Page 76 of A Simple Reminder

“Liam, this is the men’s locker room,” she says, crossing her arms and casting a wary glance around.

“Don’t worry, no one’s coming in. They all saw me dragging you in here,” I reply, smirking as a blush spreads across her cheeks.

Her eyes narrow suspiciously. “And what exactly do they think we’re going to do in here?”

“Nothing like that,” I say, shrugging with mock innocence. I pause, my gaze dipping to her lips, letting the silence stretch. “Unless, of course, you want to...”

Her blush deepens, but she smirks, deflecting as she lightly swats my shoulder. “You’re terrible.”

I grin. “Kidding.”I’m not.

She reaches out, her fingers brushing softly across my face, her touch gentle and warm. But then she seems to catch herself, pulling her hand back and letting it fall, fingers curling restlessly at her side. I miss the touch instantly, that fleeting comfort gone too soon.

She sighs, her eyes lingering on the bruise spreading across my nose. “Seriously, we should get your face checked.”

“It’s fine. It stopped bleeding.” I wave it off. “For a second, I thought it might be broken, but I don’t think it is. It just aches a bit, nothing major.” I start moving toward the lockers, already pulling at my shirt. “Let me just change, and we’ll go on that run.”

“Liam, you shouldn’t be running after being hit in the face, especially if you thought you broke your nose.”

I pause, glancing over my shoulder with a smirk, “Oh? So, what do you suggest we do instead?”

She opens her mouth, a sharp retort clearly forming, but the words never come. Her gaze betrays her, sliding down as I pull off my shirt in one smooth motion. The air shifts. Her breath catches—just barely—but enough for me to notice.

Her teeth sink into her bottom lip, fingers nervously twisting at the hem of her own top as if she’s not sure what to do with herself. Her eyes drag back up to mine, the soft pink on her cheeks deepening into something more heated, more telling.

Despite her attempt to hold her ground, I see her falter, the flush creeping further down her neck. I take a slow step closer, the space between us charged with something unspoken, my grin widening.

“Like what you see?” I murmur, my voice low, teasing—but heavy with intent.

Her lips part, but she doesn’t respond, and I can’t decide if she’s speechless or just too stubborn to give me the satisfaction. Either way, I’m not backing down.

She quickly looks away, shrugging, but her voice is softer. “How about…you take a quick shower, and we go for a late breakfast instead?”

I reach out, brushing a loose strand of her sunshine hair behind her ear, my fingers lingering just a second too long, the soft strands like silk against my skin. “That sounds perfect,” I say, my voice dropping lower, rougher, “unless, of course, you’d rather take me up on that other offer.” I throw in a slow wink, unable to hide the way I drink in her every reaction.

Her laugh bubbles out, warm and addictive, wrapping around me like a drug I can’t quit. She playfully smacks my chest, her touch light but lingering. That easy moment, her guard down, her cheeks flushed—it undoes me.

Before I even realize what I’m doing, I lean in, my lips brushing hers in a soft, chaste kiss that somehow feels anything but. It’s tentative and fleeting, but the heat between us ignites instantly, humming just beneath the surface.

“I’ll be quick,” I murmur against her lips, savoring the way her breath hitches, her eyes wide with something I don’t need her to say out loud.

“Okay,” she whispers, her breath warm against my lips. And I can’t resist—I lean in, stealing one more kiss, this time lingering just a beat longer before pulling away. I step back, catching her eyes one last time before letting the cool shower water wash over me, easing the heat of the moment…for now.

THIRTY-TWO

SOPHIE

It was supposed to be an innocent run. A simple workout. Not looking into each other’s eyes, no lingering touches. Just two people sharing the same stretch of road, pretending the tension between them doesn’t exist.

Instead, here we are, sharing a towering stack of pancakes drizzled with Biscoff sauce, avocado toast, and some of the fluffiest scrambled eggs I’ve ever tasted. And the worst part? I’m enjoying every single second of it. I’m mesmerized by him. Every glance, every laugh, the way his eyes crinkle at the corners—it’s like everything I was afraid of is unfolding right in front of me. And when this ends, I know I’ll be broken.Again.Yet, I don’t want to pull myself out of this situation. I don’t want to protect my heart as well as I should be.

“Try this bite,” Liam says in a soft voice, his smile warm and inviting. He leans forward, holding out a forkful of pancakes, and I lean in, opening my mouth to accept it, feeling the sweetness melt on my tongue.

He’s dressed in well-worn jeans, a fitted T-shirt that clings to his shoulders just right, and a dark leather jacket, looking effortlessly put-together. Him in a leather jacket is my every waking daydream—he just looks so ruggedly irresistible. But when his eyes lower and that serious expression crosses his face, there’s a danger to him, a smoldering intensity that makes him even more compelling. It’s the kind of look that steals my breath, no matter how hard I try to keep my cool.

“Mmmh, okay, this one is even better than the blueberry one.” I close my eyes, savoring the taste, and a little hum escapes my lips. This food is almost as good as an orgasm. I’ve probably moaned more times over this breakfast than I have all week. Or, no—that’s a lie. Liam has been keeping me busy. If this breakfast continues the way it’s going, I’ll probably make him keep me even more busy. Adeline is at her parent’s so I have the apartment all to myself. To do whatever I wish.

My mind drifts back to last night, to the way he’d pressed me against the cool tiles in the bathroom, his mouth on my neck, hands everywhere, his fingers working magic that left me trembling. Just the memory sends a spark down my spine. God, the things he can do with his mouth and his–

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