14. Chapter 14

Chapter 14

Liam

R hys steered me through the living room and up the stairs to a window seat.

“Sit down,” he told me, then settled down next to me and pulled me into a gentle hug. “Come here, love. It’s okay. I’m here.”

I broke. I didn’t know if it was him calling me ‘love’ or the space he opened for my feelings, but I cried more than I had in the past two years combined.

“It’s all good. I can deal with your tears, Liam.” He stroked my hair and held me through my breakdown. “You are wonderful, and I’m sorry your family experiences that.”

I rarely allowed myself to feel the extent of my dad’s struggles with dementia, kept it all under wraps so I could keep going. For my family, for Fergus, and my company.

“It’s all right, Liam. Let it out. I’m here,” he repeated as if he wanted to drive the words home.

Rhys encouraged me to rest my weight on him, showing me that he could hold me up.

I know he’s stronger than he looks. My bull.

He swayed me gently to a melody only he could hear, soothing my heart and healing my soul.

“I—”

“No, don’t apologise. Please don’t,” he whispered into my hair. “Thank you for letting me meet your dad and inviting me to celebrate with your family. They are so lovely. I can see where you get it from.”

“I’m so glad you came home with me, Rhys.” I raised my head and kissed him on the mouth. My face was still puffy and hot, but he didn’t seem to mind.

He cupped my cheek, licking the seam of my lips, and stroked my tongue with his. Somehow this kiss felt more intimate than anything else we had done together.

We weren’t just two horny fools making out but two souls entwined. Rhys’ other hand fisted my Christmas jumper, dragging me closer.

Get under my skin, baby.

“Gods, Liam. I—” The rest of his words got lost in his attack on my mouth. I pulled him into my lap, desperate to get lost in him. And thankful that we were hidden away in this secluded corner.

I couldn’t remember the last time I had snogged someone so fiercely without skipping straight to sex. It was the fucking best.

“Liam?” My sister’s voice called up the stairs, tentative as if she was afraid to interrupt us.

Well done, pup. It’s not often someone gets Mina to stand down.

“In a minute,” I called back.

Rhys gave me a cheeky grin and ran his fingers through my beard. “Or five.” He pulled my mouth on his for another deep kiss, one that made my stomach swoop.

“Let’s go back downstairs before Mina sends the wild things after us.”

“Yeah, we don’t want to traumatise them.” He climbed off my lap and straightened up.

I got up, too, and gripped his arse. “I suggest we keep the potentially traumatising things for when we’re alone in bed later.” I hummed, kneading his glute for a moment. “I can’t wait.”

Rhys groaned, nuzzling his face into my neck. “Me neither. Gods, how am I supposed to survive today?”

Running my fingers up to his hip, I slipped them under his waistband and into his boxers. “I’m sorry I can’t take care of you now, pup. But you will be so beautifully needy later.” I brushed his hole, drinking down his heated gasp.

He had allowed me to be vulnerable with him, and I found it even easier to get into his head, to pull him back under my spell.

I kissed his cheek, then the elegant shell of his ear.

“Don’t worry, I will stuff that sweet hole so full of me you’ll be dripping my seed for days.”

A low whine escaped from his lips.

“Yes, pup. Whimper for me. Nothing gets me harder than hearing you make these sounds.”

He pulled me around and thrust his tongue between my lips. “Fucking hell, Liam. And nothing gets me going like your dirty talk.” He sighed. “Let’s go have cookies now.”

I pulled my hand out of his slacks and flung my arm around his shoulders.

“I better go wash my hands before we have coffee.”

Rhys giggled, bumping his head against my chest as we walked down the hallway to the guest bathroom. “Yeah, you should. Me, too. And maybe we can have cold showers while we’re at it.”

“Don’t tempt me, pup.”

“With what? Ice cold showers?” He raised an eyebrow, meeting my gaze in the small, gilded mirror.

“You, naked.” I shrugged. “We could take a dip in the Arctic Ocean, and I’d still want you.”

Pressing his lips together, he dried his hands and came up to me. “I highly doubt that. I’d not be this.” He tilted his head down his body. “But wear my other skin.”

“I would still want you because it’s you.” I pecked his nose and went to wash my hands.