Page 83 of Raise Me Up

“I…” Swallowing, I nod. “Yeah. Okay.”

“The thought of ever scaring you…”

I stretch up to cover his mouth with my own. “You don’t scare me, Liam. Promise.”

He pecks another kiss to my lips and stands up.

“I’m guessing we want this guy back in there?” Beau asks, barely containing the wiggly, soaked dog in his arms.

“I would prefer that, yes,” Liam replies.

Beau places the dog in the shower. Liam acts as a barrier for the glass door, but the dog seems content to run between us and bite at the water.

By the time we’ve got him clean, we’re soaked through. Liam peels off his shirt and drops it onto the floor with a loud smack.

“I vote for the dog to stay,” Beau comments, drinking Liam in.

I keep my mouth shut since I’m not sure I’m in the clear with Liam yet.

“Let’s go, dog,” Liam orders.

The dog follows him willingly out of the bathroom, and Beau turns that bright smile on me, water dripping from the ends of his hair.

“Hey, sweetheart.”

Butterflies take flight in my chest. “Hi, Beau.”

He moves closer to wrap me up and kiss my neck. “We should probably get out of these wet clothes.”

Smiling, I step away and lift my arms over my head. Blue eyes glitter as he grins back, moving his hands to the hem of my shirt. Heat spreads beneath my skin as he peels it from my body.

He caresses me with soft touches and kisses before dropping to his knees and helping me shimmy out of my shorts. His fingers sink into the soft flesh of my backside. He tugs me closer so he can kiss me over my lace underwear.

Once I’m naked, I return the favor. Undressing him, I kiss every patch of vitiligo and freckle I can find on his body.

Pressed together, we make out lazily under the stream of water until it runs cold enough to have us shivering. Then it’s an all out race to Liam’s closet to steal his clothes.

And to think, weeks ago I was afraid of this place.

A shadow falls over me as I’m rifling through Liam’s dresser drawers for a pair of sweats with a string tie. When I look toward the source, my pulse skyrockets at the sight of a looming, half-naked, tattooed figure in the doorway, blotting out most of the natural light from the bedroom.

Liam’s expression is ominous. “No clothes.”

Beau gladly drops the towel barely clinging to his waist. I remove my hand from Liam’s drawer, prepared to beg him for forgiveness and a little tempted to ask if he kicked the dog out. Somehow, I can’t see him doing that, though.

“I was clear about my expectations,” Liam says, fiery gaze searing into me.

My cheeks flush as I recall his words from our call.You had better be naked in my bed by the time we get home.

His eyes move to the hand I’ve got clutched around my towel. Slowly, he walks over and tugs it free. Cold air nips at my bare skin, but I’m hot all over from the way he’s looking at me.

“On your knees, angel.”

Wide-eyed, I ask, “Right here?”

“Right fucking here.”

Swallowing, I lower my knees to the hardwood floor where I’ve left a puddle of water. Liam brushes his fingers along my cheek. Then he tips my head up so I’m forced to stare back into pitch-black, hungry eyes.