Page 127 of Vicious Little Snakes

Her head lifts, confusion marring her features as she looks at me with those violet-blue eyes that hit me straight in the heart.

“How does that go over your head, Liam? You left me waiting for you. Again. I trusted you. But there I stood, like a goddamn fool, and you were in jail? So you say. But you could’ve been anywhere because I don’t have anything to hold on to that makes me believe you. I’m still a fool.”

“What are you talking about? Make sense.”

I reach for her, but she steps back, water pooling around her, making a puddle on the wood floor.

“Carebear. You know how I feel about you. Why would you just toss that away to believe the worst? Come on, you know how I feel.”

“Do I?”

I blink back at her, silenced as her arms wrap around her middle. She looks fragile enough to break. But I’ll never do that again—break her. I swore it, so I answer gently.

“Don’t you?”

She swallows, gathering all her courage.

“You’ve never said the words.”

There it is. I almost laugh because, here I thought, all these years that the girl who sees through me, also saw through me when it came to her. But it seems even love needs a voice.

I drop my head, slowly closing the distance as I say, “I’ve never been great with those—words.”

She stands stock-still as I reach for her face, brushing the back of my fingers over her smooth cheek as she locks eyes with me.

“Be great for me, Liam.”

I’ll give you everything you want, Carebear. Trust me.

“I will. But you’re so goddamn blind. I’ve been fucking showing you since as far as I can remember. I’ve drawn like seven hundred damn pictures of just your mouth—it’s what got me fucking arrested.”

“You drew me?” she whispers it almost to herself.

I can’t help but chuckle. “I draw you. I’ve probably drawn another eight hundred of that beauty mark on the inside of your knee. I told you—you’re all I see.”

My other hand cradles her face. “I forgive you for everything, even when you’re wrong. I never let anyone overstep, including punishing myself when I did. I don’t do that for anyone else.”

She’s staring back at me, blinking faster but finally listening.

“I always make sure that the cafeteria has at least one of those cookies you like since sometimes that’s all you eat. I pay attention to that too—to make sure you have a better day when you haven’t taken enough bites at lunch. I watch when your eyes are sad and make jokes to cheer you up even when you snap at me to stop. I know when you’re scared because you rub your scar—”

She looks down at her hand and back to me as I keep going, “—and I protect you. Always. From everyone, including yourself. I’m here, Carebear. I’ll always be here. And like I said, baby. I’m sorry I’m late.”

Her eyes are brimmed with tears as I lean down and wrap my arms around her waist, lifting her so that we’re face-to-face.

“But the thing I do most is give you everything you want. So make sure you’re fucking listening. I love you, Caroline Whitmore. Always have. Always will.”

Her arms wrap around my neck as a smile peeks out. “You brought me flowers.”

I nod, rubbing my nose against hers.

“I thought I’d set the expectation early.”

Liam

Caroline wraps her wet legs around my waist as my arm moves to hold her ass while walking back toward the bedrooms.

She skims those delicious lips over mine as she whispers, “I want you to fuck me, Liam. No stopping this time.”