At first, I was thinking of Piper. The poor girl had realized on the way home that she’d left her favorite hat and glove set on the table when we’d all bundled up and gotten out of there for the night. But I hadn’t told anyone I was coming back.
Because second, I was also thinking of me and the fact that Liam was so hot, I wouldn’t mind seeing him again.
So, here I stand. I knock another time, and pause for a few seconds before I turn around. Disappointment abounds—not only because I’d failed to retrieve Piper’s things, but also because I was hoping to … I don’t really know what. Talk to Liam? Stare into those bold chocolate-brown eyes? Admire the way his rolled-up sleeves showcase his strong forearms, complete with veins that manage to pop out to say hello? I don’t even know why I like that. But it’s just so damned manly. Or maybe, just maybe, I wanted to come by to check out the way his ass looks in his jeans for a few more minutes. Because I’d ogled him each time he’d walked away from our table earlier this evening. Even my friends had noticed I was very much interested in what I was seeing.
I sigh, giving one last look at the door before I turn, arms wrapped around myself, and head back to my car. It was worth a shot, anyway.
Behind me, the door opens with a deep groan and a creak. “Hey. Were you looking for something?”
I whirl back around, my heart up in my throat. You could say that. There at the door stands the man I’ve been drooling over for the past few hours. “Oh, um. Hi. I’m Quinn. I was here earlier with some friends?”
His mouth tips into a smile, and he nods. “Of course. I’m Liam. Why don’t you come in out of the cold?”
With a shiver, I nod. “Okay.” I approach him and smile as he allows me to enter first.
Once the door shuts behind us, I glance around the place again. “The woodwork in here is amazing. Everything is functional, but still gorgeous.” He smiles as my gaze sweeps up the big staircase leading up to the tasting room and reception area where we were just hanging out earlier with Hadleigh for her birthday. I point in that direction. “I—uh, my friend Piper left her gloves and hat upstairs at our table.” I stumble over my words. “That’s, um, that’s why I came back.”
He nods. “Of course. I set them aside at the bar upstairs.” He motions for me to follow him and leads the way up.
There’s that fine, fine ass. My eyes remain riveted to his backside the entire time it takes us to climb to the next floor. I almost start fanning myself just as we get to the top, as all of a sudden, I feel distinctly overheated.
Liam strides quickly behind the bar and retrieves Piper’s things. “It was kind of you to come back to get these for your friend.”
“Yeah, she seemed a little distraught at having left them, and since I was the designated driver, I figured it couldn’t hurt to swing back by after I’d dropped everyone at home to see if you were still here.”
He bobs his head in understanding and eyes me carefully, but doesn’t say anything further on the topic. Instead, he crosses his arms across his broad chest—not that I’m looking—and changes the direction of our conversation. “So, you liked what you tasted of the cider?”
My lips twitch into a smile. “Yes. I was just sad I had to drive so I couldn’t have more. Next time, maybe.”
“Next time?”
“Well, sure. I’ll be back for the wedding reception, at least.”
“Oh. Right.”
It almost seems like he’s hoping I’ll come back in before that. Am I reading him correctly?
We gaze into each other’s eyes. Chests rise and fall. Is he as affected as I am by this? Please tell me he is.
“You have the prettiest eyes I’ve ever seen. Full of mystery and sparkle. Really beautiful.”
I dip my head, unable to stop the furious blush from hitting my cheeks. “Thank you.” I let out a ragged breath. “I couldn’t keep my eyes off of you earlier tonight.”
He grins. “I may have walked past your table way more than was necessary. I couldn’t help myself. I was drawn to you.”
We step forward at the same time, eyes roaming over each other. He’s almost close enough to touch me, then he closes the distance and reaches up to cup my cheek in his hand. My entire system is overwhelmed at his proximity, at his touch. His thumb slides over the delicate skin of my cheekbone. “Is this okay?”
I nod, and his head dips down, lips covering mine. A swift rush of energy zips through me, lighting up all my senses and making my body feel warm and pliant, like melting candle wax. His other hand finds my waist inside my coat, fingers gripping me tightly as he pulls me to him and continues to explore my mouth. After a few seconds, he helps me shrug out of the heavy winter jacket, and I gladly cast it to the floor.
Without thinking about it at all, I cling to his shoulders, moaning softly as my lips part for him. The fiery kiss deepens, and I sigh with pleasure, unable to remember the last time a man had his hands on me or if it had ever felt this good. Oh God, everything he does rachets up my desire another notch, and my panties have become positively damp. Maybe not so dry and dusty in there anymore …
Was it just an hour ago that I’d joked about not minding if this man were to take care of my dry-as-the-Sahara lady parts?
I strain toward him, breasts pressing against the solid wall of his chest.
He walks me backward to the thick stone column on one side of the bar. When he cages me against it and presses his erection against my stomach, I’m unable to prevent the throaty moan from passing my lips. It occurs to me that I’m rubbing up on someone who is almost a complete stranger, but my pelvis seems to have a mind of its own, uncaring as it grinds into him, seeking relief from the knots and twists that have formed in my lower abdomen.
His tongue is wicked, tasting my mouth like it’s his right. At the same time, his hands have worked their way under my blouse and begin an exploration of my stomach, gliding over my heated skin. Shameless, I tug on his shirt, and he quickly gets the idea, stripping it off in one quick motion. His chest heaves as my eyes devour his powerfully-muscled torso, complete with ridged abs that make me want to lick him. My fingers move to my chest, unbuttoning my top.
Once the shirt hangs open, he slides his hands under the fabric, pushing it from my shoulders, and watches it drop to the floor. He gazes into my eyes, kissing my mouth again, owning it. Owning me. He reaches between us, flicks open the clasp on the front of my bra and nudges the straps from my arms, all while continuing his masterful assault on my lips. He groans as he cups my small breasts in his hands.
“Tell me to stop, Quinn.”
I arch my back, forcing my breasts harder against his palms. “I don’t want to.”
He slips his arms around me and pulls me to him as his lips find my neck, his nose dragging along my jaw. His tongue darts out to trail a warm, wet path over my collarbone. He inhales and groans a little, pressing me into the stone at my back. His forehead rests right between my breasts for a second, and I swear my heart is pounding so furiously that he must be able to hear it.
I ache for him. I want him to suck on my nipples and touch me in places no virtual stranger has any business being near. But he doesn’t feel like a stranger to me. He feels like … like home. I haven’t even wrapped my head around that errant thought when his mouth slides over my skin and his tongue swirls around my nipple, sending sparks shooting right through me as it pebbles under his ministrations. I cry out his name, an agonized plea that begs for more. He draws me further into his mouth and sucks, making the tip a diamond-hard point. Just when I think I can’t handle any more, he moves to the other side, working me into a frenzy all over again.
My hands slide over the delicious ridges of his abdomen before I reach for his waistband. I undo the button, then unzip the jeans I’d admired earlier for how well they showcased his rear view. Grazing his skin with my nails, I hear his quick intake of breath as I slide my hands to his back, hook my thumbs into the waistband of his underwear and push them and his jeans down his taut, m
uscled ass.
He kicks himself free of his shoes and remaining clothing. While I quickly work the button and zipper of my jeans, my gaze falls to his long, thick erection. My eyes widen, and I swallow hard. I don’t hesitate. I slip out of my ballet flats and shove my jeans and panties off, then reach for him again. Grabbing me under my ass, he easily lifts me so my legs can wrap around his lean torso.
All this skin on skin contact is enough to elicit a full-body flush. I tingle all over as he presses my back to the stone and captures my lips with his once again. Our every movement becomes frantic. Hands slide over bare skin. Fingers touch. Lips consume.
I feel the crown of his cock at my very wet, very ready entrance.
He lifts his head, looking deeply into my eyes. He grits out, “I’m clean. Are you sure this is what you want?”
If I don’t have this man inside me in the next five seconds, I may cry. I nod. “Yes. I’m clean, too, and I’m on the pill. I want this.”
He doesn’t wait after that. His dick pushes inside me, and I gasp aloud. I blink. All I can feel for a few seconds is the incredible sensation of fullness as he seats himself all the way inside me. I drop my head back against the stone behind me and hiss out, “Oh, hell yes.” My inner walls clench around him. It feels delicious, decadent, and all kinds of naughty.
He chuckles against my neck as his fingers dig into my ass cheeks. Then he begins to move in and out of me, and it’s like nothing I’ve ever experienced before. It’s a little rough, a whole lot wild, and supremely satisfying.
Pumping into me, he growls, “Fuck, this is so hot. You’re fucking amazing.”
I grind down against him as his pelvis hits my clit just right over and over again until my legs begin to quake around him. I’m almost completely useless, my body languid at feeling the tendrils of my impending orgasm beginning to unfurl. He holds my full weight as he drives into me. The things his cock is doing to me, the way he’s making me feel, should probably be illegal. One hard stroke and then another, and I’m coming apart in his arms, shaking, my entire body rippling with the power of my orgasm. I’m one shimmering, shuddering mass of pleasure.
I’d almost forgotten how good it feels to be taken to the edge and then shoved over by another person. I gasp near his ear, “Liam …”
His body tenses, then he comes inside me. Hard.
We stay like that, wound together, my body pinned against the stone column, his warm breath against my neck for what feels like an eternity.
Eventually, my legs unlock from his waist and drop to the floor, and he pulls out of me and steps back. The only movement from either of us is the rise and fall of our chests. Our eyes lock. I study him, this man I’ve just had the most intimate of relations with, this man who’d spun me completely off my axis the minute I’d walked in the door. Slowly, my fingers touch my lips, trying to memorize the feel of his kisses. My eyes slam shut. I just had the most intense, gratifying sexual experience of my life—with someone I hardly know. What on earth does that say about me? What did I just do?
Chapter 5
Quinn
In a daze, I wander out of my classroom and across the hall to where Sophia and Heath’s classes are. I try Sophia’s room first, but she’s not there. On the far side of the room, there’s an office, which connects to Heath’s room.
Trying to control my emotions, I take a deep breath as I lift my hand to give a quick knock to the door of the office. I don’t bother waiting for a response and just open it and poke my head in. Heath glances up from the papers he’s grading.
“Are you busy right now?”
“Not really. No more conferences until after lunch.” He glances down at the time on his phone. “I heard you guys are meeting in the library today for pizza. Aren’t you supposed to be there now?” His brows pinch together, and I can tell he knows something is up.
I blink a few times and the synapses in my brain finally start firing. “Right.” I bite my lip. “I forgot.”
Heath cocks his head to the side, assessing me carefully. “Are you okay?”
I take a deep breath. “I don’t know. I just really need to talk to Sophia.” I lift my hand to my temple and gently rub my fingers there. My head hurts. All of this is just too much to process on my own.
Heath’s gaze is steady on me, and I know from the look in his eyes that he’s observing the trembling in my hands. I drop them to my sides and out of sight.
“Well, I’ll walk you down to join them, then.” He gives me a sneaky smile as we exit his office, designed to take my mind off of whatever is bothering me, and nudges my elbow with his. “Maybe I can even steal a piece of pizza from you ladies while I’m down there.”
“Okay.” He follows me out of the classroom, walking quietly at my side. I’m comfortable with Heath—comfortable enough that I don’t feel like I have to politely make conversation all the way to the library. We’ve worked together for several years now, and I’ve always thought he was a great guy. Now that he and Sophia are engaged, I’ve gotten to know him on an even deeper level than as just a coworker. And clearly, he knows me well enough to realize I’m not up for chitchat right now. For that, I’m grateful. I mean, would he really want an earful of Oh my God, I slept with my student’s dad? I shake my head. Likely not. And he definitely wouldn’t want to hear the even worse Holy shit, I may have slept with a married man. Heath probably wouldn’t know what to do with me if I told him, meaning he’d go find Sophia anyway. I’m not usually the one with the crazy stuff happening, either. Lately, it’s been Madison, Hadleigh, and Piper. Zoey and I have kept our noses clean … until now, anyway.
When we arrive at the library, Heath pulls the door open and holds it for me, then follows me in. I totally see Sophia catch his eye over my shoulder. Great. They probably have some sort of weird engaged-people telepathy going on where he’s relaying all sorts of important information about my current state of mind to her without even speaking. That’s what I imagine, anyway. Is that what it’s like to be married—or almost married, in their case? They understand each other with just a look?
I mentally shake myself. Isn’t that what’s been happening with you and Liam? No talking, just action? All communication has been nonverbal. Because if we’d been talking, I’d have known that he is married and has a kid in my freaking biology class.
My hands feel clammy, and I can tell my face is still flushed. It’s usually hard to see with my tan skin, but I know it’s there because my cheeks feel hot. With my mind still going overtime on all this, I’m worked up, so much so I feel a little dizzy.
I release a long, exaggerated breath and plaster a smile on my face as the girls look over to greet me.
Zoey blots her mouth with a napkin. “Hey. We were wondering where you were. Did your conference go long?”
Piper groans. “I hate it when that happens. Come on over,”—she waves me toward them—“grab yourself a few slices of pizza, and sit with us. It’s still hot.”
I belatedly realize I’d stopped midway into the room and am just standing there. One by one, each of my friends’ expressions turn from smiles to concerned frowns. Heath has stopped next to me and he puts a cautious hand to my shoulder, grabbing my attention. I look at him, and he points at the pizza. “Let’s get you some food. Then you can sort out whatever is going on.”
What the hell is wrong with me? I give a quick shake of my head, trying to clear it. “Yeah, of course.” I force myself to walk over to the counter where the boxes of pizza are sitting, and busy myself with putting pizza on a plate and grabbing napkins.
“There are bottles of water in the mini fridge in my office, Q.” Madison nods in the direction of her little office behind the library counter.
From beside me, Heath murmurs, “Go sit down. I’ll grab one for you.”
I give him a tight smile. “Thank you.”
Over at the table, Hadleigh pulls out the chair next to her for me, and I sit, setting my plate and napkins in front of me. Heath hands a water b
ottle off to Hadleigh for me, and she sets it down with the rest of my things. “Go ahead and eat first. We can talk about something else.”
Looks dart from Madison to Hadleigh to Piper to Zoey to Sophia, and finally Madison asks Hadleigh how Sawyer is doing now that he’s done with his first student teaching placement. I’m so lost in my own little world I don’t even hear the response. I force myself to bite into the pizza, chew, and swallow. I really don’t taste much of anything, but I keep going, all the while thinking about the trouble I could have saved myself if I’d have asked Liam to go out on a date instead of immediately jumping his bones.
Sophia gets up and walks with Heath out of the room. I can only assume she’s getting his take on what’s going on with me. Poor guy. He doesn’t know anything, so that’ll be like trying to get blood from a stone. He’d just been kind enough to make sure I got down here.
When I finish with my slices of pizza, Zoey, who is seated on the other side of me, pats my hand. “Are you ready to talk about whatever is going on? Did you have a rude parent or something?”
“I hate when that happens, too.” Piper wrinkles her nose.
I wet my lips before glancing up at everyone. Sophia hurries back to the table, taking her seat. “You aren’t going to believe what I did.” Awesome. All eyes on me. I sit back in my chair and wrap my arms around my middle. “Well, I was with Olivia Ramsey’s parents. She’s the student I told you about—she’s failing and I can’t figure her out because she’s so quiet. She’s new to the school this year. Doesn’t seem to have made a ton of friends just yet. Her mom wants me to tutor her.”
Sophia’s brow quirks up. “Okay … that’s nothing awful so far. I mean, you don’t usually do tutoring, we usually have seniors do it, but … what are we missing?”
Fall for You (Flirting with Forever Book 4) Page 3
