“Let me tell you something. I’ve been watching you, Megan. You came into our group kicking and screaming, even if you didn’t do it physically, you were resisting all the same. Dani, being all that is Dani, pulled you in and refused to let you go. She has that way about her, always seeing what people need even if they can’t see it for themselves. Months. It took months before I saw you even smile. But I still watched. Watched and waited.”
“Waited for what?” I ask, the words coming out as shaky as I feel. His heart beating strong and steady under my palm.
“For you to see.”
I cock my head to the side and wait for him to continue.
“You saw it that night, baby. And you saw it last night when you went from shivering in fear to a comforting calm just with my hands on your body. I wasn’t alone in that bed, Megan, and I damn sure wasn’t alone last night.”
“It was dark,” I say lamely thinking about our night together.
“Yeah and what I’m talking about is something you don’t need light to see, baby.”
Well, now I’m even more confused.
“You won’t get it right away. Hell, you might not even see it, but you will eventually. I’ve been waiting, Megan and after last night, I’m done waiting. It’s time for me to help you see.”
“See what!” I snap.
“Everything.”
That’s it. That’s all he says. He gives me a smirk, his dimple coming out with his knee-melting smile and his eyes burning bright. I sit there like a dead weight on his lap with my hands still against his chest, his heart beating steady under my palm and try to understand his words.
“Everything? What is that even supposed to mean?”
His smirk grows into a smile. One that has my fingers curling into his skin and my thighs involuntarily pressing against his legs to try and ease the pressure building.
“You’ll see.”
“Look, Liam. You’re a nice guy and all that, but I just don’t think you and I are on the same page here.”
“Same book, different chapters, baby. Don’t worry, you’ll learn to read fast.”
“Ugh! I don’t think you get it. I mean, I tried to be nice about it. It was sex, Liam. Just sex. I needed it, you gave it, and we both got something out of it. Why can’t you just leave it at that?”
He throws his head back and laughs. I literally stop breathing at the sound. That burn in my gut coming back tenfold.
A burn that I haven’t felt in so long.
Feelings.
He turns his eyes back to mine and smiles when he sees my expression. “Ah, I see you’re starting to understand.”
Okay, now I’m getting pissed. I rip my hands from his grasp, instantly missing the warmth of his chest against my palms. I want to kiss him and I want to slap him all in the same breath.
“You don’t understand, Liam. I can’t . . . I just . . . I can’t do this.” My nose burns and I can feel the emotion start to climb up my throat, but I beat it down. I try to get up but his hands quickly grab my hips and he pulls me tighter against his lap. “I can’t,” I choke out, once again fighting the emotions from bubbling out.
“Wrong, Megan. You can, you’re just afraid.”
“You’re fucking right, I’m afraid.” My eyes widen when I realize what I’ve given away. I shake my head and struggle against his hold. His face softens and his eyes don’t leave mine when he lifts his hands from my hips. I scramble off his lap so quick that I lose my balance and crash to the floor. He moves quickly to help me, I hold my hand up and give him the back of my head. “No. Don’t.”
“Megs.”
“It’s Megan, dammit!” I scream before clamping my lips tight. “Please, it’s Megan. I haven’t been Megs in three years, Liam. I need you to get that if you don’t get anything else.”
He doesn’t say anything and when I get the courage, I turn and look him in the eyes from my position on the floor. He’s pulled his body to the edge of the seat and his arm is still outstretched to help me off the floor. His eyes, they’re telling me everything his silence isn’t. He gets it and to my shock it looks as if it hurts him just as much as it hurts me.
“I can’t be Megs,”
“All right, darlin'. I understand,” he says softly. “I need you to be honest with me, sweetheart. Please. I get that this is new, sudden and scary for you. You get me when I say I’ve been waiting?”
I shake my head.
He sighs, “Can you please let me help you off the floor?”
I shake my head again and use the coffee table to pull myself to my feet, going to sit on the couch opposite from him instead of the chair next to where he’s sitting on the loveseat.