“You look beautiful.”
“You look incredibly sexy in uniform.” I appraise him as he approaches. He’s wearing his woodland camo. His sleeves rolled up make his already large biceps look huge. The way the top clings to his chest is hot, and I can only image how amazing his ass looks. Something about the uniforms always makes their asses look fantastic. Maybe I’ll have him spin so I can see.
Liam’s lip slowly rises as if he’s reading my mind. “What are you thinking about?” he asks as he approaches.
I trail his body with my eyes and then back to his face with a grin. “Your ass.”
He laughs and then his eyes darken.
I love the game we play. Playful but seductive. I keep pushing him and soon enough he’s not going to be so patient.
“I’d be happy to let you see my ass . . .”
“I bet you would, but I’m at work and that would be all sorts of inappropriate.” I giggle and put my hand on his chest to stop his approach. Liam pushes me back slowly as if I’m not even there. “What can I do for you, sailor?”
“The guys are going to a bar tonight,” he pauses and I nod. “I haven’t gone out with them in a long time.”
Another step he pushes me back.
“Okay?” I respond slightly confused where he’s going with this.
Liam’s eyes lock with mine. The way he’s looking at me leaves me breathless. I take a deep breath but it does nothing to help, all I smell is him. His cologne mixed with a hard day’s work filters through my body and makes my head spin. “I want you to come with us. With me.”
“I-I . . . but . . .” I trail off and look away. “I don’t know if that’s a good idea.” I keep my eyes down but, of course, Liam isn’t having it.
His arms cage me in as he presses me against my desk. “I don’t want to go and have to push away random skanks all night. I want you by my side. I want to spend the night with you, Natalie.” Liam’s lips press against my neck and I shiver. He slowly trails feather-light kisses down my collar, then to my shoulder, and I groan. “I want to walk in and have every motherfucker look at me and think ‘damn, how’d he get so lucky?’ Then I’ll take you in my arms . . .” Another kiss and he moves his way up my neck to my ear. “And I’ll . . .”
“You’ll . . . ?” I whimper when he bends back.
“You have to tell me if you’re going to go first.”
It’s impossible to say no to him. His blue eyes glimmer with hope and he has me practically trapped between his arms. This date will be different. It’s us going out as a couple with mutual friends. People who knew Aaron and then will see me with Liam. I have to choose whether I will let my past define my future.
“Who’s going?”
“Does it matter?” he counters.
“Yes,” I say looking at him. “Of course it matters. I mean, what do we say?”
Liam’s eyes don’t waver. “Don’t go inside your head. It’s just friends, going out for a beer.”
“No, it’s you and I going out with our friends. Friends that don’t know us as us. Plus, you’ve already told me what you plan to do,” I reply with a taunting look.
“Lee,” he says cautiously, “This doesn’t have to be strange. I’ll keep my hands to myself the whole night.”
I look at him with raised brows. “Right. After you assaulted me in my office with all your promises.”
“Hey, I can keep myself in control. It’s you I worry about. I’m prime meat and you may want to mark your territory. And my assault was working?”
The laugh that escapes me is loud and effortless. My head falls back and his lips find my neck again. I sigh and wrap my arms around his shoulders. “You use your sexiness against me.”
“All part of the plan, sweetheart.”
I squeal and smile, “Okay, you win. I need to see if Paige can watch Aarabelle tonight.”
“Mmmm,” he groans against my collarbone before looking at me. “Hands to myself, right?”
I lean up and kiss him chastely. “It’s not tonight yet.”
“No, no, it’s not,” Liam says before he presses his lips against mine. He reclines me against the cold desk but I only feel heat. His heat. He holds me close and cradles my head in his hands, winding my hair around his fingers. My heart thumps erratically in my chest as he kisses me relentlessly. I claw at his back and pull him closer.
I open my mouth to him and his tongue brushes against mine. And it’s like a switch is turned off. He devours me and takes away all the fear I was holding on to. I’m floating from my body as his weight is on top of me. He won’t let me hurt. He’ll protect me even if it’s from my own guilt.
I feel his joy radiate from him. Both of us have found happiness through each other. It’s scary but also beautiful. I want to give him more. I want to give him what I know he wants. I’m just not sure I’m ready.