Always (11 page)

“I’m glad you think so.” Liam chuckled. “God, you fascinated me back then and still do to this day. I think you’re my addiction, Sunshine. I felt empty for so long, and now that you’re back I finally feel whole again.”

“Oh Liam, that is the sweetest thing anyone has ever said to me. I’m so glad to be back with you too. I don’t think I ever fully let you go. I don’t think I ever could.”

Not expecting him to carry her aboard, she squealed when he swooped her into his arms as if she were featherlight.

“I want you to hold on to me, Sunshine, ’cause I never fully let you go, either, and don’t intend to anytime soon.” His lips met hers again with a raw hunger, a near-desperate need. He made love to her mouth with his tongue, nipping on her bottom lip, then he leaned his forehead against hers and groaned. “If we don’t stop now, I don’t think I’ll be able to,” he whispered, breathless. “Let’s get this boat started so I can fulfill that promise I made to you all those years ago. I want to make up for some of our lost time together.”

“Well, if you insist.”

The waters at the mouth of the Bay of Fundy were common feeding areas for whales, dolphins, and porpoises. Living in Digby gave them the opportunity to see them often. As the sunset covered the sky in rays of yellow, orange, and pink, Liam stopped the boat about fifteen minutes away from the shore, and a humpback whale decided to surface shortly after. Teegan gasped at such a beautiful sight. She could feel Liam behind her before they actually touched and leaned into him.

“So tell me, do you usually take your dates on such a breathtaking adventure, or am I special?”

“Only you.” He kissed the side of her face before resting his chin on the top of her head and wrapping his arms around her. “And you are definitely something special. I normally don’t take this boat out for whale-watching, either. I use this one more often for personal use and for when I take tourists fishing. I just thought it would be more comfortable for us tonight.”

“It’s a great boat. What one would you normally take?”

“A Zodiac.”

“Zodiac?” She turned to look at him. “Right now you’re speaking a foreign language. I have no idea what type of boat that is.”

She could feel the vibration in his stomach as he laughed silently. “It’s similar to those used by marine biologists.” He shrugged. “It’s just a whale-watching boat and much smaller than this one.”

“Interesting. I may have to take one of your public tours sometime. I do really love your personal ones too, though. So what made you decide to open up your own business?”

“I’ve just always loved the water. Swimming, fishing, and exploring. After LJ was born and I got things sorted with custody after Lucy left, I began to study marine biology, and I went from there.”

“And your logo?” Teegan smiled. “I couldn’t help but notice the bright yellow sun next to the lettering. You really do love the sunshine, don’t you?”

“I do,” he whispered. “What can I say? I love the brightness it brings to my day. The gold highlights that call out to me. Your beautiful heart-shaped face, cute little button nose.” He kissed her quickly there. “Soft, lush lips that beg to be tasted.” He kissed her quickly again. “Creamy skin and curves in all the right places. Breasts that fit perfectly in my hands, a butt I can’t help but want to squeeze. Long, beautiful legs I ache to have wrapped around me. You’re not only beautiful on the outside, you’re the total package in here as well.”

He pointed to her heart. “I love that you’re so good with LJ and that he likes you too. Honestly, though, I’m not sure why I put the sun on my logo. I guess I just thought it looked good. But one thing I do know is that the only sunshine I care to concentrate on is the one I have my arms around right now.”

“You’ll get no objections from me. God, Liam, I’ve missed you so much. I don’t ever want this to end.”

He placed his hands inside hers and pulled her down onto the blanket with him. “I’m not going anywhere, sweetheart. This is only the beginning.”

Chapter Fourteen

“I love the way your hair feels against my bare skin.” Liam twirled a strand around his fingers. After he’d hand-fed her some dinner, they made love on the boat and did so again in his bed when he’d brought her back to his home.

“Just my hair?” She raised a brow and moved her naked body closer so he could feel every inch of her against him again. Now that they’d rested a bit, she was ready for round number three. “Well, I love the way your naked skin feels against mine, warm and inviting. I love that it doesn’t take much for you to want me.”

She rubbed her leg up and down along his and felt his excitement against her stomach. “And I love that I want you just as much, among other things…”

He moaned before rolling her onto her back. “I love that as well. Your hair is beautiful, Sunshine. I’ve always made it known how much I like it, but there are too many things to love about you to list right now, and I’m sure your list of other things is similar to mine.”

His kiss began as a quick peck on her nose, then he trailed his warm breath and plump lips down her cheek as he cupped the back of her head. When he reached her ear, he nibbled on it.

“Are they?” Her question came out breathless, and her breathing sped up. The feel of his stubble against her face drove her nuts, and she almost cried out in protest when he stopped what he was doing to look at her.

“Damn, Teegan, how can you ever doubt it? Look, I’ve been wanting to say this since the first moment I saw you in James’ backyard with LJ and Dylan.” He lifted her chin to look into her eyes. “Teegan Marie Hallowell, you’ve had my heart since I was eighteen years old, and I don’t want you to ever give it back. I love you, I always have, and I always will. I would have shouted it from the rooftops for all to hear if I hadn’t thought it might scare you off. I know things have been tough for you, and it kills me. I wanted to give you time to adjust and myself the time to try and get you to fall in love with me all over again.”

“I didn’t need it,” she whispered and shyly turned her face away. Liam was too good to be true, and she couldn’t help but cry as her heart filled with joy at the knowledge he felt the same way about her that she did about him. “Because I love you too. I never stopped, and I’m sorry I ever left to begin with. All those wasted years apart were my fault. I should have stayed regardless. I should have been there for you when you needed me.”

“Nonsense. What matters is we’re together again now. We need to try to let go of the past and move on.”

“Oh, Liam.” She rolled him over so he lay flat on his back and turned herself around so her little, round behind and glistening folds stuck up for his viewing pleasure. She gently grabbed the base of his thick shaft and began to stroke before licking around the head and down the sides in slow, deliberate circles. He moaned, and the sound fueled her desire to continue enthusiastically. She sucked him to the root, cupped his balls and played with them, then moaned herself as he grabbed her hips and brought her down onto his mouth.

He attacked her clit with the purpose of making her come hard and fast, and it was working. She knew he was close; his balls tightened as she played with them, and she could taste the saltiness of his precum inside her mouth. She wanted to make him come first, though, and moaned again, letting the vibration wrap around him before sucking harder. His hips began to flex, and then he stilled, catching her by surprise.

“Stop, Teeg. Please, stop for a sec,” he said through gritted teeth.

“Why? What’s wrong?” She stiffened and tried to pull away to look at him, but he wasn’t having it and held on to her hips with a firm grasp. “Liam?”

“I’m not done with you, Sunshine, but I’ll come if you continue, and I want to feel you around me before I do. Damn, I love this view.”

He squeezed her butt cheek before he latched on to her folds again, purposely avoiding her clit to lap up her juices. He stroked in and out of her with his tongue, and she squirmed, needing more from him.

“Liam, please…”

“Please what?” he whispered before taking one long lick from her clit to her ass.

“Make me come, and make love to me,” she growled and gave him another lick of her own. If he wanted to be cruel and tease her, two could play at that game. He slid his tongue through her dripping folds and back down to her clit. His slow, taunting circles then changed to pure, confident, and demanding licks. He applied just the right amount of pressure with the tip of his tongue and took her over the edge as she moaned and shook when the orgasm hit.

“Yes, Liam, yessss!”

She moved off him to get into position, but he kept a firm grasp on her hips, quickly moved behind her, and slid in.

“You feel so damn good. I’m not sure how long I’ll be able to last,” he said.

She wiggled her butt and gasped when he leaned over to nip at her shoulder. “You don’t feel so bad yourself.” She thrust her butt back and forth, riding him as he pumped into her. “Way too good.”

“Oh, Teegan, oh God, I’m sorry. I just can’t—” He moved his hand down her stomach, seeking her still-sensitive clit, then rubbed it. An immediate climax hit her hard, and he released his satisfaction as she pulsed around him.

***

The smell of eggs and bacon still lingered in the air, making their stomachs rumble as soon as they walked into James’ house. They’d been too preoccupied with each other to eat earlier, and her appetite was catching up to her.

“I hope there’s still some grub left. I’m starved, how about you?” she said.

Liam lifted her hand to his mouth and kissed it. “You’ve definitely worked up my appetite.”

“Good. I can still hear everyone in the kitchen.” She stood on her tippy toes and kissed him quickly on the cheek. Winking, she linked their fingers and pulled him toward the kitchen.

“Good morning.” Liam grabbed a plate and made himself comfortable beside LJ at the table in James’ kitchen, saving Teegan a seat on his other side.

“Well, well, well.” Her brother smirked. “That must have been some date last night, huh?”

“It was great.” Teegan put her purse on the table, reached up into a cupboard for a plate of her own, and started piling the food on. “Great breakfast, Susan. I’m starved.”

She set the plate down and had just sat beside Liam when her purse began to play Nickleback’s “Savin’ Me.” She sighed while getting up again to see who was calling, hoping her food wouldn’t get too cold.

The screen displayed another blocked, unknown number, and this time her curiosity was piqued. “Hello,” she answered.

“You’ve been a bad girl, Teegan.”

She tensed and turned around, hoping not to draw any attention to herself.
This can’t be happening. Please, God, not now, not now.
She shielded her mouth over the phone
as she whispered, “Who is this?” She’d recognized his voice but hoped deep down that she’d
been wrong.

“Who do you think it is? Stop playing your fucking games, woman. You know damn well who I am, and if you don’t get your cute little ass back home right now, there’s going to be hell to pay. Do you actually think I’d let you walk away from me?” His chuckle made her shiver.

Oliver!

“Hell, you’re going to regret what you’ve done. I know about that asshole you’ve been with too, and if you don’t want anything to happen to anyone you care about, then you’ll pack your bags and meet me in Saint John first thing tomorrow morning so I can personally escort you home. Say good-bye, Princess, ’cause this is the last time you’ll ever see your family again. You’re mine, damn it. Don’t make me come and get you.”

Teegan held the phone as it went dead. She was frozen in shock, and her eyes were wide and glossy with unshed tears she knew she would fall as soon as she was alone.

“Hey, Teeg, get off that damn phone and get your butt over here. Your breakfast is getting cold.”

James’ teasing brought her out of the trance, and she tried to suppress her panic. “This can’t be happening,” she whispered to herself before turning around. She kept her head down as she tried to return the phone to her purse with shaky hands. “Help yourself, James. I’m suddenly not very hungry. If you’ll excuse me.” But as she rushed out of the kitchen, she knew she was busted.

She leaned against the door of her room and ran her trembling hands through her hair.
Shit!
Just when she thought she was home free, he had to threaten everything good in her life—her family, Liam, her friends, and the kids. She couldn’t give those up, but she refused to put her loved ones in danger.

Oliver wouldn’t win, but would she be ready to confront him? He’d probably kill her, or at least try to for leaving him to begin with.
Should
I go to the police? I’m so tired of looking over my shoulder. I’m tired of
thinking I’m not good enough anymore. I’m tired of being cautious and afraid. Fuck you,
Oliver. You hurt anyone I love and I’ll do whatever I can to hurt you right back.

She wiped her tear-soaked eyes and tried to work on her breathing to calm down while she paced, but the fear came back as soon as someone banged on the door.

“Teegan, open up. We’re not leaving until you tell us what the hell that phone call was about,” James warned.

“Come on, Teeg,” Liam said. “We know you’re upset. Please just let us in. We only want to help.”

“I’m fine.” She opened the door and made sure to turn around so they couldn’t see she’d been crying, but it was a wasted effort.

Liam turned her back to face them while James stood by the door to block the exit. He placed a finger under her chin and lifted her face so she’d look at him, then pulled her close to wrap his arms around her.

“It tears me apart to see you hurting, baby. We had such a good night together, but now you have me curious what that phone call was about. Whoever was on the line sure knew how to push your buttons. Even though you tried to hide it from everyone, we know you too well. The famished woman suddenly loses her appetite and rushes downstairs to her room to get away from us. From your family and the man that loves you. Let me in, Sunshine. Tell me what’s wrong.” His Adam’s apple moved as he gulped. He kissed her forehead before whispering, “Please let me help.”

Teegan nodded and finally let go. All those years of fear, anger, and anguish came out as she explained Oliver’s threats, because for once she had someone she felt safe with. She was around people who loved her.

“He said I would regret it, said I was his, and that if I didn’t want anyone I cared about hurt, I’d meet him so he could take me home. He told me to say good-bye. I don’t know what to do, Liam. I can’t risk any of you being hurt, but I just can’t go back with him. He’ll probably kill me.” She fisted his shirt in her hands as she shook and cried on his shoulder, letting it all out.

She’d almost forgotten James was there until he muttered obscenities as he paced the room just as she had moments before. “Where, Teeg, that’s what I want to know. Where the hell does this piece of shit want you to meet him?”

Teegan looked up to see James tense, looking ready to start a fight with his fists at his sides. She looked between Liam and James as they stared at each other. “He wants me on the ferry first thing tomorrow. He’ll be waiting for me in Saint John, why?”

“Because first thing tomorrow, he’s getting my boot up his ass, that’s why. There’s no fuckin’ way he’s coming anywhere near you. Shit, Teeg, we just got you back. I’ll be damned if I let him hurt another hair on your head. Do you hear me? I’ll even the odds and teach him how it feels to be pounded on by someone more his own size.”

Liam stepped forward and left her embrace for the first time since entering the room, and she almost whimpered at the loss.

“Like hell you are,” he said as he stopped in front of James. “I’m going tomorrow. You stay here and watch Teegan and the kids while I teach that bastard what it feels like to be pounded on. I can’t just sit around and let him take what’s mine again, and I sure as hell won’t stand by and watch him harm the woman I love. That shit is over.”

“Yeah, well, she’s my sister, so it’s my job.”

“Would you two knock it off?” Teegan moved between them. “Don’t do this. I’ll call the police and make a formal complaint. They could look at his police record and see he has priors and one conviction for domestic violence. I have medical records in Ontario I can request to get transferred if they need further proof so I can get a restraining order against him. You have sons and a beautiful wife to think about, James, and Liam, you have me and LJ. Please think rationally. You could lose the fight and get hurt, or you could go to jail, and then where would we be? I need the people I love to stay safe. Please just think about what you’re saying.”

Liam seemed to soften at her words and hugged her again. “I’m not letting you out of my sight. If I’m not around, James will be until we figure out how to get him the hell out of our lives and we know you’re safe.” He kissed the top of her head. “I can’t let anything happen to you, Teegan. I can’t lose you again, so I’m going to respect your wishes and promise that I won’t seek him out, but all bets are off if I run into him by mistake or he comes after you. Is that a deal?”