Naked bodies. Satin sheets. A decadent sense of satisfaction when I open my eyes and find his gaze on me. I stretch, sliding my leg between his. “What time is it?”
“Almost lunchtime.”
I’m not surprised since we were up until the wee hours of the morning discovering each other. I now know that nibbling on his earlobe makes him hard. Running a hand down his abs to his belly button makes his breath stutter. Dragging a finger along the length of his cock makes it twitch.
Putting it in my mouth makes him lose his mind.
I made him lose his mind more than once.
He discovered things about me, too. Things I didn’t know about. Like when he traced my areola, and it tickled instead of aroused. Or how anticipation shook my bones when he trailed his tongue up my inner thigh. How soft and silky his hair was in my fingers as I clutched him between my legs.
How I pulsed on his tongue for what seemed like forever.
It was a magical night—one I wish had never ended—because the faint ticking of his watch is a constant reminder that time doesn’t slow down for anything.
Rolling me to my back, Liam presses me into the mattress. “How am I going to let you go?”
“Don’t let me go.”
“You know I don’t have a choice.”
“Will I see you…after I leave?” My finger traces a path over the curve of his shoulder.
“I’ll make sure you do.” A shadow darkens his features. “But we’ll have to keep our hands to ourselves. We definitely can’t do this.” He presses his warm lips to mine, tongue seeking entrance, and I sigh into his kiss.
How will I make it eleven months? It seems like an eternity.
Liam breaks the kiss, and I ask the question that hurts my heart the most. “What if you don’t win?” I can’t bring myself to think of the possible outcomes. All twelve of them.
How can it be anyone but him?
“I don’t want you to worry about that now.” He holds me by the chin. “A lot can happen between now and then. You could fall in love with someone who isn’t me.”
A contemptuous blue gaze invades my mind, unwelcome and unwanted.
“You’re the one I want.”
“I’m the one you’re comfortable with. You haven’t had the chance to get to know my brothers.”
I narrow my eyes. “Are you having second thoughts about winning the auction?”
“No.” His thumb plays on my lower lip. “But if I’m not who you want by the time the auction arrives, then I won’t compete to win.”
“Am I not worth fighting for?”
“You are, my sweet girl.” He pulls away and sits at the edge of the bed. “But your happiness is worth more to me than winning.”
I sit up, tugging the sheet to the top of my breasts, suddenly unsure and shy. He didn’t take my virginity last night, but he might as well have. He stole a piece of my soul I’ll never get back. “I want it to be you, Liam.”
“If you still feel that way eleven months from now, I’ll do everything in my power to ensure it’s me.” He stands and takes a step forward, keeping his back to me. “I need to shower and dress. You should do the same. Heath will be here in an hour.”
He disappears into the bathroom and shuts the door, and it’s like a wall coming down between us all over again.