Liam got some takeout from a mediterranean restaurant that makes some awesome gyros. We gush over the tzatziki sauce which we both agree is the best we’ve ever had. He got a great bottle of cabernet, knowing it’s my favorite, and must have splurged for it.
The night carries on like most of our nights together. Dinner with each other followed by bottle and bedtime for Harper. Liam comes downstairs with a smug look on his face after Harper is in bed.
“What’s that face for?” I ask suspiciously.
He stays at the bottom of the stairs, not meeting me on the couch like usual.
“Come with me. I wanna show you your surprise.”
I look at him skeptically, wondering what he’s up to. What could he want to show me that’s upstairs? Shrugging my shoulders, I get up off of the couch and follow him upstairs, thinking whatever he has to show me will be in the guest bedroom. When he starts to walk towards the master bedroom, I get a little nervous. Liam stops at the door before turning around.
“So, one thing I didn’t tell you, is that I went to see Becca yesterday.”
I’m shocked that he’s bringing this up right now. What could my surprise be that needs this kind of introduction? I reach out to him, grabbing his hand to offer my support as I wait for him to finish.
“It was the first time that I’ve been there since she was buried. It was really hard. I think I was suppressing a lot of my grief, but something happened out there. When I was at my lowest point, I suddenly thought about how all I wanted was to be with you, tohugyou. I realized we were tiptoeing over this like we’re doing something wrong.” He grabs my other hand and rubs his thumbs over them. Looking into his eyes, they show me that he’s intent on getting out what he has to say. “We’re not doing anything wrong, Riley. We make each other happy. You make me excited to get up in the morning or to get off work so I can be with you. So, I decided I needed to make a change to this room. I wanted you to walk in here and feel like it was somewhere that you belong, because itis.”
Letting go of one of my hands, he opens the door and walks me into his bedroom. It doesn’t even look like the same room that I remember. The furniture isn’t in the same place for one, but the decorations have changed. Gone are the frilly feminine touches that had Becca written all over them. Replaced by a more masculine looking bedroom. It feels nothing like the room Becca made me hang out in while I helped her pick put her outfit for girls nights out. I can feel my eyes begin to water as tears threaten to spill over. I can't believe he is saying all of these things. I thought maybe I was the only one with these strong feelings this early on but all of this effort shows he is in it with me.
When I turn to him, he is standing there with his hands in his pockets looking at me intently. I can tell he is nervous as he waits for my response.
“What do you think?” he shrugs his shoulders.
I walk over to him, grab his cheeks, and slam my lips on his. The kiss was meant to be a short and sweet to show my thanks, but it quickly escalates. He wraps his arms around me and lifts me up as he carry’s me to the bed. After he lays me down, he starts to take of my clothes leaving trails of kisses along my body. When he reaches behind him to lift his shirt over his head, my body clenches at the site of his tanned stomach. My breath is stolen when he slides into me and I feel his size stretch me out like he seems to do every time. He goes slow, rounding his hips when he bottoms out. Before I know it, we’re coming apart together.
After we finish, he doesn’t make an effort to move. He slides a strand of my hair out of my face before he leans down and gives me a soft kiss on the lips.
“I love you, Riley.”
Four words that render me speechless. Looking into his eyes and seeing the love reflecting back at me, I know that I feel the same way. How could I not fall in love with him? He is sweet, attentive, understanding, sexy as hell, and an amazing father. Even though I have known him for so long, these are sides of him that I was not granted access to before. They are sides that once belonged to someone else, someone special. As much as I want to be filled with guilt for being the one to experience them now, I’m finding myself filled with appreciation.
“I love you too, Liam,” I whisper back.
He smiles and my heart nearly bursts at the site of his creases around his eyes. They show a life full of smiles that I hope I can be a part of.