After finishing their meal, Ann stood up and began gathering the plates, her hips swaying naturally with each step as she moved toward the kitchen. Liam leaned back on his chair, watching her with quiet amusement as the clinking of dishes echoed faintly from the sink. She made quick work of cleaning up, rinsing the plates and stacking them neatly, then drying her hands with a towel. As she came back to the living room, her eyes scanned the table.
"Weird," she muttered, eyebrows knitting slightly. "I thought I saw my phone here."
Liam glanced lazily in her direction, resting an arm on the armrest. "You didn’t bring it downstairs."
Ann tilted her head, half confused, half skeptical. "You sure?"
He simply nodded, a casual smirk playing on his lips.
Letting out a breath, Ann turned and headed upstairs, muttering something under her breath. Her bare feet barely made a sound as she moved from one room to another. She checked her own bedroom first—nothing on the nightstand, nothing under the sheets or between the pillows.
"Where the hell..." she murmured, then froze. Of course. She had slept in Liam’s room.
Turning on her heel, she padded across the hallway and gently pushed open the door to Liam’s room. But the moment she stepped inside, the air changed. A quiet click behind her made her spin around—Liam had followed her in, closing the door behind him with deliberate silence.
He didn’t say anything at first, just leaned against the door, watching her with that same teasing smile. Then, with a slow motion, he reached into his pocket and pulled out her phone.
"You looking for this?"
Ann narrowed her eyes. "You had it the whole time?"
He only shrugged, the smug look never leaving his face.
"You were messing with me," she said, stepping forward with an outstretched hand to take the phone. But Liam had other plans.
As she drew close, he reached out and grabbed her bare waist, his fingers brushing against the smooth skin exposed beneath the hem of her tied-up shirt. The sudden touch made Ann’s breath hitch in her throat, and her cheeks flushed deep red.
Liam leaned down slightly, his face inches from hers. "Why’re you acting like you don’t want this?"
"I don’t know what you’re talking about," Ann muttered, eyes darting away as her hand continued to reach for the phone. But Liam, being taller than her, kept it just out of reach, raising his arm as she stretched on her toes.
"Liam!" she growled in frustration, pouting slightly.
Then, with a smooth motion, Liam let the phone slip from his hand. Before it could hit the floor, he stopped it with his foot and gently kicked it out of the room.
All without taking his eyes off her.
"Guess it’s just us now," he whispered, his voice a low rumble.
With that, he placed his other hand on her waist, firmly lifting her off the ground. Ann let out a squeal, her hands instinctively wrapping around his neck as her legs tightened around his hips for balance.
She took a second to catch her breath, then slowly reached up and began gathering her long dark hair, tying it behind her head in a loose bun. Liam watched her with a burning gaze, every movement of hers sending heat through his veins.
"Done pretending now, huh?" he whispered.
Ann didn’t reply. Instead, she leaned in and pressed her lips against his, her mouth capturing his lower lip and sucking on it with a mix of hunger and desire.
Even Liam was caught off guard by the boldness of her kiss, his hands tightening around her waist. But he didn’t hesitate for long. His lips moved in sync with hers, exploring, responding, deepening the kiss.
Time seemed to pause around them.
His back hit the edge of the bed, and he gently lowered her onto it, hovering above her. Ann’s arms remained around his neck, pulling him down as her fingers slid into his hair, holding him close.
Liam trailed kisses down her jaw, to her neck, and lower, as Ann’s breathing grew faster, her fingers tightening with every touch. Her shirt had ridden up even more, her smooth skin inviting his hands, his lips.
Ann’s heartbeat pounded in her ears. Her body ached with anticipation, each touch igniting sparks that threatened to become fire. Liam’s hands moved up her sides, slow and deliberate, memorizing the curves that had haunted his dreams.
And still, they kissed.
Long, deep, passionate.
When they finally broke apart, both were panting, their foreheads resting against each other.
"You’re a menace," Ann whispered.
Liam grinned. "You love it."
She rolled her eyes but didn’t move away, still cradling the back of his head.
Liam moved behind Ann and untied the knot of her shirt at the small of her back.
The fabric loosened. He stepped around to face her, his eyes locking onto hers. Her face flushed with anticipation as she waited for his next move.
Slowly, he unbuttoned her shirt. His gaze never wavered. Each button popped open, sending a shiver down her spine.
When the last button gave way, the shirt fell open. Her chest was exposed. Even her bra struggled to contain her. The delicate fabric slipped, revealing a glimpse of her areola.
It was a beautiful sight. Liam’s pulse quickened.
He leaned in. His mouth brushed the space between her breasts, just above the edge of her bra. The warmth of his lips drew a soft gasp from Ann. Her body arched slightly toward him.
With a practiced motion, his hand reached behind her. He unhooked the bra. It fell away, and her breasts spilled out before him, full and inviting.
It was a beautiful sight. They were round and soft, their creamy skin glowing in the dim light. The curves were perfectly shaped. Each peak was a delicate pink against her flushed skin. As he stood over her, the way they rose and fell with her quickened breaths amazed him—their weight, their softness, the way they seemed to beckon him closer.
Suddenly, Ann sat up. Her hands reached for the hem of Liam’s shirt. With a swift pull, she tugged it over his head. Her eyes never left his as the fabric dropped to the floor.
She closed the small distance between them. Leaning in, she bit his lower lip gently, sucking on it with hunger and playfulness. Liam’s hand found her bare back. His fingers traced the smooth curve of her spine, caressing her skin. It made her shiver.
With a gentle push, he laid her back on the bed. Their kiss broke, leaving a thin, glistening line of silver between their lips—a fleeting connection that hung in the air.
He brought his face down toward her breasts. Their size, their softness, the way they stood so perfectly before him drew him in. Even though he had seen them twice before, they still took his breath away every single time. It was a beautiful sight, one that filled him with awe and desire.