Page 101 of The Match Faker

‘For what? Everything I said is true.’

‘Maybe. I’m just not used to hearing it.’

He looked at me, his eyes filled with sadness. I was so used to loud, confident Liam, so seeing him like this just made me want to wrap my arms around him and hold him tight.

I wasn’t sure who’d filled his head with these negative thoughts about his worth, whether it was all of the bad press taking its toll, an ex or a combination of both, but he had more to offer than he realised.

‘We’re here,’ Phil’s voice boomed. ‘Roads were clear.’

‘Thanks.’

Phil parked in front of the house, then jumped out to open my door. Liam appeared and held out his hand to help me out.

By now, we’d held hands multiple times, but the feeling never got old. The sensation of having my palm wrapped in his made me feel so protected, so safe, so happy.

Liam scanned our surroundings. There didn’t seem to be anyone lurking. There hadn’t been for a while.

A thought popped into my mind. If we were both looking for a way to pour cold water on our feelings, I’d just found the solution.

After opening the door and switching off the alarm, Liam kicked off his shoes, then headed towards the stairs.

I didn’t move. I stood a few steps away from the front door.

‘You coming?’ Liam turned back to face me.

‘The paps have stopped hanging around outside and it’s much calmer. I think we’re too boring for them now. So I was thinking, you know earlier we agreed it’d be better to put the brakes on… not let what happened last night happen again… maybe it’d be best if I went back home.’

Liam’s face fell.

The house was so silent, never mind a pin, you could hear a feather drop. We stood at opposite ends of the hallway rooted to the spot.

‘Is that what you really want?’ Liam’s voice cracked.

‘No. You?’ I held my breath, waiting for his response.

‘No.’ Liam started walking towards me. ‘I want you to stay. I want to do so much…’

Now he was in front of me and his beautiful scent flooded my lungs. I swallowed hard. My heart raced. The urge to move my head forward a few centimetres so that we could kiss was strong.

‘What do you want to do?’ I bit my lip.

‘You don’t want to know.’

‘Tell me.’

Liam stepped forward, his lips almost touching mine.

‘I want to pin you against this door, lift up your dress, tear off your underwear and bury myself inside you again,’ he growled. ‘Then I want to bend you over that shitty sofa and fuck you again. I want to make you come so hard you won’t even remember your own name. I just want you, Mia.’

‘I…’ My brain scrambled. Liam hadn’t even touched me yet and I’d lost the power of speech and the ability to think clearly.

Heat and desire pulsated through my veins. What he said was so hot. I wanted all of the things he’d said and more.

His eyes darkened and his chest heaved.

Before either of us had time to register what we were doing, our mouths crashed together and our hands were everywhere.

I tugged at his belt buckle and zip, whilst he lifted up my dress. Within seconds he had me up against the door, with a condom in his hand.

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