Chapter Twenty-Three
Maggie
I’ve never experienced anything like that before.
Never. No one’s ever taken the time to focus on me like Liam just did—like he wanted nothing more than to undo me, piece by trembling piece.
My history with men hasn’t exactly been a grand adventure.
The few relationships I’ve had, the ones who were brave—or foolish—enough to date a journalist with a one-track mind for chasing the next big story, never managed to make me feel like this.
Ryan never made me feel like this. He certainly never made my legs shake or had me gasping for air like every single breath from my lungs was being stolen lick by delicious lick.
I stare at the ceiling, my chest still rising and falling with deep, unsteady breaths.
My skin feels like it’s on fire, hypersensitive and buzzing with electricity.
Liam might have said I was going to ruin him but the reality is that he’s ruined me.
Completely. I’m not even sure if I care about my job or this story anymore.
Not when every nerve ending in my body is screaming for him to do it all over again.
Am I in love? Lust? Whatever it is, it’s overwhelming and impossible to ignore. All I know is that I need him—his hands, his mouth, his everything—all over me again. And again. And again.
His kiss is slow and deliberate, like he’s savoring every second. My heart pounds as the taste of myself lingers on his lips, and the sheer intimacy of the moment makes my cheeks flush. I can’t believe this is happening. I can’t believe I’m here, with him, feeling this way.
Liam pulls back slightly, his eyes searching mine, then begins trailing kisses down the length of my body again. His lips are soft and gentle, leaving a trail of fire in their wake. But before he gets too far, I press my hand against his chest, stopping him.
“Wait,” I say.
He pauses immediately, his dark eyes locking onto mine. One of his hands drifts to my breast, cupping it gently, his thumb brushing over my sensitive skin. My breath hitches, but I hold my ground.
“What are we waiting for?” he murmurs, low and husky, filled with both curiosity and desire.
I swallow hard, the words caught in my throat before I manage to let them out. “You saw mine… Now I want to see yours.”
For a moment, he freezes, then his lips curl into a slow, wicked grin. His eyes flash with a mix of amusement and excitement, the golden glow from the fireplace reflecting in them. “Well, Maggie Cooper,” he teases, his voice dripping with charm, “all you had to do was ask.”
He sits up, his movements unhurried, as if he’s enjoying drawing out the anticipation.
His hands move to the waistband of his jeans, and I suddenly find it hard to breathe as I watch him.
My pulse races, and I feel a surge of both nervousness and overwhelming curiosity.
Liam Thompson is an enigma—and I’m about to uncover more than just his secrets.
I can feel my cheeks burning as Liam unzips his jeans, his movements deliberately slow, teasing.
He shimmies them down his hips, and my breath catches, anticipation coursing through me like an electric current.
But when I realize his boxer-briefs are staying put, a surge of disappointment rushes over me.
“Patience,” he murmurs, smooth as velvet, catching the smirk tugging at the corners of his lips.
I rise up on my elbows, unwilling to look away. “I’m a very patient person,” I argue, though the words come out a little breathier than I intend.
He steps off the bed, letting his jeans fall to the floor with a careless flick of his foot.
The glow of the fire behind him turns his toned body into something almost otherworldly, every curve of his muscles painted in gold.
When his boxer-briefs finally slide down, revealing all of him, I’m momentarily stunned.
My mouth falls open as my eyes fixate on him. He’s… massive. Beautiful. Mesmerizing. I’ve never seen anything like him, and I’m pretty sure I’ll never forget this moment.
Without a second thought, I slide off the bed, rising to stand before him. His height dwarfs mine, and I have to stand on my tiptoes to capture his mouth in a heated kiss. My hand wraps around the base of him, stroking slowly, reverently, as if I’m trying to convince myself he’s real.
“You,” I murmur between kisses, “are,” another kiss, “a masterpiece.”
His grin against my lips is almost sinful. “Am I, Cooper?”
I don’t respond. Instead, I sink to my knees, my eyes trailing upward to meet his. His breathing hitches, his pupils blown wide, and I can’t resist the soft plea in his gaze.
“Can I?” I ask.
“Yes,” he rasps, his voice thick with need.
I start slow, running my tongue along his length, teasing the sensitive skin of his swollen shaft. The saltiness of his arousal hits my tongue, earthy and intoxicating. He’s huge, and I’m not entirely sure how to proceed, but I follow instinct, taking him into my mouth inch by inch.
His fingers thread through my hair, not pulling but guiding, his breaths coming in heavy gasps as I work him.
The heat between us is undeniable, a raging inferno fueled by the way he groans my name.
I let his sounds spur me on, losing myself in the rhythm, in the weight of him, in the way he fills every corner of my senses.
My fingers glide along his strong thighs, feeling the tension coiling within them as he clenches. I can tell he’s close—so close. But as much as I enjoy the moment, the thought of tasting him pales in comparison to the idea of feeling him, all of him, deep inside me.
I slow to a stop, letting his thick length slip from my mouth. His eyes snap open, confusion and frustration etched across his face as his brows furrow.
“What’s wrong?” he asks.
I rise to my feet, my fingers trailing up his stomach, over the hard ridges of his abs. “I don’t want you to come in my mouth,” I admit, my lips curling into a small, teasing smile.
His frown deepens, but before he can respond, I press closer, my breath hot against his ear. “I want you to come in me, Liam.”
The air between us thickens, and I watch his throat work as he swallows hard. “Wh-what?” he stammers, his voice breaking just slightly.
Despite the intensity of the moment, a soft laugh escapes me. “You heard me,” I tease, letting my fingers skim the soft skin on his abdomen. “I want you to—”
“No, I heard you,” he interrupts, his hands gripping my hips as if to anchor himself. “I just… need a second to process.”
His reaction only makes me bolder. “Well, while you’re processing…” I let the words linger as I trail kisses up his neck, my hands tugging gently at his hair.
He groans, his grip tightening, and his forehead presses against mine. “Do you have a condom?” I ask, my voice soft but certain.
His face falls, and a flush of color creeps up his neck. “No,” he admits with a sheepish shrug. “I didn’t exactly plan for this,”—he motions between us—“to happen tonight.”
I tilt my head, pretending to consider his words before giving him a coy smile. “Good thing one of us did,” I murmur, stepping away and sauntering over to my purse.
His eyes widen as realization dawns, and he lets out a shaky laugh. “You’re full of surprises, aren’t you?”
“You have no idea,” I toss over my shoulder, fishing the small foil packet from my bag before turning back to face him.
The look on his face—equal parts hunger and disbelief—sends a thrill through me.
I’m not sure why I decided to stop at the local pharmacy and pick up a small packet of condoms. I…
I didn’t plan on this. I didn’t even think this would happen.
But maybe—on some subconscious level—I wanted this to happen.
Or I knew if I had enough glasses of wine, saying ‘no’ to him would have been impossible.
“I don’t think any woman has ever been this…” Liam’s voice trails off as I stop in front of him, his hands sliding instinctively to my waist, sending sparks skittering across my skin.
“Bold?” I offer, arching an eyebrow as I glance up at him.
“Yeah.” His brow furrows slightly, the corner of his mouth quirking into an almost-smile. “But you were pretty clear this wasn’t a date.”
I nod, biting back a grin. “I did say that, didn’t I?” My tone softens, but my gaze remains steady. “I guess I figured it wouldn’t be the worst thing in the world to come prepared. You know, just in case you actually managed to charm my pants off.”
His lips curve into that lopsided grin that’s quickly becoming my undoing. “It was the stealthy theft operation, wasn’t it? That’s what did it.”
I laugh, the sound spilling out of me before I can stop it. “Oh, definitely. How could I resist a guy who knows how to raid a pantry with such finesse?”
Liam’s eyes flicker with amusement as he reaches for the condom in my hand, his fingertips brushing mine. The small touch is electric, and for a moment, all the teasing falls away, leaving us standing in a silence that hums with unspoken promises.
He holds up the foil packet, a devilish glint in his eye. “Then I guess we’d better make sure all that preparation doesn’t go to waste.”
My breath catches, my pulse pounding as he pulls me closer, his body warm and solid against mine. There’s no turning back now—not that I want to.
Liam tugs me closer to the fireplace, the warmth of the gas flames licking at my back as the flickering light bathes the room in a scarlet glow.
He kneels in front of me, his breath warm and tantalizing against my skin as his lips brush my stomach.
Each kiss is a slow, sensual exploration that sends ripples of heat radiating outward.
His lips trail lower, grazing the sharp curve of my hip bones and the soft skin above my pubic bone, each touch igniting fireworks that shoot from my head to my toes.
“I still can’t believe you brought condoms to our non-date,” he murmurs against my skin as his hands glide over my waist. His words make me laugh softly, but the sound dissolves into a shaky breath as his mouth finds the sensitive dip of my hip.
“I can’t believe I did, either,” I manage as his lips press against mine. His mouth is insistent, devouring, each flick of his tongue against mine unraveling me. My fingers thread through his hair, pulling him closer, anchoring me to the moment.
His hard length presses into my stomach, the heat of him impossible to ignore as my own desire coils tighter, blazing hot in my core. The need is all-consuming, and it spills out of me in a quiet, breathy moan that seems to make him smile against my lips.
He pulls back, just enough to reach for the small foil packet. The crinkle of the wrapper seems impossibly loud in the quiet, firelit room. I watch, mesmerized, as he rolls the condom on, his muscles flexing under the golden light.
“Come here,” he murmurs thick with need.
My heart pounds as I crawl into his lap, the heat of the fire nothing compared to the scorching warmth radiating from his body.
His hands find my hips, strong and steady, guiding me as I sink onto him.
A gasp catches in my throat as he fills me, stretching me, and my chest presses tightly against his.
His lips trail up my neck, kissing and nibbling the delicate skin there, while his hands hold me in place. He rolls his hips expertly his movements sending jolts of pleasure through me. The sensation is overwhelming, white-hot and consuming, and before I can stop myself, my body responds.
The orgasm tears through me, sudden and powerful, my fingers digging into his shoulders as I cling to him. Liam groans, low and raw, his grip on me tightening as he moves in perfect rhythm, carrying me through the storm of sensation.
“Again,” he whispers against my neck like a promise, his body already driving me toward the edge once more. And I know I’ll let him. Again and again.