Always (8 page)

She did snort this time. “He actually thought I was upset because he was with Cindy, and okay, I was, but you know that wasn’t the reason I was crying the other night, right, Susan? But then he’s also gorgeous, kind, and respectful of my needs. I can talk to him about anything. Did I mention he makes me feel safe? I haven’t felt that way in years. The problem is, I love him. Hell, I’ve always loved him. I never stopped, but he gives me mixed messages. First we’re talking about starting over but taking things slow, and then I find out he’s dating Cindy. I’m confused and afraid to tell him how I feel because I’m not sure he can reciprocate my feelings. Oh, and he’s also an amazing kisser, among other things from what I can remember.”

She shrugged, trying hard not to blush. This was the first time she’d admitted to everything out loud, and now she felt vulnerable and needed a subject change. “So who wants to dance?”

“Wait a second. You can’t just dish out a confession like that and expect us to just ignore it and go dancing,” Claire said and Susan agreed with a nod.

“Well, why not?”

“Because you and Liam are great together, and if you’re in love with him, you need to let him know it.”

“Yeah, Teeg,” Susan finally put her two cents in. “Liam went after you all those years ago and came back devastated when he thought you were happy with someone else, but he loved you enough to let you go because he thought that’s what was best for you. I can vouch that it took him a couple years before he started dating again. It was never anything serious and certainly not often. LJ was his whole life and still is.”

She smiled at Teegan. “Give the guy another chance. Tell him how you feel, because I think you’ll be pleasantly surprised to learn that he probably feels the same way. I see how he looks at you. Not to mention LJ adores you already, and I know that means a lot to him.”

“You really think so?”

“Why don’t you ask him for yourself?” Susan pointed over Teegan’s shoulder, and Teegan turned around.

James and Liam were coming up the stairs and headed straight for their table. Teegan stood and took a big swallow of beer before getting the courage to meet him halfway. “Wish me luck, ladies, and thanks.” Winking, she glided past their table and bypassed James to stand next to Liam.

“I hate having you mad at me,” he whispered and caressed the side of her face.

“I’m not mad anymore, and I’m sorry I overreacted.” She slid her hands down his arms and moved his hands from her face to her waist. “Touch me, Liam.” She reached up to feel his hair between her fingers and closed the distance for a kiss.

She couldn’t wait to unleash her pent-up passion and probed the seam of his lips with her tongue. Could she really let go of her fears, as Susan and Claire had suggested? She moaned, not sure if she wanted to lay all she was feeling out there just yet. Instead, she just decided to enjoy the moment, to enjoy her Liam, and to have a little fun.

Pulling back, she whispered, “Take me back to your place.”

His eyes widened in shock. “Are you sure? There is no doubt about how much I want you, but I don’t want you to regret this later, Sunshine.” He looked into her eyes and waited for her answer.

She blushed but refused to shy away. “LJ’s still with Dylan, right?”

He nodded.

“Well then, my plea still stands. I’ve missed you, Liam.” She bit her lip and turned to wave at Susan, James, and Claire as he eagerly led her away.

Chapter Ten

“Wow, Liam, this place is beautiful. I mean, it’s nothing like I imagined it to be.”

“Oh really? And how did you picture it?” He lifted a brow and turned off the ignition.

She smiled. “I guess I just figured that since you were a bachelor, you’d have something simple and a little cozier.” She shrugged. “This place is just a lot bigger than I expected is all. I don’t know. I—I just hadn’t pictured something so breathtaking.”

He laughed while reaching for the door. “Well, how about I give you a tour of it?”

She got out of the car to follow, and he was right there with his hand extended, silently waiting for her to join him.

The house was an older-style, red-brick, two-story home with a charming wraparound porch. It perched on a hill overlooking the Digby harbor and a ton of beautiful landscape. He owned quite a nice piece of property, spanning from Shore to Lighthouse Road, and she couldn’t help but picture what a sunset would look like from the porch.

Liam seemed to have spent a lot of time restoring the inside of the house. Spectacular hardwood floors dominated the main level, and a spacious eat-in kitchen accompanied an average-sized living room on its other side. This room contained warm, homey furniture consisting of a brown leather couch and recliner, a flat-screen TV mounted on the wall, an area rug, bookcases, a coffee table, and two end tables on either side of the couch. The house was neat but looked lived-in.

Liam cleared his throat. “If you’ll follow me down the hall, we have three bedrooms, two of which I renovated. One is now my personal office, and the other is sort of a guys’ room for LJ and I.” He smiled as she peered in to take a look.

“Well, you both have to stay fit.” She smiled. Inside the “guys’ room” was a treadmill, an enormous exercise ball, and a weight bench, complete with weights. “I can definitely imagine the father-and-son-bonding moments in here. LJ seems to be a very active little boy.”

“Oh, he is.” Liam smiled with her. “Ever since they started football, he and Dylan seemed to be determined to gain some muscle and improve their endurance, and I figured as long as I’m here to supervise, why not? This used to be my space, but now that I have to share, I figured I’d better start calling it the guys’ room.”

“Indeed.”

“The main-floor bathroom is over there, and the third room is just a plain old guest room. That pretty much completes the tour.”

“What about the upstairs?” She’d stopped in the middle of the living room and turned to look at him again.

“Upstairs…” His Adam’s apple moved as he gulped. “Well, the upstairs has another bathroom and two other bedrooms, mine and LJ’s.”

“I’ll look forward to seeing those.” She winked and turned around to admire the pictures he’d mounted on the wall and calm her nerves. She hadn’t been so direct in years—not since being with Liam when they were teens—and she wanted to be the same confident girl she once was.

One of LJ’s baby pictures stood out in an engraved frame that read:

LJ, August 2005, age two months
.

“He’s beautiful, Liam. You’re so lucky.”

She could feel the heat of his body before he actually touched her. He lightly grazed her bare back with his fingers before bringing them to her shoulders while he rested his chin on the top of her head and pressed up against her back. They were taking things slow, and she had the feeling he was doing it for her sake. To make her feel comfortable with him again.

Then she saw another picture that surprised her. “Hey, where did you get this?” She pointed to a framed drawing sitting on one of his bookshelves—her drawing. It was of the waterfront, and she’d drawn it on the day he’d scared the crap out of her and almost made her take an unwanted swim in the process. Yet, that had also been the first day they’d kissed in years, so it hadn’t been all that bad. She picked up the frame and traced it with her fingers.

“You know, I went there that day hoping to find peace,” she said to no one in particular. “My life has been hectic for so long, and it felt like home to be there again.” She smiled shyly at her confession. “Some of my best memories are there. God, it seems like it forever, doesn’t it? So long ago…”

“Too long.” He wrapped his arms around her in a hug. “You left the drawing on the beach that day. It was so beautiful, and it reminded me of when I went fishing there with my father. I even take LJ there from time to time.” He shrugged and stood back so he could look into her eyes. “It’s a tradition, I guess. I’m so glad you’re back, Sunshine. I don’t want you to leave again. I honestly don’t think I could handle it.”

“Really?” She put the picture frame back in its place. “I’m glad you like it, and I’m flattered you actually thought it was good enough to frame. You know, I actually make my living off this stuff. I have a gallery online with several of my pieces. I have quite the savings because of them, and I love what I do.”

“I do believe it. You’re very talented. I now own my own tourism company, and I take tourists and a few locals whale-watching, fishing, and even swimming when they feel like it. We also show them local sites from the water, and they just eat it up. I currently have three boats up and running. I like that I can set my own hours and be there for LJ when he needs me, plus I do all right myself.”

“I bet.” She sighed. “Look, Liam, we obviously need to clear the air a bit. It’s great to hear that you want me to stay. I appreciate hearing that from you more than you will ever know, but I’m not going anywhere. Hell, I have nowhere else to go.”

“Good.”

“I’m glad you think so, because not everybody feels that way.”

“What?”

“I ran into Cindy tonight.” She shrugged. “Actually, I ran into Colby first. We got to talking, and then Cindy came along and wasn’t very nice.”

“And what did Colby have to say?” He narrowed his eyes before composing himself.

“What?” She laughed. Leave it to Liam to ask about Colby first. “It was nothing more than a friendly hello. I didn’t even recognize him at first.”

“And Cindy?”

“The two of you must have been pretty serious, huh?” Teegan looked away to hide her apparent flush. She was green with jealousy thinking about the things Cindy had said. She hadn’t expected Liam to be innocent all of these years. She sure hadn’t been, but she also didn’t need the visual.

“Not really. Look, I don’t know what she said to you, but I prefer not to talk about what I had with her, either. We dated on and off for a couple months, but that’s all. It was never serious, and it’s over now for good. That’s all that matters.”

“You’re right. I just wish she didn’t blame me for your choice to end it. She seems to think you left the relationship because of me.”

“Come here, Teeg.” He pulled her with him onto the couch, then cradled her against his side and kissed the top of her forehead. “I’m sorry, Sunshine, but right now I’d prefer to talk about happier things. Like you being with me tonight.”

“Hmm, that is a happier topic. What if I told you I prefer less talking and more of what we started at the bar?”

“I’d say I’m at your service anytime, Sunshine. Just say the word.”

“Well then…” She sat up and raised her leg to straddle him. “Service me, Liam. Touch me and make me feel loved.” Before he could reply, she slid her hands into his hair and put her lips against his to kiss him. His hot breath, wet tongue, and the warmth of his body pressed against hers made her moan and ache for so much more. Their tongues collided, wrestled, and tasted each other while the spark reignited and their passion took over.

He lifted her off the couch to take her upstairs, but things didn’t happen as they’d planned. They were already naked and their clothes thrown everywhere before reaching the stairs in their haste to make love.

“You’re so beautiful,” he whispered while pressing her against the wall. “I don’t think I can wait another second, Teeg. I’ll make it up to you later, I swear it.” His expression was strained, and she nodded, feeling the same way.

“Take me, Liam. Take me right here and now. I need you.”

He moaned before kissing her quickly. “Then wrap your legs around me, Sunshine, so we can get started.”

She hooked both legs around his waist while he held her up and supported her with his hands on her ass. Her pussy dripped, allowing him to slide in easily with one smooth stroke, and she cried out in ecstasy at their joining.

Liam trailed his lips from her mouth to her chest as he frantically pumped in and out of her. “You feel so good, Teegan. Christ, you fit me to perfection; were made for me.” He dipped his head and circled her nipple with his tongue before taking it into his mouth. He licked and suckled one, and then moved to the other.

She couldn’t get enough. His thrusts turned harder, and his thick cock rubbing up against her clit made her ache for release. She was breathless from his sweet torture.

“Liam, please, I—I need to come.” She reached between them, feeling no shame as he watched her pull the hood back and circle her nub.

“Pulse for me, baby, milk me,” he moaned.

She bit her bottom lip and threw her head back, “Oh, Liam, Liiii-aaammm,” she screamed as her pussy pulsed her release, milking him as he thrust into her hard, and he wasn’t far behind. She sank onto him, feeling temporarily sated. There was no way she could ever get enough of this man.

They were still joined as he carried her up the stairs. Laying her gently on the bed, he whispered, “Stay with me tonight and let me really love you.”

Nodding, she knew right then that she was a goner for this man.