Page 108 of Shattered Melodies

“Alright,” I said, squaring my shoulders. “I’ll do what I can.”

Jimmy clapped me on the shoulder, a grateful smile on his face. “Thanks, man. I owe you one.”

As he headed off to his car, I made my way into the house. The place was a mess - empty whiskey bottles littered the kitchen counter, papers strewn everywhere. Shit. This was bad.

I headed for the bedroom, my stomach churning with anxiety. What the hell had happened to get Liam this worked up?

I knocked on the door, but there was no answer. After a moment’s hesitation, I turned the knob. The room was dark, but I could make out Liam’s form sprawled across the bed, a half-empty bottle of whiskey dangling from his hand.

“Ah, hell, Liam,” I muttered, moving to his side. I gently shook his shoulder, trying to rouse him. “Come on, buddy. Wake up.”

Liam’s eyes fluttered open, unfocused and glassy. “Caleb?” he slurred. “What’re you doin’ here?”

I ignored the question, focusing on getting him vertical. “You need a shower, man. Come on, up you get.”

He groaned but let me help him to his feet. “You stayin’?” he asked, his voice small and uncertain.

“Yeah,” I said, surprised by how easily the word came. “Yeah, I’m staying.”

We stumbled to the bathroom, Liam leaning heavily on me. As I reached to turn on the shower, he grabbed my arm.

“Join me?” he asked, his eyes pleading.

I froze, my heart skipping a beat. “Liam, I don’t think that’s a good idea. You’re drunk, and-”

“Please,” he cut me off, his voice cracking. “I don’t… I don’t want to be alone right now.”

Fuck. How was I supposed to say no to that? I sighed, running a hand through my hair. “Alright. But just… just to make sure you don’t fall and crack your head open, okay?”

He nodded, a ghost of a smile tugging at his lips. “My hero.”

I rolled my eyes, but I couldn’t help the warmth that spread through my chest at his words. “Yeah, yeah. Let’s get you cleaned up, Cinderella.”

Somehow, we managed to get undressed and into the shower without any major incidents. The hot water seemed to revive Liam a bit, washing away some of the alcohol-induced haze.

As I was taking care of Liam, I couldn’t help but notice how his body had changed over the years. He was more built now, tougher, not like the lanky teenager I once knew. As I wrapped the towel around him, I couldn’t tear my eyes away from his muscled arms and broad chest. He looked up at me, his eyes wide and vulnerable, and suddenly, he leaned in and kissed me.

I was surprised, but my body responded instinctively, kissing him back with a hunger that had been buried for years. His lips were warm and soft, but there was an urgency in our kiss that quickly escalated.

“Liam,” I murmured against his lips, my hands gripping his wet hair.

“Caleb,” he breathed, pulling me closer.

We stumbled into the bathroom, our lips never parting, our hands exploring each other’s bodies. The water was still running in the shower, and without a second thought, we stepped in. The hot water cascaded over us, making our skin slick and our movements more desperate.

I pressed Liam against the shower wall, my hands roaming over his muscular body. “God, Liam, you’ve changed so much,” I whispered, my voice rough with desire.

He let out a low moan, his hands gripping my hips. “So have you, Caleb. I missed you.”

His words sent a jolt of electricity through me. I kissed him harder, my cock throbbing with need. Despite my growing desire, I hesitated, knowing how much he’d had to drink.

“Liam, you’re drunk. Maybe we should take it slow,” I said, trying to keep control.

“No,” he gasped, shaking his head. “I need this, Caleb. I need to forget. Please, don’t be gentle.”

I looked into his eyes, seeing the desperation there, and any remaining resistance melted away. “Are you sure?” I asked, wanting to be certain.

“Yes,” he moaned. “Fuck, yes.”

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