Page 74 of Liam
How the hell does he know?
Chapter Twenty-Two
ALERIA
I'm curled up on my couch, staring at my phone for the hundredth time today. It's been days since I last saw Liam, and doubt has been gnawing at me, whispering that he's had time to rethink us. To realize that what we have is too much, too fast.
It's college all over again. Me, falling too hard. Him, having bigger priorities than the awkward physics girl.
A knock at the door makes me jump. My heart stutters as I pad across the apartment, not daring to hope.
I yank the door open, and there he is. Handsome, standing in jeans that cling to his hips, a casual button-down that does nothing to hide the strength beneath. His eyes lock onto mine, and I can’t take it anymore.
I don’t even give him a chance to speak. Grabbing his shirt, I pull him down to me, crashing my lips to his with a force that knocks the air from my lungs. Thekiss is messy, frantic, all teeth and desperation, and his response only fuels the fire raging inside me.
His hands are on me, rough and demanding, and before I know it, he slams me back against the door with a solidthud, pinning me there as his mouth devours mine.
The impact steals a gasp from me, but I don’t care. I grip the back of his neck, pulling him closer, needing more, needing all of him. His knee presses between my thighs and the tension that’s been simmering for days ignites into something uncontrollable.
A door creaks open.
“Hey, can you keep it dow?—”
We freeze, both of us panting, turning our heads toward the voice. My neighbor, an elderly woman in a robe, stands in the hallway, blinking at us, wide-eyed.
Liam’s chest heaves as he pulls back, his lips swollen, his fingers still gripping my leg. “Sorry,” he mumbles, his voice thick.
I stifle a laugh, biting my lip. “Sorry,” I echo.
We both turn to the door, and with one swift move, Liam slams it shut, sealing us in my apartment. A second later, his mouth is on mine again, the kiss even more heated, more desperate, like the interruption never happened. His hands roam my body with renewed urgency, and all I can think isI need more.
We break apart, both breathless. Liam quirks an eyebrow. “Not that I’m complaining, but what was that for?”
My cheeks heat. “I was afraid you’d maybe changed your mind. About us.”
Liam’s expression softens. He cups my face in his hands, his touch gentle. “Never,” he says. “I’m sorry I’vebeen so busy. Work’s been crazy, especially with all the changes that need to be done, but that’s no excuse. I’ve missed you.”
“I’ve missed you too,” I admit.
A mischievous grin spreads across his face. “Well, Dr. James, it just so happens that I’ve cleared my schedule for the entire weekend. What do you say we make up for lost time?”
My mind leaps to all the ways we could do just that. His body pressed against mine again, his hands roaming... I bite my lip, heat pooling low in my stomach. “What did you have in mind, Mr. Valeur?”
His grin deepens, but there’s something more in his eyes now—something teasing, playful, and wicked. “It’s a surprise,” he says, stepping back as his gaze sweeps over me, the tension still thick. “But I promise, you’ll like it.”
I let out a shaky breath, hoping for something more immediate, more intimate. “A surprise?”
He nods. “Yes. So, grab a jacket and let’s go.”
I blink.Wait… Go?“Go where?”
“You’ll see.” He turns toward the door with a smirk, leaving me with more questions than answers.
“Now?” I glance down at myself. “I need to get dressed first.”
He steps aside. “Make it quick, or I might change my mind.”
Rolling my eyes, I hurry toward my bedroom and pull out my makeup bag. As I rummage through it, I spot the sponge. I bought it on impulse last week, and while I haven’t tried it yet, now seems like as good a time as any. Pulling it out, I cringe at the absurdity of the shape—a makeup applicator shaped like a dick. The beauty influencer swore by it, though,saying it left no streak marks, and hey, for sixty dollars, it had better work magic.
