Page 48

I’m floating on the lake, and I swear I can hear Travis’s voice… “Always you and me.”
A rogue tear springs from my eyelid and I swipe it away quickly, blinking back the possibility of any others making their escape. Travis didn’t even really know everything that was happening, because Evan only came for tiny pieces of me before he left. Really, Travis is the only reason that Uncle Evan held off for as long as he did. He kept me safe. But I find myself blaming Travis because it’s easier to be angry at him for leaving me behind, than to blame myself. Blame myself for never fighting back. Blame myself for allowing him to turn me into his picture of perfection.
Then things got so much fucking worse.
I did what I did, and there’s no coming back from it. I hold my secret close to the vest. The secret that no one knows. The one that made me run. The one that made me change my name, shedding the girl I used to be.
Travis came to the bar the other night to tell me someone was asking about me. Not Aria me, but me, me. Spencer, me. I swallowed down any reactions that threatened to surface, but deep down inside, I was shaking. I was and am fucking terrified.
If anyone found out my secret. If anyone found out what the fuck I did, I'd be a dead woman. Even Travis Price wouldn’t be able to save me.
With a sigh, I toss back the last warm remnants of my beer, wincing as I swallow, and head back inside the house. The screen door snaps shut loudly behind me and I cringe. Fuck, I forgot about the issues with the spring in the bottom hinge being too tight. It doesn’t bother me, but Liam stayed here tonight and he hates being woken up when he has an early day.
Silently, I hope I didn’t wake him.
“Aria?” Liam’s voice floats down the stairs. Shit.
“Down here, I’m sorry, I was trying to be quiet but…”
Liam moves to the bottom of the steps, rubbing his eyes and yawning. “What the hell Aria?”
“I’m sorry babe, I was just sitting outside and I forgot about that damn door. I didn’t mean to wake you. I promise I’ll get on having it fixed soon.”
He rolls his eyes and groans as he steps forward, scoops me up into his arms and nips at my neck, “Yeah, yeah.”
I respond with a lazy sigh as he carries me up the steps, cradled in his arms.
He doesn’t smell like liquor tonight.
He smells like soap and freshly laundered clothing, and he kisses my skin gently as he pushes open the door to my room. He feels like the old Liam again, and it’s confusing me. Fucking with the wiring in my brain and my heart.
Laying me on the bed, he settles between my legs and runs his hand down my chest, gripping the hem of my shirt. Lifting the shirt over my head, he tosses it to the side before pulling his own off, and lowering himself back down.
His lips press against mine so softly, and I melt right into them. Grinding his length against me, he pushes my skirt up, moves my panties aside, and slips his fingers into me. A low moan escapes my lips, and I grind against his palm as he pumps his fingers in and out of me at a slow, rhythmic pace.
“I love you Aria,” he whispers against my lips, and I drink in his words, desperate for love and affection.
What the fuck is wrong with me?
“I love you too Liam,” I murmur as he presses his lips down my throat, withdraws his fingers from my pussy, and moves to push down his athletic shorts and boxers. Kicking them off completely, he reaches up and pulls the cup of my bra to the side, capturing my nipple between his lips. He sucks and nibbles, sending chills down my spine, straight to the space between my legs that’s throbbing, begging for his touch.
I whimper as he bites down gently, “You like that baby?” he mumbles, tracing his tongue around my sensitive flesh.
“Y-yes. Please Liam, more.” I moan, bucking my hips up, pressing into his erection.
Kissing back up my neck, he plants both hands on the mattress on either side of my head. Looking down at me with his sparkling blue eyes, he smiles lazily and slides his cock into me in one slow thrust and I bite back a groan as he fills me.
Pulling my knees back, to allow him deeper entry, my body shakes as he rocks in and out of me at a torturous pace. Slow. Steady. My pussy throbs and pleasure washes over me. I’m so fucking close. I’m teetering on the edge of the cliff as he speeds up his pace and groans in my ear, “Aria, fuck.”
I’m about to fall over the ledge when his body convulses and slows as he explodes inside of me. He collapses on top of my body, and presses his lips to my shoulder. Despite being full of his softening cock and his release, I feel extremely empty.
Pushing up to his knees, he pulls out of me and walks over to the bathroom grabbing a towel. He cleans his dick off and then tosses me the towel. I wipe myself off and get up. As I walk to the bathroom, he climbs back into bed, covering up with the blankets.
I pee, and finish cleaning myself with a damp cloth. Afterward, I flick out the bathroom light and walk back into the room, sliding into bed beside him.
“Liam?” I whisper.
Nothing.