“Yes.”
He pulled off my panties, his expression warding off any fears about how I might measure up. He clearly liked what he saw. “I want to lick you until you scream my name.”
“Please,” I asked, widening my legs shamelessly. No one had ever done that before, but it sounded wonderful. “Oh!”
He licked a stripe with his hot tongue along my center, and my hips bucked of their own volition. My eyes squeezed shut as he set his mouth to me and made the kind of hungry sound I’d no doubt hear in my dreams for years to come.
“Oh, yes, yes, oh my God.” I clutched his hair, unable to control the sounds spilling from me. “Please, I need you, ungh.”
I shuddered, pressing closer, so near to the edge, but then an unfamiliar sensation brought me back to earth. It wasn’t bad, as such, just different. An intrusion. I glanced down and saw that Liam had thrust a finger inside me. He was watching me carefully.
“Okay?”
“Um, yes.” I didn’t sound totally convincing, but when he crooked his finger and my internal muscles all pulsed and heated at once, I moaned. Okay, I definitely liked it.
He teased me back to the edge. Then, when I was teetering on the brink, he left for a few seconds, rifling through our packs for the condoms that we’d brought just in case. I think we both knew where tonight was leading.
There was a crackle of foil as he tore it open, and then he was straddling me, his cock hard and so much bigger than his finger.
“You want this?” he asked, giving me plenty of time to respond.
“Yes,” I replied softly, safe in the knowledge that if I’d said no, he’d have backed off. That was all I needed to be sure he’d take care of me.
“Thank you for trusting me.” His voice was thick with emotion, and he gave me a fierce look before positioning himself at my entrance and easing in. “Let me know if you need me to stop.”
I focused on the strange sensation as he stretched and filled me. There was a dull burn as he slowly eased himself all the way inside.
“Hold still,” I said. He stopped immediately, allowing me to adjust. I took a few slow, deep breaths, and the pain eased. I rocked my hips experimentally, and pleasure licked along my nerves. I did it again and smiled at the delicious sensations that rocketed through me. “Okay, you can move.”
He found a slow rhythm, and we moved together languidly. There was no rush. None of the desperation of earlier. When my orgasm began to build, it was slow and deep. It felt strangely like our relationship: as if it was meant to last. I worked my hips, trembling as I crested, feeling like I’d been turned inside out in the best possible way. I clutched Liam’s back and whispered his name. He groaned and jerked as he came. Before he collapsed on top of me, he met my eyes and pressed a tender kiss to my lips. My heart lurched.
I was officially crazy about Liam Braddock.
ChapterEight
KENNEDY
The week after Liam and I first made love was like a dream. Whenever we’re weren’t working, we were together at my cottage, learning the different ways our bodies could enjoy each other. We were insatiable. Deepening our physical relationship seemed to have also deepened our emotional connection. When we were together, I was so attuned to him, and when we were apart, I’d sometimes think of him and smile, only to receive a text seconds later that he’d experienced the same thing. For the first time I could remember, I felt settled. Everything was as it was meant to be.
On Saturday evening, we were celebrating his father, Eugene’s, fiftieth birthday at the local pub, Drunken Destiny, which Eugene and Heather, Liam’s mother, owned. Eugene was officially off duty tonight, and the Braddock family had spent the afternoon readying the pub, which would be closed to the public—but from what I could tell, basically open to any local who might care to wander in and wish him a happy birthday. The bar staff were volunteering their time because they apparently liked their boss that much. Although to be fair, I could relate. I’d gotten really lucky in working for Tabitha. I’d finally summoned the courage to ask about the possibility of selling postcards from her shop, and she’d put in an order already. Now I just needed to get them printed and shipped to the resort.
I donned the dress I’d chosen for the night, a slinky black number with a scandalously low-cut back and a deceptively prim front. I’d never been one for flashing my body around, since I tended to be a little on the shy side and hadn’t really gone through a rebellious phase—unless this counted—but it didn’t worry me if people saw my back, and the dress was going to drive Liam out of his mind. Worth it. I’d already done my makeup, but I checked my reflection in the bedroom mirror just to make sure I hadn’t smudged anything.
“Kennedy,” Grace called from the other room. We’d planned to walk to the pub together. Fortunately, it wasn’t far, so I’d chosen a pair of sexy black pumps to accompany the dress.
“In here,” I called back. “You can come through.”
A moment later, she appeared in the doorway. “You look beautiful.”
“Thanks.” I fastened a silver necklace around my throat and took a moment to look at her. “So do you.”
At twenty-two, Grace felt more like a friend than my landlord. She was pretty in a quiet, refined fashion, with dark tresses that fell almost to her waist, a slender neck, and long legs that made her tall enough to rival most men for height. She had sharp cheekbones and an elegant way of carrying herself. She wouldn’t have been out of place on the cover ofVogueor as a member of an aristocratic family. It was crazy to think she’d been raised by her quirky, palm-reading aunt.
Tonight, Grace was wearing a classy dress in a shade of forest green that brought out the highlights in her hazel eyes. She didn’t have a jacket on even though it was cool outside, but I’d learned that she didn’t feel the cold much. I grabbed a pink jacket and pulled it on over my dress. I’d need it until we arrived at the pub. I stuffed my wallet into the jacket pocket and joined Grace.
We locked the cottage and wandered down the pavement together. Lights shone from the vintage lamp posts that lined Centennial Street as we made our way past shops that had already closed for the weekend. Drunken Destiny was at the end of the block. A warm glow emanated from it, and I could hear voices as we approached. Grace and I had been there a couple of hours ago, helping prepare, but while the Braddock siblings had stayed to add the finishing touches, we’d slipped away to have a quick dinner, wash up, and make ourselves presentable.
As we entered, a few people glanced up and greeted us. Grace gave me a smile and headed over to join Nate and a couple of their other friends. I found Eugene up front, talking to the bartender. He was handsome for an older guy, with salt-and-pepper hair, a creased face, and twinkling blue eyes. I imagined Liam would look similar when he was that age.