Page 98 of Something Forever

Liam is silent, staring down at his plate of pie like it might give him answers to a very confusing puzzle.

“It’s not Thanksgiving if you don’t eat until you want to die,” I manage, forcing a tone much lighter than I feel.

“True,” Lauryn agrees. “Thanks so much for inviting us over, Whitney. I know we just met, but I have a feeling this is a start to a very beautiful friendship.”

“We should probably go,” Shatar says with a groan. “Let’s call an Uber. I can’t walk to the train right now.”

Realizing that Liam and I are going to be alone, I’m filled with a sudden flurry of nerves. I’m going to have to figure out what to say to him, because my lie about my mother didn’t fool anyone.

Abbi hugs me tightly, her lips close to my ear. “It’s gonna be okay,” she says so only I can hear, squeezing me for reassurance. “I promise.”

I send her a watery smile as she follows Shatar and Lauryn out of the apartment and down the stairs, Liam closing the door behind them. He turns to me, his presence seeming to take up the whole room. When did I become so acutely aware of every part of him? Every movement of his body and micro expression on his face?

He crosses the room to me, then lifts me up by the back of my thighs and sets me on the counter. I take in a shocked breath, peering up at him. His eyes study my face, fierce with emotion, before he settles his mouth against mine. He tugs at my lip with his teeth, nipping and licking until he coaxes my mouth open completely.

“I’ve been wanting to do this all night,” he murmurs, brushing his thumb against the side of my neck, up towards my jawline. “Been staring at those pretty lips, wanting to taste them.”

He kisses me again, this one deeper than the last, his tongue exploring my mouth with a mounting pressure that sends waves of heat through me. Brushing my hair off my shoulder, he ducks his head, pressing lines of languid kisses along my neck.

“I missed you,” he sighs. “How the hell can I miss you when I’m sitting right across from you?”

His sweet words are my undoing, tears prickling at the backs of my eyes. I wrap my hands in his hair, tugging him up to me, pressing my body against his. I need him like I’ve never needed him before. I feel frantic, out of control, desperate for him. I reach for his pants, tugging at his belt and yanking it free from his jeans, throwing it to the side.

“Impatient tonight?” He grins against my lips.

“I need it. Now.”

My hands pull at the sides of his jeans, but he settles his hand against mine, stilling my movements softly. “What’s the rush?” he asks, titling my chin up with his other hand, forcing me to look at him.

I swallow, hoping he can’t see the moisture gathering at the corners of my eyes. “Please, Liam. Please.”

He studies my expression, his green eyes seeming darker than usual. Then he nods slowly and steps out of his pants, stripping down slowly to free himself. His eyes never leaving mine, he reaches under the hem of my dress and pulls my panties down my legs.

Tugging my ankles so that I’m at the edge of the counter, he lines us up and slides into me with excruciating slowness. A moan escapes me as I try to wiggle closer to him, to take him as fast as possible. He doesn’t let me, pressing deeper and deeper until he settles against me. Then he does it again, thrusting at a punishingly slow pace.

“More,” I whine, wrapping my arms around his neck.

He reaches for the straps of my dress, pulling them down to free my breasts, his gaze laser-focused on my hardening nipples. Taking one into his mouth, he licks and bites at it until I can feel a wave of pleasure building low in my stomach. Unable to speak, I let out another moan as he quickens our pace, thrusting into me with a perfect rhythm. The room seems to sharpen and brighten as Liam grunts against me, muttering praises under his breath. The sound of him, the feel of him, the inky lines of his broad chest pressing against me, all of it seems to shatter me.

He pulls back, his gaze catching mine. His green eyes are filled with desire, an expression so intense that I want to look away.

“Look at me,” he commands as he slows our rhythm, bringing us back to an incredibly torturous pace.

Something seems to shift and morph in the space between us as we stare at each other, as he presses into me with such sweet strokes.

“Whitney, I… ” He breaks off, a flash of fear in his eyes. “I—I?—”

He spills into me with a groan, his hands tightening around my back, pulling me somehow closer to him. The feeling of it triggers my own orgasm, a heavy rush of emotion pulsing through me. I clamp my hands around his neck, pleasure coursing from my fingertips to my toes.

Something seems to pass between us in the silent moments following our climaxes. The air between us is heavy, mixed with our sweat and gasping breaths.

“It’s so good,” he whispers into my neck. “You’re everything.”

My heart soars, tripping in my chest.

Everything.

A smile spreads across my face, a warm and tranquil feeling settling inside me. That’s the way Liam makes me feel all the time: at peace. It’s like he sees me. Like I am worth something.

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