The Coldest Summer✓

Forty-five

Decidedly, I get up and follow him in the kitchen. He seems so absentminded, his back muscles rippling tensely. Gently, I lay my cheek against his back. He exhales softly, reacting to my grasp in a slight start. He quickly turns around to face me.

"Hey," he utters carefully, seemingly worried.

Responsively, I hug him tightly. I want to feel him near, and all for myself. He wraps his arms around me just as much, so tight that I feel like I'm going to melt in his embrace.

"Please don't cry. It's all over now," he breathes, nuzzling his nose in my hair.

"I know, Liam. I love you," I whisper.

"I love you, too, baby. Too much that I don't want to leave you even for a second," Liam replies, his heart beating promisingly against my ear. He holds my chin up and strokes a thumb on my cheek. "You need to rest."

"Yeah," I murmur.

Liam leans down to kiss me, but the timer of the boiler ruins the moment. I frown and glare at it. Seriously? As I stare at my boyfriend we share a laugh—a brief but hopeful laugh—knowing that the storm is over.

"How about I finish this coffee business first?" Liam asks disappointedly.

"About that . . . Um . . . I don't really want coffee," I say truthfully.

Liam squints his eyes. "You don't? Then . . . What do you want?"

"I just want to be with you," I reply lazily, hugging his sturdy frame one more time.

He chuckles.

"Okay, but you should change first," he says in a bossy tone that's always a turn on. I blink my eyes at him. "We're going to the hotel, Kira. I can't leave you here and I'd rather you don't sleep here tonight, either."

"Oh, that's better. Okay, I'll go change," I oblige, feeling energetic as the devil in me searches for her most sinful lingerie.

Agent Provocateur? Victoria's Secret? She really can't decide.

With that, I head straight into my bedroom. I whip down the dress I'm wearing and I don't think I'll ever put it on again. It's going straight to the dumpster. I'm only left with my underwear when Liam breezes in and sits on the bed. I smile softly, and he returns as given.

Three weeks ago I wouldn't be this audacious as to just regard him while weaning next to nothing, but things have changed and so have I. He's made me bold, confident in my own skin, and I'm ever beguiled by his mere presence.

From my dresser I fetch a white maxi dress, a pair of blue jeans, and a plain top. I put on the dress and pack the rest inside a brown Louis Vuitton handbag, together with a pair of clean underwear. What else? I mutter inwardly, scanning around.

Liam continues watching, and I'm not complaining. It's incredible how one person could turn your world upside-down, in various dimensions, and make you feel powerful and vulnerable at the same time. It's just a thought that crosses my mind, for it's exactly how he makes me feel.

"Are you ready?" He gets up nonchalantly.

"Yeah." I slip my little powder kit into the handbag, and then a hairbrush . . . and then . . . a lip balm. "Hold on." I pause.

"What?" Liam urges.

Mutely, I saunter hence and forth as though I'm forgetting something important—and I know I am. My phone charger! Damn, it's super important, isn't it? I grab it and pack it in the bag.

"Well, I'm ready," I announce with a tooth grin.

Liam breathes heavily. "Finally."

"Hey, a girl needs her full package, c'mon!" I giggle as he grabs me playfully by the waist. "What?" I stare him in the eyes, and he looks so sexy and enticed.

When I slide a hand over the fly of his jeans, I find him hard.

Victoria's Secret it is.

"Bad boy," I whisper.

"That I am," Liam utters, his breath ragged, our eyes so connected. Heat runs through me, oblivious of everything else. "I'd really love to fuck you right now, I swear," he says.

"Hmm?" I widen my eyes.

Fuck me? Damn, this escalated quickly.

But why do I find it hot, sexy, and arousing? I query inside, and my subconscious answers with a simple word 'Slut!'

"Relax, Kira." Liam laughs at my reaction, and I glare at him disastrously. "You've gone through a lot in a short while, and I want you to recover before we take that road again."

"But I don't mind," I confess.

Slut! My subconscious repeats.

"And I say I do," Liam recoils, no jokes in his voice.

"Liam!" I pout.

"What?" Amusement dances in his eyes.

"Okay, fine. Let's go." I bend down to get my bag but Liam immediately pulls me back. "What now?" I sigh exhaustedly, feeling a bit shortchanged.

Frankly, I don't know what he's done to me. Am I getting addicted by sex?

"Let's go to the hotel and I'll give you all that you need." He palms my face, his eyes a bit cajoling.

I flush right away.

"Why not now? Are you not attracted to me anymore?" I tease back.

Liam bursts into a laugh. "Have you gone crazy, Kira? I'm trying so hard to be a nice boyfriend right now, and you're busy turning me into a bad boy." He sounds thrilled.

"I want the bad boy, maybe?" I bite my lip provokingly, trailing my index over the buttons of his maroon shirt.

His muscles flex and he inhales swiftly. He seems stunned—turned on even—and I'm overflowed with this energy inside that burns my flesh, setting me ablaze. So I push him on the bed and falls in a soft thud, denting the mattress.

"Wow." He grins.

Smiling, I climb on the bed and straddle Liam, his knees between my thighs. He pants softly, his chest rising and falling. I lean over to his lips and kiss them unhurriedly, briefly, just enough to leave him craving for more.

I pull back, trailing down to his chest, caressing him with my tongue, slowly, kissing his chiseled contours, my eyes fixed on his. He's turned on. Yes! His body stiffens. He grunts mildly, his fingers finding my curls, and mine the leather belt of his jeans, ready for more.

"Damn it, Kira, what are you doing to me?" Liam pants, and I see his six packs contracting as he tries to watch what I'm up to. "Are you—"

"No, Mr. Darcy. You stay still. I'm in charge!" I hiss and he automatically lays back. I unbuckle his belt with ease, and then undo the button of his jeans. "You are mine."

"Yes, Ms. Jones. Yours," he replies simply, his voice deep and hoarse.