Chapter 15 - part 4

---

### **Part 4: A New Kind of Connection**

The following week, things between Liam and Lucas started to shift. It wasn't just about the money anymore, or the clothes, or even the lavish dinners. It was the way Lucas looked at him now—like he was something precious, something worth protecting, something that belonged.

Liam wasn't used to feeling this way. He had spent so many years just trying to survive that he had never once considered the idea of *thriving*. But now, with Lucas, it was like the world was opening up to him in ways he hadn't imagined possible. The nights they spent together were different from the nights he'd spent alone or with Casey. There was a quiet intimacy to them—something real, something he couldn't push away, no matter how much he tried to tell himself it was too soon, too complicated.

---

**It started with little moments.**

The way Lucas would brush a stray lock of hair from Liam's face when they sat at dinner, or the way he would quietly reach for Liam's hand when the silence between them became too loud. Every touch, no matter how small, sent a shockwave of warmth through Liam's chest, and yet, there was always a small part of him that couldn't quite let go of the anxiety. He didn't know if he deserved this kind of affection. He didn't know if he could trust it.

One evening, they were sitting in Lucas's apartment after dinner. They'd just finished a bottle of red wine, the faint glow of the city lights streaming through the tall windows. Lucas had been talking about a trip he had taken to Italy a few years ago, but Liam wasn't really listening. His mind was more focused on how close Lucas had sat to him that evening, how his leg had brushed Liam's every time he moved. How, when Lucas had leaned in to pour them more wine, Liam could smell the faint hint of cologne mixed with the warmth of his skin.

It was all so... intimate.

"Liam," Lucas said, his voice soft. "You don't have to feel like you owe me anything."

Liam blinked, not realizing he had been holding his breath. He looked up at Lucas, his heart suddenly racing. "What do you mean?"

Lucas gave him a look—a look that was both gentle and full of understanding, like he could see right through Liam's walls. "I know what you're doing. You're protecting yourself. I can see it in the way you hold back, the way you keep telling yourself you don't deserve this. But I want you to stop. *Please* stop."

Liam swallowed, feeling the walls he'd so carefully built around himself start to crumble. "I just... I don't know how to trust this. How to trust you."

Lucas's expression softened, and he reached out to gently touch Liam's arm. It wasn't a grand gesture, but the way his fingers brushed against his skin sent a jolt through Liam's whole body. He could feel the heat of Lucas's touch even through the fabric of his shirt.

"You don't have to trust me all at once," Lucas said, his voice low. "Just take it slow. We can do this at your pace."

Liam opened his mouth to respond, but before he could say anything, Lucas leaned forward slightly, his face just inches from Liam's. The air between them felt charged, as if everything had led up to this moment. For a long moment, they just looked at each other—Liam's breath coming faster, his heart pounding in his chest.

Then, before Liam could even think about what he was doing, Lucas closed the gap. His lips brushed lightly against Liam's—soft, tentative, as if waiting for permission. Liam froze for a heartbeat, his mind racing.

But then, something inside him clicked. The tension melted away, and he found himself leaning into the kiss, his hand instinctively reaching for Lucas's chest, feeling the solid warmth of him beneath his fingers. Lucas's hand moved to cup his face gently, deepening the kiss, and Liam felt his pulse spike, his body reacting before his mind had a chance to catch up.

When they pulled away, it was only for a moment. Just long enough for Liam to catch his breath, just long enough for the room to stop spinning.

"Is this... okay?" Liam whispered, his voice shaky. He didn't want to mess this up, didn't want to do something he wasn't ready for.

Lucas's thumb traced the edge of his jaw, his eyes dark and intent, but full of something soft, something patient. "It's more than okay," he said quietly. "But if you want to stop, we stop. Always."

Liam didn't know how to answer at first. Part of him wanted to pull away, wanted to remind himself that this was *too much*—too fast, too real. But the other part of him, the part that had been longing for connection for so long, just couldn't pull away.

"I don't want to stop," Liam said, his voice barely audible. He looked up at Lucas, his heart pounding in his chest. "But I'm scared. I don't want to ruin this."

Lucas smiled, a soft, reassuring smile. He leaned in again, this time just enough for his lips to graze Liam's forehead. "You won't ruin it," he murmured. "We're in this together."

---

**The Next Morning**

Liam woke up to sunlight filtering through the blinds, casting a soft glow across the room. He was still in the same spot on the couch where they'd fallen asleep last night, wrapped in the warmth of a blanket that Lucas had draped over him. It had been a simple night—no grand gestures, just a kiss and the quiet comfort of each other's presence. But something inside Liam had shifted.

As he sat up, he looked over at Lucas, who was already awake, sitting at the kitchen counter and scrolling through his phone. Lucas looked up and smiled when he saw Liam stir.

"Morning," he said softly. "You sleep okay?"

Liam nodded, rubbing his eyes. He still felt that twinge of uncertainty, but it wasn't as sharp as before. It felt like he was standing on the edge of something he didn't fully understand, but he wanted to learn. He wanted to be *here*—in this moment, with Lucas.

"Yeah. I did," Liam replied, his voice a little hoarse. He stood up, stretching, before making his way over to where Lucas was sitting. "I don't know what I'm doing, Lucas."

Lucas chuckled, his smile warm. "You're doing fine. Just... let me be here. Let me help you when you need it."

Liam hesitated for a moment, then sat next to Lucas, the space between them still electric. His fingers brushed against Lucas's, and for a second, it felt like the most natural thing in the world.

"You're not going anywhere, are you?" Liam asked, his voice quieter now. It was a question that held so much more than just the literal meaning.

Lucas's gaze softened, and he turned to face Liam fully. "I'm not going anywhere, Liam. I'm right here."

---

**End of Part 4.**

---

### **What's Next?**

In Part 5, we can explore how their relationship deepens further, and Liam's growth continues. There will be moments of vulnerability, trust-building, and maybe even a few obstacles that make Liam question what it truly means to let someone in.