Page 50 of I See Red

“Yeah, I thought about pulling a ninja move last night, but you know I outgrew that uniform, and my moves aren’t as sly these days,” I joke, hoping to lighten the mood.

Shooting me his infamous half-grin, he reaches out, grabbing onto my hand across the cozy blanket, his touch so inviting. “You certainly had the moves last night, if memory serves, and they serve quite well, princess.” Countering me, brow raised, he moves his hand from mine, sliding it up my thigh. A snort rushes out before I can contain it, causing me to choke on my coffee.

“There he is. The Liam I love and adore; round two?” I ask, seduction written all over my face.Leaning into me, his face directly in front of mine, our bodies so close our oxygen is mixing with minimal travel time. His eyes locked in on mine, he releases his hand from my leg, sending pulsating episodes through my body, unsure of where it will land. Angst consuming every inch within me, throbs start circulating between mythighs, our eyes simply locked into one another like the world doesn’t exist.

Fuck I love the way he looks at me and all around me at the same time.

His hand brushes through my hair, grabbing hold of the side of my face in ownership yet endearment as he slowly skims past my mouth, landing at my ear. His breath taunting every urge inside of me, needing to be fulfilled.

“I don’t want just round two. I want to fuck you until your body gives out and your screams beg for me to stop. Then I want to fuck you even longer until I forgive you, princess.”

Oh, you want to play Liam? Okay, let’s play.

“Geez, Mr. Maddox, that sounds painful,”

“Isn’t that how forgiveness is best achieved? Nothing worth having can truly be owned without torture, can it? I am not God; I don’t forgive so easily.” His words taunt me like venom, a reminder of all the torture I bore to have T all those years, more specifically this past year. He is not wrong; love isn’t easy, but forgiveness is way more complicated. Attempting to climb into his mind, I bite.

“What did you have in mind?”

“I’ve been patiently waiting for you to ask, princess.”

“Patiently?”

“Oh, so patiently. Come here.”

Reaching out his hand, he pulls me from the comfort of my warmth bundled in the swing. I follow our hands in tow as he brings me into the house, the screen door slamming behind us. His warm hands encase my eyes from behind, turning the light into darkness. Taking away my sight, my other senses go into overdrive. His breaths waft against my neck as we waddle across the kitchen like two kids in a one-legged race, his breaths coming closer as his words fall into them.

“Are you finally ready to be freed in this home, princess?”

“Freed?” My anxiety builds, tingles racing up from my limbs, my knees heavier, my throat constricting as I try to swallow the feeling.

“Yes, princess, free to be, free with me.Always.”

His words wreak havoc like a comet crashing into my mind, body, and soul concurrently. I’m not sure how he knew I needed those words so badly. With all the thoughts racing through my head lately, home sounds perfect. I imagine freedom is like heaven with boundless limits, and I crave to be freed from everything, free from the vices living inside my head. Liam,my ever and ever-Amen, always has the right words at the right time without any input from this pretty little head. I wish I knew how he does it, how he knows me so deeply. Six years, and I still prefer the simplicity of never asking and just enjoying the breath he breathes into me day after day, week after week, year after year. I imagine there is a place in the stars written just for us. Somewhere far off in the Milky Way, our relationship is mesmerizing, complicated, unknown layers of the perfect storm. I pray, like with T, that our ever after is not unobtainable. I find myself enjoying the view more and more, as uncomfortable as it makes me. His words, his actions, his unwavering love for me, and the way he sees me without needing a road map, are the most healing offerings I could ever be gifted. Love, fuck, maybe I am deserving after all. Justmaybe.

Slowly, we make our way down each step, my foot feeling for the edge of each one.

“You better not let me fall,” I blubber out in fear and laughter.

“Never. With me, your wings will never be clipped; the beauty in your feathers will always be admired. The story your flight pattern tells forever understood, and your ability to soar endlessly encouraged. With me, little bird, you will always have a place to land, never a place to fall, and if by chance you ever do, I will always catch you.”

“Swear?”

“Ever and ever-Amen, princess, you know this, it’s not just four words; it means something.”

“I love you, Liam. Ireallyfucking love you.”

“I know, princess. I love you too, butright now, I just want to worship you.”

“Worship me?” I taunt, our feet sturdy on what I assume to be the basement floor.

“Yes, I want to worship all of you, the broken, the wrong, the beautiful, the strong, the hidden, the truth, the complicated. I want to worship every corner of what makes you, you. I want to feed your corners of darkness, making room for the light.”

“I got a dark spot waiting for some light, Mr. Maddox,” I tease, my words not even allowing me to execute them fully, laughter busting through the seams of them.

His throat releases a chuckle alongside mine; rescinding his hands from my eyes, he spins me towards him, his arms encasing me.Fuck, I love the way his arms swallow me, I love him. I love Liam fucking Maddox.

“I mean, I wouldn’t have worded it that way,butI think I can oblige.” His playful tone matching the grin across his face.

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