Chapter 20
Chapter Twenty
Liam lets Tori take the lead. He wants her to feel comfortable. More than anything, he doesn't want to mess this up.
They hold hands as they walk back up to the lake house. Once inside, she puts the bag of marshmallows on the kitchen counter, then gazes back at him as they climb the spiral staircase to the loft. It's dark inside, though moonlight shines through all the windows.
"Watch your head," she warns when they get to the top, crawling onto the bed.
He ducks just in time.
There's an excitement building in him. He's nervous. Turned on. Bedazzled. Not even sure which emotion to pick. He's never felt like this. He thinks about the things Tori told him about herself and her family, how it should matter but doesn't.
Liam wants her. Deep down, a part of him knows this is important with her.
He joins her on the bed. They kiss and make out for a while, using their hands and mouths to get each other worked up. Both of them grow sweaty in the warm loft. The heavy bed cover gets in the way, so he pushes it aside.
"What's it like when you work undercover?" she asks, helping him pull his T-shirt off. "Do you like it?"
He smiles at the way her mind works. "I do."
She leans down and kisses his chest. He tries to breathe as her mouth trails lower.
"I can't imagine how you do it." Her fingers glide over the hard-on straining against his zipper.
A short groan escapes him, and he takes a moment for himself. "It's kind of like being an actor."
"Has anybody ever recognized you from playing baseball?"
"No." It's something he used to worry about before joining the bureau, that his short-lived baseball career would draw attention, but it hasn’t been an issue. "Once when I was undercover, someone commented that I looked like a particular baseball player."
"Oh my God. What did you say?"
"I was a little nervous." He chuckles. "Turns out they weren't even talking about me."
"Really?"
"The player they thought I looked like wasn't even Latino."
"You're kidding." Tori laughs. "Has anybody ever figured out you were in the FBI while you were undercover?"
He quiets. "Once."
"Was it bad? What happened?"
"No. It turned out fine. The person became an asset of mine."
"Oh… that's good."
He reaches over for her. "Take your T-shirt off," he whispers.
Tori helps him remove her shirt and bra. He can't take his eyes off her. He can just make out her breasts in the dark. Silky and pale. Beaded nipples.
When she lies back down with him, they're skin to skin. The smell of tangerines falls all around him, luscious and ripe. He wonders how far she wants to go. He's happy to taste her again, use his mouth, if that's all she wants.
For a while they simply lose themselves. Bodies and mouths tangle together. That electric feeling is back, humming all through him. "You're amazing," he says, their faces close. "So beautiful and amazing."
He sees her surprise, and it makes him wonder if anyone has ever told her that.
"I'm nothing special," she whispers.
"That’s not true."
She pulls him closer, kissing him passionately while straddling his thigh. Their heavy breath fills the small space of the loft as they move against each other.
He slips his hand over her shorts. "Let's take these off too." He hears the urgency in his voice. He's trying to tamp down his arousal, but it's more difficult than he thought it would be.
She rolls on her side and shimmies out of them, and then she's naked. Her ivory skin is illuminated under the moon shining through the skylight.
Desire hits him hard, followed by lust. He's trying to reel it back, but it's taking over, rocking his senses. Sweating, his whole body goes tense. Finally, he turns his head away.
She moves closer, hovering over him. Strands of soft hair tickle his chest. "Are you okay?"
He searches for some kind of humor, something to lighten this moment, but there isn't anything. "No."
She strokes his face. "I think you're amazing too. "
He closes his eyes. Warm fingers lightly caress his jaw.
"You're always kind to me," she whispers. "I can tell it's who you really are."
He likes hearing that, wants to be someone she can rely on.
Tori inhales sharply.
"What?" he asks, looking at her with concern.
"I believe you."
His brow wrinkles. "What do you mean?"
"I know you didn't pour that milkshake on purpose." Her eyes light up. "It isn't even like you to do that, is it?"
"No, it's not."
He watches her expression change from amazement to regret. She lays her hand on his chest. "I feel terrible. I should have believed you this whole time."
"It's all right." He puts his hand over hers. He's glad though. Glad to be seen for who he is, especially by Tori. Her opinion was the only one that ever really mattered.
She shakes her head. "I'm sorry I had it so wrong."
"It's okay. It was ages ago. And for what it's worth, I'm sorry I ruined that night for you, that I drenched you with an ice-cold milkshake."
She smiles. "It was pretty awful."
"Maybe I'll let you dump one on me, and we'll call it even."
She giggles. "I might take you up on that."
He watches her face as she laughs. So beautiful.
She leans closer, her breasts pressed into his chest. There's an expression on her face he can't quite place, like she's deliberating something.
"What are you thinking about?" He strokes his hand down her body, her skin soft as satin.
"Do you want to know why I invited you on this trip? The real reason."
"Why?"
"Because I wanted you to be my vacation. "
His eyes don’t leave her face. "I hope I live up to it."
"You already have."
They gaze at each other. That electric sensation hums through him, lighting him up brighter than ever.
He pulls her close and kisses her with everything he's got, then pushes her onto her back. Her hands grip his neck as she softly moans. All those pretty sounds inflame him.
"Tell me what you want." His breath shakes. "I'll do anything."
"You," she whispers, her mouth close to his. "All I want is you ."
He strips his jeans off and gets the condoms from his travel bag. Lying over her again, he takes it gentle, slow, enjoying each other. But it isn't long before she doesn't seem to want it gentle, before she's pulling him, grabbing and scratching. She wraps her legs around him, digging her heels into his ass as he takes her. He’s half out of his mind.
When Tori moans and bites his shoulder, his body decides it's had enough. Ecstasy comes out of nowhere, white hot, blinding him as he gives in to it with a loud groan.
"Damn," he breathes afterward. His surroundings finally drift into focus again. "That was intense."
Her hands are gripping his back. She's still moving her hips, and he moves his too. He lifts up to see her face, barely making out her features in the dark room.
She's breathing hard, and it occurs to him that maybe she didn't finish. He thought she had, but he must be wrong. "Did you come? Do you want me to go down on you or use my fingers?"
"Oh, no, I came," she says, still trying to catch her breath. "It was wonderful."
"Okay." He nods. He wouldn't want to leave her unsatisfied.
He kisses her lips, then her neck. Finally, he lifts up and takes care of the condom before lying next to her on his back.
She scoots in and puts her head on his shoulder. It feels like sandbags are weighing his eyes down. Tori still seems restless.
"I need to go to the bathroom," she announces, sliding out of bed. She slips on his T-shirt from earlier. His eyelids fall shut as he listens to her bare feet pad down the iron staircase.
He dozes lightly, but pressure from his bladder wakes him up. The bed's still empty beside him.
He doesn't bother with clothes. Standing up, he cracks his head on the ceiling. "Ow, dammit." That's the second time now. He knew those rafters would be a problem. Reaching for the rail, he maneuvers his large frame down the tiny spiral staircase.
There's light coming from around the bathroom door. He knocks lightly. "Everything all right in there?"
The bathroom fan is on, and she replies with what sounds like "Fine."
"Are you almost done?"
"Almost."
He waits for a few more seconds. "Can I come in?"
"No!"
He’s surprised by her tone. He’s not sure how long he was dozing upstairs, but he knows she’s been in there for a while. As he’s about to ask again if she’s okay, the door swings open.
Under the bathroom’s stark light, her color is high, her eyes glossy.
She meets his gaze but then quickly looks away. "You can come in now." She goes over to wash her hands in the sink.
"What were you doing in here?" His eyes roam over her. She’s still wearing his T-shirt.
"Nothing. Just peeing."
Liam continues to watch her in the mirror as she blasts the water and then vigorously pumps the soap dispenser, two dots of pink on her cheeks.
He wants to say more, but it’s obvious from her body language that she doesn’t want to talk. Instead, she washes her hands in record time and runs out of there.
After finishing, he heads back upstairs. At the top of the loft, he forgets to duck and smacks his head a third time .
"Ow, shit ! This is ridiculous."
Tori's in bed, under the covers, but she shifts a little. "Are you all right?"
He climbs onto the bed beside her. "I keep hitting my head on the damn ceiling." He rubs around, feeling for a lump, and grumbles. "I'll probably have brain damage by the time we leave here."
She rolls toward him, laughing lightly. "You have to duck."
"No kidding. Someone should put up a warning light."
"I'll recommend it to Tara, Peyton's cousin."
He slips under the sheet and rolls toward her.
Neither of them speak. Moonlight shines through the skylight, though not as bright as earlier.
He’s still thinking about what she was doing in that bathroom so long. Her flushed cheeks and bright eyes.
"Listen, Tori, if you need something more from me in bed, you can tell me. You know that, right?"
He hears her intake of breath. "I don't know what you’re talking about."
"I'm happy to get you off any way you want." He softens his voice. "A lot of women don't orgasm from just having intercourse."
"I don’t want to discuss this."
"There's no reason to be embarrassed. Believe me, making you come is a turn-on for me no matter how it happens."
She rolls away from him and lies on her back. "Are you deaf? I said I don’t want to talk about it."
Liam studies her profile in the dark. He's not sure what else to say. He doesn't want to make her feel bad. Finally, he rolls over and lies on his back too.
The house creaks as it settles around them.
He studies the shadows on the rafters, wishing Tori would open up to him, would trust him. Then he thinks about the way she was raised. She probably doesn't trust easily.
He turns his head toward her. "Will you come lie next to me?"
She doesn't respond at first. Remains still. But then she turns and scoots toward him. He lifts his arm so she can lay her head on his shoulder.
Tangerines mixed with her own sweet musk envelopes him. He's happy to have her close, at least.
They both lie silently. He shuts his eyes and starts to drift, but then Tori whispers, "Is it dangerous?"
"What?"
"You know." Her fingers trace along his jaw where stubble is growing in. "Going undercover for your work. Is it dangerous?"
He's not sure why she's asking. "Yes," he admits. He thinks about some of the arrests he's made. Usually it goes smoothly, but there have been armed suspects who were definitely dangerous. "Sometimes."
She continues to caress him lightly, then stops and lifts her head to face him. "Please be careful."
His chest tightens. There's an intimacy like this in the dark together. Even though he's always careful at his job, he's moved by her concern.
His voice is rough when he speaks. "I promise I will be."
The next morning, Liam opens his eyes to the sound of a woodpecker against a nearby tree. Tat-a-tat, tat-a-tat… Tat-a-tat, tat-a-tat . He listens to the way it goes in bursts, stopping and starting.
Not a sound he usually wakes up to.
He rolls onto his stomach and checks outside through the half-moon window. He studies the quiet of the lake and the cloudless blue sky. Everything is peaceful. It makes him wish he'd brought his camera.
When he gazes at Tori, she looks peaceful too. Pretty as always and sleeping soundly.
He's not surprised he woke up first. He's a morning person and usually can't sleep in even if he tries .
He thinks about how good it feels being with Tori. Not just sexually but in every way. She's still kooky and offbeat. It makes her fun to be around. Whoever heard of dancing without music?
She's unique. Just like she was in high school.
And he still likes it. He still has the same crush on her that he had back then. In a way, nothing's changed.
She shifts beside him in her sleep, and his mind goes back to last night. To everything she told him about her childhood. He's glad she opened up. Although he's still not sure what to make of that situation in the bathroom.
He watches her a little more. As usual, he has morning wood, but ignores it. He wants her to know he's willing to give her whatever she needs.
Smiling to himself, he decides Tori's getting his A game this morning.
He plans to blow her mind.
Slipping under the sheets, he moves lower on the bed. Happily, she sleeps in the nude.
Caressing her legs, he moves up and positions himself between her thighs. He begins there, kissing her soft flesh before lightly running his thumb over her center.
She stirs.
He continues playing with her, enjoying himself. His cock's enjoying it too.
She shifts again, and he tongues her gently. Over the years, he's learned most women like it soft at first, working up to more pressure, so he keeps it light.
Somewhere in there, he senses she's awake. She pushes the sheet away and stares down at him.
"What are you doing?" she asks, her voice husky.
Glancing up, he smiles. "I think it's obvious what I'm doing, isn't it?"
"I guess so." She blinks sleepily. "I didn't expect this."
"Sometimes I like to bring on the unexpected. "
She nods and seems to study him.
His slides his left hand up her body, caressing her. "Just relax and enjoy yourself, rubia. Let me do the driving."
She's still studying him, and there's something intense in her gaze, but then she puts her head back on the pillow. "Okay," she whispers. "I'll try."
He gets back to it, using his fingers and mouth to make her feel good. Judging by how wet and swollen she's getting, and by how her hips are moving against him, she seems to be enjoying herself.
The whole thing is turning him on so much that he's tempted to jerk off, but he doesn't. Remaining solely focused on Tori, he wants to bring her to a shattering climax.
He applies every trick he knows. Licking and blowing on her, tonguing her all over, using his fingers and mouth in every way possible.
More than a few times, she gasps with pleasure, moaning, her hands in his hair, though she doesn't come.
He continues, his cock so hard that a cool breeze would push him over the edge.
She squirms and moves against him, her breath thready. He senses she's reaching for it and loves seeing her like this, loves the taste of her, the way she's right on the edge. It's taking a while, but he doesn't mind. He could do this all day.
It seems like she's been close for a long time. He tries to concentrate on what she seems to enjoy the most.
"Aaargh!" Out of the blue, she pushes him away. "This isn't going to work."
"What's wrong?"
She shakes her head with obvious frustration and closes her thighs, a sad smile on her face. "I'm really sorry, but it's not going to happen."
"I can keep going." He puts his hand up to massage his jaw a little. "I don't mind."
"That's okay. "
"Am I doing it right? Just tell me. You seemed like you were into it."
"It's not you." She takes a shaky breath, her cheeks pink. "You're doing it right. It's perfect."
He studies her. "Is there something else going on here?"
She turns wary. "What do you mean?"
"I don't know. You tell me."
"It's fine. Everything's just peachy." Her voice trembles, and she looks away. "Except I need to use the bathroom."
She slips out of bed, searching around until she finds his T-shirt and her pink lace panties.
He sits up with his back against the pillows. "Come on, Tori. Talk to me. Don't go downstairs." He watches her throw the T-shirt on and then wiggle into the panties, enjoying the sight of her plump ass.
"There's nothing to talk about. Please just drop it, okay?"
She disappears down the spiral staircase, and he hears the bathroom door shut below.
He thinks back to that afternoon they shared. He's certain now she was faking it in bed with him. Not to mention last night when they had sex. She's not being honest, though he has no idea why.
This would bother any guy, but he's mostly saddened by it. Saddened that she'd feel the need to pretend with him about an intimacy he wants to share.
He's pretty sure he knows what's going on downstairs in that bathroom too. But why wouldn't she let him make her come?
Sighing with frustration, he lifts the sheet and stares down at his large erection. Tori's tangy-sweet scent still lingers, only making it worse.
Leaning his head back, he closes his eyes and takes himself in hand. He thinks about the way she was squirming against his mouth only moments ago, how hot that was, and then he thinks about what she's doing downstairs. He wonders what she looks like when she isn't faking it, when she climaxes for real.
Damn, I'd love to see that .
Tori catches a glimpse of herself in the mirror. Hair a tangled mess. Face flushed.
She tried. She honestly tried.
I should have known.
She was so hopeful though, and everything Liam did felt so good. He was so patient too. More patient than any guy she's ever been with. It was obvious he would have kept going for hours if she wanted him to.
There's no point in that though.
She stays in the bathroom for a long while. Masturbates, pees, and then stares at herself in the mirror again.
What's wrong with me?
He's just not my special person. That's all. If he were, then it would all work like it's supposed to .
It's what she's been telling herself for years. For a long time, she accepted it, but deep down, she knows it's a lie.
I'm the one with the problem.
Finally, she leaves the bathroom. To her surprise, Liam is downstairs. The smell of brewed coffee fills the air.
She should go upstairs and get dressed but wanders into the kitchen instead. He's wearing the same jeans from yesterday but has on a different T-shirt, a blue one advertising a sporting goods store.
He's loading the dishwasher and glances over at her. "Hey, I made coffee."
"That was nice of you, thanks."
She pours herself a cup, then gets her almond milk from the fridge to whiten it.
"How did you sleep?" he asks, dumping in detergent.
She sits at the small table with her mug. "Okay, I guess." She appreciates the way he's making normal conversation and not acting weird about what just happened upstairs. "It's so quiet here. I'm not used to that."
"Me either. I still slept all right though. Did you hear the woodpecker this morning?"
She perks up. "No, but I wish I had."
"He might come back tomorrow."
"I hope so."
Picking up his mug of coffee, he comes over and sits across the table from her.
"So you drink coffee in the mornings?" She motions at his mug. "Not iced tea?"
"I switch to iced tea at noon."
"That's very civilized of you."
He leans forward in his chair. "Listen, I was thinking we'd go into Truth Harbor today. Check out the town. Maybe have breakfast there. What do you think?"
"That's a great idea."
"I found some menus in one of the kitchen drawers too. A pizza place and a diner nearby that delivers. We could try that later, if you want."
"Just like a hotel. Not that I've ever ordered room service from a hotel before."
"You haven't?"
She shakes her head. "I've never had the opportunity."
"Guess I'll have to take you to a nice hotel sometime and let you order room service."
He's grinning at her, and as she takes in his handsome face, his good-natured way, something inside of her relaxes. She's grateful he's not going to ruin the first vacation she's had in years. Grateful he's not letting the new elephant in the room stand in the way of them having fun.
She takes a sip from her bitter coffee. "I might hold you to that."
"I hope you do."
Grimacing, she takes another sip and puts her cup down. "This coffee is gross."
"I know. I can barely drink it either."
"It's disgusting."
"Unfortunately, the beans might be past their prime."
"Let's go into town and get lattes." She gets up and goes over to the sink, dumping the rest of her coffee down the drain. She rinses out the mug and puts it in the dishwasher. When she turns around, Liam's eyes are on her legs.
Instead of embarrassment at being caught, he grins and puts his hand out. "Come here, rubia."
She goes over to him, and he pulls her onto his lap. Her breath catches when he kisses the sensitive skin on her neck.
He draws back and they consider each other, both of them quiet. It's a relaxed quiet though, not an uncomfortable one.
"Thank you." She strokes his bristly jaw where a black beard’s growing in.
He watches her mouth. " For what?"
"For making me the worst cup of coffee I've ever had in my life."
His arms tighten around her waist. "You're welcome."