CHAPTER THIRTEEN

Maggie

 

My father headed straight for the living room when we got home, picking up the remote and settling into the couch.

“Whose turn to pick tonight? Liam?”

Liam kicked off his shoes and followed my father into the living room.

“Why don’t we do something else tonight? Ever play poker?”

“You know, I always wanted to learn, but the missus never let me.”

“Perfect. I’ll teach you.”

Liam walked over to the junk drawer and pulled out a deck of cards. I was impressed he’d remembered that. My mother walked over and stood beside me.

“I don’t like this,” she whispered.

“Oh, come on, Mom. Daddy is a grown man. You can’t micromanage him. Wouldn’t you rather he learn a new skill?” I asked.

She sighed and went into the living room. It was her habit to ignore the things she couldn’t control. I, on the other hand, was fascinated.

“You play?” I asked Liam.

He shot me a look.

“Of course I play. Where else do you think I am every Sunday night?” he asked, adding. “You hit your head or something?”

My father was so enthralled by the idea of learning how to play poker that he didn’t even notice my blunder. I raised my eyebrows at Liam and he shrugged, turning his attention back to my dad.

“Where did you learn to play?” my father asked him. “Is this some chef thing?”

“No, not really. I met this guy in the States one year. A real heavy metal dude who was on tour. Sat next to him at a poker table and he was the most incredible player I’d ever seen. Told him I’d cook a private dinner for him and the band one night if he taught me how to play. Now that was a night to remember,” he said wistfully.

“Perfect,” I said. “I’m going to go write for a bit.”

I was eager to make my escape, not able to cope with the idea of another night of being tormented by Liam in front of my parents. Liam shot me a look, but I ignored him. He’d clearly wormed his way into my parents’ hearts because they made zero objection over the fact that I was abandoning them with the large, muscled, tattooed man. In fact, it almost seemed as if my father were bonding with him.

I went up to my room, got undressed, and jumped in the shower. I figured it would be a good idea to cool off a little. I wrapped my hair up in a towel, slipped on my robe, then tucked my legs up under me on the armchair and started writing. Using the past few nights as inspiration, I elaborated on my story, adding in texture and details that made it come alive on the page.

I have no idea how much time passed before Liam walked into the room. I didn’t even hear him come in. It was only when he cleared his throat that I started and looked that I saw him watching me with an amused expression on his face.

“In the zone?” he asked.

“Completely,” I answered, turning my attention back to the screen.

“How’s it going?” he asked.

I tried to avert my eyes as he pulled off his pants and pulled on a pair of pajama bottoms. It wasn’t easy. I shifted in my chair.

“It’s been going pretty well,” I said.

“Yeah? Getting that real-life experience you were missing?”

I smiled behind my laptop, peering over to see him strip off his shirt. Holy Jesus. Did pots and pans weigh a hundred pounds each? I quickly looked back down, not wanting to get caught ogling.

“I guess you can say that,” I replied. “You want to read some?”

“I’ve got a better idea,” he said, dropping to the floor at my feet. “Why don’t you read to me?”

He rested his chin on my knee, looking up at me with an irresistible expression on his face. I cleared my throat and started reading.

“He walked me home through the dark streets, close enough that I could smell the faint scent of his cologne. I glanced over at him, the sharp outline of his jaw prominent in the moonlight. The cobblestones were still wet from the rain, and I stumbled as I tried to keep pace.

He reached out, taking me by my elbow and guiding me closer towards him.

‘Wouldn’t want you falling,’ he said.

The feel of his skin against mine was intoxicating. I gazed up at him, staring down at me with his piercing blue eyes, and felt the warmth radiate from the centre of my being. He ran his fingertip along the side of my cheek, stopping to tuck a stray curl behind my ear.”

As I read, Liam’s hand found its way under my robe and was making a slow path up along my thigh. I shifted in the chair.

“He leaned in, so slowly it felt like time had stopped. I closed my eyes, and when his lips touched mine, fireworks exploded in my head.”

“Is that what it was like?” he murmured, dipping his head to kiss my knee.

I let out something akin to a squeak and tried to focus on my reading.

“His arms wrapped around me, pulling me in close so I felt the heat of his body. The blood in my veins turned to fire at his touch, making me bold, making me want him. I deepened the kiss, getting up on my tiptoes and clasping my hands behind his neck.”

Liam had spread apart my robe, exposing me completely. He let out a low whistle.

“Shit, you are a redhead.”

“His hand dropped to my waist, working its way up underneath my top, cupping my breast, testing its weight in his palm.”

“Jesus Christ, look at you,” he murmured, before leaning forward and burying his head between my thighs. I was already so wet from reading to him, from the anticipation of what I knew was coming. The laptop slid from my hand and I heard the soft thunk as it landed on the carpeted floor. I slid down in the chair as Liam raised my legs, resting them on his shoulders as he explored my most intimate parts with his tongue.

“Holy shit,” I groaned.

He glanced up at me, grinning. I reached to take off my glasses and his hand closed around my wrist, stopping me.

“Leave them on,” he commanded, shaking his head from side to side.

The stubble from the day’s growth on his jaw scraped against the tender flesh of my inner thighs. I arched my back, seeking more.

“Good?” he asked.

“Stop talking.”

He laughed and, using his tongue, traced a line from my opening up to my clit, which he coaxed into his mouth, sucking ever so gently. It was a sensation beyond anything I’d ever felt before, and my ass rose off the chair as I tried to keep myself from crying out.

He pulled back and blew on me gently, and an entirely new set of nerve endings awoke. He nipped at the insides of my thighs and I held his head with my hands, grasping at his short hair for traction.

“Fuck,” I cried.

“You want me to stop?” he asked, still smiling.

“No!” I pushed his head back into position and with one hand he reached up to cup my breast, teasing the nipple as he worked his magic on my clit.

“Too much,” I whispered, frantic.

My body was taking me places it had never been before. I was legitimately scared. I sat up in the chair, holding onto him as he relentlessly licked, nipped, sucked, and made love to me with his tongue. His hands slid under my ass, grasping me, grounding me. My hips moved involuntarily and I began to grind into him, riding his face as all rational thought left my body.

“Fuck yeah,” he growled, squeezing my ass.

It was too much. I raised my head and looked down at him, face between my legs, broad shoulders flexing as his hands worked my ass. I had never seen anything so erotic in my life.

“Oh, god.”

I wrapped my legs around his neck, holding on for dear life as the orgasm rushed me, taking complete control of my body. Liam’s hand flew up to cover my mouth and I bit down, riding out the waves as he gently kissed the insides of my thighs. When I finally came down, I looked at him, only to find him gazing at me appreciatively.

“I gotta tell you, Em, when you come, it is truly a sight to behold.”

I blushed.

“I’m just saying,” he continued. “It’s a real shame to deny so many men the pleasure of seeing that.”

He got up on his feet and dropped a kiss on my forehead.

“I won’t bother asking if you enjoyed it,” he said, walking into the bathroom and turning on the shower.