Liam set the picnic basket on the blanket. “So full of questions today.”
I toyed with the fringe of the blanket. “Just curious.” That wasn’t a total lie, I was curious. But I was asking so many questions because I was afraid I might spill my own news at the wrong time.
Liam settled himself next to me on the blanket. “What do you think?”
“Of our picnic spot?” I looked out at the view again. “It’s gorgeous.”
Liam pressed his lips to my temple. “What would you think about building a home here?”
My body jerked, and I sat up straight. “Here? Really?” Liam had been searching for the perfect piece of property to build a house on for what felt like forever. His fancy lawyer had been able to get him out of his record contract, and he’d released the album he always wanted to make. But now he was more focused on producing and he needed a place where he could record. Right now, we had to travel back and forth to LA every month or so. It wasn’t ideal.
Liam popped off the end of the cardboard tube. “Right here.” He spread out what looked like blueprints on the blanket. “These are just some preliminary sketches the architect put together for our options.”
His finger dusted over the plans. “The whole back of the house would be windows so we could take advantage of the view. My recording studio could go there.” Liam tapped the paper. “And over here, your art studio.”
My heart squeezed. Liam had never stopped championing my art. He had, in fact, put a drawing of mine on the cover of his album, a charcoal sketch of Phoenix, and it had led to quite a bit of attention. I’d had a few showings in galleries over the past year, and had enough private clients to make art my full-time job.
Tears pricked at my eyes. “It’s perfect.” I looked up, meeting his gaze. There was so much emotion in those eyes.
Liam cupped my cheek. “Let’s build a home here.”
“I can’t imagine anything better.” I pulled myself over to Liam so that I straddled his lap. “Well, maybe one thing could make it better.” I began pulling his shirt up and over his head. I paused for a brief second. “No one’s coming up here, right?”
Liam ripped off his shirt the rest of the way. “I’d shoot them if they tried.”
My hands made quick work of the button on Liam’s shorts. My need for him fueled my movements, as if I would die if he weren’t inside me soon. “Need you.”
“You have me.” Liam kicked off his shoes and bucked his hips to shuck his shorts and boxers. The movement ground his hardening cock against my center. I moaned. Liam cursed.
Liam lowered the straps of my sundress so that my breasts fell free. His lips closed around one nipple, and he sucked. Hard. I cried out. He released the bud from his mouth. “Too much?”
I took his mouth in a swift kiss. “They’re just sensitive today.”
Liam’s hands massaged my breasts with a soft pressure that had wetness pooling between my legs. “I’ll be gentle.”
I ran my hands through his hair, tugging. “Don’t be too gentle.”
One of Liam’s hands dipped beneath my dress and froze. “No panties?”
I smiled devilishly. “I had high hopes for this picnic.”
Liam groaned as his fingers began to explore. “One of these days, you’re going to kill me.”
I laughed and bent to suck his ear lobe between my teeth so I could nibble. “Need you inside me, Liam. Now.”
His fingers were gone, and then his tip was pushing in. I arched back as he entered me fully. The delicious stretch that turned to heat was my favorite feeling in the world. I began to rock, finding that slow and steady rhythm that built and built.
I picked up my pace, Liam guiding my hips as my hair, now blonde again, fell in a cascade around us. “So close.” I moaned out the words.
Liam thrust his hips, hitting that deep spot that always caused me to shatter. But this time was so intense, my entire body shook. I collapsed on Liam’s chest, breathing heavily. His lips pressed against my temple. “Love you, Tessa.”
“Love you more.” I burrowed into his neck. We stayed like that for a long time until Liam had to pull out. I whimpered at the loss. Quickly dressing, he pulled a towel from the picnic basket and cleaned me with such tenderness, tears filled my eyes.
Liam brushed the drops away with his thumbs. “Hey now, what’s this about?”
I straightened my dress. “Sorry, I’m just emotional.” Liam gave me a puzzled smile. I took a deep breath. “What do you think the chances are we could get this house built in the next six months?”
Liam sat back down next to me, trailing a hand up and down my spine. “I think it would be a challenge, but we might be able to do it. Why?”
