Page 23 of Shared by my Ex’s Best Friends (Twisted Desires #2)
Chapter twenty-three
LIAM
T he rehearsal dinner winds down, the clamor inside softening into scattered laughter and murmured goodbyes. The chaos quiets—but not in me.
I spot Maya near the back porch, tucked against the side of the building, shoulders pulled in like she’s bracing herself against some inner storm. Her eyes scan the thinning crowd but don’t really focus.
There’s that tightness in her jaw, the way she bites the corner of her lip when she’s trying not to let something crack through the surface.
She looks like she’s holding it together with spit and string. I want to fix it. I want to give her peace, if only for a night.
I slow my pace, keeping my voice easy. “Need a ride home?”
Her head snaps up, startled for a moment, like she didn’t expect me to see her. Then she offers a small, grateful smile. “Yeah. That’d be great.”
“Cool,” I say, gesturing toward my truck. “Let’s get you out of this circus.”
We start walking side by side, the clatter and chatter fading behind us with every step.
The night air is cool, a welcome change from the warm, thick buzz inside. The city lights glimmer in the distance, faint and steady, like a promise of calm after the chaos.
When we reach my truck, I pop the door open and step aside.
Maya hops in, pulling her coat tighter around her shoulders as she settles into the seat like she’s slipping into a little pocket of quiet.
I climb in beside her. My hand finds the keys and I turn the ignition—the engine’s low rumble instantly grounding me, a steady heartbeat to anchor the moment.
We pull out slowly, the streets quieter now, the city’s hum softened under the night sky. The drive settles into a calm rhythm, a comfortable silence wrapping around us like a blanket.
I can’t help but glance over at her—her face soft in the glow of passing streetlights, lips pressed together. I wonder what she’s holding back.
I reach over, brushing a stray strand of hair from her face.
My fingers linger—not just because she’s beautiful, but because she’s breaking, and I want to be the one who holds her together.
I keep my hand near her face a moment longer before letting it fall back to the steering wheel.
The way she says “better now” doesn’t quite convince me, but I’m not about to press too hard—not yet.
The streetlights flicker overhead as we drive through quiet neighborhoods, the only sounds the hum of the engine and our breathing.
Maya’s eyes keep darting to the window, watching the world go by, but every now and then they flick back to me like she’s trying to find the right words.
She bites her lip, but the tension in her hands loosens a bit as she relaxes against the seat.
We pull up outside her apartment, and for a moment, neither of us moves. The porch light spills a soft pool of yellow onto the steps, inviting but quiet.
I kill the engine, turning to face her. “Do you want me to walk you inside?”
Her gaze meets mine, a flicker of something unspoken passing between us. She nods slightly. “Yeah, please.”
We climb out together and I fall into step beside her, the night air crisp against my skin. We move slowly, like neither of us wants this to end just yet.
When we reach the door, Maya pauses, then turns toward me. “Liam…”
I look down at her, waiting.
She steps closer, eyes searching mine, and then without another word, she presses her hand to my chest, right over my heart.
“I don’t want to be alone right now,” she admits, voice fragile.
My breath catches. “You’re not alone.”
Her hands slide up, fingers threading through the hair at the nape of my neck, pulling me closer. I respond instinctively, my arms wrapping around her waist, holding her like she’s the only solid thing in a world that feels unsteady.
The kiss deepens—no longer gentle but urgent, charged with everything neither of us has said out loud. I taste the faint trace of wine on her breath, warm and intoxicating.
Her breath mingles with mine, quickening in sync, and I feel the steady thump of her heart against my chest.
Her body presses tighter against me, her curves fitting against my body perfectly. There’s a vulnerability in the way she clings to me, like she’s seeking safety, comfort, and maybe something more.
I break the kiss slowly, breaths mingling in the cool night air. Her eyes flutter open, wide and searching, and I see it there—trust, a flicker of hope, a need for connection that matches my own.
I keep my forehead pressed to hers, letting the quiet between us stretch. Her fingers tighten in my hair, and I feel a shiver run through me.
Slowly, I cradle her face, thumb brushing over the curve of her cheek. Her eyes flicker shut again.
“I don’t want to stop this,” I admit, almost a whisper.
Her lips part in a small, shy smile. “Me either.”
I lean back enough to look at her properly, tracing the line of her jaw with my eyes. “You can say no, but…do you want me to stay?”
She nods, her gaze softening. “Yeah… I’d like that.”
It’s not just about sex. It’s not even about comfort. It’s about being chosen, trusted, let in. And tonight, she’s letting me in.