by Jamie Knight
My heart was beating a mile a minute. Anxiety threatened to close my throat and keep me from being able to talk, but I pushed through, knowing that this was important.
“My brother, Jacob, he has PTSD and needs a therapist. I don't have much money, though.”
“I certainly know something about that,” Carl said, “I know a few really good therapists that will give the first session for free. We just need to find the one that can work with your brother and that he likes.”
“I can help others the cost after that,” Ann said.
I sat back, shocked. “Oh no, you couldn’t,” I started, but she shook her head, refusing to hear me.
“Look, I get it. I served too,” she explained. “I know it looks bleak, but with the right help and a lot of work, your brother should get better. You just need to get used to asking for what you need and speaking up. Understand?”
“I nodded.”
This made me feel a lot better. Not a hundred percent, but most of my mood clouds cleared in that moment. There was still the ache in my heart, though. The one put there by Liam.
“So, I hear that you are coming to my wedding,” Carl started as if he was reading my mind. “I can’t believe that Liam kept you a secret all this time. That man is so secretive.”
“Really?” I asked. “I- I mean about other things as then the engagement.”
Carl nodded. “Totally. We work together every day. Served together. Hell, we even eat lunch together, but Liam never talks about his personal life. I didn’t even think that he dated, to be honest.” He winked at me. “I figured that he was just scared of commitment or some deal like that.”
Next to me, Ann shrugged. “Happens to a lot of people who have been through hard things.” She turned to look me right in the face. “Sometimes when someone gets injured badly like your brother or Liam, they can’t accept what their new reality is. That feeling sinks in, and then it’s like they expect that no one can accept them. That feeling ends up causing them to push people away.”
Carl nodded. “So true. My fiancée and I had to go through counseling, even after I got out of therapy for PTSD. I’m just happy that Liam has someone to talk to. I hate thinking of my friend being alone.”
I smiled at him, but inside, my heart was troubled. What Liam did to me hurt. That still had to be addressed, or it might well hurt me forever. The asshole didn't even return my calls today. It was clear what I had to do. I had to get answers. I took the numbers from Carl for the therapist, thanked him honestly, and asked Ann for a favor.
Using GPS and my memory, Ann drove me to Liam's house pretty quickly. After she dropped me off and promised to wait, my heart was pounding with both fear and anticipation, much like when Liam and I fucked for the first time. I tried not to think about it. It might bias me. I didn't want to think that Liam might be using me for sex or to look good at the wedding. I wanted to think that he liked me and was maybe just afraid to admit it. It was optimistic, I knew, but I still held out hope.
Then I remembered how he had acted after taking my anal virginity and got mad again, nearly putting my fist through the door from knocking so hard.
The door opened after the second barrage, Liam darkening the doorway, looking as sexy as ever. I got wet immediately despite my seething rage. Out of nowhere, Liam grabbed me and kisses me passionately, before tenderly stroking my cheek.
I saw a woman approaching behind him.
“Hayley, honey, I'd like you to meet my sister Caroline,” Liam said, by way of introduction. “She came into town early for the wedding. Moral support and all that.”
I had no idea what he needed moral support for, and even if he did, why my job as his fake fiancée wouldn't include this. I didn't say that though, not wanting to offend Caroline having just met her. She was basically innocent as far as I was concerned, even though the only reason Liam was only being loving toward me was for her account.
Caroline was drop-dead gorgeous like Liam was. I caught myself wondering what their parents had looked like.
“So, the stories are true,” Caroline said, extending her hand. “My bachelor brother really is taken.”
“Yep,” I said, blushing while I shook her hand, and she led me inside.
Serenely, Caroline slipped down onto the couch. She had an easy grace that I envied. “When I heard my little bro, here, was getting hitched I had to meet the woman who finally captured his heart,” she said, leaning over and smacking him playfully on the shoulder in the tradition of older siblings.
That made me think of Jacob, particularly how he used to be, back when we were kids, and it made me smile. I suddenly felt really bad and uncomfortable. Caroline, no doubt, thought I was about to be her sister-in-law. I suddenly saw the damage that could be done by our lie. I had an overwhelming urge to get away, but I couldn't just run away for fear of offending Caroline. There is only one thing to do.
“Oh dear,” I said dramatically, taking out my phone. “I have to go. I just got a text from my brother.”
My excuse made. I got back to Ann's waiting car, doing my best not to break into a run.
“How did it go?” Ann asked when I get back in.
“Not how I planned,” I told her, feeling a whole new set of emotions.
This whole plan had been a huge mistake. It would be best for everyone if Liam and I never saw each other again.
Chapter Sixteen
Liam
I felt really weird, and for me, that was saying something.
Watching Hayley storm out of here without her even saying what she stopped by for — it had me on edge. She seemed really nervous around my sister, since she had no warning that was understandable, but still, I had this feeling like everything was falling apart. Or, like I should have never started this plan in the first place.
Caroline was so happy she was going to be a sister-in-law. I didn't doubt that she loved me, and we had fun growing up, but I did understand that having a brother wasn’t the same as having a sister. There were some things I just wouldn't get that Hayley might, or at least there was a better chance. How would Caroline feel after the wedding when Hayley was gone? I hated to disappoint her too.
I was really beginning to think that this whole fake engagement thing might have been a mistake. I'd only been trying to look good for a few hours at Carl’s wedding. I never considered it might have a negative effect on someone I love or Hayley.
Things had gone too far between us, Hayley and me. I wasn't nearly oblivious enough not to know that it was a mistake to sleep with her — particularly knowing that she was a virgin. No wonder she got so attached.
If I was honest with myself, I also had no certainty that I wasn't getting attached. There wasn't a moment since what happened at Big Sur that I didn't miss Hayley, and I thought about her all the time — and not just in a sexual way.
Yet, it seemed like it might just be best to call the whole thing off. If not for a few factors, I would've done just that. There was the money to consider and the fact that both Hayley and I had put in a lot of time and effort getting to know each other and selling the idea that we were engaged. Caroline was the biggest issue. I really didn't want to upset her by telling her that the engagement was off. She would probably take it badly. I had to think of a way to get rid of her before I could try and talk to Hayley. That needed to happen as soon as possible.
I looked at my watch. Caroline and I were still sitting in the living room in the same places we were since Hayley left. She had flipped on the TV at some point, but I hadn’t really been paying attention.
“Wow,” I said. “It’s getting kind of late. Should I show you to your room?”
My sister didn’t even look at me, clearly not taking the hint. “I really like that Hayley,” Caroline said before I could concoct another cunning plan to orchestrate her removal from the equation.
That stunned me. I sat back a little and turned to face her.
“Oh?” I asked. “You do? Why?”
Caroline
turned off the TV and looked at me. “Definitely. She's not like the others. I can tell that after only knowing her for five minutes.”
“What's that supposed to mean?” I asked, feigning offense.
She laughed. “Let's just say, the girls you usually date aren't like her. The ones that I’ve met — not that there have been many — have been full of themselves. More interested in your money than anything else. It’s like you used to pick women who you knew it couldn’t work out with. You also had a habit of pushing away any woman who was good for you.”
“You're still here,” I pointed out.
She laughed and punched me in the shoulder. “I'm your big sister. No way you're getting rid of me. I mean, women that you might love in another way.”
“Love?” I snorted. “You can tell I love her? That’s impossible. You only saw one kiss.”
“Bullshit. I know you love her, and I'm not just saying that because of the showy kiss at the door, that didn't fool me for a second.” Caroline rolled her eyes.
“What was the tip-off?” I asked, realizing she might actually be right.
“The face stroke. That was love. No doubt about it. You can bullshit yourself all you want. I can't stop you, but I want you to listen to me now. I have a very good feeling about Hayley. She is sweet and kind. If you take my advice, you will do whatever you have to do to keep her around. Everyone will be happier that way in the end, especially you. Let your heart be open. ”
As usual, my big sister was absolutely right. I didn't know how but I had to see Hayley and tell her that I loved her too. I had no idea how I was going to do it, but I needed to get Hayley to talk to me, if for no other reason to let her know that I loved her.
Chapter Seventeen
Hayley
I recognized the Hummer immediately. It really did stand out like Boy George at a Klan rally, to paraphrase the late Bill Hicks. I thought about crossing the street but realized that Liam was parked outside my door, so that wouldn't really work.
I barely got to the sidewalk before he jumped out. I tried to ignore him and continue on my way to work, but he followed walking as fast as I was.
I really did not want to see Liam. This whole experience had been a mistake. It had hurt me and would hurt other people. The best thing was just to forget about the whole experience.
“We have to talk,” he said, trying to reach out and grab the back of my jacket.
“About the fact that I have pepper-spray,” I asked, putting my hand into my purse.
“Do you really want to do that?” Liam stopped in his tracks and stared at me with his lips slightly open.
“No. Not really,” I admitted, taking my hand out of my purse and sighing.
Liam had his hands balled into fists. He seemed distraught. “Why don't you want to talk to me? I called about a hundred times last night and this morning.”
“What does it matter? Why do you care? I’m just your fake fiancée, nothing more. You made that clear,” I countered, my voice rising with the heat of my anger.
“When was this?” he asked perplexed.
I felt like throwing my hands up and screaming. “In the kitchen after we… did what we did. You literally ran away from me.”
“Over to the stove!” he objected.
I fought the urge to stomp my foot. He was being so unreasonable.
“I said our relationship didn't have to be fake, and you asked what I wanted for breakfast. That really hurt me,” I yelled, done with trying to be polite.
Liam didn’t answer for a few minutes. He just opened and closed his mouth a few times like a fish. Finally, he dropped his shoulders and sighed. “I know, and I'm sorry,” he said, deflating slightly.
His apology threw me off. I had to take a breath and relax. Leaning against the exterior wall of my apartment building, I looked him over. Liam’s eyes were dark like he hadn’t slept at all.
“I’m sorry, too, but I can’t let things continue on this way. I've just been really down lately, with what is going on with Jacob and all. I was too vulnerable around you. I let things go too far,” I told him. Liam nodded. “On a brighter note, I talked to Ann, and we talked to Carl, who gave me the numbers for some therapists. Ann says she'll help with the expenses when we find one.”
He flinched, and his face got paler. “I'm really sorry I never followed through on that. I would like to help with the cost, too, if that's okay.”
That was surprising. I stepped back, raising my eyebrows. “I guess.”
Liam inched closer to me. He reached out, brushing his fingers up my arm and onto my shoulder. “I'm really sorry for how I've been acting. It is just hard. I never really saw myself as the settling down type, but Caroline smacked some sense into me as she tends to do, and I'm willing to try.”
I was holding my breath. “Does that mean you don't want to be fake anymore?”
By way of an answer, Liam grabbed and kissed me passionately, like he did when we were fucking. Also, like when we were fucking, I found myself completely lost in his touch. I loved him so much it actually hurt.
“Can you do the stairs?” I asked, my voice shaking.
“Fuck yeah!”
No sooner were we through the door to my apartment and into my bedroom, then I yanked his pants down and sucked on his cock. I wanted it so much. I just let it in my mouth for a while, feeling his warm head pressing against the back of my throat. Then, slowly, I started moving it in and out, swirling my tongue softly around the tip every time I got to that end.
He put a hand on my head to gently guide me like he did the first time I took his hard cock into my hot little mouth. I increased my speed, sucking his huge shaft as hard as I could without gagging until he unloaded his sweet cum into my mouth. I closed my eyes and swallowed every drop, still stroking his tender cock as I did so.
When I finished, he brought me to my feet and kissed me hard, making full use of his talented tongue in my eager, welcoming mouth. Moving his hot mouth down to my neck, Liam unbuttoned my blouse as he kissed and licked his way down to my boobs — which were quite naked by the time he got down there. I had torn my blouse off to make way for him. He continued licking, kissing, and sucking on my very hard nipples, making me gasp with pleasure.
Repeating this same process with my skirt and panties, my wet pussy was bare by the time he got down there, allowing Liam to dig in hard. He licked my pussy with such gusto I was coming within minutes, bracing against him as he pushed his tongue even harder into my pussy.
When I finished shaking, he took me firmly but gently around the waist and carried me over to the bed, setting me down. We kissed again, our tongues dancing and playing as I spread myself for him — opening my pussy up wide before his hard cock.
“Are you ready, baby?” he asked. “Do you really want me again?”
“Yes,” I consented.
Shoving his tongue back into my mouth, Liam slid his cock slowly into my pussy until he was in balls deep. After giving me a moment, as he usually did, Liam started to fuck me, beginning with a moderate rhythm and then working up until he was pounding all of his huge cock deep into my tight little pussy.
I held onto him as he slammed me, my screams muffled by our kisses, which was a good thing. It felt amazing, and I felt like I might pass out from shock if he were to suddenly stop.
Letting me cum first, my entire body shaking hard against him, Liam somehow held on long enough to get his cock into my mouth, delivering another delicious load of cum. Swallowing it all down, I kept his cock in my mouth and sucked him off again until he gifted me with a third and then fourth load.
I was trying to make up for lost time.
Gathering me up into his arms, he held me and kissed me, rocking me gently as we both recovered from our massive orgasmic highs. When we both recovered sufficiently, I looked at him.
“Do you really want this to be real?” I asked. “This relationship and us? You never really said before.”
Liam laughed. “That wasn’t enough
proof for you?” I shrugged, and he nodded. “Okay. I understand. Look, Hayley, I’m not good with relationships, but you make me want to try. Yes, I want us to be real. I want to see if we can make this relationship last.”
I leaned down to kiss him.
“Good,” I told him. “I want that, too.”
Epilogue
Hayley
The event was quite grand as weddings so often are. I could see the church from about five blocks away from the window of the limo Liam hired for the occasion. He didn't look particularly comfortable stuffed into the back seat.
I poured him a glass of champagne from the mini-bar and put a comforting hand on his knee — the hand with the ring on it. I no longer feel like a fraud wearing it after we had decided to make our once fake relationship official. We weren’t actually engaged yet, but I was then certain enough that we would be eventually that I didn't think it of it as lying so much as being chronologically challenged.
The limo pulled up with the rest at the front of the church, and we get out, Liam putting on his top hat as he did so. I couldn't believe how sexy he looked in his tuxedo. I usually thought they look goofy, but somehow, on him, it worked.
“You made it!” Carl exclaimed as we head up the church steps, Liam's cane matching his tux. He looked over to me and reached out to shake my hand. “And I’m so glad that you brought this peach. Hi, Hayley.”
I smiled and shook his hand.
“Did you really think I would bail on you?” Liam grunted.
“For a second there yeah, but then I realized that was stupid. I mean, you've never let me down before have you?”
“Damn straight,” Liam said, and they shook hands.
The wedding was lovely, and the reception was a few miles away at a country club Carl belonged to. It, too, was a grand affair held in a ballroom complete with dancing. As Carl and his wife had their first dance, Liam and I watched, holding hands.
“Guess you two will be next,” Ann said from beside us at the table.
