Chapter Thirteen

 

 

I didn’t think I’d ever been happier in my life. Liam and I spent the rest of the night on his boat. I discovered that there was a small, makeshift shower that worked decently.

In the morning, we grabbed coffee and walked up the hill to the lighthouse. I watched Liam’s expression as he took in the view of the harbor, enjoying the sight of him against the background of the ocean.

The lighthouse had always been one of my favorite places. Before business had picked up at the office, I used to come here on the weekends to relax, and I had never shared the spot with anyone before, not even Bryan. 

After our coffees were finished and we’d outstayed even the teenagers who were there to make out on one of the benches, Liam kissed the top of my head gently. His arm around my shoulder kept me warm against the wind.

“We should head back to the apartment soon,” he said.

“You’re right. I’m dying for a decent shower.”

“Your place or mine?”

I smiled softly. A part of me wished we could stay at the lighthouse forever. Maybe it was because I couldn’t seem to believe this was real. The night we shared was so perfect that it was difficult not to wonder if it had all been a dream.

Or maybe the illusion of being near the harbor, of being away from our homes, made us think differently. Made me believe that a relationship with someone like Liam seem plausible.

Neither of us said anything as we walked back to Liam’s car. Was he thinking the same thing, that as soon as we got back to the condos, the illusion would be lost?

This time, he turned on the radio. Soft classical music filled the interior of the car. When we arrived back at our building a sense of dread clenched at my stomach as the gate to the underground parking garage opened and Liam pulled inside.

“Why are you so quiet?” Liam asked as we stepped into the elevator.

I shook my head. “I’m just scared of where we’ll go from here.”

“What do you mean? I thought we already decided we’ll take it slow. See where it takes us.”

The elevator felt too small. I shifted my weight from foot to foot. “I know, Liam. I just can’t seem to shake the feeling that it’s too good to be true. That we’ll get home and things will return to how it was before.”

“How was it before?”

I waved a hand impatiently. “All hostile and awkward with me dodging you in the halls so I don’t have to see you.”

“Ha! So you really were avoiding me?” He rubbed his chin and scratched at his five o’clock shadow.

I looked down. “Yeah. But only because I knew I’d want to jump you whenever I saw you.”

He reached for me, pulling him in the circle of his arms. “I want you, Misty.”

“We’ll take it slow,” I said. “We won’t even be exclusive at first, if you don’t want to.”

His arm tightened so fast that he squeezed the breath from my lungs.

“You’re going to continue dating other guys while you’re seeing me?” His voice was rough and something fiery appeared in his eyes.

I pushed on his biceps. “That’s not what I said.”

The elevator dinged and the doors opened. We stood there, staring at each other. Our breaths mingled.

“Ahem.”

I jumped and pulled away from Liam. “Sorry, Mrs. Erin,” I said to the elderly woman waiting to get on the elevator. My face was probably as red as a tomato.

We stepped out and waited until the elevator doors closed.

“I don’t want you dating other guys,” Liam said as soon as we were alone again.

I looked away. “You want me to stop?”

“Hell yes,” he growled. “Of course I do.”

My eyes widened. “Why?”

“You think some other jerk’s hands all over my girl is my idea of fun?”

My mouth went dry. “Your girl?” I choked.

He touched my elbow. His movement was slow, hesitant, like he was afraid I was going to bolt. “You don’t want to be my girl?”

I shook my head.

He took a step back.

“No,” I said, laughing.

His scowl nearly knocked me over. “What the hell do you find so funny?”

“I didn’t mean to laugh.” I cleared my throat. “I meant, yes, I do want to be your girl.”

His expression softened. He let out a breath of relief.

“Are you sure you want to stop sleeping with other chicks and actually commit to a relationship?”

He paused.

I growled and brushed past him.

“Misty, wait.”

“Sure, I’ll wait,” I snapped. “Wait for you to stop being such a hypocrite. You want me to be committed to you, to be faithful to you, but you don’t want to repay the favor.”

“I didn’t say that.”

“You hesitated.”

“I didn’t. I was just...”

“What?” I spun around just as we reached our doors. “You were thinking? Debating? Wondering if I’m worth giving up your freedom? Well, let me tell you something, Liam. If you’re still wondering, then obviously you’re not ready. And I’ve wasted enough of my time on jerks to take a chance on you. I’m done.”

“Misty.”

He reached for me, but I shoved at his chest instead. He took a few steps back.

“Leave me alone.”

“Wait...”

I spun around, not wanting to hear anymore. I headed straight for my door.

And froze.

I stopped walking so abruptly that Liam bumped into me from behind. He grabbed my waist to steady both of us.

“Bryan,” I blurted.

My boyfriend—correction, my ex—stood in front of my apartment. His hands stuffed in his pockets, his eyes flickering back and forth, a confused frown tugging at his brows. He lifted his chin as his eyes moved up and down my body.

I was suddenly aware of how wrinkled my clothes were, how messy my hair was, and that I had on no makeup. Bryan had always hated it when I looked anything less than perfect.

“Hey, Misty,” he said.

God, his tone irritated me. Even in that short greeting, I could sense the arrogance radiating off him. I used to mistake his condescension as confidence, and I thought I was attracted to that.

But now I saw it for what it was, saw him for who he was. He would always be that jerk who thought he was better than me, better than the commitment he supposedly made to me.

“What are you doing here?” I demanded.

Liam’s arm wrapped more firmly around my waist. I knew it was a show of possession. He was marking his territory. I should have pushed him off, especially considering that he had just been in the middle of toying with my heart...again.

But I didn’t.

The weight of his arm was reassuring, the heat of his body next to mine balancing the coldness of my blood. I didn’t lean on him, but I didn’t push him away either.

Bryan’s eyes didn’t miss the gesture. He shot Liam a mean look before turning to me. “Didn’t you get my letter?”

Crap, I had forgotten all about it, after bumping into Liam yesterday and going out with him instead. It was still sitting in my purse.

“I haven’t bothered to open it,” I snapped.

I surprised both of them with the venom in my voice. I didn’t feel like lying anymore. I was sick of trying to be what someone else wanted me to be, but mostly, I was sick of lying to myself.

“I wrote to you for a reason, you know,” he said. “I spent a lot of time telling you how I felt.”

I would have been happy to hear that a few months ago. “I don’t give a shit what you feel or how long you took to tell me about it, Bryan. It’s too late.”

His eyes grew so wide, I thought they were going to pop out of his head. His mouth opened and closed. A weird sound came out of his throat.

I crossed my arms. “What do you want?”

“I want you back,” Bryan said.

I waited for the swell of emotions to overwhelm me. I waited and waited, but...nothing. I should have been hurt. I should have been angry. I would have even taken confused.

But there was nothing. Except, perhaps disgust and irritation.

“Too bad,” I said.

The expression on Bryan’s face was priceless. I nearly burst out laughing. I would’ve if I wasn’t so pissed that he had showed up on my doorstep out of the blue, as if he hadn’t cheated on me and broken my heart.

“But—I love you,” he stuttered.

“No you don’t,” I shot back. “If you loved me, you wouldn’t have slept with other women the entire time we were dating.”

“I do. I was wrong. I was stupid and I didn’t know what I had until it was gone. Misty.” He took a step closer.

During our exchange, Liam stayed by my side, not interjecting but not moving away. As Bryan attempted to grab me, Liam pulled me a little behind him and stepped in between us.

“Not a chance, buddy,” he said. He held up a hand.

Bryan’s jaw worked as he looked from Liam to me and back. “Who the hell is this?”

“I’m her boyfriend,” Liam said.

At the same time I said, “He’s my neighbor.”

Bryan raised his brows. “Get out of my way.” He tried to shove Liam aside.

They were about the same height, and Liam was bigger. Stronger in more ways than one. Those shoulders bulged as he pushed Bryan back.

“She doesn’t want to talk to you anymore,” Liam said. “I suggest you leave.”

Bryan took a swing at Liam’s face. Liam dodged it and grabbed his wrist in one big hand.

Oh shit!

That escalated quickly.

I took a few steps back from them, not wanting to get caught in the middle of their brawl. I knew I should have said something to stop them, but I doubted either man was going to listen to me at this point.

Bryan’s face was dark, his cheeks a shade of crimson. “Listen, buddy. I don’t know who the hell you are, but you better get out of the way. This is between me and my girl.”

“I don’t see your girl anywhere around here.”

“Misty is my girlfriend, you bastard.”

“She doesn’t seem to agree with you.”

Bryan tried to punch Liam again. Before he knew what was happening, Liam’s elbow came up and slammed up against Bryan’s nose. His howl reverberated off the walls. His eyes blinked rapidly, filling with tears.

“Oh my God,” I said when the blood started pouring from his nose.

“You broke my nose,” Bryan whined.

“Don’t be a girl, man,” Liam said. “What? Can’t take a hit?” He raised his wrists, lowering his stance.

Bryan’s eyes widened. He glanced at me. “You’re not worth this shit.” Then he took off down the hall.

Silence followed.

My face and ears felt like they were burning.

When Liam was sure that Bryan wasn’t going to come back, he turned around. He straightened when he saw the look on my face.

“What?” he asked.

I attacked him. I threw my arms around his neck and jumped, my legs wrapping around his waist. Liam’s hands gripped my butt reflexively. He didn’t have time to react before my mouth covered his.

There was no chance he was going to escape this one. I was so hot and aroused that I doubted I would have cared if Bryan came back now, got on his knees, and begged me to take him back.

My world was Liam.

I wasn’t aware of anything but his hands and mouth.

Somehow, I found the keys and unlocked my door. We stumbled inside. The door slammed behind us, and Liam spun around, shoving me up against the wall.

I was so glad to be wearing a skirt. My panties were gone with a jerk of his fingers and a ripping sound. His zipper was down with a tug.

“Misty,” Liam said. His hands moved down my body in a possessive stroke.

He looked straight at me. He didn’t have to be told twice. My eyes widened at his hot and thick intrusion, his cock pressing into me.

Damn it was slick and hot and delicious.

Nothing would have stopped me from grabbing his ass and pulling him closer. I arched my back, tilting my pelvis at just the right angle.

I groaned and he grunted.

And together, we fucked against the wall. He pounded inside me, so hard and fast that anyone outside the door would have no doubts as to what we were doing. But I didn’t care.

My breath coming in ragged pants, I grabbed at him anywhere I could. His shoulders, his back. His ass was taut as he flexed with each thrust.

My orgasm took me by surprise and I could do nothing but press my hands against the wall behind me and hope I didn’t fall. My legs shot straight out, my toes curled. My thighs quivered. I gritted my teeth and screamed out the climax.

Liam’s pace quickened. His rhythm was vicious. I felt his cock pulse. Then he slammed into me, so hard that I gasped and grabbed for him. The feeling of him coming inside me was so wonderful that I groaned again, even while I became putty in his arms.

His fingers dug into my hair, holding my face steady so that he could kiss me. His tongue battled mine, not allowing me to speak, to ruin the moment in any way. I let him take me. Even as we kissed, I felt him growing hard again.

“Whoa,” I said, breaking our kiss.

He grinned. “Round two.”

“You mean ten.”

“Maybe. I’ve lost count.”

His arms wrapped tightly around me and he pried us off the wall. “Where’s your bedroom?”

“Right down the hall.”

I didn’t know how we got to my bed. I was too focused on kissing him. When I tumbled back the mattress, I knew I was already close to another orgasm.

The bed was at the perfect height so that he could fuck me standing up while I laid there, my legs spread to accommodate him. He grabbed my ankles and held my legs straight out. His abs flexed and rippled with every movement, and he continued fucking me without missing a beat. His cock was so hard, so hot, his body made to pleasure me in all the right ways.

“Play with your nipples,” he demanded.

I obeyed willingly.

My fingers flicked and pinched the peaks of my breasts. I played with myself the way I liked, with abandon, knowing that Liam found me beautiful no matter what. And in that moment, I knew I was.

I felt it whenever I was with him.

Liam kept one hand on my ankle, keeping my leg straight, while the other hand found my pussy. His fingers pinched at my clit, flicked over it, using my own moisture on me. I bit my lip and closed my eyes.

The sensations were building up. I pinched my nipple as he rubbed my clit in just the right way, and unbelievably, another orgasm consumed me. I arched my back, sucked in my breath, and squeezed my breasts together.

Liam didn’t give me a break.

He grabbed both my legs, spread them wide, and fucked me. Really fucked me. Holy shit, his cock was deep. He pounded me so hard that I lost the ability to breathe. And then, oh damn, I was coming again. And because he kept my legs pried wide open, the orgasm went on and on, and I couldn’t do a thing about it.

I wanted to touch my clit, wanted to clamp my thighs on him, but I couldn’t. Instead, the spasms took over my body, seeming to grow into each other, and I couldn’t stop gasping. Couldn’t stop shaking and feeling.

I threw my head back. “Liam! Holy fuck!”

“Yeah, baby.” Liam grunted. He thrust again and again, and then stiffened. His neck arched, his abs flexed, and he exploded inside me.

His knees buckled and he fell on top of me. His chest was slick with sweat. I loved the feel of skin against skin, of the heaviness of his body. I didn’t even mind that I could barely breathe with his weight on me. He could stay there for as long as he wanted. I loved it actually.

I loved him.

My eyes flew open.

Crap, I loved him.

How had that even happened? I’d been so careful.

Liam rolled to the side, and a gentle breeze from the open window cooled our sweaty skin. I lay there, unable to move, to look at him, my mind on what I had just discovered.

“No other girls,” he said.

I wasn’t sure if I was just in shock and couldn’t understand him, or if his brain had gone to mush from the recent, thorough fucking. “What?”

He turned to me. “I said, no more girls.”

“For me or you?”

He pushed my shoulder playfully.

“Really. What does that mean?” I asked.

“It means I only want you.” He touched my face. His thumb smoothed over my cheekbone. “Just you, Misty. Only you.”

My chest felt like it was going to explode. “Liam.”

“Shh.” His thumb pressed my lips. “I just...let me just finish.” He swallowed. His eyes met mine. “I think I love you. And,” he continued quickly when I tried to talk again, “you don’t have to say it back. And I don’t want to scare you either. But...I just have to put it out there. I love you. I don’t want you dating other guys. Even if they’re nice guys. I don’t want you seeing that asshole ex-boyfriend of yours ever again. I want you all to myself.”

He stopped talking and took his hand away. His gaze searched my face.

“Can I talk now?” I asked.

He chuckled. “Yes, please do.”

“I love you too.”

He closed his eyes. His lips parted with a sigh. “You don’t have to say it back just because I said it.

“I’m not.”

“You’re not what?”

“I’m not saying it just because you’re saying it. I’m saying it because I love you.”

He opened his eyes. “Are you being serious, right now?”

I pressed my lips together. “Very serious.”

For a moment, he just looked at me. He didn’t say anything. Didn’t touch me. Didn’t even seem to breathe.

Then he rolled me over, his body pressing into mine. “Thank God,” he breathed. “I was thinking I’d broken that guy’s nose all for nothing.”

My hands began unbuttoning his shirt. “That was pretty hot.”

He nuzzled my nose with his. “I didn’t know violence turned you on so much.”

“Didn’t you know girls love it when guys fight over them?”

He smiled. “I’d fight for you any day, sweetie.”

“Why thank you. But one broken nose is good enough for me. I prefer it if you didn’t beat up any other men.”

He frowned. “From the way they throw themselves at you, I was prepared to put up more of a fight.”

“Men aren’t throwing themselves at me,” I argued.

“You’ve been on a hundred dates since I’ve known you.”

“I’ve been on two.”

He kissed me to shut me up. “That’s two more than I can handle.” He kissed me again, easing my knees apart as he did. “Promise me, no more dates.”

I was a bit breathless. “Except with you.”

“I’ll take that exception.”

I hugged him close.

“Only with you.”

 

*The End*