Liam covered her hands with his. “And if doing my best and following my heart are two different things?”
This was the very conundrum they were both in, and there wasn’t an easy answer. However, Catriona had her own decisions to make. Her goals were becoming more evident, but whether he took her up on her offer would confirm her next step.
Anticipation gripping her stomach in a vice, unable to decide which move to take, but hoping that the Heavens would give her a clue, she almost sighed in relief when Liam closed the gap between them and possessed her lips. It was nothing like the previous times they’d kissed, but more tentative.
When he broke their connection, he sighed, the pain even more evident on his face. “Why do I have the impression that even if I follow my heart, I’m forcing you into something you’ll regret?”
Just when she thought he’d push her away again, his hands grabbed her waist and brought her to the bed. In a flash, the kiss returned, hungry and so urgent, and it made her burn even brighter. Catriona parted her knees on each side of his waist, and it became difficult to breathe as she pressed herself down against his body. Was this it? How much she’d hoped it was, with him. She knew her decision could never be undone once made.
Could her anxious anticipation be a warning after all? When Liam’s rough hands rasped her skin under her sweater, her body told her it was the right thing to do. With a gasp, Catriona clumsily touched his shoulders, following the ridge of muscles leading to his neck before delving her fingers into his hair. Was it enough for him? Would he like it?
Her mind scrambled until Liam slid his hands off her body to quickly remove his sweater, throwing it hard against the wall. Only then did he return to her mouth, his kiss now more demanding, less guarded.
Her being felt so alive and restless, like electricity pulsed through every nerve ending, everything converging between her legs in the most arousing sensation. As if to increase the sensations and contact, her hips started moving, but the friction was far from satisfying. She wanted more, and it was clear her lover had the same need when he brought her down with him on the bed.
In this position, she couldn’t see or touch him, and her fingers itched to do so. Emboldened, she pushed herself up, straddling him as his silver eyes seared through her every cell. She did the same, looking at the man on the bed. He appeared feral, even lying prone like he was. Every breath made her move, his muscles tense under tempting skin. For the longest time, he didn’t twitch, allowing her to adjust. It must have been trying for him to hold back, and his breathing became labored as he swallowed hard several times. His corded neck held her attention, and she wondered how he’d react if she indulged herself by kissing and maybe licking the skin there. When her core clenched reflectively at the thought, Catriona knew another step had to be taken.
Hands trembling, she gripped the hem of her sweater and pulled it over her head. Now, half-naked apart from her bra, her brain couldn’t compute this new information. What she’d just done contradicted everything she’d been taught or believed. Where was the decency she’d held onto for so long?
Liam didn’t stay frozen in expectation for long. At first, she thought he’d resume caressing her, but he surprised her by taking her hands and placing them on his body. “Touch me.”
The words in his low voice took her breath away, an order she couldn’t resist.
Alive and hard under her fingers, she reveled in every muscle and sinew she could touch on his abdomen. She’d seen half-naked men before at the beach or on TV, but that was nothing compared to the live specimen under her palms. Pressing lightly, she started to explore, caressing his sides until he hissed.
“Careful. That tickles.”
This was a clear threat, but it amused her, and she felt safe with him. She was ready to retrace her path when he pushed his hips up with a groan she felt in the vibrations under her fingertips.
Amusement dissipated and instead, she decided to satisfy her curiosity and lowered herself until she could press her lips to the base of his neck. His pulse jumped and accelerated when she licked, and as she plastered herself to his chest, her breasts squished against him and they both shivered.
Radiating heat, Liam stayed still under her ministrations, apart from the continued undulations of his hips.
A faint sheen covered his body as he held himself back under her swirling tongue. Her heart beating fast, Catriona gathered her courage and pushed herself up again, but this time, twisted to remove her bra, moving quickly to make sure she didn’t change her mind.
The piece of bland lingerie slipped from her limp fingers and she fought the need to cover herself. Instead, she locked eyes with the man under her, who was growing tenser by the second. Only then did she reach for his fisted hand lying beside him, and mimicked what he’d done to her, bringing his palm to the shivering skin between her breasts.
Immobile at first, Liam gently rubbed her sternum as she held his wrist, but when she let go of that last lifeline, he didn’t need further encouragement. Fingertips traced the outer roundness of her breasts in a whispering caress, and she relaxed into the foreign touch.
Emboldened, he cupped her flesh, teasing her nipple with his thumb. Goosebumps quickly spread, and the low hunger seemed to take even more importance between her legs. When she reached for his second hand, Liam almost launched himself at her.
Restless now, Catriona was discovering new sensations by the minute, submitting herself to his talented hands, while longing for more.
“Liam?” She was surprised to hear the desperation in his name.
Silently answering her plea, Liam partially abandoned her upper body to slide a palm between them and cup her sex, still covered by her pants.
As she opened her mouth, a male voice came from within the suite, calling Liam’s name, soon followed by a knock at the door.
Frozen in time, breathing hard, Liam cringed and cursed as he tore himself away from her. Catriona stood too, her hands trembling as she reached for her bra and top on the floor.
Liam popped his head out and whispered something before closing the door and putting his sweater on. “I need to go, Archer needs me.” He hesitated before leaving, returning to Catriona, and stealing a kiss with sad eyes. “That’s twice we’ve tried, twice we’ve been stopped. Do you think it’s a sign God is against us?”
Heart skipping, her entire being rebelled against the idea, but he was gone before she could tell him otherwise. Casting her eyes to the sky, feeling frustration for the first time in her life, she didn’t know if she was ready to accept their interrupted moment together as a sign. Instead, she sent a last request in the universe; if the next time they lay together they were interrupted, she’d fight no more, and she’d know what to do.
