Chapter 26
CHAPTER
TWENTY-SIX
SOPHIE
Liam touches me everywhere. No part of me goes unstroked, unkissed, unadmired. From the soles of my feet to the dip of my back right above my behind. He can’t get enough of me and it makes me feel like a goddess.
When his attention reaches my thighs, I’m already so close to the edge. My breath is ragged, my fingers curled into his hair – still damp from our dash from the house to his cabin – and when I groan out his name it doesn’t sound like my voice at all.
It’s too deep. Too desperate. But it makes him smile against my skin.
We’re both naked, our clothes like a breadcrumb trail from the front door of his cabin into his room. If Brooks or Linc came in now they’d have no doubt about what’s going on.
And yet I don’t care. I need this as much as he does. I need Liam, all over me, inside me. I need the connection because I know that this is right.
When his tongue slides against me I scream out his name. Another glide of it and I’m begging for more. He pushes his fingers inside, knowing just how much I need to feel full of him. But it’s still not enough.
“I need you,” I tell him.
“You’ve got me.” He kisses my thigh.
“Inside me, now. Please, Liam.”
It takes him less than ten seconds to snap on a condom.
He’s thick and hard against my thigh, and I roll my hips to get closer to him.
My lizard brain has taken over, seeking nothing but sensation.
His mouth covers mine, taking, giving. I wrap my legs around him, our bodies sliding together until I feel him right where I need him.
But instead of sliding inside he rolls over, pulling me with him until his back is on the bed and my body is straddling his. “Ride me,” he tells me, his voice thick. “I want to watch you.”
I slowly slide down on him, the sensation of absolute fullness making my mouth drop open.
“You’ve never looked more beautiful than you do right now,” he says. He takes my hands, letting me lean against him as my hips begin to move in a rhythm as old as time. It’s deeper this way. More personal, too, because I feel his gaze wash over me as I lift and fall against him.
My face flushes, my hair falls over my shoulders, and still his hands hold mine, the same way his gaze does. There’s a half smile on his face, and the intimacy between us makes my heart ache.
He was right. I needed this. I just didn’t know how much.
It’s like my world is turning upside down and inside out. Those last bricks of the wall I built around me are crumbling, leaving me exposed and raw. This man has broken me down then built me up again.
And I love him.
The heat builds between us, our breathing ragged and rapid and our bodies slick with sweat. My thighs clench his hips, my body slams against him, and still he watches me, his beautiful lips parted.
“Liam…”
He nods as though he knows. “Use me,” he urges. “Ride me. Make yourself come on me.”
And I do in a glorious explosion of cries and clenching and fireworks behind my eyes. It makes my muscles go weak, enough for him to release his hold on my hands and grasp my waist, holding me upright as I shatter into pieces above him.
He follows me into oblivion with a grunt of my name, still holding me, his eyes unwavering. And when I collapse on him he kisses me softly, our bodies still riding the wave of pleasure, until finally we drift to the shore, clinging closely to each other.
His touch is gentle as he sweeps the hair from my face. Our brows are touching. It takes a long, long moment for us to catch our breaths.
And when we do he laughs.
“What?” I ask, my brows knitting.
“I just…” He shakes his head. “Every time I think life is perfect, it just gets a little better.”
I roll my eyes at him. “It won’t be so perfect when we go back to the house and everybody knows what we’ve been doing.” And yeah, I’m starting to worry about that.
“Fuck them.”
“No thanks. There’s only one Salinger I want,” I say.
His smile widens. “That’s good. Because I don’t feel like beating anybody up today.”
“We should go back, shouldn’t we?” I ask reluctantly. Because let’s face it, I’d so much rather be in his arms.
“I guess…” He gently lifts me off him, securing the condom. Then he rolls over and puts his feet on the floor. “In ten minutes, maybe.”
“Twenty,” I tell him. I need to shower.
“Half an hour. And it’s not even party time yet,” he says. He gets up and disappears for a moment, presumably to clean himself up. But when he walks back in he’s carrying a glass of water and a pastry.
My stomach growls in anticipation. “Where did you get that?” I ask him.
He smiles and looks so pleased with himself that I want to hug him.
“I bought some supplies on the way here yesterday.” He passes me the water and I gulp thirstily.
“I just realized you hadn’t eaten since you arrived.
I’m sorry, I should take care of you better.
When we get up to the house I’ll make you a proper lunch. ”
“It’s almost dinner time,” I point out. “And this will do fine.” I’m so eager I almost snatch the pastry from him.
He watches, amused, as I devour it. When I’ve taken another mouthful of water I fall back on the bed, completely sated.
Liam climbs onto the mattress next to me, his arms around me, and I breathe him in.
I could get used to this. In fact, I think I already am.
Nobody notices us when we sneak back into the house. Everybody is too busy. Wait staff fly around readying the kitchen and the ballroom, a band is setting up on a temporary stage, and all the doors have been flung open to the large patio beyond, the storm having passed.
By the time Liam’s made us a late lunch of soup and bread – having charmed the catering company to let him do his thing in the kitchen – we all head back to our cabins to get ready.
It’s fun being in there with Ariel. She has a dry sense of humor and clearly adores all the Salingers. She regales me with stories about their annual Olympics – where the brothers would compete for the prize of being top Salinger – and how they would get into physical fights over who was the best.
“Holden would fight?” I ask her. He seems the calmest of the six of them. Maybe it’s because he’s a doctor – his aim is to preserve life, not endanger it.
“Yep, even Holden,” Ariel says. “I like the way you’ve done your hair. How do you get it to twist like that?”
I demonstrate it for her and she claps her hands. “I’m going to try that next time I go out,” she says, and even if she’s just humoring me I feel gratified that the sophisticated Parisian likes how I look.
We disappear into our rooms to put on our dresses and she walks back out looking absolutely stunning. Her dress is a silver sheath that clings to her perfect curves and I still can’t believe she’s almost forty.
“You look fabulous,” I tell her.
“And so do you.”
We walk out of the cabin together as we see the Salinger men approaching. Ariel slides her arm through Eli’s and Liam walks over to me.
“Beautiful,” he murmurs, his face serious. “Shall we just go back to the cabin again?”
“No way,” Linc says, huffing behind us. “Try to keep it in your pants for at least the next few hours, bro.”
Liam rolls his eyes. “You have an exquisite turn of phrase, Lincoln.”
Myles and Ava join us a few moments later. They’ve dressed Charlie in the world’s smallest tuxedo and we all coo over how adorable he looks.
But Liam’s the one he reaches for, his hands clinging onto the lapels of his tuxedo. Reluctantly, Myles passes him over and Liam whispers in Charlie’s ear.
And he gives the most delightful laugh. We all stare, rapt. Even Lincoln looks a little broody.
“What did you say to him?” Ava asks, smiling.
Liam lifts a brow. “Just a little uncle nephew thing.”
“I heard what he said.” Myles stares at Liam. “And thank you for telling my son you’ve been getting jiggy.”
Eli coughs out a laugh. I’m stuck somewhere between mortification and amusement. And Liam just shrugs because that’s what Liam does.
When Ava tries to take Charlie back, he clings tighter to Liam’s jacket. So he carries him up to the house, his big hand cradling Charlie’s head, and I have to send an SOS to my ovaries to calm the heck down.
When we reach the house, Linda and Deandra walk out to greet us, Julia and Rupert behind them. Everybody hugs everybody but before we can walk inside, the doorbell rings and the guests begin to arrive. Liam slides his hand around my waist and kisses my brow.
“Okay?” he asks.
“I’m more than all right.”
His eyes are soft. “That’s good. Because as soon as this party’s over we’re going back to your cabin.”
I lift a brow, secretly pleased that he wants to be alone with me. “What about Ariel?”
“Holden’s going to give her his room. I’ve made him an offer he can’t refuse.”
“What kind of offer?” I’m intrigued now.
“Probably best not to share specifics,” Liam says. “But believe me when I say you’re more than worth it.”