Making quick work of ordering a pizza online, I headed to the bathroom to wash off Jesse's spit and blood from my hand. Passing the kitchen, I caught her busy washing the dishes for me and her. I imagined that was what a wife would do for her husband after a long day at the office. Demi never did that, though. She was too busy out fucking anything that moved to be bothered with the affairs of our home.
"The pizza should be here in a few," I said, leaning in through the kitchen entryway.
She glanced over her shoulder. "What's my half?"
"Seriously?"
She placed a plate in the strainer. "Yeah, I don't need any handouts."
"I got you."
"Oh, really?"
"Yes, really."
"I told you to stop flirting with me."
"Flirting? I'm stating facts. I always got you."
She shook her head and turned back to the sink. I pushed off the doorframe and headed down the hall.
That woman.
KELLEY
That man.
I told him to stop flirting with me. Why couldn't he just listen? It'd make the next couple weeks so much smoother. Trying to insert feelings into the situation was a recipe for disaster. I should know, I'd had my share.
About twenty minutes later the doorbell rang.
"Pizza's here," I yelled out.
A door down the hall opened. "I'm coming."
I wiped down the table, pushing aside the Will, and placed two plates across from one another just in time for him to walk in holding a brown pizza box.
He set the box down between the plates. "I'm starving. I didn't realize how hungry I was until I took a whiff of this."
"Well, getting into fights should work up a hunger."
"Ha, ha, funny girl. I got into a fight because of you if you wanna get technical."
I pulled a slice of pizza from the box and placed it on his plate. "Me?"
"Yes, you."
Grabbing another slice, I burned my right thumb on the piping hot sauce. "Ouch! Fuck!" I dropped the slice onto my plate and in a second Liam had seized my hand and begun to inspect the burn.
"Are you okay?" he asked, wiping the sauce off with a napkin from the restaurant.
I laid my left hand on his. "I'm fine, really."
He shifted his gaze from my hand and stared into my eyes. "Are you?" he whispered.
The moment was tense, and I wanted nothing more than to lean in and taste his lips. Entranced, I didn't reply.
"Kells, are you okay?"
My lids fluttered. "Yeah."
"I'm happy." He leaned over and kissed the burn which sent electricity racing through every cell in my body.
I was officially wet.
God, I wanna touch him in some inappropriate ways.
He lifted his lips from my thumb—his eyes tracing up my arm and over my lips as he took a step closer. I couldn't break away from his beautiful, blue eyes—not that I wanted to.
"Liam, I—"
He cupped his palm to my cheek, seemingly unaware that I'd even said anything.
"Do you ever wonder what would've happened?" he asked, caressing my bottom lip with his thumb.
"Every day," I replied softly.
Time slowed, and it was like he'd never left. He was the same boy I'd fallen in love with all those years ago.
"Can I kiss you?"
"I would hate you if you didn't."
Slowly, he pressed his lips to mine, and everything fell into place. I wrapped my arms around his neck, and he wrapped his around my waist, lifting me from the floor. He carried me to my bedroom, and gently laid me down.
ENVY
LIAM
My mouth crashed down on hers, hungry and demanding. The small cry that tore from her lips made my balls tighten even more painfully than before.
How the hell had I stayed away from her this long?
"If we start this—"
"I know," her voice was weak—breathless—wanting.
It was all the confirmation I needed.
I slid my hand under her shirt, cupping her breast while trailing my mouth down her neck.
The taste of her skin—so fucking intoxicating. I couldn't wait to taste all of her.
Moving lower, I lifted her shirt, pulling at the satin fabric covering her delicate breasts. She moaned—her body so responsive. I could practically feel the heat of her pussy, through the fabric of her jeans.
Damn if I didn't want to tear her clothes off right then, but I wanted to take my time—she was too important. The moment too fucking critical to waste.
Her fingers tugged at my shirt, so I leaned back, allowing her to pull it over my head. Her dark eyes roam over my body with appreciation.
When our lips met again, there was no holding back. I needed to touch her—to feel her skin against mine—to devour every inch of her. Pulling her shirt over her head, I tossed it to the floor.
She shivered slightly when I started to work her pants over her thighs, kissing a trail down each leg, then back up.
"Liam," she moaned, twisting under me as I slipped a finger underneath the fabric of her panties. Wet and hot, just like I knew she would be.
Pulling the soft material from her body, she arched against me as I stole a taste—kissing and licking until she shuddered with uncontrolled arousal.
"So fucking beautiful," I murmured against her.
Her fingers tangled in my hair pulling me deeper as her thighs parted wider for me. I ran the pad of my thumb across her clit, my other hand cupping her breasts, and I knew she was only seconds away from release. A desperate cry left her throat as my tongue thrust inside her.
Head thrown back and eyes closed tightly, a cry of pleasure jolted through her body. My cock strained against my jeans, and it took every ounce of restraint not to come with her.
"So beautiful," I whispered again, kissing her one last time before moving over her.
"Where are you going?"
Something close to panic entered her eyes, and she reached for the blanket to cover herself.
"Just getting a condom." I gave her a crooked grin, and grabbed my wallet, pulling out the foil package. I unhooked my belt, then unsnapped the top button of my jeans. Her gaze followed my movement. Whether intentionally or not, her tongue darted out across her lower lip as I pulled my pants and boxer briefs down, exposing the hard length of my dick.
She sat up slightly. "Can I?"
Knowing what she wanted, I moved closer, handing her the package. Slowly, almost reverently, her delicate hand wrapped around my length, her head dipping down to take me inside her hot mouth.
Sucking. Stoking. Licking. She teased me—her gaze never leaving mine. A savage groan ripped through my throat.
Holy hell.
Fiery whips of sensations gripped my balls, almost sending me spiraling over the edge. Her mouth was like liquid heat, shredding what was left of my restraint.
"Slow down, sweetheart."
A small grin tugged at her lips as she pulled back. With slow, deliberate movements, she opened the wrapper, sliding the condom over the full length of my cock. I gripped her wrists, pulling her up to me, with nothing but white-hot lust between us.
Her gaze rested on my mouth, her eyes full of emotion.
"I want you inside of me," she whispered, pressing her body against mine.
Unable to hold back any longer, my hands were on her body—in her hair—my mouth devouring her lips—our tongues, warring with each other as if it was a matter of survival.
As gently as I could manage, I laid her back against the hard mattress, positioning myself between her thighs.
I ran my hand up her stomach, cupping her breast, caressing the nipple with my thumb. She whimpered, arching up, ready to take me inside of her.
"Please," she begged, her hands gripping my hips.
My lips crash against hers, my tongue slipping past the slight separation as I sank into her with a single thrust. Stretching her—filling her completely. She clenched around me. Her warm, sli
ck juices allowing me to take her completely.
We stayed like that for a moment—gazes locked on each other, her legs wrapped around my hips, my cock buried to the hilt inside her pussy.
In that moment, I knew she was mine. Heart, body, and soul. I pulled back and rocked forward repeatedly, stroking her in slow, stretching degrees. She moved with me—our movements in sync—our bodies melding together perfectly.
She gasped, eyes widening. "So good."
I bucked into her again. Each thrust harder, faster than the next. Her thighs opened for me. Her hips arched while her moans pleaded for more. I could lose myself inside of her.
Palming her breast, I stroked the tip with my thumb. Her fingernails dug into my hips and my back in response. My gaze caught hers as I pumped harder—faster. I could sense her release building, an inferno ready to consume us both.
With each thrust, I felt myself unravel. My muscles clenched and shook as I drove into her, fast and furious, until she was breathless, begging for release.
"Oh, God, Liam."
Her cry was all it took. Unable to hold back any longer, I let go.
Shockwaves of sensation rippled across my flesh, as I exploded inside of her, catching her own cry of pleasure with my kiss.
I collapsed on top of her, careful not to crush her delicate body under my weight.
KELLEY
I stared at him with a smile on my lips, and a song in my heart. I hadn't felt that light since—well, I couldn't remember the last time I'd felt that good. Sleeping with him was just like the first time, and I'd be lying if I said it didn't make me slightly giddy to be laying in the same bed with the only man I'd ever truly loved.
But, secretly, I envied the time I'd lost to the other woman who I'd never know.
He grazed his bottom lip along the shell of my ear. "Tell me that won't be the last time."
"No, you tell me. You're the one that's been married, and who knows what else."
"What do you mean?"
"Has there been anyone else? Anyone else you've loved?"
He dropped next to me and ran his fingers through his dark, black hair. "There was someone else, but she didn't choose me."
"Do you still love her?"
He paused, contemplating my question. "I think I thought I loved her, but I think I just loved what she could offer."
"What's that?"
"A home."
"You can come home to me now."
He rolled back on top of me, but before he could say anything the doorbell rang. We both looked toward the bedroom door.
"That better not be your fucking ex."
"He'd be crazy to come back. Maybe it's Kerris."
"What the fuck would he be doing here? It's a few hours too early."
"Well, we'll never know until we answer the door."
"Fuck! I'm trying to have a moment here." He slapped his hand against the mattress as he pushed himself off me.
I seized the back of his neck and pulled him down for one last kiss. He laid back down right when the bell rang again. I rolled my eyes as my arm fell to my side. "Just go see who it is."
"Ok, but don't lose that thought."
"I don't think I could if I tried." I winked.
He slipped off the bed and slid on his pants, buckling his belt before walking out of the room.
LIAM
This'd better be the fuckin' President.
I made it to the front door and swung it open. To my surprise I found Jacob standing on the porch.
"Jacob, what are you doing here?"
He crossed his arms and shuffled his foot across the rickety, wooden deck boards. "Liam—I uh, I heard what happened."
"What happened?"
"With Jesse."
"How'd you hear about that?"
"Jesse had come to the bar with a bloody lip and bruised jaw, trying to drown his sorrow at the bottom of a bottle. So, of course, I asked what happened."
"What'd he say?"
"He said that you were shacked up with Kelley and that you beat the shit outta him for trying to talk to her."
"Well, that's a version of it."
"So you and Kelley, huh?"
Before I could answer Kelley chimed in from behind, "How's that any of your business, Jacob?"
"Kelley, I've been callin' you."
She stepped in front of me. "And what could you possibly want?"
"I wanted to know if you wanted your job back. I really can't make it at the bar without you, and when Jesse told me where you were, I just thought I'd come by so you could start tonight."
She shook her head. "I told you I can't work at night for the next couple weeks."
He shot her a cheap car salesman smile, and said, "Yeah, but, c'mon Kelley, it's me."
The tone he took with her annoyed me, and I'd be damned if I was going to let her work somewhere she'd be exposed to her piece of shit ex whenever he felt the need to show up.
I snaked my arm around her waist and stepped forward. "She doesn't need to work anymore."
Jacob's eyes widened. "What's that mean?"
"It means my girl doesn't need to work anymore."
"Your girl? But you're an upscale lawyer, and Kelley—well, she's—"
Kelley ripped out of my hold. "Don't you fuckin' finish that goddam sentence, Jacob!"
Jacob stepped back and held up his hands in front of his face like a scared little bitch.
I laid my palm on her shoulder, trying to calm her down. "I think it's best if you leave and not come back, Jacob."
"Yeah, whatever you say, Liam. Sorry about this Kelley, I didn't mean—"
"Oh, you meant it, you asshole," Kelley interrupted him sternly.
I could hear the pain she was so desperately trying to hold back, and without a second thought, I slammed the door shut before Jacob could witness her weakness.
She turned to me with tears welling in her eyes, looking for comfort. I pulled her close, letting her bury her face in my chest. Her warm tears burned through my flesh, inciting an anger inside of me I'd only felt a handful of times in my life.
"It's gonna be okay, Kells."
"No, he said it. You are so much better than me. I'm just a second-rate bartender, working at a dive bar. I was just fooling myself. What could I possibly have to offer someone like you?" she sobbed.
"A home."
Her whimpers stopped as she peered up. "You don't think this is all too fast? What if it's not real?"
"Do you want me to be honest?"
"Of course."
"There's nowhere else I wanted to escape more than this damn city. Unfortunately, in my ignorance, I left the one good thing it had to offer. I'll never make that mistake again."
She tore away from my hard stare. "You know I made a lot of mistakes trying to forget you."
I lifted her chin with a crooked finger. "Tell me."
"You would never look at me the same, Liam. I wasn't exactly an angel."
I laughed at her comment. "If you only knew, sweet girl."
"Only knew what?"
"That's a story for another day, and I asked you first."
She pulled away, wiping the tears from her cheek as she leaned against the back of the couch. "I had to become someone else while you were gone. Someone I would've never thought to be if you hadn't left."
"I won't judge you—glass houses and all."
The tension left her body. I knew she was ashamed of whatever she'd done, and I was not a saint by any stretch of the imagination.
"I slept around a lot, trying to replace you with someone else—anyone else. But it never worked out."
"I slept with a married woman, thinking I loved her, but really I just loved what she ultimately had with her husband. Some things are just better left to decay in the past."
"Yeah. I guess so." She looked off to the wall. "I'm happy you came home."
"I'm happy my uncle set this up."
She looked around the room. "Speaking of Uncle Henry—we really need to get wor
king on this house."
"Do you wanna clean up now?"
Pushing herself off the couch, she took a deep breath and nodded.
WTF
KELLEY
We spent a few hours tackling the kitchen and the living room, making our way into Uncle Henry's room. Liam's demeanor changing from jovial to somber the instant we walked in the room.
"Are you gonna be okay? I can take care of this."
He shook his head. "No, I wanna do this. I need to do this."
The task of cleaning was a big one—papers strewn about, or piled up to my waist. I couldn't believe someone could live like that, but I had no leg to stand on since I was living in my truck only a few days before.
I grabbed a few large trash bags and began to fill them with the old magazines, and newspapers, leaving personal papers and old artwork Liam had drawn as a child. I gathered up the papers and turned to show them to Liam, but stopped in my tracks when I saw what he was doing.
There he was, standing in front of the closet with his arms crossed, staring at Uncle Henry's clothes. I couldn't be sure, but I think he'd been standing there the whole time.
I wanted to comfort him, but I didn't know how. Slowly, I made my way to him, laying my palm on his back.
"Are you okay?"
He shook his head, covering his eyes with his right hand, trying to hide the tears that were obviously streaming down his cheeks
"It's okay to cry, Liam. It's okay to show emotion. It doesn't make you any less of a man."
He wiped the moisture from his face and cleared his throat. "He was a good man, you know? I never gave him enough credit."
"He knew. He loved you."
"But I didn't show him that same love, and he died alone. I'm a piece of shit."
His words angered me. I grabbed his arm and positioned myself between him and the closet. "Don't you dare start that self-pity shit. That man loved you. You were a kid, and he knew you were just trying to find yourself. I think deep down inside I knew that too."
"And then there's you." He peered down at the floor. "What I did to you. How I made you wait. Can you ever forgive me?" he asked as another tear cascaded down his face.
I wrapped my arms around his neck, hugging him as tightly as I could. "It wasn't all your fault. I could have moved on too, but I used you as an excuse to stay. Maybe I was afraid to fail. I have to step up and take the blame as well."
Envy: A Second Chance Romance (Deadly Sin Series Book 2) Page 7