he caught me.
Like I knew he would.
* * * *
Evidently I took a nap. I blinked sleepily at Liam, who chuckled then said, “I don’t think I’ve ever seen you sleep in the daytime before.”
“Midterms were hard.”
His hand brushed my cheek. “I know, Red. I’m glad you got some rest. And got to work out some of that tension.”
I warmed at the memory of our time in the shower. “I should’ve introduced you to Phantom sooner.”
We both laughed, then his expression turned more serious. “So I didn’t want to stress you out with everything going on, but now that your tests are done, how would you feel about meeting my parents?”
“When?”
He ducked his chin. “Tonight. Before our dinner with Derek and Ave.”
Just the idea had my heart pounding in my chest. Tonight was supposed to be about celebrating, and I didn’t want to even think about anything stressful after the past two days. I groaned, rolling onto my back.
“Come on, Gina.” He ran his fingers over my wrist. “It’s not a big deal. They’re having a little get-together, and I want to drop in. We don’t have to stay long. You’ll already be dressed up. Please?”
My mistake was in glancing at him and seeing the pleading in his gorgeous eyes. This was really important to him. “Fine.”
“Really? You’re the best!” He kissed my cheek. “That’s why I love you. So, um, we should probably start getting ready then.”
How long had I slept? I grabbed my phone, surprised to see over an hour had gone by. I bit back a sigh and rolled out of bed.
My crimson dress had a high neckline that looped around my throat but was open at the back. The waist tucked in just above my hips, and the hemline was higher in front than the back. The soft satiny material swooshed when I walked, the front brushing just above my knees.
When I emerged in my new outfit, Liam could hardly keep his hands off me, so I had that going for me. Which was good, because as far as confidence levels went, I was lacking in every other front. I couldn’t fathom any common ground I’d have with his family, other than knowing Liam, and it was shaking me up. My leg jiggled constantly, the nervous energy building as we drove closer.
Liam reached over to rest a hand on my thigh, stilling my bouncing and pulling me out of my head. “They’re just people, you know, like you and me. And they’re thrilled to be meeting you.”
“What if I run my mouth and offend them?”
He laughed, shaking his head. “I’ll be right there with you to turn it into some terrible joke, okay? We got this.”
The tension clenching my gut eased its grip, and I could breathe easier. I rested my hand on top of Liam’s. “Okay.” I knew he’d catch me if I fell.
Plenty of cars lined his parents’ driveway. He’d said small get-together, but maybe we had different ideas of small. The nerves rushed back, my leg jiggling once more. Once he’d parked, he opened my door, helping me out of the car.
He took a minute to pull me to him, kiss my cheek. “Take a deep breath.” He waited until I did. “Thatta girl. Let’s go show off my hot girlfriend.” He winked, and I couldn’t resist returning his teasing smile.
He offered me his elbow, but I shook my head, holding out my hand instead. I wasn’t a fancy escort, and I’d much rather have my fingers laced through his to ground me. Steadied by his firm grip, I made my way to his parents’ house.