Page 139 of Raise Me Up

“Beau Whitaker’s human?”

A smile eases onto my face. “Human as fuck, baby.”

His fingers slide into my hair. “The only baby here is you.”

The bells jingle above the door, and we both turn to see our girl walking in. My mood instantly improves. She’s wearing our clothes, my sweats and his hoodie. Her hair is down in loose waves that tumble to her elbows.

“Couldn’t fall back asleep without you two.” She gives a shy shrug.

I hold out my arms to her. “Come here, sweetheart.”

She hurries over, allowing me to pull her onto my lap. Her hand brushes along my damp cheek. “You were crying.”

“Hole in my head left room for a lot of big feelings,” I say with a smile. "Ah, shit. Don’t do that. Please don’t be sad.” I do my best to kiss away her frown. “I’m fine. I promise. I appreciate everything you’ve done for me. I’m going to spend my life making it up to you, okay?”

“It’s not a debt, Beau,” she says solemnly.

“Okay. Yeah.” I nod. “I’m sorry.”

After I hold her for a while, I hand her over to Liam. My heart swells as I watch him kiss her tenderly.

Is this really the same man who was terrified of relationships?

Feeling inspired by his bravery to face his demons, I straighten up on the piano bench and stretch out my fingers. “I know it’s late, but can I give it another go?”

Liam pecks a kiss to Stasi’s lips and looks over at me. “As long as you’re not doing it for fans.”

I grin. “Forget the fans. I want to play for the two of you.”

forty-one

Beau

The instant I get clearance from the doc to return to regular activity, I text Liam.

Your ass is mine, baby.

He leaves me on read. I swear he’s trying to edge me, playing it off like he didn’t promise himself up.

When I look up from my phone, Stasi is pulling up to the townhouse to drop me off after another appointment. I lean over the console to kiss her. “Let me know if you need help with wedding stuff tonight or tomorrow.”

Things have been chaotic on her end helping plan her brother’s rushed wedding, but even with the added stress, she’s gotten shit done.

“Okay. I love you,” she says softly.

Her sweetnessalwaysearns another kiss, but this time I put my all into it, eager to make her melt.

“Don’t think I’ll ever get used to those words from you. I love you too, sweetheart.”

As I walk up the steps to the front door, my phone buzzes with a message. I dig it out of my pocket and grin when I open up a shirtless photo of Liam in his bathroom, damp from a shower, face shaved clean.

Yours.

Excitement rushes through me. That motherfucker came home early from work to prep for me.

Fumbling with the door lock, I kick off my shoes the instant I’m inside his home. Huffing a breath, I take the painful extra seconds to peel off my socks. The last thing I need is to wipe out on the stairs and cause more damage to my brain. Liam might not touch me ever again.

My blood turns molten when I find him in his bed, naked and dipped in ink, his damp hair flowing down over pecs carved from stone.