Chapter 38
CHAPTER THIRTY-EIGHT
Athena
“How would you rate my performance on a scale of one to ten?” I try to keep from smiling as I stare down at his naked body. He’s sprawled on his back in the middle of his bed.
“You’re fucking joking.”
I push against his bicep. “Liam.”
“Athena.” He looks over at me. “Give me a minute to find my bearings.”
“That must mean that it was better than a five.” I fall onto the mattress next to him.
I know it was better than a five. From the way he came in my mouth, I think it was close to a ten.
I couldn’t handle all of him, but I took what I could.
He tried to let me be in control, but his restraint broke, and his hands got lost in my hair as he fucked my mouth. It was slow at first, but then his thrusts came faster and harder until he exploded.
He pulled out after the first burst of his release hit my tongue. He shot the rest on his stomach.
I trailed my tongue through it as he watched with wide eyes and his mouth hanging open.
“Christ. I can’t breathe.” He presses a hand against the left side of his chest. “Did my heart stop?”
I move to rest my ear against his chest. “It’s beating strong inside of there. Thump, thump, thump.”
A roar of laughter flows through him, vibrating his body under mine. “I guarantee it’s not that quiet.”
I inch away from his chest so I can look into his face. “Your heartbeat is fine. You’re going to live.”
His brow knits. “Is that your professional opinion as the best florist in Manhattan?”
“In all of New York City,” I correct him. “I set my sights high.”
“As you should.” He trails a finger over my forehead. “That was perfect. Everything about what you just did was utter perfection.”
I believe him.
My gaze wanders to the window and the darkness beyond. It’s late. I should leave. My plan wasn’t to stay over. I have to be at the shop early for another large delivery.
“Don’t say it,” he groans out the words. “You’re thinking about taking off.”
Speechless, I glance at him. How the hell does he know that?
“I can see the wheels churning behind those beautiful baby blues.” He looks me straight in the eyes. “You’re thinking about going home to sleep so you can get an early start on your day tomorrow.”
I straighten my legs, brushing my toes against his calf. “Business has picked up lately.”
He jerks a thumb over his shoulder to where his phone is sitting on the nightstand. “I’ll set the alarm for an hour before you want to go to work. I can take you home, see your place, and give you a shower before I walk you to Wild Lilac.”
It’s a plan with one major flaw.
Shaking my head, I exhale. “My shower is tiny. We both can’t fit in there.”
That lures a smile to his mouth. “You’re sure?”
“My apartment is Athena-sized, not giant-sized.”
“Giant-sized.” He tosses my words back with a lift of both of his brows. “I admit I’m tall, but I’m no giant, lilac.”
I pick at a loose thread on the pillowcase next to me. “We can’t both fit in my shower.”
“We’ll shower here before we go to your place.” He glances at the door that leads to the hallway. “I’ll even make you a coffee before we head out in the morning.”
It’s all so tempting. It’s not just the idea of showering with him, but the comfort of spending the night wrapped in his arms while the rain beats down on the city.
“I’ll stay.” I slide into place next to him. “Set the alarm for five.”
“I’m setting it for four-thirty,” he counters. “I need an extra thirty minutes in the morning with you.”
Before I think it through, I ask a question. “For what?”
He slides his hand up my thigh. “For this.”
I wake before the alarm sounds. It’s that way every morning. I set the alarm on my phone before I go to bed most nights, but my scattered thoughts push through my peaceful dreams, and I wake up at least an hour before I want to.
I won’t complain about not getting much sleep in Liam’s bed.
I reach for him, but all my hand finds is the cold sheet where he was before I fell asleep.
He held me against his chest until I drifted off.
He was telling me about the Empire State Building and the workers who put in time crafting one of the most iconic buildings in New York City.
“Liam,” I say his name quietly as I survey the room.
He’s not in here, but there is a light trailing down the hallway from the main living area.
My breath catches in my throat when my bare feet hit the cold hardwood floor.
Bundling a blanket around me, I push to stand.
He might have gone to fetch a glass of water or to use the washroom, but I want to surprise him by tossing the blanket aside to reveal my body underneath.
I know it will earn me at least a smile and those are like gold to me.
His entire face lights up when happiness settles there.
As soon as I peer out of the bedroom door, I spot him. He’s standing in silence, staring at a wall of pictures. I’ve glanced at them briefly each time I’ve been here. I know the one in the center with all of the people at a restaurant has to be a photo of his family.
There are also pictures of him when he was a kid and one from his high school graduation.
I move forward two steps and turn to face him.
He’s wearing dark sweatpants and nothing else. His right fist is knotted in the center of his chest. I can only see his profile, but I see pain there. It’s evident in the stern set of his jaw and the furrow of his brow.
I feel like I’m interrupting something even though he’s alone.
I move slightly, causing the bottom of the blanket to brush against the floor.
That’s enough to turn him in my direction.
“You’re awake?” he asks with a grin. “I thought you’d sleep straight through until morning.”
Stepping closer to him, I study his face. “Are you all right?”
A curt nod is the only reply I get.
I could pry for more, but whatever brought him to this spot isn’t something he wants to share right now.
He pins his gaze to my bare shoulder as the blanket starts to slide down my body. “It’s early, but do you want to join me in my shower?”
Silently, I give the lightweight blanket a shove revealing myself to him.
He stalks toward me with his arms outstretched. “Bed first. Shower after.”
He heaves me up and over his shoulder in one fluid movement.
When I scream in glee, he rewards me with a light tap of his palm on my ass.
“Save those sounds for when I’m inside of you.” He growls as he carries me over the threshold and into his bedroom.