Chapter Twenty-Two
Liam
Her skin is scorching beneath my hands, soft and unyielding, and I can’t stop myself from tracing my fingers along the curve of her back.
Maggie straddles me, her breaths shallow and quick, her eyes locked on mine.
The flickering firelight dances over her bare skin, illuminating every inch of her like some divine masterpiece.
It’s not just the physical pull that has me undone, though that’s undeniable. There’s so much more here, something electric and raw that I’ve never felt before. My hands skim her sides, moving up slowly, memorizing every dip and curve as if I might never get another chance to hold her like this.
“Maggie,” I whisper hoarsely.
Her name feels like a prayer on my lips.
The tips of my fingers slide up her warm skin.
She leans down, her mouth brushing against mine, teasing, and the softest moan escapes her.
My resolve is hanging on by a thread, my body on fire, but I’m not in any rush to break it.
This moment, this feeling—it’s something I want to savor.
I force myself to meet her eyes, to make sure this is what she wants. “Are you sure about this?” I murmur, my hands stilling against her.
For a moment, her gaze softens, and the vulnerability I see there makes my chest tighten. She nods. “I’ve never been more sure.”
With that, I let go of whatever restraint I’ve been clinging to. My hands slide up her back, pulling her closer as our mouths meet again. It’s slow, unhurried, but the heat building between us is anything but. The weight of the world falls away, leaving only her, only us.
For the first time in a long time, I feel like I’m exactly where I’m supposed to be.
Her hard nipples press against my chest as our mouths fuse together in a feverish blaze.
The line between us blurs; I can’t tell where she ends and I begin, and I don’t care.
I wrap my arms tightly around her, lifting her as her legs instinctively wrap around my waist. The feel of her, so warm and soft, only stokes the fire raging between us.
I carry her to the bed, my lips never leaving hers, the kiss growing hungrier with each passing second.
Carefully, I lower her onto the mattress, savoring the way she clings to me, like she can’t bear for this to stop.
I hook my thumbs around the hem of her pants, my eyes locked on hers, silently asking for permission.
Her hips lift in response, helping me slide the fabric down her curves and off her body.
Every inch of her is breathtaking, and for a moment, I just stare, my pulse thundering in my ears.
But the hunger between us is impossible to ignore.
I stand, taking her with me and climb onto the bed, covering her with my body, our mouths colliding again.
The kiss is all-consuming, a raw exchange of need and desire.
Her hands explore my back, her nails dragging lightly, sending shivers down my spine.
But I want more. I need more.
My hand slides down her stomach, the soft rise and fall of her breath beneath my touch making my own chest tighten. When my fingers find her heat, wet and ready, she gasps, her back arching off the bed. The sound she makes—needy, desperate—goes straight to my core.
Breaking the kiss, I press my lips to her neck, trailing them slowly down to her collarbone, tasting the salt of her skin.
She squirms beneath me, her body reacting to every brush of my mouth.
I take my time, savoring her, stopping to suck one hardened nipple into my mouth.
She moans, her fingers tangling in my hair, and it’s all I can do not to lose myself right then and there.
I continue my journey down her body, planting kisses along her ribs, her stomach, and the curve of her hips.
Every inch of her is a revelation, and I’m greedy for more.
When I finally reach her, my breath catches.
She’s exquisite, pink and glistening, her body responding to mine like we’ve been made for this moment.
“Liam,” she breathes, her voice trembling but full of trust.
That’s all the invitation I need. I lower my mouth to her, determined to show her exactly how much I want her—every part of her.
Her taste is intoxicating, an unfiltered kind of sweetness that’s all her own. Every time my tongue grazes her, she trembles beneath me, her breath hitching in ways that send a jolt of heat straight through me. The sounds she makes—soft, breathy, and completely uninhibited—are enough to unravel me.
I shift lower, settling more comfortably against the plush rug as I press her thighs apart, opening her to me completely. My hands grip her hips firmly, keeping her in place as I bury myself in the warmth of her. The firelight flickers against her flushed skin, making her look ethereal.
“Liam,” she gasps, her fingers threading into my hair, tugging just enough to drive me wild.
The way she responds to every flick of my tongue, every slow, deliberate circle, has my heart pounding harder than any competition ever has.
She’s completely in the moment, and so am I.
It’s not just about the physical—it’s the way she’s giving herself to me without reservation, the way I can feel her holding nothing back.
“You’re incredible,” I murmur against her, the vibrations of my voice drawing another shuddered moan from her lips.
She arches beneath me, her body taut and alive, and I don’t let up for a second.
My tongue moves with purpose, slow when I want to hear her beg, fast when I want to feel her unravel.
Her hips lift instinctively, meeting me halfway, her trust in me driving me to make this moment unforgettable for her.
Her hand tightens in my hair, and the sound of her breath catching, her broken moan echoing softly in the room, lets me know she’s close. I glance up just briefly, catching the way her eyes squeeze shut and her lips part as she teeters on the edge.
I want to pull her over that edge, to make her completely mine. But I hold back, savoring every second of this moment. The way she’s sprawled beneath me, raw and vulnerable, her walls down in a way that feels so rare and so real—I don’t want it to end. Not yet.
My hands travel down her thighs, my touch light, teasing.
Her skin is soft and warm beneath my fingertips, and the way she shivers under me sends a thrill racing through my veins.
When my fingers slide between her folds, she gasps, her hips lifting instinctively as if she’s inviting me to take more.
I let one finger slip inside her, slow and deliberate, before retreating just as she starts to move with me. Then, I slide two in, stretching her just enough to make her moan. Her fingers tighten in my hair, the sharp tug grounding me as much as it drives me wild.
“Mmhmmm,” she breathes.
I glance up, catching the way her lips part, the way her chest rises and falls as she struggles to catch her breath. She’s beautiful like this—completely lost in the moment, and I can’t get enough of it.
My fingers curl inside her, finding the spot that makes her back arch off the mattress again, her body reacting so beautifully that I can’t help but grin against her. “You like that?” I murmur.
Her response is a sexy moan, her hand gripping my hair tighter as she writhes beneath me. I press a kiss to her inner thigh, my tongue following the path of my lips as I continue to tease her, taking my time.
She’s everything right now—every thought, every sensation, every single thing I want. And as her thighs tighten around me and her moans grow louder, I know I’d keep her here forever if I could.
“I…” Her voice trembles. “I need…”
The desperation in her tone sends a thrill through me.
I grin against her, letting the warmth of her wetness soak into my lips as I shift to give her exactly what she’s asking for.
My tongue circles her swollen clit, slowly, deliberately, before I pull it into my mouth and suck gently.
Her thighs tense against my shoulders, her hips lifting to meet me, as though her body can’t help but chase the release I’m offering.
Her taste is intoxicating—sweet, salty, earthy.
It lingers on my tongue as I press harder, my hands gripping her thighs to steady her as she writhes.
Her moans grow louder, raw and unrestrained, the sound vibrating through the room and driving me to go further.
I flick my tongue again and again over that sensitive spot, each pass making her shudder.
Her body tightens, her thighs clamping against my shoulders like she’s trying to trap me there.
I feel the exact moment she tips over the edge—the way her back arches, the soft gasp that leaves her throat, the tremor that ripples through her entire body.
I keep my mouth on her, drawing out her climax, as she moans and gasps, her hands clutching at the blanket beneath her.
When I finally lift my head, my chin damp and glistening, her chest is heaving as she rises up onto her elbows.
Her hair falls in wild waves around her flushed face, and her eyes glint with mischief and something I can’t quite place.
She looks so alive, so radiant, that I can’t stop the grin that spreads across my face.
And then she laughs, the sound light and breathless. “Can we do that again?”
I chuckle, wiping my chin with the back of my hand, before crawling up her body and settling my weight against her. The heat of her skin radiates against mine, her scent filling the space between us—a mix of her arousal and the faint floral hint of her shampoo.
“You liked that?” I ask.
She shakes her head slowly, her lips quirking into a teasing smirk. “No,” she says, dragging out the word. I arch a brow, waiting, but she leans in, her lips brushing against mine as she whispers, “I loved it.”
The kiss that follows is slow and deep, her lips soft and eager against mine. Her hands slide up my chest, fingers grazing my skin, leaving a trail of fire in their wake. I groan into her mouth, pulling her closer, and for a moment, it feels like the rest of the world has fallen away.
It’s just us. Just this. And it’s perfect.