Chapter Five

SOPHIE

W e stumbled into the living room, our hands on each other. We found the couch. Liam's lips found their way down my neck, suckling gently while his other hand slipped behind my head, tangling in my hair and pulling me closer still. “Will you let me taste you, Sophie?”

I nodded, leaning into him as he found a sweet spot behind my ear and nipped. My fingers dug into his shoulders, and I tilted my head back, inviting him to continue his trail of kisses down my collarbone. He obliged, his lips grazing the sensitive skin with featherlight contact that sent warm tremors down my spine.

Our bodies pressed tighter against each other with each breath. His muscles molded against my softer curves. His mouth found mine once more, demanding, like he couldn't get enough of me.

Our kisses grew deeper, more desperate. The couch springs creaked under our combined weight, but all I could feel was the warmth of Liam's skin on mine. His calloused hands roamed freely over my body as if mapping out new territory.

His lips trailed down my neck again, leaving hot little pecks along the way while one hand found its way under my shirt and brushed against my bra. My heart thudded as his thumb rubbed circles around the hardened peak. He pulled my t-shirt overhead. My breath caught in my throat as he opened the clasp of my bra and pulled it aside gently. His hot breath fanned over my bare skin then dipped downwards as he took one nipple into his mouth, sucking softly at first then harder with a moan of approval.

I gasped as he tongued and suckled harder, teeth occasionally grazing the sensitive nipple before soothing it with his soft lips again. It sent fireworks off in my core as my pussy tightened in tandem with his sucking motions. My free hand fisted in his hair, holding him close while the other roamed his rock-hard abs below. He was all lean muscle and raw power beneath his shirt. Liam growled against my skin and tugged the fabric over his head before discarding it.

Liam's hand snaked its way up my thigh, gently prodding at the elastic of my yoga pants. He slipped past the waistband and slid his fingers along the heated skin of my inner thigh before pushing them one small inch further.

“Liam.” I gasped his name, arching into the contact as he found my wet pussy. He slipped one finger inside me, circling slowly and drawing out a moan that seemed to come from my very core. Then, I watched as he withdrew his finger, glistening with the evidence of my need for him, and put it in his mouth. His eyes half-closed in ecstasy. My own heart pounded, and my eyes widened at the visual cue of how much he wanted me.

My head fell back against the cushions. He smiled around his wet fingertip and leaned down to kiss me again, the taste of me still on his lips.

As his fingers skimmed over the wetness between my legs once more, heat pooled in my belly and spread through every inch of me. He pried my pants down slowly, inch by inch, taking his time to savor the view. His eyes glinted with hunger as he saw my panties.

With a final tug, he pulled my pants down, then leaned in to kiss along the inside of my thighs. His fingertips found the scar that laced from my knee to thigh. He traced it and kissed that as well. His rough stubble scratched teasingly against my sensitive skin as he moved higher and higher towards his prize. When he reached it, he paused for a moment over my folds before parting them with tender hands.

His nose dipped lower still, inhaling my scent as if committing it to memory. Then, he pressed a soft kiss just above where his mouth and my vaginal lips met. It sent shivers cascading through me.

Without warning, Liam's tongue darted out and traced a line along my slit before sweeping inside me. He then lapped at my clit.

His fingers worked in tandem with his tongue, fucking me up as he licked and sucked and nibbled on every sensitive spot he found. I bit down on my lip, feeling dizzy with desire as his tongue grazed the bundle of nerves beneath him.

My hips bucked upwards, seeking more of his touch. Liam's tongue lashed across my clit while his fingers pumped harder into me, stretching and filling me fully. It felt like hot lava coursing through my veins.

My orgasm hit me like a lightning bolt, making my whole body tremble. I felt the warmth of his mouth on me, the slickness of my pussy as my juices flowed. My hips shook against his face, my walls clenching around his fingers.

“Do you like that?” The low vibration of his voice as he spoke against my folds made me pant harder. “Do you want more?”

"Oh god yes," I moaned out.

He slipped from me just enough to get rid of his pants.

"Fuck," I breathed out as he stood up naked before me, hard cock in hand. It looked enormous against his toned stomach, veins prominent.

I reached out to grab it, circling the head with my fingers before taking it into my mouth. His shaft tasted salty and warm, coated in a thin layer of precum from our recent activities. I took him deeper, stroking and sucking as I felt his throbbing length stretch my jaw.

He groaned, resting his hands on the back of the couch as I took more of him into my mouth. My fingers skimmed over the crease between his abdomen and hip, teasing the soft hairs there. I traced circles around the sensitive ridge underneath the head of his dick with my tongue.

Feeling emboldened by his murmurs of approval, I leaned forward and took him all the way in. My lips met the velvety skin beneath his head. One of his hands tangled in my hair, urging me on while the other squeezed my breast.

"Sophie." He groaned again, his eyes closing shut. Liam's hips bucked before his body stiffened.

My mouth clenched tight around him, squeezing out every last drop of cum from his throbbing cock. It tasted sweet and salty on my tongue.

After several more moments, his grip loosened in my hair. His eyes fluttered open, and he stared down at me, his expression filled with raw desire. I knew what was coming next.

He pulled his cock free of my mouth. I looked up at him with a sly smile. He stared down at me with lust that made me shiver. He knelt between my legs, spreading them further apart until there was nothing but anticipation between us.

His fingers skimmed over the curve of my abdomen while he rolled on a condom. "Get ready for me, Sophie," he said softly, voice rough with sexual need.

“I’ve been ready for you.” It was true. I wanted Liam, and I’d wanted him for longer than just tonight.

He pushed me gently back onto the couch. His hands trailed up my sides. He lifted one of my legs up and placed it over his shoulder, opening me wider for him. He moved his hips, his cock tracing circles around my entrance before pressing firmly against it. He leaned down, his mouth meeting mine. I groaned into the kiss as he pushed inside.

He thrust slowly at first, teasing the walls of my pussy as they stretched to cover him. The friction sent sparks of pleasure straight to my core. Each thrust created a white-hot flash behind my eyes as we moved together in perfect sync.

His muscles flexed under my fingertips as he began to pick up speed, pumping harder and faster inside me. My nails dug into his shoulders, leaving faint crescents in the skin there as I arched my back off the couch. I uttered unintelligible sounds of pleasure into his mouth, tasting myself on his tongue as we moved together. My inner walls massaged him with every contraction, milking him for every drop.

The sounds of our bodies moving together filled the room, the slap of skin on skin.

Each plunge sent a shockwave through my womb, making me gasp for breath. I couldn't believe how good it felt, better than anything I've ever had before.

He powered in and out of me. With every thrust, his cock hit that spot inside me that made stars dance behind my eyelids.

Through the thin latex, I could feel every ridge and vein on his cock as he pistoned in and out of my soaked pussy. Each time sent electric shocks shooting through my spine.

I cried out as I climaxed again. Liam came after. His cock pulse as he released.

Liam's lips grazed mine as we caught our breath, his tongue tracing the seam of my lips in a tease. His hands roamed over my body, trailing fire along my skin and drawing out whimpers from deep within me.

His strong arms wrapped around me, pulling me close, as if he couldn't get close enough. Our hearts beat in sync, as if they too were falling in love. I closed my eyes and let myself be lost in the moment, feeling the weight of his body pressing against mine, his warm breath caressing my face.

For now, we surrendered to this sexual heat that had been building between us, and we let it consume us completely.

As our breathing slowed, we clung to each other, reluctant to separate. But reality had a cruel way of seeping in. I looked at Liam’s face. We both knew the risks of what this could bring.

"Nobody can know about us," I said.

Liam rested his forehead against mine. “You’re right.” His voice was rough with emotion. “It would complicate things.”

I nodded, swallowing hard against the lump in my throat. Complications were something we couldn't afford.

"Promise me, Soph." His fingers traced the line of my jaw before he got up to retrieve his clothes. "This stays between us."

"Promise," I whispered back.

I wrapped a throw blanket around myself before I saw him to the door. I watched him walk down the street before I closed it shut. In that moment, we were just Liam and Sophie. But morning would come, and with it the roles we played to the outside world.

LIAM

THE NEXT DAY, THE GYM was quiet. I guess most guys in the league decided to make it a late morning, but not me. After spending part of the night with Sophie, I had too much on my mind to sleep in.

Alone, as the early morning light pierced through the windows, I stood by the ring. Drops of sweat fell from my forehead onto the mat below. Thoughts of last night with Sophie kept replaying in my mind: the way she moved, how her body felt under me, and the softness of her lips against mine. I knew these would be memories I’d hold onto forever.

I wanted to hold onto her the same way. For the rest of my life.

Real life bobbed its way back in, creeping close to take a jab at my cute little fantasy. Sophie didn’t say much about her life, but I wasn’t an idiot. She had a determined, intense way about her. Beneath her beauty and strength, she had her own agenda here. I wasn’t sure if she ever would open up and share it with me.

Whatever it was, it held onto her tight. There was no space for me to come in and tell her how I felt. Still, I had to find a way. I met Sophie only a short while ago, but I knew she was the woman for me.

Was she safe with me, though? As I wrapped my hands with tape for some rounds with the bag, a new ache gnawed at me from the inside. After my mom died, I didn’t get close to anyone. Then there was my criminal history with Jack. What if my past came back to bite me and hurt those I cared about?

I remembered Jack's voicemails days after he got locked up. He kept calling, demanding I bail him out or find him a lawyer. He called three times. Each time he got more desperate, until the last call when he realized I was done living the kind of life he led. “Damn you, Liam." The venom in Jack’s voice was clear even through the phone. “You think you can just walk away and ignore me while I’m in jail? You think you’re gonna start fresh? I'll find you when I get out. No matter where you go."

I wasn’t a scared little kid anymore. I left home and came back an Army vet and an MMA fighter. I was ready to face him. Yet the thought of Jack getting near Sophie just to mess with me made my stomach roil. Cold sweat clammed up my hands.

As much as I would’ve liked for Sophie to stay in my corner, I knew I had to walk a fine line between what I wanted and what I should do to keep her safe.

My eyes drifted to the punching bag hanging from the rafters, its faded, worn leather skin proof of the countless punches it had absorbed over time. I stepped forward, feeling the familiar weight of gloves on my hands. With each punch, I let out a grunt that echoed around the empty gym.

"Liam," came a soft voice from behind me. I turned to find Sophie standing in the doorway, her eyes filled with concern. "Are you okay?"

Her question jolted me out of my trance, reminding me that I had someone else's well-being to consider now. "Yeah, I'm fine," I said, trying to sound casual. The lie hung heavy in the air between us. I took off my gloves to get my water bottle from my bag. “What? You act like you don’t believe me.”

"Listen, Liam," Sophie caught my arm as I passed. “The Heartland Fight Fest is the biggest national MMA tournament this year. I'll be here to make sure you succeed."

I drank deeply before I set the bottle down. "I know, Soph. The ring is all that matters right now." There I was, lying to her again. Fighting meant a lot to me, but she meant more.

"Exactly." She exhaled a breath.

"So we’re good." I rambled the words even though I wanted to take her on the bench that very moment. Damn. More people were starting to come into the gym.

Possible spectators weren’t the only thing keeping me from wanting to make love to Sophie. Jack was out in the world again. If I wanted any chance at a future with Sophie, I'd have to start talking. That meant revealing secrets I'd buried deep. First, I needed to gather my thoughts and prepare for what was ahead.