Page 24 of Between Secrets and Obsession

“Do you wanna know what I really want, Liam?” My mood turns serious, but he started it.

He chugs the rest of his beer and sets it down. “I’m afraid to ask.”

I study his face and peer into his blue eyes. Nervously, he runs his fingers through his messy hair.

At that moment, I decide to forget about all the boundaries and tell him the truth. “I wantyou, Liam.”

Sucking in a deep breath, he looks away before meeting my eyes again. He leans in close so our conversation is more private, though no one is paying attention to us.

“I can’t take your virginity,” he simply says, driving a knife through my heart.

“Why not? You’ll fuck any other woman who flaunts themselves around you. Half the time, you don’t remember their name. But here I am, willing and able, and I’m off-limits. Sounds like bullshit to me.”

“Sophie and Lennon are like my sisters, and that’s damn special to me, Maddie. My friends are my family. Something I don’t really have outside my circle. You need to wait until you fall in love with someone who feels the same way about you. Trust me when I say I’m not that guy. I can’t be.” There’s nothing harsh about his tone, and he sounds sincere, which only makes it hurt more.

“We both know love doesn’t matter. Most of my friends who’ve built it up to be something so amazing were let down and left heartbroken. Ibetyou’re scared of falling in love with me and being the one who gets hurt.”

A laugh escapes him. “That’s not a bet I’m taking. But hey, look what time it is.”

Liam turns his phone around, and I have one minute until it’s my birthday. The bartender comes over, and I smirk when Liam orders a hurricane for me, explaining it’s my birthday and to make it good.

“It’s fruity, so you’ll like it. And it will probably only take one before you feel it,” he says. A moment later, I’m being handed a red and orange ombre-colored drink with a pineapple slice and a cherry on a cocktail stick. I take a sip, and my eyes widen at how sweet it tastes but also strong.

“Oh my God. This is delicious,” I tell him, beaming.

“Which means it’s dangerous as fuck, so pace yourself,” he demands. It takes me all of five minutes before the liquid is gone.

“You good?” he asks suspiciously when I can’t stop smiling.

I stand and tell him I want a shot.

Liam tilts his head. “You sure about that? You’re gonna feel like shit tomorrow if you drink too much.”

Narrowing my eyes at him, I smirk. “I’ll order it myself, then.”

I wave over a female bartender. “I’d like a screaming orgasm.”

“Don’t we all, sweetheart?” Chuckling, she grins bigger when her eyes land on Liam. Of fucking course. She mixes the alcohol together, then pours it into a shot glass. When she places it in front of me, Liam sets down a twenty and tells the girl to add two shots of tequila. She releases a flirty giggle and sticks out her chest. I want to crush my lips to his just to make a point: don’t make googly eyes at a guy who’s drinking with another woman.

I’m relieved when he doesn’t flirt back and only pays attention to me. “Well, let’s see if an orgasm is as good as they all say it is.” I wink before downing it and squirming. “Wow.”

“Good?”

Dare I say, I’ve had better?” I laugh when Liam’s jaw locks at the insinuation.

The two shots he ordered are placed in front of us.

“Teach me the proper way to drink it, Hulk,” I beg after he hands it to me.

He smirks. “Alright, first, you lick the salt off the rim, shoot it down, then suck on the lime. The salt helps ease the burn, then the citrus acts as a chaser. Got it?”

“Salt, tequila, lime,” I repeat. “Understood.” I clink my glass against his and follow the simple instructions. Gorgeous blue eyes gaze intently into mine as he watches me instead of taking his. As soon as I finish, my face contorts as I try to shake away the mixture of flavors.

“Your turn,” I tell him, nodding to his shot.

Liam grins, then shoots the tequila and before he can take his lime, I grab it and hold it up for him. With a challenging smirk, I wait for his reaction. Liam doesn’t disappoint as he leans in closer and allows me to feed it to him, his bottom lip brushing against my thumb as he sucks hard on the lime. Juices drip down my finger, and before I can clean it off, Liam grabs my wrist and brings it to his mouth.

“Mmm…” He licks my hand, sending shivers down my spine. Then the teasing bastard flashes me a wink. “C’mon.” Liam surprises me when he leads us out on the dance floor.