Sitting across the table from Liam, I force myself to think of anything other than this morning, but nothing is working. I’ve tried global warming, abandoned kittens on the side of the highway, those sad late-night infomercials asking for money for orphans, all to no avail. Liam has somehow managed to occupy every inch of my brain.

We are with at least thirty other people in the back room of some restaurant in New Orleans. Daphni has decided to take the dancers and some of the crew out for a fancy dinner, and even though we are all packed in this back room, with everyone shouting and bursting into spontaneous singalongs, my eyes keep drifting back to Liam.

From across the table, I feel the heat in his hooded eyes as he watches me, too. I swear I can feel his phantom touch. His eyes keep gravitating back to me, and I see in them the same heated passion I know must be in mine. I want him. Badly. When he catches me watching him again, my breath catches in my throat as he offers me a tilted smile, one that holds a secret just for us two.

Those lips. God, I want to feel his lips on me again. Sucking, tasting, teasing me. And I want to do the same to him. My mouth is dry with desire, aching to feel his long length slide inside again, to suck him dry one more time. Every inch of him is so addictive and I can't wait to get another taste. Because I knew that with Liam, I want everything. And as I squeeze my thighs in anticipation, I realize that I can't wait any longer. I want it tonight.

“Woah, Earth to Gabby!” I blink my eyes to see Daphni staring at me, snapping her fingers in front of my face. “You there?”

I shake my head. “Yeah, sorry, I was just daydreaming.”

“Daydreaming, right,” she responds, dragging out each syllable before turning her attention back to everyone at the table. “Anyways, I was just saying that since tomorrow we are back to the grind of tour, tonight we are going out!” At her announcement, everyone in the room begins to cheer and bang on the table. I shoot a sympathetic look to the wait staff huddling in the corner.

“Daphni, I don’t really think I can go out tonight,” I whisper to her.

“What’s your excuse now?” Daphni asks, her emerald eyes twinkling with mischief.

“Same excuse as pretty much every time. My LSATs are in less than two months. This is crunch time. I’ve got to study.”

Daphni rolls her eyes. “Okay you get a free pass. But only because I love you!”

I elbow her softly in the side. “Thanks, sis, for releasing me from your contractually obligated shit fest.”

Daphni elbows me back before focusing her attention across the table, calling out, “Liam!”

He looks up at her, and I feel my stomach sink as I offer to sacrifice my first-born son for Daphni to not completely embarrass me in this moment.

“Yes, Daphni?”

“I’m going to need you to prep the guys to take us out tonight. I need you to hang back and help my sister ‘study’,” she orders, as she holds up her fingers to quote the word “study.”

Liam immediately shakes his head. “Daphni, I can go with you. Just because I’m—”

“No, you’re off tonight,” she says, cutting him off. “And don't worry, it’s not just because you’re boning my sister,” she adds, and I drop my head into my hands, wishing I could disappear. “Just take the night off. She’s not going to be any fun until she takes her LSATs anyways.”

Liam wisely doesn’t respond and instead winks at me. I decide to forgive my sister as I feel a warm liquid pool in my center. Tonight. Tonight I’m finally going to make love. With Liam.

After another hour, dinner is finally over and everyone spills out of the restaurant to make their way to the club. Liam and I linger behind and grab a taxi back to the hotel.

“You know, I actually do have to study,” I tell him as we walk into the hotel lobby.

“Of course, love,” Liam answers, a playful smile on his face as he grabs my hand and intertwines our fingers together. “I have no intention of stopping you. In fact, I actually have a study method proven very effective in helping to retain information.”

“Oh really, what is it?”

“You see, I take those little flashcards you always carry about. And I make you answer them. And for every right answer, you have to take off a piece of clothing,” he says, the corners of his lips curving into a seductive smile.

“Don’t you mean for every wrong answer?”

“Ah, no!” Liam says, shaking his head. “You’re too smart for us to do it that way. It would take far too long to get you naked, and I don’t think I can wait much longer.”

“And when do you get naked, then?”

As we step into the elevator, Liam’s fingers start to undo the buttons around his collar. “Oh, I start the game off naked.”