With one determined thrust, Liam drove inside her, grunting her name. She felt herself stretch with the wonderful invasion, her nerve endings waving flags of surrender as he plumbed her pussy. He moved so easily in her, as if he belonged there. She didn’t even have to try to clench as he thrust. Because of his girth, she naturally tightened around him, and he moaned in what could only be satisfaction.
“Fuck, Kate,” he spat, curling over her. “Shit, woman, what you do to me.”
He picked up his pace, swiveling his hips like he wanted to punish her. She clutched at the dresser top, but moved with such force she couldn’t get purchase. Her hands moved and squeaked over the polished surface, but she didn’t care if she left streaks. All she could think about was how Liam filled her, moved her, consumed her with his touch. He owned her body already.
As another orgasm barreled toward her, he clutched her hair in his fist. Tugging, but not too hard, he made her look in the mirror.
“Watch while I fuck you. I want to see your face when you come all over me.”
She caught his intense and fierce gaze as he voiced his demand. Three Liams stared down at her as if they wanted to devour her. His jaw, dotted with stubble, clenched. His brow was furrowed. And there was a wildness in his eyes that drew her in as much as it terrified her.
A man with demons. She suspected he’d only allowed her to glimpse one or two of them so far. Seeing him in this primal state, so virile yet vulnerable, made her want to please and comfort him. God help her, she wanted to know more about him, needed to know everything, and wanted to share herself with him in return.
This wasn’t just a quick, careless coupling. No one night stand. Something big was happening here.
But she couldn’t contemplate that now, not while he touched her with such savage grace. Caught up in his own rapture, Liam threw his head back and pounded away at her. She closed her eyes and concentrated on the delicious friction. So animalistic, yet so sweet. But just as her womb began to flutter again, he withdrew.
She opened her eyes and almost cried out from the loss. “Liam?”
“I’m right here, sugar.” He grabbed at her hips, held her tight, and re-entered her with a mighty thrust that made her see stars. As she cried out her ecstasy, he withdrew and plunged back in, over and over, each thrust deeper than the one before. Still grasping her hair, he slapped her ass and everything inside her vibrated. He seemed to grow harder and heavier inside her, and her body hummed and sang and bloody well shrieked its delirium. She came again in a fireball of lust, and had to cover her mouth because of the strange sounds erupting from it.
He slammed into her one last time, shuddering and shaking, then collapsed onto her back and kissed the nape of her neck. He didn’t release his hold on her hair, but loosened it, gently massaging her scalp where he’d tugged it.
“My God,” she managed when she found her voice.
He chuckled behind her and nipped her shoulder. “Jesus, Kate. That was unreal.”
Her heart pounded at the thought she’d satisfied him. More than satisfied, she dared to hope, when she felt how he lifted off her with another series of shudders. She couldn’t move. She remained bent over the dresser, her ass in the air, her eyes closed.
Liam laughed and slapped her ass as he headed to the bathroom. “Too worn out to move?”
“Too worn out to breathe.”
Soon he’d returned and stroked her bottom. “Careful, Kate. If you keep showing me that pretty ass, I might take advantage of the view.” He crouched and bit her on her right cheek.
“Ow!”
Liam laughed. “I warned you.” He put his hands on her shoulders and gently pulled her up into his embrace. He ran a hand over her sweaty brow and pushed aside her messy hairs. Then he just looked at her, his gaze full of an emotion she couldn’t quite decipher.
They stared at each other. She began to regret not doing it in bed. In bed, it would have been natural to turn to each other and cuddle. But here, in front of a dresser? What were they supposed to do? Should she ask him to climb into bed with her? It was still early and he probably worked late. Was he anxious to leave? She didn’t quite understand the post-coitus protocol in this situation. She doubted such a protocol even existed in their case.
“So,” she said. She was at a loss for words, only knowing she didn’t want him to go.
He brushed his fingers against her face, grazing the area under her bruise, more soft and intimate than any old touch on the cheek. One look, one caress, from this man and she was mush.
“It’s okay,” he said. “You don’t have to say anything. Just feel.” And like that, he enfolded her in a big bear hug.
Feel. Damn, it seemed all she did was feel around this man. She felt anger, guilt, raging desire. She’d never felt so much for anyone in such a short time and was pretty sure most of it was wrong.
Her eyes began to itch but she blinked the burn away. He released her, kissed her forehead and walked into the bathroom, returning with two complimentary bathrobes. He placed one around her shoulders and slid into the other one. She immediately lamented losing sight of that amazing body but told herself it was better this way. Too much naked Liam made Kate a crazy girl.
He motioned to the bed, then sat. “Sit with me.”
She nodded, glad he was taking the lead. She sat next to him, cross-legged. He watched her tuck her legs under her and a small smile crept onto his face.
“I like you, Kate. It’s been a long time since I’ve smiled like this.”
A thousand butterflies took flight in her belly. “I’m glad you’re smiling. You deserve it.” She played with the rumpled bed covers, smoothing the fabric between her fingers. “You said you were starting to reconsider suing for Michelle’s custody.”
His smile disappeared. “I don’t know. She’s so little. I just wish I could explain to her that I’m not abandoning her. She won’t remember why I left. All she’ll know is I’m gone.”
He said the last word with such vehemence, she made a horrible realization. Someone important must have abandoned him. The idea bothered her so much she had to know if it was true. “Who abandoned you?”
His head snapped up, his expression now cold. “No one.”
“I think we both know that’s not true.”
He shook his head, but said nothing.
“Liam, I can see you’re hurting. And it’s about more than just Michelle.”
“You’re wrong.”
“There’s no shame in talking about it.”
“How very New Horizons of you.”
“Well, the program has its merits. They helped me. Let me help you.”
“Kate,” he groaned, running his hand through his hair in exasperation. “We’re having a nice moment here. Why ruin it with needless talk?”
Needless talk? Boy, she knew she was stubborn, but he took the cake. “Liam, you told me you were ready to hit rock bottom. You can’t do it unless you open yourself up.”
He glared at the sheets. “Maybe this rock bottom thing isn’t such a good idea.”
“Liam…”
“Look, it’s not important.”
“You’re important.”
He stood up and gathered his clothes, frowning as if he didn’t quite believe her. “I don’t know why you’re fishing for information. You want me to tell you I had a hard life? Fine, I had a hard life. Yeah, it’s pretty sweet now but I had to work for it. I worked my ass off for it.”
“I’m not disputing that.”
He looked at the bunched up suit in his hands. “I know what you think. Nice clothes. Nice career. Fancy cars. Oh, and women. Lots of women, if I so desire. And you’re right. I can have all of it, if and when I want it.”
Ouch. She had a sneaking suspicion he’d said that to wound her. Mission accomplished. “How very nice for you.”
“It’s fucking awesome.” He twisted his hand in the wad of designer clothing. “So I don’t need you playing shrink, getting me to admit my deepest, darkest fears, and expect some kind of breakthrough. That shit only happens on TV.”