Page 132 of Back to Willow

Opening the bedroom door, I usher him outside before we wake Dylan. As soon as the door clicks shut, Liam harshly grabs my cheeks with both hands, his face close to mine. Unshed tears swim in his eyes as the biggest and broadest smile covers his face.

Yet, we’re walking opposites. While I still have a slice of apprehension preventing me from fully enjoying this moment, the man in front of me oozes happiness and pride from every pore in his skin.

“He called me Dad,” he whispers, and I gently nod. “He–” he stops himself, deep in thought. “Oh god, I’m speechless.”

“I am, too,” I comment quietly. “I never thought he would suspect this. I was planning a conversation with him after the results, but I never expected this. He is just too clever for his own good.”

“Thank you,” Liam whispers, pecking my lips.

“What for?” I lean my head back, to have a better look at his face.

“For this.” His thumb grazes my cheek, wiping a tear I didn’t even know was falling. “For giving me Dylan, for giving me a family.”

My heart skips a beat.

“I’m so scared,” I confess. “I’m terrified you’ll hate me if–”

“Lo,” Liam stops me. “We’ve talked about this. I could never.”

“But–”

“I’ll wait. Your time, your rules, yeah? It doesn’t matter the outcome.”

“I’m so sorry.”

“Don’t be.” He kisses my forehead, hugging me tight. “We’ve overcome so much, and, in the end, everything worked out. You and Dylan are in my life; that’s all that matters.”

“But I kept him from you…I was young, alone, scared, and so hurt, but it still was wrong. I shouldn’t have–” I hesitate, looking down at my feet, but he tilts my head up, forcing me to look at him.

“I understand,” he mutters, resting his forehead on mine. “It’s all in the past now.”

“Liam,” I call for him, my voice wavering the moment his hand grips my hip.

“I love you,” we both say at the same time.

The sound of his grave voice uttering the exact same words in-sync is enough to send a shiver down my spine. It must have done the same to him because as soon as I look into his eyes, the dark shade seizing his irises makes me take a staggering step back.

With his eyes doing all the talking and a serious expression, he takes one step forward. Then another and another.

He doesn’t stop until my back is plastered against the wall and his chest is pressed against mine, trapping me in. With his body touching mine everywhere, it burns from the inside out. My stomach twists and coils with every second that passes, the tension between us thickening. It’s unexpected and pleasurable—something I had forgotten all about.

It’s bringing my body back to life.He’sbringing my body back to life.

“Liam,” I moan as his fingers caress the skin on my collarbone.

“Do you want me to stop?” he asks, now reaching my jaw before gripping it gently.

“No.” I almost choke on the word.

I close my eyes and bask in the feeling of his touch. It’s tentative, delicate and feels foreign and familiar at the same time.

“If you say stop, I’ll stop right there and then. It doesn’t matter how far gone we are.”

“I know,” I whisper.

And I do.His hand stopped moving when he asked me this, showing me that even though he is the one instigating, I’m in control of the situation.

“I missed you.” His whisper echoes in my ear. “I missed you so damn much.”

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