16. Chapter 16

Chapter 16

Liam

I ’m dreaming.

Rhys was still here. I held him in my arms, and he had talked about going for walks at ninety.

Who knew what would happen; perhaps he would be bored of me in a few years, but I wanted to believe him.

“Liam?”

“Yes?”

He backed out of the hug and tilted his head slightly.

“What’s up?”

“Nothing,” I said quickly, but my voice said something else.

“Just because I enjoy playing games with you doesn’t mean I won’t bend you over that table and spank you when you lie to me.”

I gaped at my Selkie. He could manhandle me with ease, this much I knew. It made our ‘games’ even hotter.

I tried to lie again and tell him everything was fine, but I couldn’t bring myself to do so.

“I’m listening.” He leaned against the desk by the window and crossed his arms before his sculpted chest.

“What do you want me to say?” I asked, tugging on my beard.

“I want to talk with you about whatever is going on in that gorgeous head of yours. You know, like adults do when they start a relationship with each other.”

Holy shit.

“Are you scared?”

Am I?

I crossed the room to get to him. The words fought their way out of my mouth, and I couldn’t stop them.

“I need a hug, Rhys.”

He’ll think you are pathetic.

“Come here.”

I sank into his open arms, resting my forehead on his shoulder and inhaling the manly scent of his cologne. I loved how he smelled.

“My brain did something funny when you said that we would still be going for walks at ninety,” I muttered.

“What did it do?” He stroked my hair and rubbed my back as if soothing a child. “It’s okay, you can tell me. I won’t laugh.” There was something about the way that beautiful man kissed the top of my head that made my heart flutter like a bird in a too small cage.

“I…it’s been a long time since I was in a relationship and never one where I felt…this. It was fun, and that was that. I didn’t think them leaving would drive me out of my mind.”

“But you think that about me? Or do you think I will leave? Oh, that’s it, isn’t it? Liam Bell, do you think I’ll leave as soon as I get the chance?”

“No,” I croaked.

“Liam, look at me, please.” Rhys’ voice was a gentle reminder of how good he was, and how much I wanted him in my life.

I met his eyes.

“We both agree that it’s too early for promises, yes?”

“Yeah.” I nodded. It is.

“And we can’t ever know what life brings.”

I tipped my chin again.

“But if you ask me right now, I can tell you that I have never met anyone who drew me in like you. Nobody whose presence, attention, and touch I craved the way I want yours. I’m scared, yeah, but more because just six weeks ago I kissed you for the first time. And now?” He caressed my face. “I am here, and we celebrated Christmas together, and my brain is going a hundred miles an hour trying to figure out how I’ll do it.”

“Do what?” I breathed.

“This. Us. A relationship with you when we live over an hour away from each other. I wouldn’t do that if I wasn’t serious, Liam. And I can’t promise you forever any more than you can.” He took my hand and placed it on his heart. “But this is yours for as long as you want me.”

Rhys lingered on my lips for a long kiss.

“And now let’s go back to the family. We can talk about the logistics when we’re at your place and both are too sore to keep going.”

He smirked at me. “Deal?”

“Deal.”