He moves closer to me, and I feel like we are back that night in the lake. The night when Lucas ran away and never even looked back. His arms suddenly moved to my waist before pulling me closer to him. I don't know what is happening to my body, but it has suddenly become a jell-O.
Liam pulls me into his arms, and my nose is filled with his familiar woodsy scent that always calms my nerves. I'm finally back in his arms, the place I've missed the most. We were fine just fifteen minutes ago, and then we were in a heated argument several minutes later. Now I'm secured tightly in his strong arms. He doesn't let go, and I don't want him to. I feel so small compared to his body, and I like the way my body fits in his arms.
"I'm sorry," he whispers through my neck. It sends me a weird feeling through my whole body, and my stomach feels funny.
I'm trying so hard to avoid his green eyes, and I don't want to look at him, so I keep my eyes on my feet. Why isn't he saying something to me? He becomes so static as if he just got struck by a bolt of lightning after my embarrassing confession. Maybe he's trying to make up something appropriate to tell me he doesn't feel the same way without making me run to the forest. Why is it so hard to say that he doesn't feel the same way toward me? I will be out of his fucking bungalow in three days anyway!
"Ava," his voice feels so soft and warm in my ear, and I didn't notice that he had already become so close to me until I was too late to shun. Our lips will brush if I dare to turn my face towards him. "Look at me!" even without using Obel's authoritative tone, I slowly turn my face to him. He is so dangerously close to me.
Slowly his hands move up from my waist, brushing against the fabric of my sweater. Shit, I wish I'm wearing thinner clothes. My body shudders pleasantly when his fingers trace my back, and I can feel an electrical shock as he crooks his hands to touch the back of my neck.
He retreats his face away from me but not too far because I can still feel his warm breath on my cheeks.
His hands are suddenly cupping my face, and I'm so caught up in those green eyes, as if they are putting me in a trance, and I can't look away.
"I should've known that a long time ago," his eyes drift down to my lips before I even realize it. I follow him and avert my gaze to his tempting rosy lips. He catches my eyes again and gives me his signature sweet smile.
His thumb stops wiping out my already-dry tears and moves closer to my lips. Once it touches my lips, an electric shock shoots through the physical contact, and I bite my bottom lip reflexively.
I can hear his breath hitch. "Please, don't do that!" His voice becomes shaky, and he doesn't take his eyes off my lips as he bites his own. I don't know why, but I can feel his body become even tenser than before we came here. At first, it looks like he was trying to hold a great pain inside, and now it seems like he is in great pain.
"Do what?" I ask, catching his eyes that are glued to my lips.
He doesn't have to answer me with words because he suddenly is leaning closer to me before he presses his mouth against mine.
His lips feel warm and smooth on mine, sending a sweet, tingling sensation through my whole body. I press my lips harder on his, demanding more, showing him I've been waiting for this to happen long ago. I've always wanted this and wanted him so badly that it hurt me to lose him that night. I want him, all of him, right now!
He responds to my raging kiss by opening his mouth and forcing his tongue inside my mouth. We explore each other's mouths and play a little tug of war with our tongues. His hands moved slowly from my face to my neck, then further down to my arms. Then they finally rested on my waist before roughly pulling me closer to him.
I race my hands from his perfectly toned chest to his broad shoulders and bring them to his neck before my fingers sneak fast into his hair. His golden hair feels so satin-smooth under my touch, and I knead a handful before tugging it softly. His kiss becomes intensified by my gesture.
Who needs oxygen to breathe when you're kissing as passionately as this, am I right?
I bite his lower lip, teasing him a little, and I feel his lips stretched out into a smile. One of his hands is suddenly on the back of my thighs as he picks me up and moves me over to the side of his body before pulling the rest of my body to his lap.
Shit, this is intense.
My voice cheers inside my head, and adrenaline rushes through my chest.
He rests his hands back on my waist, and I let my shaky hands fall on his shoulders. No one is trying to pull away or even catch a breath, and my lips are as hot as my face.
God, I can never get enough of his lips. I love how he tastes; it's sweet, soft, warm, and addictive. Very addictive.
His grip on my waist tightens, and his lips finally stop kissing me. They trail oh so very gently from my lips down to my chin. He doesn't retreat his lips too far, just enough to let go of the pressure but still in contact with my skin. As his hot breath falters on my skin, the whole zoo in my stomach grows even more chaotic. Is it weird that I also feel funny inside my jeans?
He kisses my jawline just under my ear. He lets out a warm and intoxicating breath on my skin, making me squeeze my already-closed eyes even tighter. He slowly lets his warm lips move down to my neck as if he's teasing me. I let out a soft moan because I couldn't contain myself any longer and could feel him smiling on my neck. I throw my head back slightly when he's vigorously kissing my neck down to my collarbone.
His hands move to the back of my body, dragging my body closer to him. I circle my legs around his waist and put a little pressure on his hardness, grazing it with my already wet vulva. We are secured by layers of clothing, but I still can feel the intensity of it when he lets out a soft groan on my neck. He goes back to my lips, and there is no denying how much I really want him. I kiss him passionately like I'm scared I may not be able to do it again if I don't.
"Liam..." I whisper on his lips, and he responds with another rough kiss. I like that he always responds to me with more intensified physical contact. His hands linger on the hem of my sweater. At first, I could feel he was hesitating, so I assured him to do whatever he wanted by pushing my tongue into his mouth. Then he crawls his cold hands down my sweater, and when his skin touches my back, a weak gasp escapes my lips. His hands are cold because we've been sitting out here for like 30 minutes now. He does not have his jacket on, of course, his hands are cold!
I can feel him slowly stopping before we finally pull away from each other, panting like we just finished running in a marathon. My forehead is still on his, and I dare not open my eyes. We're racing to catch the oxygen from the small space between us. He keeps his hands still inside my sweater, and the longer it is, the more I want those strong hands to explore my body. I can feel myself throbbing so hard through my already wet underwear. My body still asks for more, but I don't know if I'm ready. My heart flutters like crazy, and I hope he can't hear it.
When I open my eyes, they are welcomed by Liam's warm green eyes staring right into mine.
"Shit, Ava..." his voice is cracking, and he clears his throat. "I-I can't..."
I think he still needs to gain his composure.
"We have to stop! I can't-" his voice trailing off like the night sky.
I pull my head back to see him clearly, and I have to tilt my head to the side to catch sight of his face.
"Did I do something wrong?"
He frowns at me, and then he shakes his head frantically.
"No," he finally pulls his hands out of my sweater and cups my face. "No, you didn't. You were perfect. More than perfect."
Is he blushing?
"Don't you want to-" but he cuts me off before I can finish my sentence.
"Trust me, I do want to. I want you so badly right now, and I've been waiting for this to happen for so long, Ava! But I want to wait until you're ready and make it special with you."
When I don't say anything, he continues.
"Ava, I like you. A lot. I don't remember when I started to develop this feeling toward you. Still, I remember that night on the lake when Lucas ran away. I felt something, like a punch to my gut. All I ever wanted that night was to kiss you and tell you I cared deeply about you. But I was so scared that I would only make you push me away, so I didn't do it. Every time my head sent me back to that night, knowing that it was my last chance, I regretted every moment of it. I should've kissed you and told you how much you mean to me, Ava."
"I'm so sorry that I hurt you," his eyes are so sincere I can feel his guilt piling up in his head. "I'm so sorry that I left you when you needed me the most, and I'm so sorry I have put you through so much pain. But I also suffered without you, not knowing whether you were safe. It was especially hard when I missed you so much, and I was so hopeless that I couldn't see your face or touch you."
I quickly stand up, not wanting to bear this mixed-up feeling in my chest. I need to run, and I can't describe how much burden has been lifted from my shoulders or how relief suddenly fills my lungs.
He jumps to his feet and moves closer to me like he's scared that he might lose me again. He takes my hand and laces his fingers onto mine. "You really have no idea how sorry I am," and he pulls me back into his embrace. I don't push him away and wrap my arm around him.
"I love you," as he whispers the three words to the night sky more than to me.
Along with those three words, I know I already fell into both a mess and comfort. But all I'm sure of is that I have finally found my home again.