Page 75 of Fix Them Up
Like I meant something to him.
My high dissipated.
I didn’t want to lead him on. This had been amazing, but I was leaving. And something told me that Liam was not a ‘casual’ kind of guy.
I grabbed my shorts, shoving them on.
‘Are you okay?’ Liam asked, his face full of concern. ‘Did I hurt you?’
‘No, no.’ I reached up and touched the stubble on his handsome face. ‘That was amazing. Honestly, amazing. I just –’ My smile dropped.
Liam’s smile faltered.
I exhaled. ‘I like you, too – a lot. But I don’t want to lead youon, Liam. My plan is the same. I am moving back home, back to London. I have to. I have people relying on me at work. My mum and Graham…’ I trailed off, hoping he got the picture.
‘Right,’ he said, glancing away.
‘But we could keep things casual,’ I suggested.
‘Casual,’ he repeated. ‘You want to keep it casual.’
‘Well, yes,’ I offered meekly. I’d dealt my cards now; I couldn’t take them back.
Liam exhaled, running his hand through his hair again.
His eyebrows pinched.
‘Hey,’ I said, pulling him closer by the arm. ‘We don’t have to do anything you’re uncomfortable with. If it’s not what you want –’
‘I’ve done “just sex” before, Kat. It’s not my style anymore.’
Disappointment flooded my chest.
‘I understand.’ I nodded. ‘It’s not something you’re comfortable with. I get it.’
I met Liam’s eyes. I could see the deliberation in them. He ran his hand through his hair. His eyes flickered across my face. Then, he gave a frustrated groan, moved and started pacing the kitchen.
‘Why can’t I say no to you?’ he murmured, then walked back to me, pinching my chin between his thumb and forefinger. ‘I have some conditions. We can keep things casual, like you want. But we’re exclusive. No dating anyone else while you’re here.’
‘That kind of feels like the opposite –’
‘And you let me take you on one date.’
‘Liam, both of those things are literally the opposite of casual.’
‘One date, Kat.’ He smirked. ‘I’m not asking you to marry me. Come on.’
I rolled my eyes. ‘You are so pushy.’
‘Are you going to be able to stop?’ Liam asked, caressing my jaw, running a thumb across my lower lip. ‘I’m not sure I’m going to be able to stop, even if I wanted to.’
My breathing became uneven. I could practically feel my eyes dilate. I wanted to wipe that smug look off his face with my lips. I wanted to push him away and pull him back at the same time. Liam was right. We’d started something with momentum, something inevitable. How were we going to keep our hands off each other?
People were going to know.
‘Okay,’ I said. ‘I agree to your terms.’
Liam’s lips lifted. ‘Do we need it notarised?’ He went to turn away. ‘I can get a solicitor on the phone –’
