Liam's Anchor

by Donna Michaels

  “Good,” she muttered, stroking his abs, which quivered under her touch. “Because I can’t.”

  “Me, either.” His hand slid down to grip her sweet ass, tugging her closer to cradle his thighs.

  “Mmm, I can tell,” she murmured, squirming against the part of him that ached for her the most.

  Humor and triumph sparkled in her warm brown gaze, along with her own need.

  Damn, he was such a goner for her.

  “I can’t wait to be inside you.” He lifted his head to brush a kiss over her bare shoulder, neck, and jaw.

  “And I can’t wait until you make me scream your name, Li-yum.”

  With a growl, he captured her lips, kissing her hot and wet and deep, feasting on her hunger, enthralled by her eager responses. He wanted her hunger. He wanted her body. He wanted…too much.

  Breaking the kiss, Liam sucked in air before he dragged his mouth down her throat, loving how she tipped her head back, giving him more access. He loved the way she hummed in pleasure when he nipped at her collarbone before he kissed his way to the very tip of her breast, which he drew into his mouth, making her arch up with a gasp as his tongue rasped her gorgeous perky nipple.

  She thrust her hands into his hair and gripped tightly. “Don’t stop.”

  Never, was his first thought, his fingers teasing her through her panties until they were wet. His insides fisted and heat skittered down his spine. He needed to be inside her now.

  Hooking his thumbs under her panties, he exhaled. “These have to go,” he muttered, and slowly he drew the tiny scrap of lace down her legs.

  “So do your clothes,” she panted, releasing his hair. “Strip.”

  Wasting no time, he peeled his T-shirt over his head while her fingertips glided down his chest and stomach, testing his self-control.

  Soon he’d be at threat level red.

  Chapter Thirteen

  Knowing the gorgeous woman was besieged with the need to touch him as much as he needed to touch her drove him crazy—in a great way. He bent down to nibble on her hip, then a rib, smiling against her heated skin when she squirmed. Enthralled by her responses, he gently closed his teeth around her nipple and tugged.

  “Mmm…” Her hands returned to his hair. “This the part where you make me scream your name?”

  “Yes, ma’am,” he said against her breast while he slid a hand down her sweet body, between her quivering thighs to paradise.

  When he slipped a finger into her wet warmth, she moaned low and long, and he felt it like a physical stroke down the length of his throbbing erection.

  Damn, she was potent.

  “Liam…” She pressed into his touch.

  That was nice but he was aiming for louder. Wanted to give her more. Wanted to overload her with so much pleasure, she shook and couldn’t keep quiet.

  He slid another finger inside and upped the pace. She was panting his name now, practically ripping out his hair, and when he sucked her other nipple into his mouth and gently bit down, she bucked wildly, his name echoing off the walls of the trailer.

  Satisfaction warmed his already heated blood. Pleasing her was his number one priority. Hearing his name on her lips was second. A sweet gift.

  Like the woman.

  Letting her down slowly, he watched her come back to herself and he didn’t think he’d ever seen anything so damn beautiful.

  Skin flushed. Mouth parted into a smile. Gaze half open and soft. Hair a wild frenzy from her thrashing.

  “Magic hands.” She surged up onto her knees and kissed his chest. “Why don’t you finish getting naked so we can see if there’s another part of you that can make me scream?”

  Son-of-a…

  His dick pulsed. The damn thing was so thick it was difficult to tug off his cargos, let alone bend over to remove his boots and socks, but he managed, kicking everything to the side…after he fished out a condom.

  “Mmm…” Stacy watched, her heated gaze watching him closely, but the minute he was finished, she dropped onto her back and parted her legs for him.

  This time, his entire body pulsed at the sight.

  As Liam settled between her thighs, he felt a deep sense of . . . home. The place where he belonged. There was no other way to describe it, and as he slid into her, his heart cracked open a little more.

  “Stacy,” he said, staring down at her. “Look at me.”

  When she opened her eyes, he saw so much emotion that he felt his throat go tight. Leaning down, he kissed her, drinking in the sweet sounds she made in her throat as he began to move deep inside her. Exquisite. Perfect.

  Home.

  She was so wet, so tight, so hot, he had to fight to hold on.

  Somehow, he managed not to blow. He refused for this to be just a release like the other day in his cabin. Even though he couldn’t tell her how he felt, he wanted to show her what was in his heart.

  Over and over, he kissed her, their tongues tangling, her fingernails digging into his back with each stroke. When he felt her tightening around him, he released her mouth, locked his elbows, and upped the pace, ripping his name from her sweet lips again. The sound broke his control. Grasping her hips, he drove deep and came hard with her name on his own lips.

  They might not have forever, but he was determined to put everything into their right now. Given the way she was clinging to him, satiated, dragging in air while little aftershocks trembled through her body, he thought perhaps he’d given her that.

  ***

  The next morning, Stacy was in her shower when she felt a change in the air pressure. Then a hand, a familiar, magical hand, one larger than her own, followed the path of her washcloth.

  Liam.

  Yesterday, after they’d christened his office, they’d ended up at her cabin, still way too hungry for each other to say goodnight. He’d taken her to paradise and back, and instead of rolling out of bed and getting dressed like she’d thought, the enigmatic man had pulled her in close against his warm body, wrapped his arms around her and fell asleep.

  Knowing better than to mistake it for more than it was, she’d decided to just enjoy their time together. So, she’d closed her eyes and drifted off, feeling safer and warmer than she had in years.

  Four, to be exact.

  “God, you’re soft.” Liam’s low, deliciously rough voice brought her back to an equally delicious reality.

  By now, he’d taken the washcloth from her hand and dropped it on the shower floor by her feet. His work-roughened hands skimmed over her body making her shiver despite the heat of the water. He brushed his hands over her breasts and belly, caressing her hips, causing Stacy’s heart to skip in her chest and pound crazy beats in her ears as she pressed back and melted against him.

  Pure magic.

  His knowing fingers continued south, stroking and brushing, driving her mad with need. Unable to hold on any longer, she slapped her palms on the tile wall, let her head fall back onto his broad shoulder, and enjoyed all he wanted to give. And he gave a lot, because she was still shuddering when he rolled on a condom he brought with him, grabbed her hips, and entered her from behind.

  The magnificent feel of him, once again, made her hungry for more. She didn’t know how it was possible, didn’t know how he did it, but the man brought her to climax again.

  Her body’s response to his, and his to hers, had always been strong, but it appeared to grow stronger every time they got together.

  When she finally showed up at work, Stacy was still smiling as she approached her office, already looking forward to their next get together. Trisha stepped out of Brett’s office next door, took one look at her face and grinned.

  “What?” she asked.

  “So, I take it my brother finally got over himself and realized what a great catch you are,” she said. “About time.”

  Stacy chuckled, despite the sharp pain that pierced her heart. “No, nothing like that,” she said, opening her office and Trisha followed her inside. “We just decided to enjoy o
ur time together while he’s in Colorado.”

  Trisha frowned. “Look, I know we were drunk on Saturday, and some of that conversation is fuzzy, but I do remember us talking about what you just said.”

  “About liking the bed part.”

  Her friend nodded and Stacy set her purse on her desk and grinned, finding it funny how they both had fuzzy memories, but both remembered that part.

  “Now that I’m sober, I’m not sure it’s such a good idea,” Trisha said, concern clouding her gaze. “I mean, are you sure you’re okay with that? I love my brother to death, but I don’t want to see you get hurt.”

  “Thanks.” She set a hand on Trisha’s arm. “That’s sweet. But it’s okay. I won’t get hurt this time because I know ahead of time that this is only temporary and it’s going to end.”

  Stacy had repeated that in her head over ten times since yesterday and figured if she did it another hundred more than maybe it might become reality. Not giving all her heart this time should help. Besides, seeing it coming should account for something.

  “Well, I hope you know what you’re doing,” Trisha said. “Maybe by the time my brother is done with the additions he’ll realize he deserves to be happy with you.”

  Stacy’s heart squeezed at the thought. It was too painful to consider, since the alternative was more likely her future. It’d been part of her history. Her past. People she loved tended to leave. Her uncle and sister were the exceptions.

  But Liam had done it once. He’d do it again.

  This time, though, she knew to safeguard her heart and stay away from wishful thinking. She needed to stay grounded and travel in the here and now.

  Enjoy the bed part but safeguard her heart.

  That was exactly what Stacy planned to do.

  ***

  It was mid Friday afternoon, a week before the wedding, when Liam walked outside with Finn and Terry in Rose and Terry’s backyard, ready to build their temporary arch.

  Two days ago, he’d gotten with the couple to nail down the simple design and yesterday he’d had the materials delivered. So, after doing ten hours’ worth of work in six at one of the veteran cabins today, Liam was good to devote the rest of the day to this project.

  And the night to Stacy.

  Since Finn and Cammie’s baby surprise event, things between them had changed.

  For the better.

  Every night since, they’d either spent it in her cabin or his…intent on enjoying their down time together. It’d been seven days now. They’d had no hiccups. No issues. No problems. Just happy times.

  Their animals got along, too. He knew he could control Trident and get him to behave, but Slater didn’t seem phased in the least to have a big dog eager to smell his butt. Share his bed. Eat his food.

  Liam had even caught the two curled up on the couch, sleeping together. Neither were allowed on it, but he hadn’t disciplined them since their time together was limited too.

  His chest tightened.

  Although he tried not to, Liam couldn’t help waking up every morning wondering if today was the day the other boot dropped. That his happiness with Shane’s ex-girlfriend would cause someone else to get hurt or die.

  Logically, he knew, Stacy had never been Shane’s girlfriend. He understood that Shane had never sought Stacy out. Never even asked her out. Liam knew the only reason they went to the ballgame together had been because Shane’s sister had tried to set them up. Blindly. But even though they had both been unwilling participants…it had still technically counted as first contact.

  And first contact invoked the code.

  This time, he was no longer active duty. This wasn’t the teams, and the brotherhood code didn’t need to be in effect. But his life and Stacy’s had originally intertwined when the code had been in play, and he wasn’t sure if they’d still be on karma’s hit list.

  God, he hoped not.

  And because he wasn’t sure, Liam was being careful, doing his best not to involve their hearts, keeping their time together light and fun. It was tough as hell suppressing his feelings for the woman, especially when he’d notice emotions in her eyes before she’d blink them away.

  He felt like an ass. The biggest fucking jerk, but he had to count on her to stick to her word that she was going to understand when he left. And he was leaving. No way would he allow their temporary relationship to go past day six of their third week.

  Four years ago, it was on the first day of week four that disaster had struck.

  No way in hell would he let that happen again.

  No way would he let Stacy end up like Marisol…

  Thankfully, according to the update from his brother that morning, the Fort Worth project was looking like breaking ground could occur this month instead of next. Colton’s law firm handled Liam’s legal business, and they learned that zoning wanted to get their dockets cleared by the new year. The final variances and permits were up for review next week and could be approved as early as the week of Christmas.

  Just before the end of Liam’s third week with Stacy.

  Day one of week four was Christmas. Which meant he wouldn’t be spending it with her.

  His chest squeezed tight.

  That meant they had two weeks and six days left, and he was determined to make the most of them. For her, and for him.

  “Well now, isn’t this a handsome trio,” Rose said with a grin, as she walked out of the house from a different door across the patio from him, with Cammie and the beauty who owned his suppressed heart.

  Cammie nodded. “Sure is.” Cammie nodded and Finn marched double-time to pull his woman in for a kiss that maybe was too hot to execute in front of his mother.

  But Rose didn’t even pay any attention to her son because she was too busy kissing Terry’s cheek.

  “Hi.” Stacy smiled as he neared.

  One of those thousand-watt smiles that lit her eyes and did funny stuff to his stomach. She stepped close to palm his chest and lift up on tiptoe to kiss him full on the lips.

  God, he loved the feel of her mouth on him. Big time. He also loved seeing happiness in her gaze, especially when it was fixed on him and mixed with a sweet helping of heat.

  Liam wrapped his arms around her and pulled her in close for a proper kiss. Since the other two couples were caught up in each other, he felt it was okay to put work on hold a few minutes and enjoy the unexpected moment.

  Chapter Fourteen

  Using his tongue, Liam traced the seam of Stacy’s lips slowly and with great precision, relishing her soft sigh as she opened for him, granting access while her body melted into him.

  Damn, he’d missed her taste. It’d been over seven long hours since he’d held her like this, and his body was already tight with need, hungry for access to a hell of a lot more. But somehow his mind held on to the fact this was not the right place or time, so he reluctantly broke the kiss.

  She drew back, her hands sliding to his shoulders. “Remind me to say hi to you more often. I wasn’t expecting such a thorough response.”

  “And I wasn’t expecting to see your beautiful face until later.” It was a nice surprise, and he was finding it tough to release her.

  The warmth in her eyes was now doing funny things to his chest. “I’m helping Rose and Cammie with some final decorating decisions. Trisha would’ve been here too, but they moved up her last final to this afternoon, so she’s stuck on campus.”

  Her concern for his sister was sweet. One of many things that was sweet about the woman. He lifted a hand to brush the hair off her temple. “She’s smart. I’m sure she’ll do well. Just like I know you’re going to transform this backyard into something very special that Rose and Terry will always remember.”

  She set a hand on his arm and squeezed. “Thanks. I just want everything to be perfect for them. They deserve it.”

  He smiled at her. “I agree. And they have the perfect person to make sure that happens. They have you.”

  And he meant it. She was smart, but
also considerate and observant. Stacy would definitely keep both the bride and groom in mind when she made suggestions.

  Color flooded her cheeks, deepening the brown of her eyes and his heart caught on her beauty. Today she wore knee-high brown boots, form-hugging jeans that tripped his pulse, a long brown sweater-type coat that was open to reveal a dark green sweater underneath. The soft material perfectly outlined her curves and drove him a little wild.

  He looked forward to peeling her out of it later.

  That thought stayed with Liam as he started to construct the top of the arch while Finn and Terry insisted on helping with the sides. Both men were more than capable. Finn was trained and possessed a wide skillset, including the handling of tools. And Terry had been responsible for the ranch for over two decades. Using a hammer was a no brainer. In fact, Liam suspected the only reason the man had asked for his help was because Trisha suggested it.

  He knew his sister had been worried about him ever since Finn’s wedding. Worried about the darkness she’d supposedly seen in his eyes. Her eyes had harbored darkness too, but she’d gotten help, opened up, had the support of a good man.

  Support was key.

  His mind drifted to Stacy again. Even though he knew the woman would help him, he couldn’t turn to her for support. Couldn’t open up to her about the mission that haunted him, because his feelings for her had been part of the cause.

  “This is a great design,” Terry said, nodding at their half-constructed arch with an impressed expression on his face. “It’s good. Solid. Almost going to be a shame to dismantle it afterward.”

  Pride filled his chest.

  “Then don’t.” Finn shrugged. “Actually…” he rubbed his jaw. “Yeah. Let’s move it to the back corner over there afterward. That’s where Mom and Cammie had talked about starting a garden when Christina’s born. We can secure it to the ground in the spring.”

  Terry nodded, slapping Finn on the back. “Good idea, son. That will make your mother happy.”

  “And my wife.” Finn laughed.

  Watching the men talk about their women with adoration softening their hard edges right before his eyes caused a tightening in Liam’s chest and an ache in his heart. He was never prone to envy, but at that moment, he wished he had their freedom to love without worry. Love without incident.