Chapter 3

chapter 3

. . .

I hear him open my window and squeeze my eyes shut tighter. It takes everything in me not to giggle or shift in my bed.

Liam’s quiet as he climbs through the now-open window. He’s done this a time or two and has mastered the art of sounding like a mouse versus an elephant. Which is a feat because Liam’s kind of a big guy, and moving stealthily isn’t exactly his forte.

I smell him before my bed dips. His cologne is faint, but it still lingers on his skin. It’s a good thing I know it’s him or I’d be in trouble.

“Josie,” he whispers against my skin. He nuzzles my neck and cheek, getting dangerously close to my lips. It’s like he knows where my switch is—the one that turns me on so deeply—he’s the master at controlling it.

“Are you pretending to be asleep, my girl?”

His girl.

I can’t hold my laughter in anymore and giggle as I wrap my arms around him, loving the fact he’s already shed his clothes except his boxers. He’s saving those for me. We can talk later. Right now, I want to feel him, taste him, and bask in his presence. It’s been the longest six weeks of my life, and I honestly don’t know how I’m going to make it to the holidays without seeing him.

My lips press to his, and then our tongues meet. There isn’t anything I can think of that compares to the sheer joy I feel when kissing Liam. He’s my everything. My sun, moon, a cute fluffy cloud in the sky. He’s the cherry on top of my favorite sundae and a bouquet of beautiful flowers. Liam’s the air I breathe and the tears I cry when he’s not here.

I don’t care that we’ve just graduated from high school. He’s it for me. The love of my life, now, tomorrow, and every day after. No one will ever compare to him.

My fingers trail down his face and into the scruff on his jaw. It’s longer than he’s ever had it before. I’m not sure if I like it, but none of that matters right now because my guy is here, in my room. He drove a godawful long way to come see me because I’m what he needed.

I hope he knows I need him just as much, and there isn’t anything I wouldn’t do for him.

“What’s all this?” My fingers continue to brush along his facial hair. I’m not sure I’d call it a beard, but it’s definitely something.

“Some tradition,” he says in between kisses. “I’ll shave as soon as we win.”

“Well, you won’t if you’re not QB1.”

Liam says nothing and presses his lips against mine again. I’m fine if he doesn’t want to talk right now. Neither do I. I don’t know how much time he has and there are a couple other things I’d like to do before we are forced to face reality and he has to go back to Texas.

He settles between my legs and kisses a blazing path down my torso, and already my toes curl in anticipation. Liam lifts my tank top, and I know he can see my tan line, thanks to the moonlight from outside. Katelyn teases me that I glow in the dark. When both your boyfriends are gone, there isn’t anything to do except lie by the pool all day.

Liam kisses my belly, pushing my shirt up as he moves back toward my mouth. My hands roam over the planes of his abs, his shoulders, and down his arms, and then to his ass, giving it a good squeeze. He pulls my tank top until I’m sitting up, and then he slowly brings it over my head.

We stare at each other as if this is the last time we’re going to see each other.

I reach out, needing to touch him.

Liam leans forward, leaving me no choice but to lie back. He sits back, resting on his knees. The streetlight, not far from my window, provides us enough light so we can see each other. My chest heaves as Liam stares at me. It’s like he’s trying to memorize my body. Memorize me. It’s almost as if he’s going away or he thinks I am.

I’m about to ask him if everything is okay when he bends forward and latches onto one of my breasts. My hand slaps over my mouth to muffle my cry. My back arches, wanting more from him and his tongue. More sucking, lapping, and nipping. His big hand cups my other breast, his thumb and finger tweaking and pinching my nipple.

His body shakes. Is he nervous? Scared? Eager?

I go with eager, much like I am and shimmy until his hips meet mine. I swear my eyes roll back in my head when I feel his bulge pressing into me. My hips flex, grinding against him. The feeling sends a jolt through me. I’m not sure how much more I can take. The back of my hand ghosts along his waistline, and then my hand pushes the waistband of his boxers down enough to give me access. Liam groans when my fingers graze his shaft.

“Liam.” The voice that comes out of my mouth isn’t mine. It’s heady and wanton, and nothing I’ve ever heard before.

“Yeah, Jojo?”

God, I fucking love it when he calls me Jojo. Only him.

Words escape me as I push my panties down my leg, kicking and wiggling until they’re off. My hands grip his briefs, pushing them down his legs until he’s sprung free.

I want him. No, it’s more than want. It’s a need. Something in me needs to be quenched and he’s the only one who can do it.

Liam looks at me. I cup his cheek and kiss him softly as my fingers trail down his back until I’ve reached his backside. My hand pushes him forward as my legs spread to accommodate him. He looks in my eyes as his cock teases me. One more nudge from me and he’s pushing inside of me.

Liam never takes his eyes off mine as he moves in and out of me. He’s slow and taking his time, absorbing the moment for our memories. This is what our dreams will be when we’re not together. This night, like others we’ve had, but this one will stand out.

I love him. I don’t know how else to tell him without saying the words over and over until he tires of them.

My mouth drops open and before I can cover it, Liam does it for me by kissing me, his tongue making love to my mouth.

I can’t stop touching him, and my hands move everywhere from his chest to his arms, to his face. My fingers thread in his hair and then down his back. I urge him to go faster, to push me over the brink, but he won’t. He keeps a slow, rhythmic pace.

Liam grips my headboard as my sex tightens around his shaft. He groans, pants heavily. I need to scream, to slap my hips into his but I can’t. I bite his chest to stifle my cry as he falls on top of me, moaning into my pillow.

“Liam, condom,” I somehow manage to say. We’ve done this before, but tonight feels different.

“I’ll pull out.”

I trust him with everything I am. Everything he is.

His hand grips my hips, and he finally thrusts into me.

“I love you,” I say against his mouth. “I miss you so much. I need you, baby.”

He slows his pace, but I need more.

I want more from him.

My legs lock behind his back, pulling him deeper. I cry out from the different angle, and then I freeze when I feel him come inside of me. My eyes go wide. “Shit, Liam,” I whisper-yell at him as I throw him off me.

“I’m sorry. I’m so sorry,” he says over and over in my ear.

“We have to be careful, Liam. We can’t get pregnant.”

“I know, I’m sorry.”

As fast and quietly as I can, I get up and slip my panties and tank top back on and creep to the bathroom to try and take care of the issue. Not that there is much I can do at this point other than hope and pray. I glance at myself in the mirror and wonder what Liam sees in me because right now, all I see is a messy, heartbroken, love-struck girl who is so in love with her boyfriend she can’t see straight. I splash icy water on my face, wash my hands, and then make my way back to my bedroom.

I stand there, with my back pressed to my door, staring at my man. He’s waiting for me, with no judgment or fear on his face. Liam has put his boxers on and nestled himself into his favorite spot on my bed. He’s not leaving me, at least not tonight, and for that I’m thankful. He came back to Beaumont for me. No one else.

Liam beckons me, and I go to him, crawling into the warm embrace of his arms. He holds me against his chest where my fingers trail lazily along his pecs. His do the same to my back, sending random goosebumps along my spine.

Will I ever tire of him?

I hope not.

“What’s going on, Liam?”

Liam sighs. It’s heavy and telling. There’s something weighing on him, but unless he tells me I can’t try to fix it.

“I hate school, Jojo. I hate the team, the coach, everything. I hate that you’re not there. That Mason’s not there. Everything about the place is sterile and uninviting. It’s a great campus, but I don’t belong there. I made a mistake and now I’m paying the price. Beaumont’s golden boy has fucked up and there ain’t shit I can do about it.”

My heart aches for him. I know this is Mason’s fault. Had he just followed through with what he was supposed to, my guy wouldn’t be hurting right now.

I sit up and rest my head on my hand, trailing my fingers down his scruff, adding some pressure when I get to his chin so he’ll look at me.

“You’re one of the best quarterbacks in the country, Liam. Talk to the coach and find out why you’re not playing.”

He nods and swallows hard. I know what I say are only words. Words I’m sure he’s heard a hundred times over. Deep down, he knows he’s the best and is frustrated with the entire situation. As much as I want him to come to school with me, if he does so his chances for the NFL dwindle greatly. No one from our school ever gets drafted and Liam should be the number one pick in three or four years. That’s what he’s strived for his entire life.

“I don’t know, babe.”

“What don’t you know? They recruited you. They wanted you to play. Yes, it sucks that Mason pulled a fast one, but it’s not like you guys were a package deal.”

“Yeah, I guess,” he says. “It’s just not what I thought it would be. I don’t know, high school doesn’t really prepare you to be hundreds of miles away from the one you love, does it?”

“No, I suppose it doesn’t. But I’m here, you know that, and I’ll be coming down soon.” Yes, he invited me, but it’s up to me to find the ticket. I don’t know how much one even costs, but I’m going to find out soon so I can save. Being with him, there for him, those are the only things that matter to me.

I pull my comforter over us and snuggle into his hold. I want this forever, this feeling he gives me. When Liam looks at me, I can see the love he has for me in his eyes, and I can feel it in the way he holds me. Like now, his arm is tight across my back, holding me securely to his chest. It’s almost as if he thinks I’m going to disappear on him.

“Liam?”

“Yeah, baby?”

“I love you more than anything in this world.”

“I love you too, Jojo.”