11
When my lips meet Liam”s, it”s as if the earth moves beneath my feet. His kiss stirs my soul.
After our torrid embrace, we slowly catch our breath and look at each other. A laugh escapes me. It”s so good to be together again, to share this moment together! The pressure off, the fears gone, the doubts erased, I sleep like never before in the arms of the man I”m in love with.
The next morning, I emerge slowly, stretching out before I remember where I am. For a moment, I watch him sleep, observing his chest as it rises and falls to the rhythm of his peaceful breathing.
“Emily, I can feel you looking at me...” he mumbles.
He smiles, a dazzling smile that transports me.
Then suddenly, he grabs me and pulls me against him. I feel his erection against the sheet that separates us. My heart misses a beat and, immediately, shivers run through my body again. With a mischievous grin, I slide astride him, pulling back the covers that separates us.
“Hello there,” he murmurs as he takes me against him.
I look around, searching for protection. This guy is very organized when it comes to sex, I”m sure he has condoms by his bed.
“Bedside table,” he laughs, as if reading my mind.
I open the drawer and unroll a string of condoms, trying not to dwell on the fact that this equipment means he is very sexually active, and take one.
Meticulously, I set about slipping it onto his stiffened dick, and he lets me, watching me with a particularly sexy air. No sooner have I finished than he grabs me by the hips and penetrates me. A feeling of passion fills me. I bite him on the shoulder to keep from moaning too loudly. It”s just too good. I grab his mid-length hair and free his neck so I can plunge my mouth in to bite him gently.
“You”re incredibly sexy in the morning,” he whispers in my ear, making me shiver.
“And you”re incredibly handsome.”
He laughs, and I start to move my hips at a slow pace. This time, I”m in no hurry; I want to enjoy the feel of him inside me and explore his body. My hands roam over his muscular arms and well-developed torso. And I lean in to kiss him passionately.
Just as another orgasm is about to begin, he lifts me off him and flips me flat on my back on the mattress. There, on my back, I feel the warmth of his body, and he takes me from behind before I”ve even had a chance to exhale.
This angle allows him to hit a crucial point deep inside me, which almost makes me explode. I grab hold of the sheets and push my butt towards him to keep going. It”s as if he knows exactly what I need and what I like. After several incandescent minutes, we rush over the cliff together and free ourselves.
The intensity of our feelings and the wild passion have exhausted us both. We lie side by side on the bed, our breathing only slowly normalizing as we feel the after-effects of this intense moment.
Liam”s gaze is fixed on me and intense emotions flutter in his eyes - love, desire and deep complicity. His hand gently caresses my skin, and a smile stretches his lips.
“Emily,” he murmurs, his voice even huskier than before.
I turn my head towards him and smile back.
“Yes?”
He hesitates a moment before speaking.
“I”m as hungry as a wolf. Shall we order something to eat?”
I burst out laughing and nod. Liam grabs his cell phone with a smile and orders Chinese food for us.
While waiting for the delivery, we chat about everything and anything. The conversation flows effortlessly, as if we”d never parted. We talk about our dreams, but also about little anecdotes from our lives.
The hours tick by like seconds and it”s suddenly late at night.
I think I just spent a day naked making love to Liam Scott.
“I can”t believe what time it is,” I finally say, yawning.
Liam laughs softly.
“Time flies when you”re in good company.”
I smile and snuggle up to him.
The darkness that surrounds us creates a kind of cocoon of intimacy that protects our closeness like a special treasure. His smile is gentle and affectionate as he gently squeezes my hand.
“I want you to stay with me tonight, Emily.”
My heart leaps with happiness and a warm feeling comes over me.
“I”d love to stay with you, but if I spend one more night here, Maddie and Cassy will call the FBI and put out an APB.”
We both laugh and he pulls me closer to kiss me on the forehead. The warmth of our bodies mingles and I sigh with satisfaction.
“All right,” he finally says, pouting slightly.
As much as I”d love to stay, I really need to get home. It”s not a bad idea to let it all settle down, take a shower too, put on some clothes, and see how we can reconcile our new relationship with our obligations and passions.
A vast program...
Liam looks at me and gently strokes my cheek.
“What”s on your mind?”
I hesitate for a moment before answering.
“Us. I think it”s best if we don”t announce our relationship just yet. I don”t want to be known as the girlfriend of the most attractive ice hockey captain on campus before I”ve made a name for myself as a sportswriter. And I don”t want anyone to think I gave you an advantage in my articles because I”m with you. My integrity is important. Besides, I think it would be better for you too... Don”t you?”
Memories of Liam”s conversation with Coach Franklyn appear in my mind.
I bite my lip; afraid I”ve gone too far with my suggestion. But it”s important to be honest if we want this to work.
Liam”s gaze turns serious and he takes my hand in his.
“I agree. Rumors could have a negative effect on both of us. And right now, I want us to enjoy what we have without having to worry about other people”s opinions. I don”t want to hide you, don”t get me wrong!”
I nod.
“I don”t want to hide you either, but it would be wiser. And I really should be getting home now!” I say with determination after a few seconds.
Liam grabs my face and forces me to look at him, trapping my eyes in his.
“Whatever happens, remember that I want to be with you.”
My heart beats faster with joy and I kiss him. The kiss is intense and quickly becomes passionate. But before we can undress each other again, I push Liam away, laughing.
I”m very bad at hiding things, but I have to go through this. I hope I can keep my distance to protect us both.
***
A familiar scent greets me as I push open my bedroom door. It smells of cinnamon and spices. I breathe it in, happy.
I really feel safe here.
Cassy is once again sliding vases, floral arrangements and candlesticks onto a piece of furniture. She examines her decoration, her head cocked to one side.
“Hi, desert girl! Were you at Maddie”s last night? How did it go?” she asks almost casually.
I feel my heartbeat quicken.
Under normal circumstances, I could answer that question without a problem. But today, I have a secret to keep - something I can”t share with Cassy yet. She could never keep it to herself and I don”t want to take any chances.
“Uh... I...”
Don”t stammer, Emily!
Cassy turns to me and frowns, waiting for the next part.
“I fell asleep at the newspaper office!” I finally exclaim, trying not to put Maddie on the spot.
“That”s why you look so tired!” she says with her usual tact.
I breathe a sigh of relief.
“Yes, I had a backlog of articles and research to do. The day flew by at breakneck speed and I”m only going home now.”
She continues to stare at me, and I can literally see her mind at work. I hate lying to her, but I have to go through this.
“You”re working too hard!” she finally replies, even though her face looks as skeptical as ever.
“Yeah, I know,” I nod. “But don”t worry about me!”
She nods slowly and seems to believe me. Relieved that she doesn”t insist, I breathe. But at the same time, I feel bad that I can”t tell her the truth.
As I shower and get ready for bed, a lump forms in my stomach. I”ve always had trouble lying and I wonder how long Liam and I will have to keep our happiness to ourselves.
***
The atmosphere in the campus newspaper office is always lively - the clatter of keyboards, the murmur of conversations and the rustle of papers form a background noise that takes some getting used to.
Sitting at my desk, I”m lost in thought.
My budding relationship with Liam is really perfect. We still meet at lunchtime to study together, and often escape between two shelves of books for more ‘in-depth studying’.
Just goes to show, I”ll end up getting laid in that library too!
In the evenings, after his training, we continue our studies together. It”s either the books that absorb us, or the other”s body. But we still manage to balance our busy lives. Our feelings don”t erase our responsibilities and goals, and that”s what I love about us. We”re aware of each other”s expectations of our careers, and so far, so good. Liam”s grades are even excellent!
Maddie and Cassy did notice that I haven”t been very available lately, but they put that down to my tendency to study a lot.
If they only knew...
And it”s true that I feel guilty letting them think that when I”m having the time of my life.
Suddenly, the landline next to me rings and I touch my heart, startled. Nobody ever calls me here. I look at the display and recognize a New York number.
Curious, I pick up the phone.
“Hello?”
“Hello, am I speaking to... Emily Hansen?”
The female voice on the other end of the line sounds professional.
“Yes, that”s me,” I reply.
“Perfect! My name is Laura Johnson from the New York Post. We”ve been reading about your university”s ice hockey team and are very impressed with your work. We”d like to offer you the opportunity to intern with us.”
I can hardly believe my ears. The New York Post - one of the city”s most prestigious newspapers - wants to offer me an internship? What an incredible opportunity!
“Oh, thank you so much! I”m honored!” I exclaim, unable to contain my enthusiasm. “Thank you for this opportunity,” I continue, trying to sound a little more professional.
“We”re convinced you can be an asset to our team,” replies Ms. Johnson. “Can you drop by our office this lunchtime for an interview? I”m sorry to spring this on you, but we”d like to confirm this with you as soon as possible.”
I swallow hard, my heart rate quickens and my hands become clammy.
I”m meeting Liam for lunch.
I bite my lip, my thoughts swirling. The opportunity to intern at the New York Post is too tempting to pass up. I”m sure he”ll understand!
“Yes, no problem,” I finally say.
“Perfect! Then we”ll see you at noon in our offices.”
The call ends and I sit in silence for a moment.
It”s absolutely crazy!
I grab my phone and type a quick message to Liam to let him know.
* Hi there! I”m so sorry, but we”ll have to postpone our lunch date. I”ll explain!
I”m deliberately not giving him any more details so as not to jinx myself if I don”t get in. I hope he won”t be offended that I canceled in the morning, and that he”ll be happy for me when I tell him everything.
I have just enough time to go back to my room, change and get out of here. My thoughts turn to this professional opportunity and, at the same time, I worry about the impact it could have on my life.
Will I have enough time for my private life?
My excitement is barely bearable when I slip on matching pants and blazer.
Cassy came over to help me when I texted the girls to let them know. She hands me a coffee and smiles encouragingly.
“You”re worrying for nothing, Emily. It”s going to be fine!”
I sigh.
“It”s a huge opportunity and I want to make a good impression!”
She nods and looks at me.
“What you”ve chosen is perfect!”
For once, she validates my outfit, and that”s something to set in stone!
I smile gratefully.
“And you”re going to rock this interview,” she says with a wink.
The journey to the New York Post office seems interminable, and my nervousness grows with every step. Thousands of people are milling about in the streets, and the city”s hustle and bustle reverberates inside me. When I finally reach the front of the building, I take a deep breath.
I sign in at reception and take the opportunity to look around. The atmosphere is electric, smelling of paper all the way down the hall.
When I”m asked to climb the stairs, I feel like I”m going to faint.
Yet the interview goes surprisingly well. The people present are professional and friendly, and my nervousness diminishes as I talk about my experience and passion for journalism.
“We were impressed by your articles, Emily,” says one of the journalists opposite me. “We read student newspapers with great interest to find rare gems like you. We”re used to meeting our trainees, which is why we contacted you directly. And we think you”d be an excellent addition to our team.”
The words ring in my ears and my heart beats with excitement. This is more than I expected.
“I... thank you very much,” I reply, my voice trembling slightly.
Once the formalities have been completed, I leave the office with a smile on my face. I take a deep breath and observe the bustle of the city for a moment. The streets of New York suddenly seem brighter, full of possibilities and opportunities. And I”m ready to seize them all.
Once back on campus, I immediately grab my cell phone and text Maddie to let her know I”ve got the job. Then I also text Liam to explain in more detail what it”s all about. His reply warms my heart and I”m relieved he”s taking it this way.
* Em! It”s fantastic! I’m really happy for you! 3
But at the same time, a thought pops into my head: accepting the internship means that I”ll have to devote even more time to my professional career. I made this decision without thinking too much about it - the opportunity was too good to turn down. But now I”m wondering what impact this new step will have on my relationship with Liam.
I hope I”ll be able to reconcile everything.
***
The next day, I join the rink, excited. An article about the team is being written for the university newspaper, and I want to gather enough information to write a great article.
But as I watch the training, I can”t turn my thoughts away from Liam.
How attractive he is when he is sweating and working out…
Immediately, confusing images take hold of me, and I tighten my grip on my notebook.
The way Liam glides across the ice, with the passion and energy he puts into every movement, is incredibly sexy. It”s hard not to run to him and hug him. But our relationship is still a secret we want to keep, and I pull myself together.
Time flies and when the players leave the ice, I”m sure I”ll have enough material to complete my article.
Liam takes advantage of the fact that his teammates are in the changing rooms to glide over to me, the sweat on his forehead glistening in the sunlight streaming through a window.
“Hey,” he says, smiling.
“Hey,” I reply with the same smile.
My heart races as he approaches.
“Did you like what you saw?” he asks with a mischievous grin.
My cheeks are getting hot.
“As always... But they were professional observations, you know.”
I shake my notebook, laughing, and his smile widens.
“Well... I can”t wait to read your new article.”
The butterflies in my stomach take flight and swirl in all directions. It”s so hard not to jump on him right away!
I wait for him to finish showering, and together we leave the rink for a bite to eat.
As we sit in a café close to campus and chat, I think to myself that time spent with Liam feels familiar and natural. I”m really enjoying it. My decision to accept the internship at the New York Post weighs all the more heavily.
Suddenly, a lump forms in my throat.
Liam notices my silence.
“Are you okay, Em?”
I force a smile to my lips.
“Yes, everything”s fine!”
But his eyes pierce me. I sigh and finally let go.
“I”m afraid we won”t find the time to see each other anymore and we”ll drift apart when I start my internship.”
Liam puts his hand on mine and forces me to look at him.
“Hey, it”s gonna be okay, all right? Don”t you worry about a thing. We”ll find a way to make it work. We”re stronger than this. Besides, our dreams are important, too.”
His words calm me down a little, allowing me to look up and appreciate his beautiful smile. So much sex appealin one person shouldn”t be allowed. My knees soften as his hand caresses mine and my whole body begins to tingle.
His eyes. His lips...
My throat suddenly becomes dry and I feel as if I”m about to burst into a thousand pieces. When I can”t stand the tension any longer, I pretend I need to go to the toilet for a change of air.
“Get a grip, Emily! Puberty”s long over,” I say to myself, looking at myself in the mirror.
Suddenly the door opens behind me, and Liam enters.
“What are you...”
I don”t have time to finish my sentence before he locks the main door behind him. His eyes are dark with desire, his lips slightly parted, and to see him like this takes my excitement up a notch. He turns me against the wall and starts kissing my neck.
Little electric shocks tickle my skin and my body bursts into flames.
With an air of determination, Liam pushes us into one of the cubicles. Without wasting any time, he puts his hand under my short dress, finds my panties and pulls them down. It”s a good thing I”m not wearing tights on this hot day, and once his condom is on, he can penetrate me straight away.
“Huuuum...” I groan.
It”s as if something explodes inside me.
He takes me hard and fast, with an urgency that catches me completely off guard.
In a very short time, we reach a climax together and when Liam pulls away, I feel empty. I want more, more of this, more of him.
Without saying a word, he winks at me and leaves, taking my underwear with him. At the door, he removes the bolt and turns around one last time.
“As a souvenir,” he says mischievously, shaking my panties.
What the...
I”m standing in front of the toilet, legs shaking and breathless, still wondering what just happened.
It was so hot!
When I finally come out, Liam is sitting at our table sipping his beer as if he hasn”t just fucked me in a public toilet.
I try to calm down and sit down opposite him. The sensation of not wearing underwear turns me on more than I care to admit, but I pull myself together.
The rest of our meal together is spent in pleasant conversation, and I try to put aside my thoughts about the future. The love I feel for Liam is very special, and I”m sure we”ll find ways to preserve our relationship.
As we leave the café and head towards Liam”s university building, I can”t help but grab his hand repeatedly, only to let go as soon as we see someone. I want to devour him right here on campus... I push him back and exchange an intense kiss with him.
Our bond is strong, full of passion and understanding - it”s something I won”t give up, no matter how complicated the future may be.
We”re on our way again when we spot Coach Franklyn. Instinctively, we take a step away from each other.
“Liam! And Emily...”
He looks at us skeptically but adds nothing.
My gaze shifts from Liam to the coach before I hastily take my leave.
I hope he didn”t see anything...