Liam takes me to The Shore, a popular seafood restaurant on the opposite side of the lake. The large, white-wood building is two stories with a wraparound porch and balcony. Tables and booths are set up on each level along with a bar dedicated to each space. There are two floors of seating inside, with floor-to-ceiling glass windows for a 360-degree view of the water.

The flaming orange and bright pink in the sky is the perfect setting for dinner. The night is still warm even without the sun. Once we approach the hostess stand, Liam asks for a corner booth on the second-floor balcony. The balcony is usually rowdier than the first-floor diners. Families tend to stay on the first floor while the younger crowd goes up to the second.

Liam follows behind me up the spiral staircase. He keeps his hand anchored to my lower back the entire time. When we reach the top, there is already a decent size crowd gathered around tables and the bar. The hostess shows us to a booth with low backs in the corner of the balcony. We have an unobstructed view of the water. Boats are cruising over the lake. I slide into the seat, expecting Liam to sit across from me, but he ends up sitting next to me, making me slide all the way in.

He slings his arm along the back of the booth and angles his body into mine, creating the sense that it’s just the two of us in the restaurant. I hear the patrons, but I can’t see them around Liam’s hulking frame. When a waiter approaches, requesting our drink order, we both order beers and an oyster appetizer. Once he leaves the table, Liam turns toward me, resting his hand on my thigh. He is invading every one of my senses. His hand raises to my neck, making my face tilt up to meet his gaze.

My eyes snag on his lips. They’re full and soft. When one corner tips up in a grin, my eyes shoot to his. He has a sexy expression on his face. His eyes are dancing with laughter and lust.

“Kiss me,” he demands.

“Here?” I ask, trying to look around him at the other people.

“They can’t see us. Kiss me, Savannah.”

I cast my gaze down to his lips. I want to kiss him again, drink in his taste. I bring my hands to his chest. His chest is so hard. I slide one hand down until it’s rippling over each ab. My hand on his chest curls in, grazing my nails over his peck. Liam growls deep in his chest. I can’t wait anymore. I launch myself at him, landing right on his lips.

I’m demanding he return the kiss, guiding each movement, until his hand goes into my hair, tilting my head, seizing control of the kiss. His tongue rolls over my bottom lip, seeking entrance. I don’t hesitate opening my mouth, meeting his tongue with mine. His hand pulls my head back slightly, so he can suck on my bottom lip. I whimper, wanting him. Desire is pooling in my panties. My nipples ache for his touch. I turn my body in our secluded booth, trying to get my chest as close to his as possible, so I can feel his body against my aching nipples.

Two slams on the table break me from our passionate kiss.

“Thanks,” Liam says in a raspy drawl, not looking at the waiter.

I peek over his shoulder and quietly say, “Thank you.”

The waiter gives me a smirk and mouths, “He’s so hot.” He winks before turning away.

“I hope he didn’t see these,” Liam says, brushing a thumb over one of my nipples. “It sets me on fire knowing they’re like this because of me. I’m not willing to let another man see any part of your pleasure.”

I laugh. “Don’t worry about that. The waiter would rather see you lost in pleasure than me.”

“How do you know?”

“He mouthed to me that he thinks you’re hot.”

“Is that right?”

“Yep.”

“That may be the case with this guy, but any other straight man here would kill to see your beautiful face as you’re coming.”

Warmth fills my cheeks. I think about my orgasm last night. “You’ve only seen that once. In a dark car.”

“It was enough for me to know I want to see it again. And again. You were lovely.”

His hand caresses the back of my neck. I fall even more into a trance, which is broken when the waiter delivers our appetizer and asks if we’re ready to order. Neither one of us has bothered to open the menu, too consumed with each other.

“Thanks, man,” Liam says. “We’re going to need more time to decide what we want for dinner.”

“Take your time,” the waiter replies cheekily, winking again before sauntering off.

Liam picks up an oyster, loosening it from the shell. “How do you like it?”

“On top,” comes out of my mouth without thinking. It’s been a long time since I’ve let my sassier, sarcastic side slip with anyone I don’t know very, very well.

Liam looks at me with surprise, then throws his head back in laughter. His deep, rumbling laugh sends goosebumps up my arms. It’s so deep and rich, I want to revel in that sound and coax it from him as much as possible. When he’s finished laughing, he leans into me, kisses my neck, and murmurs against my skin, “I’ll have to remember that.”

My smile is broad; I think my cheeks are on the verge of breaking. He kisses each of my cheeks and tells me, “This smile you have on your face is stunning. I like you like this. Happy. It’s also making me hard as a rock.”

I can’t help but let my eyes fall to his lap. He wasn’t lying. He’s straining against his shorts, I can see the outline of him perfectly. I gulp.

“So, lemon juice? Cocktail sauce?” His smile is firmly in place with a cocked eyebrow for good measure.

“Lemon juice and Tabasco sauce,” I answer.

Liam squeezes fresh lemon over the oyster with a dab of hot sauce.

“I like it hotter than that, Liam.”

He drizzles more hot sauce on top. “Did I make it spicy enough for you?” His lips are twitching like he’s holding back a chuckle.

“We’ll just have to see,” I tell him before taking the oyster and licking my lips. He groans in answer.

When the sun is fully set, bright, white, twinkly lights turn on above us. Strands of them are hanging in the center of the balcony to each railing.

We haven’t stopped flirting. Liam has been touching me since we sat down. My panties are ruined. My nipples are about to slice through my dress. His simple touches and stolen kisses are catapulting me over the edge.

Liam stopped drinking and is now nursing water. Butterflies fill my stomach when he says he wouldn’t ever indulge too much when he’s driving, especially if I’m his passenger. I’m nursing another beer, feeling the happiest kind of buzz. My skin prickles in anticipation. Each time Liam moves, his muscles flex under his shirt. His cock remains hard. I am using every bit of restraint to not maul him in public.

I feel free and happy. His responses and the alcohol help me along to a state of ease—and horniness—that can’t be ignored. I’m not sure if he knows he’s torturing me. I watch as his bicep bunches when his glass of water hits his mouth. I try to hold in my moan, but I know I’m not successful when Liam says, “Gorgeous, I’m trying here. Not to go too fast, but you are making it painfully hard. Pun intended.”

My eyes fly to his, but his eyes are glued to my lips. I lean into him, giving him a searing kiss. It isn’t long before he takes control of the kiss, licking and nipping.. I whimper as he teases me. “Liam, please.”

“What do you need, gorgeous?”

“You. Please. Let’s go. Fuck going slow.”

“Baby, I think we should go slow.”

“No, I want you.”

“I can only resist so much, Savannah.”

“I don’t want you to resist,” I tell him before kissing his neck, biting up and down his throat.

He pulls his wallet out, throws down way too much money, and pulls me from the booth. When we reach the staircase, he stops, looks back at me, then throws me over his shoulder. I moan in response. His ass is right in my face. I can see the muscles move during each step he takes as he runs down the stairs. It’s sending me closer to the cliff. Liam’s hard body is wreaking havoc in my brain—and in my panties.

I’m laughing at the absurdity of him feeling as if he needs to carry me out of the restaurant to get me home faster, but I can’t blame him when we reach the car in record time. I need him just as much. He’s been tempting me all night—and I’ve been doing the same to him.