Page 44 of Return
He kissed her, slow and deep, as if they had all the time in the world. And when he lifted her into his arms, she let herself sink into him, let him carry her to the bed, and let the world outside his room fade away.
Clothes slipped away, skin met skin, and for the first time in years, she felt cherished. Revered.
And then—panic.
It hit swift and sudden, an invisible wall rising inside her. Her breath stuttered. Liam was here, with her, surrounding her, but memories clawed at the edges of her mind. Of cold, perfunctory hands. Of feeling small, inadequate.
Her heart pounded. She squeezed her eyes shut, willed herself to push through it. This was Liam. She trusted him. She loved him.
But her body wouldn’t listen.
His lyrical voice was a whisper against her temple. “Hey, look at me, love.”
She opened her eyes, found his steady blue gaze.
“We don’t have to do this,” he said, his thumb brushing over her cheek. “Not until you’re ready.”
“Sorry, I really thought I was.”
“There’s no rush.” He pressed his forehead to hers. “We’ve waited this long. I can wait as long as you need.”
A knot loosened in her chest, and she curled into him, her fingers fisting lightly in his hair. “I really do love you, you know? I didn’t just say that in the heat of the moment.”
His arms wrapped around her, holding her close. “I know.” Liam sat up, raking a hand through his hair as he exhaled. “And I love you too.”
They laid still together with her inside his arms. Sophie’s breath, soft and steady, warmed his chest, and for a moment, Liam let himself get lost in the feel of her against him. She was there—really there—and the quiet intimacy of it should have been enough to calm the fire burning in his veins.
But it wasn’t.
Every inch of him was on fire, the heat between them lingering like an unanswered question, too much to ignore. He had meant every word when he said he would wait for her. He would. But the pull of her—ofthis—was too strong to be brushed aside so easily. The ache in his chest wasn’t just from wanting her; it was from the fear that if he didn’t find some space, he’d lose control. And the last thing he wanted was to push her away in the process.
He shifted slightly, careful not to disturb her, trying to create just enough distance to quell the ache. But how could he move away without shattering the warmth between them? How could he pull back without making her think that she was anything less than everything he’d ever wanted?
By being her friend.
What they needed was popcorn. Popcorn, ice cream, chocolate, and any other junk food he could find. And definitely more wine. If nothing else, this was going to be a night to further renew their friendship, to remind each other of the ease they once had.
With that decision made, he swung his legs over the side of the bed.
“You’re leaving?” Sophie’s voice was small, hesitant, and something about the way she curled under the covers tugged at his heart.
He turned back to her, a soft smile on his face. “No, love. I was going to make us popcorn.” He reached out, brushing his fingers lightly over her wrist where it peeked from beneath the blankets. “Right now, more than anything, I just want to spend time with you. We used to love eating in bed and watching television, remember?”
She swallowed, her grip on the edge of the sheets tightening.
“Don’t go,” she breathed.
He stilled. Then considered.Maybe let go just a little.
Then, ever so gently, he pried the blankets from her grip. “You stay as you are, and I’ll stay as I am.” His gaze swept over her, drinking her in, the flickering firelight casting golden hues along her skin. Never was she more beautiful than she was right now. “I’ve been waiting too long to see you naked again to let you get dressed now.”
A blush swept over her from head to toe, but her lips curved. “You’re impossible.”
He grinned, settling back onto the bed and pulling her into his arms. “And you love me for it.”
She did. God help her, she did.
“I can hold dinner, and we could watch a movie here in bed with snacks. Would you like that?”
