Page 69 of Raise Me Up

My smile is lazy. “I don’t think I can move.”

I tip my head up to assess him, worried lines were crossed, and he’s about to snap up barriers. Instead, he graces me with a smile that wrinklesthe corners of his eyes and shows off more of his white teeth than I’ve ever seen before. It’s everything.

He’severything.

Liam tucks me into his bed. Then returns to Beau, still plugged on the floor. I pity him for having to wait so long, but I think I’m beginning to understand their dynamic in the bedroom.

Liam hauls Beau upright and bends him over the bed. “What do you need, trouble?”

Beau’s breathing is labored under Liam’s forceful touch, his eyes clouded over by something concerning. It makes my hands fist the sheets tighter.

Beau doesn’t have to say a word, though. Liam alreadyknows. He moves Beau onto his back, looking down at him in that same overwhelming, vulnerable way he looked at me. Like he needs us to see the emotion in his eyes because the words won’t come out.

I swallow as Liam positions himself over Beau, pushing one of his legs up. His other hand slowly drags the plug free from his ass.

Immediately, Liam replaces it with his cock, still glistening from my arousal. Beau claws at him for more, and it makes my chest ache.

Liam’s given us more than I ever could have expected. But that doesn’t mean he’s ready to commit to anything beyond this. Invisible wounds don’t miraculously heal, and I’m not arrogant enough to believe that we’re going to be the ones to make them disappear.

And yet here we are, offering up our hearts anyway.

I just wish Beau would hang around long enough so we can pick up each other’s broken pieces when Liam decides he’s done with us.

Beau sucks in a breath as his muscles coil up. Seconds after, he comes all over his stomach and chest. It’s the most intense thing I’ve ever seen,heightened by the sight of Liam losing control as his hips slam hard and hold flush against Beau while he spills inside of him.

Liam kisses Beau’s chest before pulling out. “Gonna run a shower for us.”

Beau and I are left in a post-orgasm state in the bedroom. He manages to roll over, a hand reaching to stroke my cheek.

“Hey, sweetheart.”

"Hi, Beau," I whisper.

I get caught up in him, pain expanding in my chest at the thought of him disappearing one day. Is it normal to feel this much this soon for someone?

Can we sustain this?

Tears stick my lashes together. Even if Liam wins out over his demons, it wouldn’t be the only hurdle we face. There will be people who don’t understand us. Who criticize this part of me. This rebellious, carefree woman I’ve been burying for decades to garner attention and win approval because I had so little of it growing up.

“Stasi?” Beau asks, a note of worry in his tone.

“Sorry.” I blink back the heat in my eyes. “I’m happy, I swear. I’m so happy when I’m with both of you.”

He kisses my temple as he runs his fingers up and down my back. “I’m happy when you’re happy, baby.”

Liam returns to the bedroom and freezes at the sight of us entwined. Something indistinguishable flickers in his expression. He quickly hides it away.

He strides over to sink his hands into our hair. “You’re both a mess. Come on. Let’s get you cleaned up.”

twenty-one

Liam

Dinners are becoming a late-night event for me.

I’ve shut off the air conditioner and thrown the patio door wide open. The weather has thankfully dropped to a breezy, low seventy. Stas and Beau are seated at my new outdoor table, their chairs pushed together as they sleepily chat under the glow of the tiny lights Stas hung up there for the party. She’s got her head on his shoulder while his arm is draped over her crossed legs.

I’m not sure how these relationship things go, but so far, this feels natural. Probably because I’ve known them both for years.