Page 37

I bend over and put my arms around his neck, then sit on his lap. His hands caress my back and waist — I can even feel his fingers creeping beneath my pajama top to feel the flesh on my back.
“Emily,” he cautions.
But I’m having trouble thinking.
We kiss and kiss and kiss like we need each other to live.
Liam gasps as I unwittingly press my hips into his. The next thing I feel is being shoved backward till my back rests on the hardwood floor with a thump.
My eyes jolt open, only to find Liam towering over me with hunger in his gaze. He ties my wrists with one hand and places them over my head.
I liked stroking him with my hands, but I would be lying if I claimed that his domination didn’t thrill me on.
He’s panting, and I am too.
“I’m sorry. I can’t,” he adds in a sad whisper.
I can only look at him with a blank look on my face.
“I really can’t. I’m not ready to take it further.” He shuts his eyes in anger. “It f*****g hurts.”
I can hear his raspy breathing. I wonder what’s happening since he really does appear like he’s in pain. Worry stirs my insides. I wait quietly as he attempts to get himself together.
Liam opens his eyes again, and the expression he gives me is so intense. He carefully moves my hand to touch his chest, and as my palm is put over his heart, I can feel how hard it’s throbbing. It’s insane. It feels like it’s going to explode out of his chest.
He swallows, retaining his hand on my wrist to make me feel his heartbeat longer.
“This is why I can’t do it,” he adds in a raspy voice. “I’m blind, but my other senses are overwhelming when it comes to you. My heart is about to explode every time we touch, every time I feel your skin on mine, your lips on mine, your breath against my skin, your moans in my ear. F**k. Emily, I can’t f*****g control my heart if you do that to me.”
He’s genuinely trembling, and tears puddle in my eyes.
I never believed that our proximity might be too overpowering to him because of his heightened senses. I felt like my heart was about to burst, but I didn’t realise that his was even worse.
“I’m sorry.” I swallow. “I shouldn’t have…” I falter, tripping upon my words.
I feel both flattered and ashamed at the same time.
“I should have known that you were not ready,” I say.
Liam sighs. I sit up, seeing him gaze down at the floor. There’s a blush growing on his cheeks, and I just can’t resist the temptation to hug him.
I loop my arms around his neck and bury my face in his nape. “Just a hug. I promise.”
A few seconds pass in stillness until he says, “Okay.”
Today, we finally get to spend time in the hammock after we didn’t make it the other day because of the rain.
The hammock is pretty large. It can hold four people, so Liam and I can lie on it comfortably with still enough space to spread our legs. I’m resting on my back and looking up at the lovely sky. Liam is right next to me, holding my shoulder.
I smile warmly and put my head on his shoulder blade. It feels so serene here. The birds are chattering above us, enjoying this wonderful woodland as well.
“Can you tell me what you feel about this woods?” I ask.
“Hm?”
“I know that you can feel everything,” I add, “and you can know what’s happening around you by using your other senses. I want to know.”
“Birds,” he adds with enjoyment since it’s simply so clear.
“How many?” I grin.
“Three. At least, they’re the ones who are not shy to stop at the branches just above us,” he quips.
I glance at the birds. He’s right. There are three of them, and I don’t know how he accomplishes it. Maybe he can even feel them moving.
“Wait.” Liam abruptly stands up.
I become interested. I also sit up.
“I think one of them is flirting with the other,” he adds all of a sudden.
I can’t help but laugh. “You’re impossible.” I nudge his chest playfully.
“No, listen.” He puts his finger over his mouth, and my laughing stops short. “Can’t you hear that?” he asks as I observe the birds again. “One of them keeps fluttering their wings to attract their mate.”
My eyes widen when I find out that he’s right.
“See?” he replies, still with the same enjoyment glinting in his eyes. “I think it’s a male, fluffing out his feathers. Usually, the male ones will dance to begin the courtship. F**k. He’s going to do it.”
I watch as the third bird suddenly flies away. “That one doesn’t want to be the third wheel.” A blast of laughter exits my mouth again.
I glance up at them as one of them is definitely doing excellent dance to entice the other. I can’t help but chuckle since it’s such a fun and engaging thing to see.
When the dance is ended, I wonder, “Now what?”
Liam seems like he’s in serious thought. “I don’t know. Judging from the sound of his legs starting to get restless against the branch, I think that he can’t wait to fly away.”
To my astonishment, the bird performs precisely as Liam anticipates. He flies away but is then chased by the female one.
“Where are they going?” I enquire curiously.
Liam shrugs. “Some birds build their nests for their mates. Maybe he’s showing her the nests to let her choose.”
My mouth stands wide in wonder. “I hope they get their happily ever after,” I add giddily.
It’s only a basic narrative of what happens to the wild life around us, but experiencing it provides me so much delight. To be able to enjoy the little things in life is a blessing.
Liam tilts his chin up to the woods above us. He stares up at the sky, crossing his legs and resting his elbows on each of his knees. The corner of his lips bends into a little smile while the wind ruffles his hair softly. There’s just contentment in his gaze, and this gorgeous sight makes my breath catch in my throat.
I pull out my phone and covertly snap a photo of him. I assume that he can sense it since he then diverts his attention to me.
“Did you just secretly take a picture of me?”
I laugh. “Maybe I will.”
If this had happened the first time I saw him, I would have believed I was in a lot of trouble for covertly snapping images of the heir to Eagle Wings.
But now the man who used to give me a scary look just shakes his head in bewilderment.
Liam rests down in the hammock. I pull out my book from my backpack and lie next to him, cuddling close to him.
“Should we read the book again?” I ask.
“Yeah,” he murmurs. “I like it when you read to me.”
I begin to read the poetry book. My voice echoes, mingled with the sound of the rustling leaves blown by the wind and the birds chattering again above us.
I keep reading, unconscious that the environment progressively lulls me to sleep. My voice is growing quieter and softer the more time passes.
“They should feel like home…” I falter. My eyes feel so thick. “A place that…” I can’t even finish the statement because I’m falling asleep.
Liam’s kiss on my forehead is the last thing I remember.