I got up to pour myself another glass of wine and brought the bottle over to refill his too. He looked up, green eyes sparkling with fresh amusement from my favorite scene in the movie. Tad had just showed up at the Piggly Wiggly to ask the heroine on the date.
“Thanks, love.”
I would never get over Liam’s accent or the way my insides tingled as he spoke. He could literally say anything, and my body would quiver. I smiled and sat on the middle cushion before tucking my legs under me.
“We should venture out tomorrow. Maybe go downtown again and check out the parks.”
My gaze slid to his. By the flickering light of the television, I could see his eyes already locked on me. “Sure. But I need to work at some point.”
“Bring your work, and I’ll bring mine.”
I didn’t exactly know what Liam’s work consisted of since he was supposedly between contracts. “So, I’ll bring my notebook, and you’ll bring your…” I trailed off, waiting for him to fill in the blank.
He smiled and turned back to the television. “I’ll bring my notebook too.”
Laughing, I shook my head and turned back to the screen, trying to let the movie replace every thought of the very sexy, and still shirtless, man sitting next to me. It was an impossible task, but I definitely earned an E for effort by the time the credits started rolling.
Our wine was gone. The room was still dark, and the soundtrack to the movie played on as neither of us moved. It was late. Without a clock in sight, my guess was that it was nearing midnight, and if I wanted to have a clear head tomorrow, I would need to head to bed.
“I should bog off.” Liam shifted.
My mood dimmed, and my heart squeezed while my mind screamed for him to stay. What was wrong with me? Liam was like one giant red flag that waved boldly and brightly, and I couldn’t seem to heed the warning. I didn’t want him to bog off.
Then he stood, making my chest ache even more. He held out his hands, and I took them, letting him help me to my feet and wrap me straight in his arms. He held me firmly, applying pressure just slightly as I slid my arms around him and squeezed him back.
Damn, he even hugged like a pro. If embracing was an Olympic sport, I was certain he would earn all the gold medals.
“Thanks for rescuing me, once again.” My cheek was flat against his chest as I spoke. I sensed his smile in return.
“You didn’t need any rescuing tonight, but it was my pleasure to help you chase that bloke away. I’ll be your Willy anytime you need one, love.”
We chuckled, but I could feel my body heat at the innuendo behind his words. I wondered how true that was. There was clearly something between us, chemistry I hadn’t felt in a very long time. But the disappointment that came with even humoring that idea was a heavy blow.
I lifted my cheek to face him and smiled. “Good to know.”
His stare grew more intense with my words, like maybe he was hoping for an invite. How I managed to hold his gaze with my heart racing in my chest was a mystery all on its own.
Then his eyes darted between mine. He leaned down, soft lips brushing my cheek just slow enough to send a wave of chills blasting through my body. I didn’t mean to hold him tighter, but it was either that or melt into a puddle at his feet.
When his mouth hit my ear, my lids slammed closed, and I sucked in a sharp breath. My skin tingled everywhere. My heart galloped, and when I felt Liam grow hard beneath his sweatpants, I knew I wasn’t imagining a single thing.
“You are quite lovely, Chelsea Banks.”
He kissed my ear, so softly enough I thought I might have imagined it, then he kissed my cheek while running gentle circles on my back with his palm. God, he smelled good, like fresh basil and strong wine. If I played my cards right, he could be my second dinner—and maybe even my breakfast.
“You’re not so bad yourself.” I pulled in a steadier breath than the one before it and dared a look. Our mouths were only inches apart, and his hold on me indicated he had no intention of letting go. I slid my hand around from his back to his stomach then moved it up to his chest, savoring the deep valleys and perfect ridges of his muscles. Dean hadn’t felt like that, like he was sculpted from God’s best tools.
I’d been so focused on the feel of Liam that I’d almost missed that his hands had been roaming too. One was cupping my neck while the other had slipped beneath my shirt and now rested at my waist. He leaned in, breathing me in as he did. “I should go before you hate me in the morning.”
I smiled, knowing exactly what he meant. We could let whatever this was between us get out of control. We could kiss. We could strip. We could make magic with our bodies. But then what? What would come from a night of unadulterated bliss? I wasn’t ready to find out.
“Okay,” I finally said, breathing the word on a whisper.
That broke the spell.
Liam took a step back, and I walked him to the door. He wrapped me in his arms for another hug before kissing my forehead then walking across the pool patio, out the gate, and out of sight.
I debated taking a cold shower, anything to settle my racing heart. I felt like I was back in grade school, locked in a coat closet with my biggest crush. I didn’t know how to handle myself, what to say or do. While I felt more confident than I had in my life, I was also more nervous than I’d ever been before—and now frustrated.
With a groan, I kicked open my bedroom door and tore off my clothes. I didn’t even bother to dress before slipping into bed and throwing my hands over my eyes. All I could see was Liam. His smile, those rock-hard abs. I could feel him too. Hard for me while all I wanted to do was melt for him.
When I adjusted slightly, the fabric of the sheet rubbed my hard nipple, making me shake with want. Would it have been so bad to pull Liam into my bedroom and fuck his brains out? We were both grown adults. Maybe holding back our attraction wasn’t the right answer. Maybe we needed to give into it.
I moved, feeling the sheet rub against my nipples again. I shuddered. It had been a long time since anyone had touched me there. I ran a finger over them, imagining Liam using his hot, wine-flavored tongue on me, licking, sucking, savoring. He seemed like someone who would take his time, knowing just what to do to get me off, maybe even more than once. But more than I craved his touch, I wanted to feel him inside me.
My fingers moved between my legs and slid through my wet center. He hadn’t even touched me. Hadn’t even kissed me, and I was nearly there. I couldn’t go through the night without getting myself off.
A vision from earlier that morning flashed through my mind. I’d gone to the Hogues’ to drop off the mail, and I’d heard noises coming from the basement. Part of me had known that Liam was down there, that I shouldn’t step a foot closer, but my curiosity got the better of me. When I saw the door to his room open, I knew I shouldn’t have taken that peek inside. It was wrong on so many levels, but the fact that I’d stayed to watch him pleasure himself was far worse than any sin I’d ever committed.
I placed two fingers on my clit and rubbed while replaying my visit to Liam’s room, where I’d peered through the crack of the already opened door and had to brace myself at the sight.
He’d kicked the blue sheets of his bed down around his feet, his underwear tossed beside the bed. His knees had been up, and his hand had gripped his veiny cock, moving up and down with a rhythm that told me he’d done it a million times before. His abs had tightened and his breathing had intensified. I had wanted him to be thinking about me.