Torn: A Contemporary Sports Romance (Pathways Book 3)

by Krista Carleson

  “True.”

  I envied them. They were so happy with their partners, and the love between them was visible from a mile away. Their lives had changed for better since they had met Daniel and Jared, and while I was beyond happy for them, I wondered with no small amount of bitterness if I was ever going to experience something like that.

  If soulmates really existed, where the hell was mine? Hiding in some cave far away?

  “You look constipated,” Marissa told me. “What are you thinking about?”

  I chugged down my glass of wine. “I’ll stay a single pringle my whole life.”

  Marissa burst into giggles. “What’s the matter with you? Usually, you’re not the one to be this depressed.”

  “Maybe I’m going through early menopause?” I stuck my tongue out at her.

  “Or maybe it has to do with a certain blonde hunk who will be going away sooner or later,” Claire told me.

  If only he wasn’t going away … But nothing stopped me from having a one-night stand if I wanted, right? Or maybe a few days of hanky-panky?

  “You know what? I’m going to have a blast tonight and I’ll stop acting like a party-pooper. We’re here to celebrate and have fun, so nothing can stop us. Am I right, or am I right?”

  Marissa high-fived me. “That’s our girl.”

  Two hours later, the party was in full swing, Claire and Jared’s spacious living room filled with dozens of guests, music, and smoke. I was busy mingling, spurred on by several glasses of wine and a damn good atmosphere. I observed Claire and Jared as they danced, filled with joy for my friend. They were so cute together.

  It was so obvious they were head over heels for each other, never missing an opportunity to shower each other with love. Jared was a good guy who had saved Pathways during its biggest crisis last year, and I was happy she was able to meet him in the midst of the “good guys” drought.

  Feeling quite drunk and carefree, I winked at the redhead guy who had been checking me out, although he was far from my type. My feet were killing me from all the dancing, but that wasn’t anything new for me. That was one of my party rules—when you’re at a party, dance your ass off.

  I was about to go to the kitchen to find something else to drink when Jared came into the room with someone who was familiar to me, and my heart picked up its pace.

  Liam.

  My jaw literally dropped when I saw how handsome he was, my insides warming at the sight of this sex god in a black Armani suit. His hair was slicked back, his face fresh-shaven, and his beautifully carved lips formed a sexy smile that only heightened his appeal big-time.

  What was he doing here?

  “You’re looking as if you’ve seen Ryan Reynolds,” Marissa, who was standing in between Claire and me, stated.

  “I’ve seen someone way better.”

  Liam and Jared headed toward us, and my pulse sped up again when Liam’s and my gaze locked, an obvious surprise showing on his face.

  My breathing became erratic when his eyes slid down my body, ever so slowly, checking each inch of me with such fervor that made me forget about everything and everyone. There was no one in this room but us, the sounds reduced to nothing as he closed the distance between us and halted right in front of me.

  “This is a pleasant surprise,” Liam said almost silently, still doing what I called—eye-fucking.

  “Girls,” Jared started. “This is Liam Morris. He’s a soccer player for Manchester United and a huge pain in my ass. We play soccer together for fun each time he remembers to come home. Liam, this is my beautiful fiancée Claire”—he motioned at Claire—“And her best friends, Marissa and Alison.”

  “Is that a way to introduce your old friend?” Liam razzed him before he shook hands with Marissa and Claire. “It’s nice to meet you. Jared is a lucky bastard.” He winked at Claire, to which she giggled.

  And then he faced me, and my mouth went dry. “And I know Alison. We’ve met a couple of days ago while jogging in the park.”

  I could see the glances Claire and Marissa were giving me, which said, “So that’s that Liam?”, but I was hardly aware of them.

  I had no idea if we were supposed to shake hands or whatever, but my body moved before I could process its intentions, and I wrapped my arms around him. For a moment, I wasn’t sure if he was going to return my hug or not, but he took me aback when he responded to me immediately, pulling me almost flush against him.

  His nearness set my skin on fire, every single nerve in me aware of his strong, delectable body, and I could hardly contain myself from running my hands all over his waist and chest. I wanted to feel those abs underneath my fingertips, suddenly hungry for the feel of him.

  His cologne caressed my nostrils, and it was the most lovely scent I had inhaled in a long time. Not only did he look good, but he also smelled amazing, which was a potent combination.

  “It’s good to see you here, Alison,” he muttered into my ear, his lips almost touching my earlobe, and a shiver ran up my spine.

  “I could say the same for you. You look amazing.”

  He leaned away from me, but he was still holding my hands, keeping me close to him. “And I was right. You are the most beautiful girl at the party.”

  I was wearing a short black backless dress that was reaching my knees, but for all I knew I could be naked with the way he was observing me.

  “You haven’t even seen other girls yet. I’m sure you’ll change your mind.”

  “I don’t have to see other girls. I’m already looking at what I need.”

  And just like that, he robbed me of all my air. I shifted on my feet, turned on.

  He faced Jared and Claire. “Congratulations on your engagement. I hope that you’ll both grow old and wrinkled together, always this in love.” His eyes held a warning in them when he looked at Jared. “You better take care of this lovely woman. Or else.

  Jared fist-bumped his shoulder. “Sure, man. I’ll count on you to bust my ass if it’s any different.”

  “Can I steal Alison for a few minutes?” Liam asked Claire, snaking an arm around my waist.

  Claire was beaming with excitement, her lips curled into the biggest freaking smile I’d ever seen.

  “Sure.”

  Liam led me to the place in the middle of the room that had been cleared for dancing. Several couples had been dancing to the sounds of a beautiful ballad that was currently playing. Liam placed his hands on my hips and drew me closer to him, his unblinking stare making me super hot.

  “So your friend is getting engaged to my friend? The world is so small,” he said in a husky voice.

  “Who would have thought? Could it be fate or something close to that? For me to see you here?”

  “Yeah. We keep bumping into each other.”

  “It’s a sign. We’re meant to be together,” I said jokingly.

  He was just watching me for a long time, his eyes turning mysterious the more he remained silent.

  “What?”

  “I feel good next to you, and I barely even know you.”

  His unexpected confession did something unusual to my core. We were dancing close to each other, and his hands were pretty low on my hips, taunting me with a promise of that touch I needed badly. I was too hot, too needy, and I wanted to act on the spur of the moment.

  Without a word, I brought my lips to his and kissed him. My tongue darted out to meet his lip, running along its seam, and his mouth opened, letting me inside right away. His groan mixed with my moan when our tongues met, his hands finally reaching my ass and squeezing it, pulling me against him.

  I could feel his erection pressing against my mound, and it felt better than good. His kiss made my blood hum. I ground against him without any care that others might be watching. Maybe alcohol was to blame, or maybe I was sexually deprived after months and months of self-imposed celibacy after I gave up on wasting time on pointless hook-ups.

  Or maybe there was something about him that made every single part of me ye
arn for his touch and much more.

  He tugged me away from the dance floor and led me into the first empty room. He didn’t turn on the light, pushing me against the closed door a moment before his lips landed on mine in the darkness.

  I tugged at his hair, snaking my leg around him, and responded to his kiss with a burning urgency. His hand slid down my waist and over my thigh, it’s velvety touch creating a sizzling heat in my mound. I tilted my head back as he peppered my neck with wet kisses, moving my hips to meet his in rising frenzy.

  “You’re so hot, Alison. I can’t keep my hands to myself.”

  A series of moans left my lips when he groped my breasts, his lips devouring my neck, and I was quickly losing my mind. I wanted him so badly that I was close to begging him to fuck me.

  “What are you doing to me?”

  I tugged at his lower lip and pulled it into my mouth, running my hands across his solid chest. He was all muscle and sheer strength.

  “I could ask you the same thing,” I murmured into his lips, gripping his shirt, getting it all twisted. Both of us were breathing heavily, and I was sure he could clearly hear the loud pounding of my heart against my chest.

  “How about you come to my place after the party?” he asked in a deep, hoarse voice, his mouth caressing my earlobe. I shivered. My panties were already wet, my pussy pulsating faster.

  My mind reeled with possibilities, and I knew I wouldn’t be able to resist him. Not that I wanted to. Right now all I wanted was to get him inside of me, and I couldn’t care less about the consequences.

  So, riding on my high, I accepted his invitation and pulled him back for another kiss, close to combusting right here and now.

  3

  We got out of the room right in time for Claire and Jared’s toast, my lips swollen from his kisses. Marissa and Claire only smirked at me. They knew I’d sneaked out to get all “touchy-feely” with Liam.

  Liam and I didn’t separate from each other as the party went on, tossing back a few drinks together and dancing like there was no tomorrow. I was having a great time and feeling pretty tipsy, but I was becoming impatient for this party to be over.

  A little while after midnight, we finally arrived at his place, which was a rented apartment on the top of a skyscraper that overlooked the bay. The ride in the elevator was long enough for me to unbutton his shirt and leave a line of open-mouthed kisses all over his torso, burning with need.

  His hands weren’t resting either, fondling my breasts and ass, and I was becoming wetter. When we barged into his place, he didn’t even bother turning the lights on, leading me straight to his bedroom.

  He sat down on his bed and pulled me in between his wide open legs, palming my backside. “I couldn’t stop thinking about you these past few days. I was thinking it would pass, but then I saw you earlier and I couldn’t think of anything but having you like this.”

  I moaned when his lips closed around my nipple over my dress. I wasn’t wearing a bra, and the material was so thin that it felt like there was nothing separating me from his hot mouth.

  “I feel the same. I want you, Liam. I want you so badly.”

  His hand reached under the hem of my skirt and followed my upper thigh, stopping just shy of my clit. I shifted on my feet, hoping he would move his fingers a bit higher and reach the place that needed his touch the most, but he didn’t.

  “I want you to know what you’re getting yourself into.” His now serious eyes held mine. “I’m not sure what we’re doing, but I can’t help my attraction to you.” His fingers inched a little closer to my wet pussy, and my body tightened in anticipation.

  “I’m dying here to get inside of you, but I can’t give you any more than this. This is just sex and nothing more. So if you don’t want that, I’ll stop right now and I’ll call Uber to take you home.”

  It was sweet how considerate he was. Usually, other guys would already be all over me, with no care about my feelings.

  Maybe this wasn’t sensible and I was risking a lot by agreeing to nothing more but a few hours of pleasure, but right now I didn’t care about being responsible and protecting myself from being hurt. This would be just a few moments of fun, nothing more.

  I cupped his cheeks. I was conflicted too, but I had to remember this was just a fling, nothing serious. It would all end after this night, so I wouldn’t entertain any false hopes.

  “I’m well aware that this won’t lead anywhere. And I don’t care. Tonight, I just want to relax and enjoy this while it lasts.”

  He didn’t move, observing my face for any trace of insecurity, but he wasn’t going to find any because I was far too lost in my lust. My skin was burning in the places he touched, and I couldn’t care less about tomorrow. All that mattered was now.

  With a groan, he smashed his lips against mine and reached my pussy. Our tongues connected, and his hand went underneath my dress to cover my breast. My nipple was hard for him, hardening even more when he brushed his thumb over it, eliciting a moan from me.

  “You’re so wet. All of this for me? So good.” I couldn’t recognize his voice, which was coated with lust. His fingers found my clit under my panties and began their sweet torture, rubbing and pinching. He moved my dress aside and placed his lips on my nipple, feeding me with pure pleasure.

  “Liam…” I threw my head back, clutching his shoulders like they were my lifeline.

  His lips were rough on my skin, merciless and fast, and it was intensifying the pleasure I felt. He bit the underside of my breast, holding my hip to keep me in place, but it was futile since I couldn’t stop thrusting my hips toward him. I was chasing something, chasing the out-of-this-world feeling his skillful fingers were promising me. I was so close…

  As if he knew I would explode in a matter of seconds, he removed his fingers and spun me around. I ended lying on the bed with him in between my legs, his hands raising my dress to my waist.

  “I need to taste you. I need to taste your little pussy…”

  His tongue flickered over my clit, followed by several quick kisses all over my pulsating flesh. I grabbed his hair and pushed my hips up to meet his mouth, writhing underneath him in rising ecstasy.

  “Yes… Don’t stop…”

  I called his name again and again, overwhelmed when he pushed two digits into my hole while sucking my swollen nub. His thick fingers stretched me widely before they focused on my g-spot, grazing it each time they penetrated me. My voice wasn’t mine, mixed with screams and breathy moans, and I was reaching my peak quickly…

  “Liam!” My hips rocked, my legs convulsing when I orgasmed hard, and my head spun.

  He was quick to undress, back in between my legs by the time my last aftershock passed. He reached for the condom in his drawer and put it on himself in three seconds flat, moving with an urgency that matched mine.

  He grabbed my hips and plunged into me, filling me fully at once, and commenced a rhythm that grew more powerful with each hard thrust. He was so thick!

  “Ah! You’re so big… Ah…”

  “I can’t believe how tight you are. Tight and all wet.”

  He knelt and pulled me into his lap, never stopping his thrusts. This way he could fuck me even deeper, and it was robbing me of my breath. I started moving on top of him, pulling his lower lip into my mouth and sucking it the way he had sucked my clit.

  “Ah, fuck. You feel much better than I’ve imagined.”

  “Oh, so you were imagining me?”

  “Every day. I kept seeing your firm and sexy ass in your black leggings, and it was driving me nuts.”

  He was boosting my ego big-time. Liam, a Manchester United soccer player, wanted me. I never cared for titles and roles, but there was something sexy about having a guy as strong, confident, and charming as Liam attracted to me.

  “Here. Look at it now,” I said and went on all fours, bringing my butt high in the air.

  His groan added to my arousal, his large hands gripping my hip and ass before he pushed his di
ck back inside of me, moving even faster than before. His hand went to my hair and grabbed a few strands, holding it tight as he pounded me faster and faster, building an orgasmic pleasure in me that was threatening to burst any moment…

  “Your ass is too sexy. Come on my cock, honey. Come right now.”

  He didn’t need to say it twice. As soon as the last word came out of his mouth, I fell in a thousand pieces around him, screaming his name, and this time he followed me. After two more thrusts, his body turned rigid and he ejaculated, burying his head into my neck.

  I was blissed out when he embraced me and spooned me, my breathing gradually slowing down as we lapsed into a comfortable silence.

  I wasn’t aware of when I had dozed off, only that I awoke after an extremely erotic dream. My pussy was still pulsating after the climax dream-Liam had given me, which spurred me to remove the sheets that had been covering Liam’s body and take his flaccid cock into my hand.

  I glanced at his face in the darkness, expecting him to snap his eyes open, but his breathing was even and deep. He didn’t even stir when I slid my fingers over his length, enjoying the feel of his silky softness in my hand.

  Soon, his cock started hardening, and his face went taut. He was frowning, still sleeping, and a smile tugged at my lips. I reveled in touching him like this. He was thick and big, and I could barely wrap my fingers around him. I palmed his sac as I ran my hand slowly up and down his length, and I could feel beads of precum soaking my fingers. I wished I could see it… I wished I could see his cock as its juices oozed out of his swollen tip…

  The lamp on the nightstand suddenly illuminated the room, and I raised my head to meet his gaze.

  “Keep doing it. Just like that.” His eyes were pure fire as he watched me pleasure him. His chest was rising and falling more rapidly now, his hands clutching the mattress.

  Returning his stare, I lowered my head and flickered his tip with my tongue. His cock jerked in my hand, his back arching. With a smirk, I licked him slowly, as if I was licking my favorite lollipop, keeping my eyes on him. He was panting now, his hand reaching out to grab my hair and guide me.