Total pages in book: 73
Estimated words: 67973 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 340(@200wpm)___ 272(@250wpm)___ 227(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 67973 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 340(@200wpm)___ 272(@250wpm)___ 227(@300wpm)
“Thank you for saying that,” she whispered.
Relief eased the tightness that had gathered in my chest. “I never want to make you feel that way ever again. Like you’re not enough. Because Morgan, you’re more than enough. I know we’ve been taking this slow, but I need you to know that this isn’t casual for me. You’re not casual for me.”
Her breath caught, her eyes went wide and bright, hope warring in their depths. “You’re not casual for me, either.”
The admission hung between us, honest and a little terrifying, but it shifted something profound between us, like yet another barrier crumbling. Without thinking, I leaned in, my hand lifting to cup her cheek as the promise of a kiss hung in the space between us.
Until the sound of giggles erupted from the hallway, and seconds later Gracie ran into the living room, reminding us both of where we were.
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
Morgan
That was a close call.
I quickly gathered my composure as Gracie climbed onto the couch between Liam and me, chattering away about something that had happened at preschool a few days ago. My heart was still racing, a mix of adrenaline from the almost kiss, and the emotional whirlwind of our conversation. Everything we’d revealed and shared and Liam’s sincere words, you’re not casual for me.
I could hear my dad and Parker talking as footsteps drew closer, and seconds later they walked into the living room, with Faith trailing behind with a tray of coffee, cream, and sugar.
Liam and I accepted a cup, and for the next hour we all sat around, talking about inconsequential things. I was on the couch with Gracie on my lap, while Liam had moved to sit in one of the armchairs by the fireplace right after she’d interrupted us.
Time seemed to drag on, even though the conversation was pleasant. Finally, Gracie began dozing off in my lap, and it was decided that the dinner party should end. Parker took his family home first, while Faith thanked Liam for coming, and Dad told him how much he appreciated his work at GalvaTech. It was a bit of a drawn-out goodbye, and I could’ve left, but I lingered so that we were leaving the house at the same time.
My car was in the driveway, and Liam had parked behind me. As we stepped off the porch, his hand took mine again, just like he did when we were in front of the fireplace, talking about my mother and the darkest times of my life.
Then, it felt like he was providing silent support in the only way he knew how. It was different as we strolled across the white rocks to my car, which was parked off to the side. His grip was loose, our fingers intertwined, and he ran the pad of his thumb over my knuckles.
It was intimate in a way that made me feel warm inside. We didn’t say much, but we’d talked enough tonight.
When we reached my car, we walked around to the driver’s side door where we wouldn’t be seen if someone happened to look out the living room window. Liam moved in close before I could pull out my car keys. He pressed me back against the cool metal of the door, caging me in with his body like he’d finally lost the last thin thread of his restraint.
One hand slid into my hair, gripping just tight enough to make my knees buckle. The other found my hip, fingers digging in. His erection, hard and insistent, pressed against my stomach, igniting a blaze of heat in my veins that made my core clench with need.
“Liam,” I breathed.
He didn’t go for my lips right away. Instead, he dragged his mouth along my jawline in hot, open-mouthed kisses, then down the sensitive column of my neck, making me shiver. He sucked and nipped at the skin until a husky moan escaped me.
My hands slid inside his suit jacket. My palms splayed across the firm expanse of his chest, feeling the rapid beat of his heart, which matched mine. I ran my hands over his torso, reveling in the subtle flex of muscle as he exhaled a shaky breath against my throat. God, he smelled like spice and desire, and every brush of his lips sent sparks racing through me.
When he finally claimed my mouth, it wasn’t careful or sweet. It was dominant and possessive. The kind of kiss that said I want you, and I’m done pretending otherwise. His tongue swept past my lips, delving in to taste me like I was his to devour. I felt utterly owned by him and it was intoxicating, a heady rush of sensation that made my thighs tremble.
I wanted more, craved him stripping me bare somewhere private, his intense focus unraveling me all night long. I moaned into his mouth and he swallowed the sound, rolling his hips against me in a slow, deliberate grind that had me arching into him.