Page 110 of Shattered Melodies

“Caleb, I’m close,” he warned, his voice strained.

“Me too,” I gritted out, my own release building.

With a few more hard thrusts, Liam came, his cock pulsing in my hand. The sight and feel of him coming undone pushed me over the edge, and I followed him into oblivion, my body shuddering with the force of my orgasm.

We collapsed together, panting and sweating, but completely sated. I held him close, pressing a kiss to his temple.

“Thank you,” he murmured, his voice already heavy with sleep. “For everything.”

I smiled, my heart full. “Anytime, Liam. I’ve got you.”

As we lay there, Liam’s head resting on my chest, I felt a surge of protectiveness wash over me. This man, who I’d known practically my whole life, who I was falling for all over again was hurting. And I wanted nothing more than to take that pain away.

“Liam,” I said softly, running my fingers through his hair. “What’s really going on? Talk to me.”

He was quiet for a long moment, and I could feel the tension in his body. Finally, he took a deep breath and started to speak.

“I’m Corey King,” he said, his voice barely above a whisper. “The musician. It’s me.”

“Wow,” I breathed. “That’s… that’s pretty huge, Liam.”

He nodded against my chest. “Yeah. And now the vultures are here. In Oakwood. They’re looking for me, and I’m terrified they’re going to find out.”

I tightened my arms around him instinctively. “Vultures?”

“Paparazzi,” he clarified. “They’ve been chasing Corey King for years, trying to figure out who I really am. And now they’re here, in our town. If they find out…”

I could hear the fear in his voice, could feel it in the way his body trembled against mine. “Hey,” I said, tilting his chin up so he’d look at me. “We’ll figure it out, okay? You don’t have to face this alone.”

His eyes, those beautiful blue eyes that had always been able to see right through me, filled with tears. “There’s more,” he said, his voice cracking. “My dad he found out somehow. And now he’s threatening to go public with it if I don’t come back to New York and take over the family business.”

I felt a surge of anger on Liam’s behalf. “That’s fucked up. He can’t do that to you.”

Liam shrugged, looking defeated. “He can, though. And he will, unless I do what he wants.”

I shook my head, determination setting in. “No. We’re not going to let that happen. We’ll figure this out, Liam. Together.”

He looked at me, hope and gratitude shining in his eyes. “Yeah?”

I nodded, pulling him closer. “Yeah. You’re not alone in this anymore, okay? I’ve got you.”

We lay there in silence for a while, just holding each other. But there was still something nagging at me, something I needed to address.

“Liam,” I said softly. “Can we talk about the drinking?”

I felt him stiffen in my arms, but he didn’t pull away. “What about it?”

I took a deep breath, trying to find the right words. “I’m worried about you. That’s a lot of empty bottles downstairs.”

Liam was quiet for a long moment. When he finally spoke, his voice was small and vulnerable. “It’s the only way I can cope sometimes. The only way I can forget and not have nightmares at night.”

My heart broke a little at his words. I’d had no idea he was struggling so much.

“No more,” I said firmly, but gently. “I’m here now, Liam. I’ll help you, okay? We’ll find other ways to cope.”

He looked up at me, his eyes wide and uncertain. “You’d do that for me?”

I cupped his face in my hands, pouring every ounce of sincerity I could into my words. “I’d do anything for you, Liam. Don’t you know that by now?”

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