The week passes by and I forward all potential candidates over to Liam’s email, so he can go through them and hire someone directly. I finally realized my mistake; I subconsciously got my hopes high about Liam. It’s nobody’s fault but my own. I didn’t want a relationship, I should have reminded myself of that when I felt myself get close to him. He wormed his way into my life, and left me hanging, filled with holes.

Instead of thinking about him and the ways I messed up, I keep myself busy with work. I go in early and stay late. I put more time at the animal shelter and spend almost every night with my family. If I keep myself busy, I don’t even think of him. It’s when I lay down at night that he slithers into my thoughts.

It’s going on nine p.m. when I leave my parents’ house and walk into my apartment. I feed Ace, then take a long, hot shower. When I step out, I quickly brush my hair, leaving it wet and hanging down my back. I wrap my towel tighter around myself and step out of the bathroom to find some comfy clothes in my room when someone knocks on the door.

Thinking that it’s Amy stopping by, to talk me into going out with her, since it’s Friday night. I open the door with my mouth open, preparing to tell her no, but freeze when my eyes land on Liam.

His blue eyes look me up and down. Suddenly, he reaches for me, his hands wrapping around my waist as he pulls me against him where his lips meet mine. His tongue slides into my mouth as he takes a step forward and forces me to take one backward. One of his hands leaves my hip, running up my body to cup my cheek and hold me to him. He kicks the front door shut with his foot, and the second it slams, I push him away.

“What the hell do you think you’re doing?” I yell, wiping my mouth to get the taste of him off my lips. My body wants to keep going, but no way will I let myself get attached to him again. I’m almost back to normal. I just got my thoughts back.

“Tyler told me what happened,” he admits.

“What?” My brows scrunch together as I study him. I suddenly realize that I’m only wearing a towel and my hand comes up to the top, holding it so it doesn’t slip and fall away.

“I broke up with Tessa a week before we even kissed. I went there that weekend to pick up my belongings from her apartment, and she cried. I felt bad for breaking her heart, and that’s when she talked me into going out for dinner, so we could talk.” The words are rushing from his mouth like a dam broke.

“I don’t want to hear it, Liam.” I close my eyes and rub my temples.

“Please, let me finish.” His blue eyes are pleading with me, and I can’t deny him.

“During dinner, she said she didn’t want to talk yet, just wanted one last normal meal to share and we ended up running into old friends that invited us to the club. I didn’t want to go, but she was relentless. So, I gave in, just so I could get it over with and leave. When I saw you there, you took my breath away. I thought I was dreaming. I never expected to run into you there. Then when I saw the guy you were dancing with—when I saw his hands on you instead of mine, I knew you were the one I wanted. I left and came back here, but she followed me. I didn’t know you came by the ranch. I didn’t know you met her or that she talked to you.” His blue eyes are wide with fear and anger. Is he afraid that he’s lost me? Is he angry at me or with her?

“Tyler was out back of the barn and heard your whole conversation. He was pissed when he heard that I was selling the ranch. He thought I was just going to fire him without any notice. He didn’t tell me about it until today, when he told me he found another job. I was completely surprised. I have no intentions of selling the ranch, and then suddenly, our phone conversation made sense. I didn’t know why you changed your mind about the job. I thought you had changed your mind about me. If I had known sooner, it wouldn’t have taken me this long to come. I thought you were done with me.”

I take a deep breath and look up at his blue eyes, and the way his chest is heaving. He looks so nervous, like he’s standing on the edge of a cliff, preparing to jump. “So, you’re not with her anymore?” I ask, leaning against the counter.

He shakes his head. “I haven’t been with Tessa in weeks.”

“And you’re not selling the ranch?”

He takes a step closer and shakes his head again.

“What do you want from me, Liam?” I’m holding on to the counter, my fingers wrapping around it for dear life. I’m not sure if I’m holding myself up or holding myself back. Either way, I’m holding on and not letting go.

“I want you, Ves.” He takes another step. “You’re beautiful, and kind, and smart. You love the same things as I do. When I’m with you, I’m the man I want to be. I’m not billionaire CEO of O’Connor Oil. I’m not Hollywood’s most eligible bachelor. I’m just me. I’m Liam, the man that wants a simple life of running a ranch with a beautiful veterinarian that deserves more than I could ever offer.”

I feel my lips tug up into a smile, and I release the counter, crossing my arms over my chest. “You…” I shake my head. “You have a whole other life that’s not here. You have a line of women wanting a piece of you. And you want a life here… with me?”

He takes another step closer as he nods. “I don’t want that life. I want you. I want to run this ranch and have you by my side every single day.” He takes another step, and now we’re close enough to touch, but I don’t reach out and neither does he.

“Your little black book is thicker than my entire phone book, Liam. Tyler told me how many women you blow though. Why should I trust you?” My heart is pounding. I know that if he touches me right now, there is nothing I can do to stop it. I want his touch, even if it’s nothing more than a meaningless fling—the big bang to end this crazy relationship we have.

“I’m not going to lie, Ves. I have a reputation.” He nods. “I know that. I’ve been with more women than your average man, but I never told any of them that I wanted them by my side every single day. You’re what I want.”

He doesn’t give me a chance to reply. He takes the last step between us and pulls me against his chest where his mouth covers mine. My arms wrap around his neck, pulling him closer and deepening the kiss. His hands find my ass and he lifts me up against him so I can wrap my legs around his waist.

He begins walking through my apartment, never breaking the kiss as he takes me to my room. When he walks in the door, he turns and presses my back against the wall. Breaking the kiss, he looks deep into my eyes. “I meant every fucking word of what I said, Ves. I want you. I don’t know why or how you got under my skin, but I can’t stop thinking about you.” He reaches for the hem of his shirt, pulling it off and revealing his hard chest and abs.

“I don’t want anything serious right now, Liam,” I nearly whisper.

“One day at a time,” he agrees, pressing his lips against mine once again.

His shirt hits the floor and his hands immediately fly to the top of my towel, pulling until it comes loose and falls. He breaks the kiss and looks down at my body, causing embarrassment to flush my face.

“You’re so fucking beautiful, Ves.” His lips crash against mine again and his hands tour my body, squeezing my breasts, trailing down my sides and across my thighs to brush against my core. The second his finger slides against my sensitive nub, I shudder and let out a loud moan.

I let go of his neck and drop my hands down between us, skimming down every hard muscle to free him from his jeans. Pushing them down his hips, his large erection springs free, standing at attention. I wrap my hand around it and pump slowly. He lets out a hissing breath that lights my body on fire.

He kicks his jeans off his feet as he turns and walks us to the bed. He places me softly on top and crawls up my body. He pauses at my knee to press a soft kiss to the inside. He repeats the process with the other, then slowly kisses up the inside of my thighs.

“I’ve been dreaming of doing this since the day I met you, Ves,” he whispers against my skin as his lips climb higher and higher up my legs.

When he makes it to the junction between my legs, he softly runs his tongue across my slit, causing me to call out and jump with pleasure. His hands squeeze my hips, holding them down as he flicks his tongue against me, before sucking my hard nub into his mouth.

My orgasm is slowly building in my stomach. Every muscle tightens, preparing to let it go, to release it, so it can flood over me and drown me in the passion he’s causing me to feel. Just as I think it’s at its peak, he slides two fingers inside me, and pushes me over the edge. My release explodes and rains down on me, thick and hot. I can’t do anything but close my eyes and hold on, letting it wash over me until I can no longer breathe. He doesn’t move or pull away until I’ve ridden out every last wave and my calls of pleasure have quietened.

He removes himself from me, leaving me cold and needing so much more.

“Where are you going?” I ask in a panic. I’m nowhere near done.

He bends down and pulls out a condom from his jeans. He turns back to me. “Oh, I’m not going anywhere yet. No way have I had enough of you.” He tears the package open with his teeth and slides the condom down over his length.

He takes his place between my thighs once again and he lowers his lips to mine. My hips begin moving on their own, sliding his hard cock between my folds.

“I need you, Liam. I need you inside me,” I whisper against his lips.

“You have no idea, baby.” He rears back and thrust into me hard, deep, and without warning, causing me to call out loudly. My nails dig into the skin of his back, pulling him closer as he thrusts in and out of me. His hands hold my hips and squeeze my breasts, all the while his mouth moves with mine.

He stretches me delightfully, nearly to the point of pain, but it’s something I long for. It’s like when you have a sore muscle and rubbing it hurts but feels good at the same time. I never want him to stop. I finally feel like we’re right where we belong, that this past week didn’t even happen. He pushes me to shatter once again, then rolls us over, putting me on top.

“I want to watch you, Ves. Show me how badly you need me.” His hand that’s on my hip, slides down just enough so his thumb can press against my clit as I lift myself up and slide down his length. He feels so much larger this way, and I can control the speed and pressure. I rock my hips against him, and his lips part as his heavy breathing escapes.

“Fuck,” he whispers as his eyes close and his head dips back to enjoy the pleasure I’m now bringing him.

While one hand massages my clit, the other comes up to massage my breast, pinching my nipple between his thumb and forefinger. As my orgasm rises to the surface once again, the tingle of my nipple mixes along with it, and I tighten around him.

“Are you going to come, Ves?” he whispers.

I open my eyes and look down at him. His lips are parted, and his eyes are vibrant, watching only me.

I nod as I continue with my movements, not wanting to stop, needing to push myself that last little bit that will leave me screaming and quivering.

Both hands grab onto my hips and he thrusts upward, meeting my movements. I let out a scream as my orgasm washes over me, and he lets out a moan that causes my body to tingle with excitement.

My toes curl up and my stomach tightens. My breathing becomes erratic, and his thrusts become harder and rushed. Just as my climax ends, his rises to the surface. He flips me over and pounds into me again and again, until his hips slow and his soft moans quieten. He lets his body collapse against mine, and his weight feels perfect, like a weighted blanket that eases every negative feeling away.