Page 36 of The Reality of Wanting Him (Love Without Labels #1)

LIAM

Producer: What’s it like having Blake here on the farm?

Liam: It’s great. I was nervous about him seeing it, but he took to it better than I could have imagined. Almost too well. It definitely feels like we could have a future here together, but a part of me is still waiting for the other shoe to drop. Like, things can’t really be this easy… Can they?

I didn’t think today would go this well. I’ve spent the last week worrying about bringing Blake here, wondering if the farm would be too much for him, if the reality of my life would be too different from his. But today proved to me, again, that I had nothing to worry about.

He didn’t just tolerate the farm, he was into it . He asked questions, shared his ideas—some of which were actually really solid—and even had the audacity to start calling himself daddy to the chickens. Which… yeah. That was surprisingly adorable.

We’ll see if it’s the same story tomorrow when I actually make him help with the morning chores, but I’ll probably just put him with the chickens since he seemed so eager to spend more time with them. I really do want him to enjoy his time here.

My dad seemed to love Blake too, which I wasn’t worried about, but still. My dad has always trusted me to make the right decisions, to bring the right people into my life, but seeing the two of them together and getting along made me happier than I expected.

Today felt like the last piece clicking into place for me. I’ve been trying to keep some kind of guard up— though, even I can admit I’ve done a shit job of it —just in case he didn’t love it here. Just in case this was the thing that made him realize he didn’t actually want a life with me.

But now that I’ve seen him here, I can’t hold back anymore.

I need to show him exactly how much I want him and how deep this goes for me. I want to strip away any last shred of hesitation or doubt he might still have until the only thing in his mind, the only thing he feels, is me.

But first, I need to show him around my house, what he confidently called our future home. Fucking swoon . The stupid cameras are still following us, and I don’t think they’d appreciate me pinning Blake against the nearest surface the second we walk through the door.

Well… maybe they would. But I’m not about to find out.

Blake and I walk hand in hand up the porch steps. I unlock the door and push it open, letting him walk in first, then the cameras, before I follow. He’s quiet as he takes it all in. My place is nothing fancy, especially compared to his condo in the city, but it’s functional for everything I need.

“I can’t believe you built this!” he finally says, sounding truly amazed. “I mean, I can , you’re incredible, but wow. It’s amazing, Liam.”

“Well, I did most of the work with my dad. And my best friend, John, is an electrician. His brothers still live here, so he came back into town and they all helped us with it. Plus, we did hire a few contractors for other things we couldn’t do ourselves, like the foundation. It’s not much, but?—”

“It’s yours ,” he finishes for me, glancing back at me with awe in his eyes. “That’s insane. You actually built a whole-ass house!”

I chuckle. “Not by myself,” I remind him again, but it’s cool that he’s so excited about this.

I’ve always loved my house and that it’s something my dad and I did together, but having Blake be so impressed, so proud of me, is making me surprisingly emotional.

“So, you could actually see yourself living here?” I ask, needing to hear it again. Just one more time.

He turns to me with obvious affection shining in his eyes. “Yes. I want this, Liam.”

I nod, my throat suddenly tight. I knew bringing Blake here would be a big deal, but I didn’t expect this type of reaction, and I guess I’m still processing it all.

I hate that I couldn’t just accept his answer when he said he was excited.

I know my past relationship trauma has left me jaded, but it’s never really come up again before now.

Probably because it’s the first time I’ve truly cared this much about anyone else I’ve dated, and I’m terrified that this will still blow up in my face for some reason.

This is the first time I really want a future with someone.

I want to be enough for him. Given my ex, and the fact that Blake had never considered wanting to date a man only a few weeks ago, it’s been hard not to doubt that he feels the same way I do, but as I look around at him in my home— our home —all I can picture is our future together.

“I want you,” he adds, stepping closer. His hands settle on my hips before snaking around my back, the feel of him grounding me.

I reach for him, sliding my fingers into his hair as I pull him into a slow, deliberate kiss. He chases my lips when I pull back to respond. “Me too. You ready for me to show you how much?”

Before I can deepen the kiss and show him how badly I want him, someone clearing their throat from the doorway has us both jerking back. One of the producers stands there, giving us an expectant look. “Uh, mind if we grab some footage of you showing Blake around before we wrap for the night?”

Actually, I do mind, but I know that wasn’t really a question so much as a reminder of what they’re here to do.

Blake sighs dramatically, and I do my best to will my growing erection to calm down.

Why the fuck do I keep getting hard on TV?

Nothing like getting cockblocked by the production crew shadowing your every move while you’re in the can’t-keep-my-hands-to-myself phase of a relationship.

I swear if Blake looks at me a little too long with his fuck-me eyes again before they leave, I’m going to shove them through the door myself so we can get some privacy.

“Can’t we do that tomorrow?” I plead, already knowing the answer is going to be a resounding no.

“Sorry, we need his first reactions. It won’t work if we come back tomorrow morning after a night together.”

Fuuuuck. “Fine. Let’s get it over with,” I sigh.

I grit my teeth and start the tour. I’m extra grateful right now that I don’t have a large house so I can get this over with quickly.

I walk Blake, and unfortunately the crew that are following us with their cameras, through the house pointing out specific details.

But I mean, clearly a bedroom is a bedroom and a kitchen is a kitchen.

The whole time, I’m trying to not be rude but my body is still on high alert, and I know the tour is the last thing either of us care about right now.

Blake is not helping. At all. He’s being extra animated and throwing out reactions that are obviously meant to keep torturing me. “Wait, you built these cabinets with your own hands? Babe, that’s so hot, I’m so turned on right now.”

I shoot him a look—hopefully off camera—trying to communicate that he’ll pay for that later. But all he does is grin wider and waggle his eyebrows .

When we make it to the bedroom, Blake immediately throws himself onto the bed.

“I can’t wait to feel these flannel sheets on my naked body.

” He’s intentionally pushing me and it feels like the last of my self-control is breaking.

Honestly, I can’t be held responsible for my actions at this point.

They might have to just blur some footage out if they really want to keep filming tonight because Blake’s ass is mine the second they walk out that door.

Thankfully, though—and I’m not sure if they actually got what they need, or if it was the way Blake is looking at me while obnoxiously running his tongue over his lips—they tell us they’ve got enough and they’ll be back in the morning.

I’m not even sure what usable footage they have, but that’s the last thing I care about.

We walk them to the door and lock it behind us so there’s no chance they can come back in.

Blake is immediately on me. His lips crash against mine and I let him take what he wants—for now.

His tongue teases my lips and I open easily for him.

His kiss is full of desperation, like he’s making up for every second we had to play nice for the show, but I pull back as soon as I feel him start rutting against my leg and grip his jaw in my hands.

“Bedroom. Now.”

He shudders against me, nodding immediately before turning to literally run toward the bedroom.

Fuck, I love his enthusiasm. I follow, and the second we’re inside, I’m back on him, taking the lead this time.

He melts against me as I push him into the wall and press my body against his.

I want him to know just how turned on he makes me, and the wall is much closer than the bed.

The moment he feels my growing erection, his hips rock forward, and fuck, if that doesn’t make me even harder.

I lean in, dragging my lips along his jaw, obsessed with the way his breath hitches.

He tilts his head back to give me more access to his neck, and I make my way down.

I take full advantage of his responsiveness, pressing open-mouthed kisses along the column of his throat, nipping lightly to feel him shiver beneath me.

I pull back just enough to look at him—his flushed skin, his kiss-swollen lips, his blown-out pupils. Fuck, he’s so beautiful when he’s turned on and desperate like this.

“I want to take my time with you tonight.” My voice is low and gravely. “But if you keep looking at me like that, I’m going to lose every ounce of self-control I have.”

His smirk is almost cocky, but the way he shivers under my hands tells me he’s just as gone as I am. “Who said I wanted you to have self-control, babe?”

“Fuck, B.” I groan because he’s really testing me. “Tell me exactly what you want tonight.”