Chapter Twelve
I couldn’t help but feel the rush of lust that heated my blood. A tingle began between my legs and spread all over my body, down to the tips of my toes. I straightened in my seat.
“No, you never did,” I said. “But it doesn’t matter. I don’t care if you own two boats. We both learned our lesson the first time around that our sleeping together is not a good idea.”
His voice lowered. “I didn’t learn that lesson.”
“Well, you better start studying.”
Even as I declined his offer, images of us together again flashed in front of me. I knew it would be good. I’d experienced it first hand and hadn’t walked away disappointed. No, not disappointed. But definitely close to brokenhearted.
Liam shrugged. “Suit yourself.” He glanced at me from the corner of his eyes, as if he was measuring me, looking for a reaction, just a small sign that I was open to suggestions.
Was I?
I knew I shouldn’t be. Knew that getting closer to Liam was a mistake.
“We already agreed that we’re friends without benefits,” I said, more to remind myself than him.
“I know, I know.” He sighed. “But friends with benefits sounds like a much better deal.”
“Stop tempting me,” I whispered.
I hadn’t realized that I said it loud enough for him to hear until he chuckled, the sound low and deep. His eyes were hooded and the light in them made me catch my breath. Even though he was smiling casually, taking my answer for what it was, I had the vague sense that he was still holding out hope.
Around Bryan, I had always felt inadequate. I was not thin enough, my breasts not big enough, my hips too big. My cooking was bland, my house disorganized, and my smile too absent. I had spent months trying to be someone else’s version of perfect, but no matter how hard I tried, I could never truly meet his standards.
I had never felt this way before, the way I felt around Liam. The way he looked at me made me feel wanted, desired, and perfect in every way. It was ironic considering that the first time we met, I thought he was rejecting me.
Now, here I was, doing all I could to reject him. Or at least, banish any idea that we could be together.
I just wished it was easier to remember this goal.
Liam cleared his throat. He turned away. “We should get going,” he said in a voice that sounded like he’d been yelling all night.
I jumped to my feet and picked up our empty yogurt cups to give my hands something to do.
The walk to Liam’s car was shorter than I remembered. He had to stop at the parking booth to pay because he forgot to validate the ticket. Once we were free to go, he slammed on the accelerator, and we raced into the street.
I rolled down the window. As we drove by the harbor, the cool ocean breeze lifted my hair and whipped my bangs around my face. I pulled the window back up.
Silence.
I considered turning on the radio but I doubted that even music would have helped distract me from my discomfort. My skin was oversensitive, my breath hitched. My pulse had picked up to an uncomfortably fast pace.
No matter what reason I gave myself not to, the only thing I wanted to do was to grab Liam around his shoulders and pull him over for one hot make-out session.
My mouth felt dry. I breathed in deeply, trying to catch Liam’s scent in the enclosed space. But he was sitting too far away—farther than I preferred. I tugged the hem of my skirt over my knee.
When he glanced over, I saw him blink rapidly as his turned his gaze back on the road. He clutched the steering wheel, his forearm flexing, his shoulders tense.
“You know,” I said slowly.
He looked at me when I didn’t continue right away. “What?” he asked softly.
I took a deep breath. My stomach did nervous flips.
Oh, what the hell.
What did I have to lose?
“I’ve never been on a boat before.”
His fingers gripped the steering wheel tighter. He flipped a U-turn so fast that I was slammed against the car door. Suddenly, there seemed to be too much traffic, when the streets had appeared empty before.
The car grew hotter, stuffier. Liam cranked up the air-conditioning, his long fingers stabbing at the buttons until he found a setting that eased a bit of our discomfort.
I knew only one thing would satisfy me.
We hit all the red lights on the way to the harbor. But that was okay. Because we used the break to do what we’d wanted to do all night.
Liam kept one hand on the steering wheel, the other touching me everywhere he could reach. His arm wrapped around my waist, hauling me as close as my seatbelt would allow. He stroked my back and moved his fingers down to knead my ass cheeks.
The air-conditioning was no match against the heat. The sexual tension was so thick, if I’d tried hard enough, I might’ve cum just sitting there.
Thank God we hadn’t driven far from the harbor. Soon, we pulled into the almost-empty parking lot. The car was parked for barely a second before I unbuckled my seatbelt and climbed onto his lap. My legs straddled his, our lips devouring each other.
He swept his tongue into my mouth with sensual strokes. His hands helped me settle in his lap, maneuvering me over him so that we aligned perfectly.
I could have stayed there forever, kissing him, rubbing against his hard arousal. But he obviously didn’t have the same patience.
The driver’s door burst open. Without waiting for me to climb out, Liam hooked an arm under my ass and stepped out from the car. The cool air was a blissful relief on our heated skin.
I broke the kiss long enough to gasp, “Wait, wait, the door.”
“Oh right.” Liam turned around and kicked his leg, somehow managing to catch his car door and slam it shut.
Then we were off.
I didn’t know where we were heading, just that it was in the general direction of the boats. My lips moved to Liam’s neck, and I placed kisses strategically from the spot behind his ear down to his collarbone. It was so glorious to be held in his strong arms, pressed against his body in a way that made me never want to let go.
His soft growls filled my ears in response to each nip of my teeth and lips. He anchored me to his waist with one arm while his other hand explored me with abandon.
His hand found my breast and his thumb flicked over the nipple.
“Are we almost there?” I groaned.
“Almost.”
“How much further?”
“Two minutes, tops.”
I buried my face in his chest. “Hurry, Liam.”
He laughed his deep-throated laugh, and I could have punched him, but at least he quickened his pace. That and the way his fingers were playing at my breasts made me forget my irritation. I bit his neck and he grunted.
“Careful, woman. I’m going as fast as possible.”
I licked the spot, smoothing over the indent of my teeth with my tongue.
He moaned. “Much better.” I felt the vibrations in his throat against my lips.
The sound of his shoes hitting the deck of the boat made me want to whoop with victory. I didn’t have time to take in my surroundings before we were walking down narrow steps. He fumbled with the door, and then we stepped inside a small, enclosed space.
He tumbled me backwards. I had the briefest moment to wonder why I hadn’t been startled, but I instinctively knew that Liam wouldn’t hurt me. My back hit the mattress of a small bed. It wasn’t as soft as I thought it would be, but I didn’t have long to judge before I lost the ability to think.
Liam kissed me with a hot and desperate need that I felt all the way to my toes. We attacked each other’s clothes. I had no idea what I was unbuttoning or unzipping. My hands grabbed at what they could find, unfastening whatever closures they could reach.
He tugged off my skirt, dragging my panties along with them. His jeans were discarded. My bra was on the floor. His shirt gave a small ripping sound.
“Oops,” I whispered.
“Don’t care,” he said, quieting me with a kiss.
“I’ll buy you another shirt.”
“I have a million shirts,” he said. “Now shut up so I can kiss you.”
I grinned, threw my arms around his neck and dragged him down. I groaned when I felt his skin on mine, hot and cool in certain places, but perfect everywhere he touched me.
“Is that all you’re going to do tonight?” I asked.
He pulled back enough to look at me. “I’m afraid not.”
I grinned devilishly. “What else are you going to do to me?”
He palmed the shape of my torso, smoothing his hands over the curve of my waist. His lips parted when he reached my breasts. The rhythm of his breath broke and his chest moved in and out rapidly.
His throat worked for a moment before he spoke again. “I’m going to kiss you all over.” He leaned down and traced the underside of my breast with the tip of his tongue.
I moaned.
“I’m going to explore every part of your body.” He moved to my other breast, kissing me along the flesh beneath it. “Until you scream my name.”
He placed a kiss between my breasts, his tongue lingering. He continued to kiss around my breasts, touching everywhere but where I really wanted him.
“Liam.” My back arched. I closed my eyes, gritted my teeth. “Please.”
“Please what.”
His hands cupped my breasts up, but he didn’t touch the peaks. He stroked my flesh, and I was so sensitive that every touch between us set me on fire. I felt like I was going to explode.
“Please, touch me.”
His thumbs came so close, but he moved them back down the underside of my breasts. “Where?”
I made a strangled sound. “You’re such a jerk.”
He grinned. “Come on.” He leaned down and kissed me. “Would a jerk kiss you like this?” He nipped at my throat, licking at a spot that made my body jerk. “Would a jerk make you feel like this?”
He settled more firmly against me and his thick erection brushed my wet slit. I arched my back to get closer to him, but he immediately moved away, braced on his elbows and knees, and not touching me anywhere but my breasts. And even then, his fingers didn’t come anywhere near my nipples, where I desperately wanted him.
“You’re teasing me on purpose,” I groaned.
“Hell yeah. And you’re enjoying it.”
I closed my eyes, not knowing what else to do. I felt so strung, my body stretched to the point of breaking. My nerves were electrified. My heart pounded so hard, I thought I might have a heart attack.
“Misty.”
I opened my eyes. Liam was staring down at me with such intensity that I felt something inside my slip and slide and click into place. I had no idea what it was, but I knew that things between us couldn’t remain the same after tonight, no matter how hard we tried.
Screw being friends.
With or without benefits.
I was either going to have all of him or lose him completely.
I didn’t care. Whatever happened after this, our night would make it all worth it.
“Tell me what you want,” he said.
My words stuck in my throat. A million answers raced through my mind. I wanted to be happy. I wanted someone who could love me. Someone who I could trust and come home to and know that no matter what happened, I would be happy as long as I had him.
I wanted Liam.
But the two contradicted each other, because I knew Liam could not give me what I wanted. If only I could get my body to listen to me. If only I could stop soaking my panties every time he was around.
“I want you to fuck me,” I said.
His smile spread slowly on his face. His eyes remained on mine as he lowered to my breast and it was the sexiest thing I had ever seen. His lips parted, and slowly, so slowly, his mouth covered my nipple.
His hand moved over my other nipple, and the simultaneous tugs of his mouth and his fingers was so overwhelming, my back arched, my hands clenched, and I closed my eyes shut.
Fireworks exploded.
White hot pleasure seared through my body as the heat of his tongue traced around the tip of my breast. I cried out. Oh dear God, I was already coming. My entire body went rigid.
What was happening to me?
The orgasm was so unexpected that I didn’t even have time to warn him. I merely clutched his head with one hand. If he moved away now, I was going to kill him.
But he didn’t move. He gave me exactly what I wanted. The warm flick of his tongue followed by the pull of his mouth prolonged my orgasm, drawing out each spasm of pleasure.
When it was over, my limbs felt heavy, weighed down by spent lust and desire. He didn’t give me a moment to catch my breath. His body covered mine and his mouth joined mine in a thoroughly deep kiss.
He kissed me like he meant it, like he never wanted to stop. And my body was already responding. What was wrong with me? I was completely insatiable when it came to Liam. My body couldn’t get enough of him, no matter how many orgasms he gave me or how long we spent in bed. I would never stop wanting him.
“How was it?” he asked, the laughter barely constrained in his voice.
“Do you have to ask?”
“No. But I want to hear you say it.”
I blushed, which seemed a little impossible compared to what we had done and what we were doing at that moment. “It was amazing.”
“Just amazing?”
“Exhilarating. Wonderful. The best orgasm I ever had.”
“I didn’t even touch you.”
I arched an eyebrow.
“You know what I mean.” His hand moved up my thigh. “I didn’t touch you...” His fingers found the waxed area between my legs. “Here.” His thumb flicked over my clit.
I gasped. “Damn, that felt really good. Like, a bit too good—oh!”
He did it again. I was so sensitive, my flesh so swollen that his touch practically sent me over the edge again. “Don’t, Liam, I don’t think I can—”
He obviously had a problem with authority, and my response must have only encouraged him. His thumb circled around my clit, gathering moisture from my pussy. The slickness felt so wonderful that I didn’t have enough breath or willpower to stop him.
I only closed my eyes and lost myself to his touch. He was good, his fingers skillfully stroking and touching with just the right rhythm and pressure. It wasn’t long before I was arching my back and moaning repeatedly.
He used both hands, the fingers of one fucking me with quick strokes while the other caressed and pleasured my clit the way it deserved. He slid down off the small cot, kneeling on the floor to get better access to my pussy.
The way his eyes half closed, his lips parted and wet, the tip of his tongue caught between his teeth was enough to send me into another orgasm. But I didn’t need the extra help, not when his hands were working their magic on me.
Then he leaned down and flicked my clit with his tongue.
Again and again.
Suddenly, I arched my back and screamed. My mouth opened and closed. I tried to form a word but nothing came out. Damn, it was too good. I couldn’t quite believe that it was happening, but the spasms wrenched and pulled at sensations deep inside me, squeezing out pleasure from my cells.
After the last spasm had eased from my body, Liam stood. He tilted his head left and right, stretching his neck. My gaze lazily moved down his body, admiring his muscular build.
I remembered how his thick erection had felt inside my body, and I craved it now. My mouth watered.
“How has your experience been on this boat so far?” Liam asked.
I shrugged. “It’s been okay.”
His brows lowered. “Oh really. Is that all?”
I rolled my eyes. “Your ego can stand to take a hit.”
“Don’t I get a bit of appreciation for what just happened?”
I bit my lip. “I guess a little bit is in order.”
He grinned. His face grew serious as I moved to sit on the edge of the bed. The tip of his cock was pink, the skin there stretched and delicate. I brought my hand up to his shaft, surprised at how hot and hard it felt. Like steel encased in soft, decadent silk. His cock throbbed in my hand.
When I touched my tongue to his head, Liam released a groan. His hand lifted to grip my hair.
“I like how you show appreciation,” he grunted.
I wasn’t one to hesitate. Grabbing the base of his cock with one hand, I tried to swallow him whole.
“Holy hell! Liam’s knees buckled, but he managed not to collapse. “Oh God.” His hips jerked.
My mouth moved up and down his cock at an unrelenting pace, not letting him get away.
“Fuck! That feels so—oh damn.” He braced one hand on my shoulder. His fingers caught a lock of my hair, and he rubbed the strands together. “Don’t, for the love of God, don’t, please—”
I ignored his senseless babbling. I doubted he even had any idea what he was saying. I grabbed the back of his leg with one hand, keeping my other hand on his cock. I worked at him, taking him deep into my throat with each stroke.
My tongue pressed the very tip of him where I knew he was most sensitive then my lips slid against the smooth skin of his shaft. I sucked him, concentrating on the tip of his cock, while massaging his balls.
He bucked and tried to move away, but I was determined to give him the same pleasure he’d given me. What kind of lover would I be if I didn’t repay him for the two orgasms he’d given me in less than half an hour?
Liam didn’t seem to agree with me, but he wasn’t very successful at stopping me either. Every time he tried to move away, I redoubled my efforts. His groans filled the small cabin. His hand stroked my hair, sometimes resting on my head as if he wanted to guide me.
I was grateful that he never tried to force me down. I liked to go at my own pace, to torture him like he’d tortured me and give him an orgasm he would never forget.
“Baby,” he burst out. “I need to—” He tried to move away again, unsuccessfully. “I’m going to cum. Need to—”
Good.
I tried to swallow him again, taking him deep down my throat and fighting back my gag reflex.
Suddenly, his cock gave one powerful pulse. A strangled gurgle came from Liam’s throat. He grabbed both sides of my head and held me still as he thrust inside my mouth. Hot liquid shot the back of my throat. I swallowed quickly, closing my eyes, and clamping my lips around his throbbing cock.
I loved his reaction, the way his hands couldn’t seem to stop touching me, his fingers combing through my hair, grabbing at my shoulders, rubbing my neck and back where he could reach. His groans were making me even more aroused, the sound causing my pussy to convulse with pleasure.
When I had sucked him dry, I wiped my mouth with the back of my hand and looked up at him.
“How was that for appreciation?” I asked innocently.
The look he gave me left no room for doubt. I waited for an answer anyway.
“You’re fucking unbelievable,” came his reply.
I laughed. “What was that?”
He breathed in and out. His eyes were half lidded. “You’re a little minx, you know that?”
He pulled me to my feet and pushed my shoulders until I was flat on my back again. He joined me on the bed, gathering me into his arms. A kiss landed on my temple. “Thank you,” he whispered.
I smiled. As my back settled against his chest, I wondered how long it would be before he’d be up and running again. I knew I was more than ready for another orgasm.
“This friends thing,” Liam said, “is working out well.”
I bit my lip. Why did he have to bring that up now? I knew we would need to talk about it in the morning, but I had kind of been hoping we would forget about it for the rest of the night.
“Yeah,” I replied weakly.
His hand settled on my hip. “Misty, I want you to know, I didn’t invite you out on the sole purpose of sleeping with you.”
I wanted to say something sarcastic, lighten the mood. But I also knew that it would probably make things worse.
“I know, Liam. I appreciate you trying to make me feel better after my date bailed on me, and I didn’t mean for it to end up last this either.”
“But it did.”
The cabin was too small, I realized. How could anyone live on a boat? What about exercise? Where did you even shower? Having sex was fun, but I doubted I could sleep here.
“I think we should quit lying to ourselves.” His voice seemed loud in the enclosed space.
My blood cooled. “What do you mean?”
“No matter how hard we try, we always end up like this.” His hands moved along my front, cupping one breast, testing its weight.
“It’s your fault.”
“How?”
“Every time I’m around you, all I can think about is how to get you in bed. How to get you to stop talking and make out with me.”
We laughed.
His breath felt warm in my hair. “Here I thought I was the only one.”
We grew quiet. I knew what I wanted. And I knew what Liam wanted. And they weren’t the same thing at all.
“What do you think we should do?” I asked. “We can’t keep fucking and not expect it to go anywhere.”
“No.” He released a breath, and the warmth of it spread through my hair. “I agree that’s not a good long-term solution.”
“Having a neighbor as your booty call is convenient, but it could also be pretty awkward.”
His body stiffened. “Am I just a booty call to you then?”
“N-no.” I spun around. “Of course not. I was just saying—wait.” I shook my head. “I thought I was just your booty call.”
His expression was steady, unreadable. “You’re not.”
“What am I then?”
He sighed. “I don’t know.” He traced the curve of my shoulder. “What am I to you?”
Whatever answer I gave would probably be misconstrued. I didn’t want to scare Liam again.
“I really like you, Liam,” I said, gathering up my courage. “And if we could make it work, nothing would make me happier. I also know that you’re not the relationship type of guy. You told me so yourself. I don’t want to have a relationship with you that’s nothing but sex. I want the real deal.”
He didn’t say anything for a long moment. He didn’t pull away, but he didn’t hug me closer either.
Suddenly, I was very aware of my nakedness. Of the fact that we were lying so close, in a position that didn’t do anything to slow my heart rate. I started to break away from him, but his arms tightened around me. The movement made me feel warm and made my chest expand with so many conflicting emotions that I couldn’t speak.
“You want me?” he asked. His voice sounded choked.
A lump rose in my throat.
I nodded.
The hand on my shoulder tightened. He didn’t hurt me. His expression seemed so desperate, as if he was running a race and approaching the finish line only to trip and fall and unable to get back up.
“I want you too.”
He spoke so softly that I barely heard him. But I knew he spoke the words. I read them on his lips. Felt them in my heart.
Wanting wasn’t the same as loving, but it was one step forward for us.
His arms tightened around me and he kissed my lips.
“I don’t know anything about relationships,” he said when he pulled away. “I suck at them. Really, I do,” he added when I couldn’t fight back the smile that took over my face. “I’m a terrible boyfriend. I never open the door at the right moment. I’m always late. I won’t remember to call when you want me to.”
“Liam.”
“I don’t even like clubs. I hate dancing. I think flowers are expensive and pointless.”
“Liam!”
His face softened and he looked down at me affectionately. “What?”
“You’re getting way ahead of yourself.”
“What do you mean? Am I moving too fast?”
I nodded.
“I think it’s too late to slow down now. We slept together already. Shouldn’t we be talking about these things?”
I traced the curve of his tattooed bicep. “I don’t want you getting scared on me, Liam. I don’t think I would be able to take it if I let myself fall for you, and things don’t work out.”
“I won’t—”
I shook my head. “You say that now, but we both know that being in a committed relationship is much harder than it seems.”
His throat rippled as he swallowed.
“How about we go on a few dates first, and see where this takes us?”
“A date.” He tasted the word in his mouth. “I guess we can try a few dates.” His body relaxed, the tension easing from his muscles. Then he stiffened again.
“What is it?”
“Does this mean no sex?” he asked.
I grinned. “Hell no.”
“Good.” He rolled on top of me. “Because all this talk of dating is making me feel pretty horny.”
I let him kiss me, opening my mouth to wide sweeps of his tongue. He was already rock hard, his erection pressing into my inner thigh like a hot brand. I opened my legs wide, hooking my knees over his hips and enjoying the way his pelvis settled on mine so perfectly.
“Does talk of hearts and flowers turn you on?” I asked, scraping my nails lightly down his back. His muscles rippled in response.
“Oh yes.”
“Chocolates too?”
“Only if I get to hand feed them to you.”
I laughed. “Come on.”
He urged his hips forward, nudging against my wet slit. “You love it.”
“Maybe a little.”
He ducked his head and kissed the top of my breast, catching the nipple in his mouth and sucking. I closed my eyes, letting the sensations wash over me. Pleasure coiled and stretched in my stomach, and a pool of lust gathered between my legs.
I was already dripping wet, and he didn’t even need to touch me again. I ran my fingers through his soft hair, using my nails to gently massage his scalp.
Liam got the point. He reached for his pants on the floor. How he found them through the heap of clothes was a mystery. He located the condom, suited up, and slid inside me with a slick, wet thrust.
We both groaned out loud.
Liam buried his face in the groove of my neck. Slowly, he pulled out, then shoved back in. I arched my pelvis and gave him better access.
“You’re so tight,” he gasped out.
I squeezed him. He groaned again. I did it again and he dropped his head and took several deep breaths.
As he thrust in and out of me, I squeezed and released my muscles, followed his rhythm and concentrated on pleasuring his cock. Our gazes met as he moved in and out. I knew my climax was going to hit me soon.
I was already so close. Sweat broke across my forehead. With every thrust, he gave a nudge upwards, giving my clit the attention it needed. The way he rubbed against me made me want to scream with pleasure. I arched up, becoming more frustrated, desperate. My muscles contracted as I fought to squeeze them around his cock.
And then it hit me.
The convulsions were just as intense as the first two, but with his thick cock inside me, the orgasm seemed to go deeper, to pull at a part of me I couldn’t name. I clenched my eyes, bit my lip, and tried to keep everything contained. To memorize this moment and treasure it with everything I had.
Liam continued to pound me, his cock pulsing until he exploded. He cried out, his arms enveloping me like a vice. His body froze with his cock giving one last throb before I felt him cum powerfully inside me.
Slowly, he relaxed until he was heavy on top of me. He lifted his head, swiped his thumb over my lower lip, and kissed me deeply.
“That’s one thing we can cross off our bucket list,” he said.
My hands moved over his back, up to his shoulders. My arms circled his torso. “Now, let’s see about the rest of that list.”