“Well? How’s the hangover?” I asked while we strolled together back to the docks.
“Ninety-nine percent gone.”
“Good. I’m glad my hangover remedy did the trick.”
“Considering it’s your fault I got so drunk in the first place, you owed me.” She shot me a playful glare. I was glad this time it wasn’t a real dagger, and I breathed a sigh over my progress.
We got back on the sailboat and worked together to get back out on the lake. When I raised the sails and got us underway, she pulled off her cover-up and climbed onto the bow, sprawling out on a towel while we coasted over the soft waves. I couldn’t help but envision her ten years ago and remembered how much she liked to sunbathe up there, and it made me smile while I took my time following the shore back to Ephraim.
The evening light darkened, and the familiar orange and red streaks of a Door County sunset started to color the sky. We sailed past Anderson Dock toward the marina, but instead of pulling into South Shore Pier where we left from, I kept going.
“Aren’t we docking?” she asked, climbing off the bow.
“I figured I’ll give you front door service and take you to Louie’s dock. It’s deep enough to sail in.”
When we reached his house, she threw over the fender and hung over the edge to grab the cleat, expertly tying a knot securing us to the dock. I did the same at the stern and felt the boat settle against it.
“Well,” she said, shifting her weight in front of me. “I guess this is goodnight?”
“Can you stay a little longer? I have to leave tomorrow. Maybe watch the sunset with me? I haven’t seen one of these famous Door County sunsets in a decade.”
Cautious eyes peeked up at me and she bit her lip. “I guess so.”
“Good.” I didn’t even try to suppress my grin. I pulled the towel out and carried it to the bow, folding it to make us a seat. She settled down beside me and her bare leg brushed up against mine, and this time she left it there. My heart raced just feeling the warmth of her soft skin against mine and I slid an arm around her shoulder. Her body tightened for a moment, but I didn’t release my grip. Finally, she let out a sigh and her head settled onto my chest.
Feeling her give in to the undeniable pull between us set my body on fire and the tightness around my heart finally released. I lowered my chin onto her head and wrapped my other arm around her, letting out a deep sigh when I felt her melt into my embrace. This is what was right. Me and Ellie. It should have always been us, and I could only hope that there was still a chance it could always be us from now on.
The bluffs across Eagle Harbor glowed with the orange light surrounding them. Colors as intense as my feelings for Ellie streaked across the sky and deepened with each passing second while the sun sank toward the water. Only the sounds of the waves and our breaths filled the air while we watched it go, and I remembered holding her on this bow and watching the same sun set behind those bluffs the night we’d spent together on this boat.
When the last strip of sun descended behind the waterline, we heard the soft echoes of applause coming from across the bay. It was tradition to applaud a Door County sunset, and this one was certainly deserving of the honor.
“I missed this,” she said, taking a deep breath. “I missed Door County.”
“I missed you.”
She peeked up and I could see the battle against her feelings brewing in those eyes. I saw the familiar look return, and she sighed. “I missed you, too.”
I didn’t wait for her to change her mind. My hand slipped to her chin, and I lifted her lips to mine. When they touched, I felt the world around us slip away and follow the setting sun. Her kiss transported me from my body, and I felt our souls connecting once again. Two bodies blended into one until I didn’t know where I ended, and she began. My love for her escaped me and into the lips that consumed hers, desperate to keep them. Desperate to make them mine once again.
Soft moans brushed across my lips and I welcomed her tongue when it met mine. Her arms wrapped around my neck and I pulled her in closer, desperate to kiss away all the hurt and all the anger, and once again feel her love wrap around us.
“Liam,” she breathed, and her breath ghosted my lips. “I’m scared.”
“Don’t be. I’ll never hurt you again, Ellie. I promise.”
When she pulled away, it felt like she held my heart in her hand, and at any moment one squeeze would end me. My eyes flickered open to see her staring at me, and I could see the hesitation returning.
“Don’t, Ellie. Don’t question this. Please.” I slid my fingers across her cheek.
“I don’t know, Liam.” Her eyes glistened, and I knew she was fighting back tears... tears I had caused.
She stood up, and I felt her tighten the grip on my heart, and I waited for the words that would shatter it for good.
“I just need more time.”
“I leave tomorrow, Ellie.”
“I need more time,” she whispered and stepped off the bow onto the dock, turning back to face me. “You look at me and I forget. You touch me and I forget. You lied to me. I don’t want to forget.”
I hopped off the boat and landed beside her on the dock. She took a step back, and I stopped. “Ellie, I know I lied to you. It was a mistake. A stupid, idiotic mistake and I would give anything to go back and make a different choice. But I can’t. We spent ten years apart and I don’t want to waste another second of this life without you. Please don’t throw us away over one mistake! It was one mistake, Ellie!”
“You’re married! That is not a small mistake!”
“Getting a divorce! It’s not like I was happily married, and you were my side chick!”
“It was still a lie, Liam!”
I threw up my hands in exasperation. “I know, Ellie! I know! What do you want me to do about it? Do you really want to end this because of one stupid omission... lie? Do you want to erase our entire future because of this?”
“I don’t know!” she shouted back, and the tears started.
Seeing her in pain softened me and I ran my fingers through my hair and clasped my hands behind my head. “I’m sorry. I’m so sorry, I shouldn’t have yelled. I’m just so sorry and I don’t know what to do, Ellie. I am doing everything I can to make you remember that it’s me. It’s Liam. Your Liam. And I love you, and I’m sorry. I’m so sorry, Ellie.”
She stood there with tears pouring down her face, and her lip quivered. “I want to forgive you.”
“Then forgive me, Ellie.” I stepped toward her and she didn’t move away. “You have to forgive me.” I reached out and took her hands in mine. “I love you, Ellie. And I know you still love me. And I’m not going to lose you again. I won’t. Please. Forgive me. I promise I will never ever lie to you again. We can be so happy, Ellie. I know it. You just need to forgive me.”
I slid a hand across her cheek and pushed all my love out from my eyes, desperate for her to see. To see that I loved her. That I was sorry. And that I would be the man she needed me to be. “I love you, Ellie.”
Her lip trembled and then the sweet words slipped out of her mouth. “I love you, too.”
An exhale pushed out from deep within me while her admission moved through me and settled into my soul. There wasn’t a force in the world that could have stopped me from kissing those lips, and I crushed into them and captured her sigh in my mouth. With one swoop, she was in my arms and I carried her back to the boat, devouring her mouth with each step. Refusing to release her, I held her while we made it on board and I kicked the cabin door open with my foot, ducking inside until I made it to the modest bed.
Her fingers tugged on my shirt and when I laid her down, she yanked it off and tossed it to the side. I lowered myself above her and let the pull of her lips guide me back to her. When they touched again, I felt that spark snake down my spine and I squeezed my eyes tight while I savored the taste on her tongue.
“I love you, Ellie,” I whispered between kisses, letting my lips sli
de to her neck. She pressed her head back into the pillow and I continued my descent to her breasts. My hands slid behind her neck and unraveled the knot holding up her suit. When it came undone, I pushed down the thin fabric and paused to take in the sight of her beautiful creamy breasts. They heaved with her ragged breaths and I lowered myself, taking her nipple between my lips. Hearing her whimper only drove me on, and I worked my tongue over her breast, flicking the hardened peak and teasing it until I felt her fingers dig into my back. My hand caressed the other one before drifting south down the soft skin of her stomach.
When my fingers reached her bottoms, I nibbled on her nipple while my hand slid beneath the fabric. She gasped when I slid a finger through the warm skin between her legs and continued until I pushed two fingers inside her. A moan ripped out of her while she pushed her hips against me, driving my fingers deeper. Feeling her writhing below me only encouraged me on, and I moved my lips to her other breast while my fingers worked inside of her.
“Oh, God,” she panted as I slid my fingers out and moved them up to her soft, swollen bud. I rubbed her with my fingers, and she moved her hips along with me. Her breaths quickened, and I wanted to give her more pleasure, and hear those noises I hoped I could induce. My lips drifted from her breast and I kissed my way down her stomach, pausing when I reached the suit bottoms still between us. She whimpered when my fingers moved away, and I used both hands to slide her bottoms off her long legs. After tossing them into the pile with my shirt, I looked down at her, and saw my own passion mirrored in her eyes.
My gaze fell between her legs and I lowered myself between them. Coaxing them open, I leaned forward, desperate to taste her. When my warm breath ghosted her wet skin, she whimpered and let her legs fall open. I touched my tongue to her soft nub and heard the gasp trap in her lungs. It escaped as a moan, and I relished her sweet taste while I worked over her, coaxing moans and squeals as her pleasure mounted. Her hips bucked when she got close and I heard my name rolling off her lips on repeat until one last squeal sent her body shuddering around me.
When I felt the last of the waves subside, I moved back up her body, kissing my way up her stomach, across her breasts, then to her neck and finally, I hovered above her lips. Her quick breaths blew across my mouth while I stared into her eyes. Her hand slid behind my head and I let her pull me down to her, our lips colliding while she slid a hand to the front of my shorts. My own gasp caught in my lungs when she took ahold of me, and I moaned into her mouth. The desperate need to be back inside her took me over and I pushed down my shorts and lowered myself between her legs.
It wasn’t just sex that I wanted, it was the need to connect with her again. To feel the distance between us disintegrate as our two bodies become one. My cock pressed against her opening and her kiss deepened while her fingers dug into my back. The need to be inside of her, to connect with her, pulsed through me and I drove myself deep. Our moans mingled into one and she slid her hands down my back and pulled me in as she wrapped her legs around me. I moved in and out of her, our pleasures mounting while I felt my body tightening as my orgasm built to unbearable levels. When I was certain I couldn’t handle the intensity of my pleasure any longer, the release came, and I moaned as I came inside her tight body. Her own whimpers seeped out, and I felt her clamping around me, our joined pleasures mingling in our breaths while I held her with my mouth.
I collapsed beside her, shaky limbs pulling her into my arms. Our sweaty bodies tangled together, and she pressed her head into my chest and slid her legs between mine. I glanced down and saw our tattoos lined up perfectly once again. This was where we belonged. Together. I kissed her head and prayed this meant I was forgiven and that finally, we could have the future together we both deserved.
CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO
Ellie
“Good morning, beautiful.” I felt his breath whisper into my ear and the soft rocking of the boat beneath me.
“Good morning,” I whispered back and blinked my eyes open. The familiar cabin surrounded me, transporting to this very moment ten years ago. I’d awakened in his arms and the same light blue painted walls greeted my sleepy gaze. I remembered how I’d noticed back then his eyes were the same color as the walls.
“How did you sleep?” He pressed his lips to my forehead.
“Amazing. What is it about sleeping on boats?”
“The rocking,” he said, settling down beside me. “That and the great sex.”
I saw his grin stretch across his face and I giggled into his chest, remembering the three additional times we’d made love that kept us up until four in the morning. “That wasn’t supposed to happen.”
“Don’t tell me you’re regretting last night.” He peered over at me.
“No. Not regretting. Just cursing you and those Love Medusa eyes.”
“Love Medusa?” He furrowed his brow.
“It’s a long story.” I laughed and snuggled in deeper.
“I know we have so much to talk about, but it’s almost eleven and my flight leaves from Chicago at seven tonight, and I have a five-hour drive ahead of me. As much as I want to stay here in your arms, I need to get the boat back and head south.”
I’d known he was leaving today, but now that the last of my anger had dissipated, it felt like my heart was getting ripped out all over again. “I don’t want you to go.”
“I don’t want to go either, but my mother.”
He paused, and I remembered why he couldn’t stay. It was noble, and knowing his loyalty to his mother ran deep, it only made me love him more. “I know. I’m just going to miss you so much, and I don’t know when I’ll see you again.”
“Come with me,” he whispered and pressed another kiss on my head.
“What?” I sat up and pulled the sheet around me.
“I’m serious.” He propped himself up on his elbows and those azure eyes pleaded with me. “Come with me.”
“I can’t just come with you.”
“Why not? You were planning on staying just a few days ago. Come with me, Ellie.”
“Liam, that was before. Before everything. I don’t think I can just jump on a plane again and throw all caution to the wind. It didn’t end well for me last time.”
“There’s a plane ticket with your name on it, first class, that leaves tonight. It’s yours if you want it, but I understand if it’s too soon.”
“You bought a ticket already?” My eyes widened, and my heart thumped against my chest.
“There were only two seats left, and just in case I could convince you I’m not the devil, I wanted to be sure your options were open. But I don’t want to rush you, and if you need more time, I understand. I’ll wait for you forever, Ellie.”
So many emotions whirled inside of me. Hurt. Fear. But the way he could look at me and disintegrate all those feelings both surprised and infuriated me. A war waged inside, and both of my inner voices shouted at me, each with valid points. Should I go? Throw caution to the wind and follow my heart? Should I stay? Take my time, get my life in order and then see where things ended up with us? “I don’t know, Liam. I don’t think I’m ready. It’s so fast.”
“I completely understand, Ellie.” He pulled my hand into his and pressed a kiss to the back. “I didn’t expect you to upend your life for me again, but I wanted you to know the offer still stands. I want to spoil you, love you, and make a life with you. If you’re not ready, I’ll wait for you. There aren’t many guarantees in life, but the one thing I’m certain of is you. Of us. I’ve known it since the moment I laid eyes on you, and I promise you that I won’t give up on us. Ever.”
I wished I had more than an hour to decide. I wanted to talk to Louie and Nita. I wanted to go for a walk and make my pros and cons list. Just when I was starting to accept a life without him, he waltzed into Husby’s and turned my world upside down again.
“Liam, as much as I want to go with you, I think I need to sort some things out with myself first. I don’t want to get on a plane until I’m
sure. I need to be sure I’ve forgiven you, sure that you’re not lying to me again... I just need to be sure.”
“The fact you’re even considering this again is all I can ask for. And I wish I could stay with you. It kills me to have to fly away again, but my cousin can’t stay any longer and I can’t leave my mom alone.”
“I understand,” I said, squeezing his hand. “I know you have to go.”
He yanked my hand and pulled me into his arms. Letting out a deep sigh, I buried my head in his chest.
“At least admit you’re going to miss my big hard man boobs.”
I spit out a laugh and he joined me. “Of course, I will,” I said between giggles. “I’m going to miss you, too.” My laughter turned to tears, and he pulled me in tighter.
“It’s all right, Ellie. We will figure this out, I know we will. We’re meant to be together, and when you are ready, I’ll be waiting for you.”
“Okay,” I sniffled and pulled up out of his arms. “I’ll message you, and we can Skype.”
“I’ll be counting the minutes until I land and can call you again.”
After I put on my suit, we walked out into the bright morning light. The soft breeze blew across the boat and brought with it the scent of him that still consumed me. I knew I’d be searching for it every minute we were apart, stopping in my tracks anytime I caught even a trace of it.
He leaned on the cabin and I turned back around and looked at him with weepy eyes. “I love you, Liam.”
One long step brought him to me, and he pulled me into his arms, his kiss burning my lips with searing heat.
“I love you, Ellie. Always.” His words caressed my lips and trickled down into my soul, waking the butterflies once more.
“I love you, too.”
When we drifted apart, I looked at him one last time before I grabbed my purse and walked away before I could change my mind. When I got onto the docks, I untied the knots securing him and held his eyes as he started the motor and floated away. Agony tore through me with every putter of the engine that took him away from me. He glanced back over his shoulder and lifted a hand. I held his eyes until he disappeared into the distance and all I could see was the outline of the sailboat.
The Big One (Second Chance Romantic Comedy) Page 25
