Candy
The next weekgoes slow and yet speeds by. Every day Liam sits with me, talking to me. I’ve never had a man listen to me like he wants to know me. Not just fuck me.
I’ve never been with a man. Mainly because growing up as I had, I didn’t trust many people. Foster care makes a person very careful with their friendships. And their trust. And especially their heart.
It feels like Liam already has it. All of it. I trust him implicitly. I like being with him. He’s rough and rugged. His face is craggy and tanned. His dark eyes pools of chocolate that I find myself getting lost in every time I look at him. He’s long and lean and sexy as hell. Thighs like tree trunks. When he walks, his jeans are so fitted to his big frame that I can see the muscles of his thighs shifting under the heavy, worn fabric. I can see a ridge under his zipper that makes my mouth water.
Desperate to be near him, I chat with him every day. Telling him all about growing up alone. Both of my parents were killed in a car crash when I was only three. There weren’t any living relatives on either side so I found myself shuffled back and forth in foster care. Most of the homes weren’t too bad but as I got older and filled out, a few of them made me uncomfortable. I learned early on to keep an eye on those men.
I told him all of that, watching when his big hands balled up into fists and his strong jaw clenched, almost sharp enough to cut glass.
“Nobody touched you, did they?” his rough growl makes my girly bits stand up and beg. Pulsing pleasure takes over my lower region.
“No. I made sure that I stayed out of those guys’ way.”
“Good girl.”
“I was saving myself for the right man. I knew I’d know him when I saw him.”
His dark eyes lock on mine, his tongue licking his lips, dragging my eyes up and up. He’s just so damn big.
“Have you met him?” he asks me, his voice rough and growly. Fireworks sizzle in my belly.
Lord, I love it when he sounds like that.
I shake my head. “I don’t know.”
Again he nods his head. But I can see him thinking. He sits down on the side of the bed.
“What is the one thing you’d like to have more than anything, princess?” he asks quietly.
“One thing?” I sigh. “A family. I always wanted to have a family of my own when I was growing up. Wanted to know that I belonged somewhere.”
“I think you belong here.”
“You’re just saying that,” I scoff. “You take such good care of me that you want to make me happy. I don’t want pity, Liam.”
“If I asked you to stay with me. Marry me. Have babies with me. Would you?”
My mouth falls open. “I can’t do that. That’s insane. We barely know each other.”
I know I wanted to stay with him but this seems too weird. Too quick.
“We know a lot about each other. I know that the one thing you want most is a family. That’s what I want too.”
“But…”
He holds his hand up and then a smirk tilts his firm lips. “I hope you’re not going to tell me that you think I don’t want you. I do. And I think you want me. I think we’ll rub along together quite well.” His dark eyes twinkle, making me feel breathless and achy.
My heart sinks and I have to look down, picking at the blanket. What if I have more feelings for him than he has for me? What if he doesn’t feel anything for me beyond lust? Will I spiral down into love for this man and never be able to tell him? Afraid of what he’ll say.
But what if he grows to love me? What if he’s the one that’s meant for me and I turn him down and then never know love for the rest of my life.
He leans over and his big paw slides under my chin gently, lifting it, setting my nerve endings on fire. His deep, dark eyes caress my face, his thumb on my jawline is warm and calloused. Tingles erupt under my skin when he rubs lightly along my jaw, barely skimming a finger along my lower lip, pressing it open lightly. Closer and closer he moves and then he’s right there, his breath mingling with mine. His eyes hot and possessive. His touch becoming rougher. Just a little. Just enough to let me feel the carefully-harnessed power he holds in check.
I want that power let loose on me. Want to feel him lick along my throat, grind into my core and possess every inch of my needy, wanton body.
I want him to own me.