Chapter 28
Liam
“This was amazing,” Tess said once we entered my apartment. It was very late at night. We’d just dropped off Gran before coming here. “And Ellen had a great time, don’t you think?”
It was endearing how much she cared for everyone’s happiness.
I took off my coat before helping her out of hers. I removed it slowly, lingering with my fingers on her arms until I felt her shudder.
“She had a great time,” I assured her, hanging up the coats. Then I placed my hands on her shoulders, turning her around until we were face-to-face.
“I’m sure she’s going to ask Mick and Amelia to go to her place for a round of chess sometime soon. Discuss everything from more dinners together to what their grandkids will look like.”
Fuck, where had that come from? I’d certainly not intended to say it, and from Tess’s wide eyes, she hadn’t expected to hear it.
She was blushing, just like she’d done at dinner, but she wasn’t pulling back or dismissing my words. My whole body relaxed. I wanted Tess in my life, always and forever. It had never been as clear as it was now.
“I love you, Tess.” I drew my fingers over her jaw before skimming my thumb over her lips.
She smiled, clasping her fingers around my wrist before bringing my hand up her cheek and planting a quick kiss on the heel of my palm.
I moved my other hand to her neck. Her pulse quickened. Her eyes were full of emotions.
“You’ve given this a lot of thought, hmm?” she whispered.
“Not before today,” I admitted. “But now I do have some very specific thoughts.”
Her smile turned into a grin. “Care to share them?”
“No. Don’t want to scare you away.” I was semiserious.
“That specific, huh?”
“Actually, yes.”
I’d only fleetingly thought about having a family years ago before dismissing the idea. But even then, it had been a loose sketch, more of an idea, so very different from now.
“By the way, why didn’t you warn me about the call with your parents?”
“I forgot to tell you, sorry. But as you saw, it wasn’t that involved.”
“True.”
“Before I met you, it didn’t bother me as much. But now…I mean, I can’t change them. But you and I can build the life we want. Together.”
I could visualize our lives together in scarily accurate detail.
How we’d both have busy but satisfying weeks, weekends full of laughter, games, and fun.
How she’d insist on Tess-like things like making jam on specific days, and I’d try my best at being a good husband.
A good dad. I thought I’d make a great one with Tess at my side.
It was a vivid image that seemed to paint itself on its own. I couldn’t exactly describe it, because it was more of a feeling…but I could show her just how much she meant to me.
Cupping the back of her head, I kissed her deep and so slow that I was aware of every breath she took, every moan that escaped her.
I was drinking it all in. I kissed her until her body started shaking slightly.
When she began tugging at her sweater, as if she couldn’t stand having clothes on any longer, I nearly lost my mind.
Gripping her hips, I pinned her against the nearest wall, wanting more leverage.
I got rid of her jeans. She was wearing stockings.
Fuck, now I really was losing my mind. She looked at me through hooded eyelids, smiling happily.
“Come on, move it farther up.” Her voice was seductive, and I realized she was holding back more than stockings.
I lifted her sweater up to her waist, sucking in a deep breath.
Tess was wearing a lace bodice, connected to the stockings by thin straps running down each thigh.
She was so damn sexy that I couldn’t stop staring.
I wanted to touch every part of her at once and didn’t know where to start.
Getting rid of her sweater was a sound decision, so I did.
Her bodice went up to her breasts but was strapless and had buttons down the middle.
I was the luckiest man alive.
I traced the contour of her upper breasts, just where the fabric ended, while parting her thighs with my knee.
She closed her eyes, swallowing hard while I undid the first button and then the next one.
I didn’t stop until I undid all of them.
It didn’t fall to the floor but hung to her curves, taunting me.
She opened her eyes, placing both hands on my shoulders and pulling me toward her.
She initiated the kiss at the same time I touched between her thighs over the fabric of her lingerie.
I groaned at how wet she was. She moaned while I slowly rubbed two fingers over the fabric, back and forth, until she couldn’t kiss me anymore because she was panting.
Her legs were shaky. I skimmed my other hand around the straps and then the clips that connected the bodice to the stockings.
With two snaps, I loosened the clips. Lowering myself on my haunches, I took off each stocking. After baring her legs, I kissed from her knees up her inner thighs until I reached the apex. The lacy fabric was still in the way. Sexy as it was, I wanted it off her. I wanted her completely bare.
“Take it off,” I commanded, watching her.
Tess obliged immediately, pushing the bodice down her hips and stepping out of it once it was around her ankles.
I looked up at her, drinking in her sexy naked body before rising and kissing her hard.
Then I lifted her up my body, holding her by her ass. She whimpered, pressed against me. Her clit was level with my belt buckle. Our surroundings faded as I moved through the apartment. She tightened her grip on my shoulders, rolling her hips and practically humping my belt.
She needed more friction. Fuck, I wanted to be inside her. I couldn’t wait any longer.
I only made it to the kitchen counter. I lowered her on her feet, kneading her ass cheeks before letting go. I undressed in the pitch dark. Fortunately, Tess helped a lot. I couldn’t even see where her hands were, just felt them all over me until I was naked.
Gripping her hand, I brought it over my cock. “Touch me. Fuuuck, touch me.”
I dropped my head back, groaning when she clasped her hand around me, moving it in a maddening rhythm. I felt more than saw her lower herself to her knees. She pressed the flat of her tongue against the tip of my cock.
“Fuuuck.”
I held her hair, needing to grip and move and thrust, barely keeping myself from moving my hips. I inhaled through my nose, exhaling through my mouth. I couldn’t see anything, just felt her tongue and her lips. It was driving me insane.
“Babe, I want you.” I sounded so desperate that I didn’t recognize my own voice.
She clamped her lips around me even tighter. I buckled backward, letting go of her hair and pressing my palms on the edge of the counter. Tess pulled back, kissing my abs and chest. I cupped her head with both hands, kissing her until we were both out of breath.
“Condom,” I muttered.
“I have one in my bag,” she whispered.
Fuck no. That was in the corridor. I didn’t want to let her go that long, but I had no choice.
She moved in the darkness, turning on the light once she stepped out of the room. I was so desperate that I started touching myself, squeezing my hand tight around my cock. It wasn’t enough.
She returned a few seconds later, leaving the light on. It barely filtered in the room, but it was enough to see her gorgeous naked body.
“Liam…” she whispered when she looked down at me.
“See what you do to me? You make me crazy. Desperate. Come here.”
She ripped open the package as she walked. I only took my hand away when she stood in front of me, rolling on the condom. Energy shot through me at her touch. Fuck. I needed to thrust into her.
Turning her around, I commanded, “Put your hands on the counter.”
I spread her legs at the same time. She gasped lightly when I bit her shoulder.
Gripping the base of my cock, I positioned myself between her legs, then slid inside all at once until my thighs pressed against her ass.
Tess buckled forward, gasping. Leaning my forehead on the back of her neck, I breathed in her scent, covering her body with my arms, holding her, steadying her.
I moved my hips then, needing the pleasure.
Tess gasped. She was coming apart in my arms, and I’d only started thrusting.
We were both half curled over the counter, and I straightened us up so I could touch her better.
I touched her breasts, cupping them before lowering one hand to her clit.
She whimpered, tightening around me. Desire coiled through me, and I moved even faster.
My legs were burning, but I didn’t want to slow down. I needed more. I needed everything.
“You’re mine,” I whispered in her ear, wanting to voice the feeling that consumed me. “Only mine.”
I held her through her moans and gasps of pleasure, thrusting inside her until I felt her come apart.
One of her legs shot out to one side as the other wobbled.
Even though her hands were firmly on the counter, I was the one sustaining us both.
My climax formed slowly and then spread like wildfire.
I’d never come like this, not ever. My whole body was burning.
My bones felt liquid, and I could barely breathe through my orgasm. My legs were about to give out.
Tess leaned up a bit, resting her elbows on the counter, and I mirrored her stance, my chest pressed to her back. I rested my chin in the crook of her neck. We were both still breathing unbelievably fast, enjoying the afterglow of what we’d just experienced.
After what felt like hours, my limbs started feeling normal again. I turned Tess around, and she became soft in my arms. I lifted her up to hold her even closer to me, and she gently laid her head against my shoulder.
My feisty, talkative woman was completely quiet, too spent. I was damn proud of myself.
“Do you think you can stand in the shower?” I asked as I carried her into the master bathroom.