Always (5 page)

Chapter Six

When they officially graduated from high school that summer, Liam had something special planned, and he wasn’t giving her any hints.

“So where are you taking me?” she asked.

“You’ll soon see.”

She smiled and tried hard not to fidget in her seat. As soon as he’d picked her up, he put a blindfold on her, and she hated the suspense. “I can’t believe you actually blindfolded me.”

“Well, believe it.” He laughed, stroking her cheek with the back of his hand. “We’ll be there in a minute, Sunshine. I promise.”

When they arrived at their destination, Liam quickly got out of the car and opened the passenger-side door. He placed his hand on hers to gently guide her out of the vehicle. She took her time so she wouldn’t fall, not liking the fact she wasn’t able to see anything, and he laughed a few times at her frustration. He stopped after walking a few more feet and lifted her into his arms.

“What are you doing?” she asked, startled.

“Carrying you. If I put you back on your feet, I have a feeling you’ll guess where we are.”

She sighed while letting him have his way, then laughed as they escalated up an incline, and then quickly moved downward again. She knew where they were, all right. She loved this place.

Her feet sank into the sand as he removed her blindfold. Looking around, she gasped at the work he’d done. “It’s beautiful, Liam. Thank you!”

They were standing on the beach he had taken her to several times before. She’d thought it was beautiful then, but it wasn’t half as beautiful as it was now. A blanket surrounded by flowers lay in the middle of the sand with a picnic basket in the center. The trail leading to it was beautifully lit with tea-light candles. More candles surrounded the beach, the sky had a million stars in it again, and the light from the moon still reflected off the water.

“Wow,” she said in awe, then wondered if she was dreaming. Most guys Liam’s age weren’t nearly as romantic, and she loved that he was.

“I’m glad you like it,” he whispered from behind her as he took her by the hand to lead the way to the picnic. After sitting on the blanket, they talked, laughed, and ate.

“Can I ask you a question?” she whispered. They’d just finished eating and were lying together, admiring the brightly lit sky.

“Anything,” he said.

“Well, I was wondering why this place isn’t busier. I mean, it’s so beautiful here, but every time we come, we have the whole thing to ourselves. Not that I’m complaining.”

Liam rolled onto his side to look at her. “Being alone does have its perks.” He reached down to capture her lips against his. The kiss was sensual and slow as he teased her, tracing her bottom lip with his tongue and then probing the slit of her mouth to gain entry. They met tongue to tongue before he pulled away, as if he knew she’d understood his point. “My parents own the property, actually, so it’s not open to the public.” He shrugged as though it wasn’t a big deal. “They wanted to keep it private, for the family. We’ve had so many good memories here, past and present.”

“So I was thinking…” she said innocently as she stood up.

“And what were you thinking about?”

“Well, I was thinking of the good memories you were just talking about, and I thought maybe we could create some more.”

“I think I like the sound of that.”

“Good!” She smirked before turning away from him. As she walked toward the water, she slowly pulled off each article of clothing she had on and threw them on the sand. “Care to join me?” She beckoned him toward her with her finger while he sat there admiring his view.

“Hell yeah.” Smiling, he hopped around in his haste to get undressed and go to her.

“I can’t say I can remember you ever moving that fast before.” She laughed and caressed his cheek as soon as he was close enough. “I love you, Liam Bates.”

“And I love you.”

She jumped up and wrapped her arms and legs around him. “Prove it to me. Let’s have some fun making new and unforgettable memories together. Let’s make this night last forever. I don’t want our time to end.”

“Now you’re just being silly, Sunshine. I’m not going anywhere, and I sure as hell won’t let you go anywhere but right where you are, with me, always.”

“‘Always.’ I like the sound of that. Now enough talking and more kissing. Make love to me, Liam.”

“I love it when you talk dirty, baby.”

Teegan squealed as he lowered her to the sand. Cold water hit her back, but it didn’t take long for Liam to warm her up. He kissed down to her navel and worked lower, kissing, licking, and loving every single inch of her. His amazing mouth worked at her, stroking and teasing as he flicked, licked, and sucked on her clit. Her back arched as the orgasm took over, and she screamed his name as he made love to her with his mouth.

“You’re so beautiful, Teeg. I love to hear your moans and whimpers. When you come on my face, I can’t drink enough from you. You drive me crazy every time. I’m addicted.”

“Let me return the favor. Let me taste you. Teach me what you like.”

He was already naked and ready for her to take. Positioning herself on top of him, she kissed his mouth before slowly working her way down to the cock she ached for. She stroked the sensitive slit at his head with her tongue, making him hiss in pleasure. She felt powerful, and every new noise he made turned her on. She licked around his head this time, eliciting several moans before she took him as far back as she could into her mouth.

“That’s right, baby. Take me.” He was breathless. “Put your hand around the base of my cock and work me with it and your mouth at the same time. Stroke me, Sunshine, and work your tongue all around me.”

She moaned her consent, trying her best to do what he instructed as her own need rose again between her legs. She was dripping and looking forward to him filling her. The anticipation gave her incentive to work him harder. Bobbing her head faster and faster, she sucked, licked, and pumped his shaft, loving how she pleased him.

His hips flexed and then he tensed up. “Stop, Teeg. I’m going to come if you don’t, and I want to be inside you when that happens.”

Her mouth made a popping noise as she released him. As she positioned herself on top of him, she couldn’t wait any longer for him to enter her. He slid in with one smooth stroke, and they both moaned in bliss as she raised and lowered herself on him. She started off slowly because it felt too good to rush and ended with more energy than she knew she had. They were drained and breathless after making love, and the night was so special, she vowed never to forget it.

***

They’d definitely made some good memories on their last date together, so she wondered why he seemed so distracted. Liam had just picked her up, but he wasn’t acting like himself. He’d barely said a word and hadn’t even kissed her hello.

“Is everything all right?” She placed her hand on his thigh and gave him a gentle squeeze.

“It’s a nice day. Do you feel like taking a walk?” He pulled the car over and got out before she could do anything more than say okay and nod.

Smiling weakly, he held out his hand for her to take. They walked in silence until she couldn’t take it any longer. She pulled him toward a large gazebo near the water and forced him to look at her. “Okay, this is driving me crazy. What’s wrong?”

“What isn’t wrong, Teegan?” he countered. She was about to say something, but he put his finger over her mouth and stopped her with a kiss.

Her anger, anxiety, and annoyance at him faded whenever he did that, and he knew it. “Um, where were we?” she asked.

He laughed and put his arms around her, “God, I love you,” he said, then sighed, “I think we were at the point where I was driving you crazy.”

She nodded, waiting for him to continue.

“Lucy’s back.”

Teegan tensed and pushed away from him, knowing she was about to hear something she wouldn’t like. “When?”
Dear God, please
don’t let him betray me. I love him too much.

“She arrived last night, and I didn’t realize it was her until this morning.”

Teegan barely listened to what he’d just said because she had to know the answer to something that had bothered her since she’d met Lucy. “But why does she have to stay with you?” she asked instead of questioning his last statement. “Doesn’t she have family here or other friends to pester? You know, there are hotels around, and—”

“She has no family here, and my parents insist on letting her stay with us. They feel like she’s part of our family. I’ve tried pleading with them, but they won’t listen.”

She looked up at him, then exhaled. “Explain what you meant when you said you didn’t realize it was her until this morning. Please tell me this is some kind of sick, twisted joke at my expense, because it isn’t funny, Liam. It’s cruel.”

“Teegan, I…”

“You didn’t,” she whispered, backing away. “Please tell me you didn’t.” She turned from him, trying her best not to cry.

“Teegan, please let me explain.” She could feel the warmth of his body behind her and his breath at her neck. He reached out to touch her shoulders, but she shook him off because for once his touch actually hurt, and her heart shattered.

“Explain yourself to me, Liam.”

“It was dark, I wasn’t myself, and I thought it was you.”

“Since when do I ever sneak in?”

“You surprise me all the time, Teegan. How was I supposed to know it was her? As far as I was concerned, she was gone. She’s never visited twice in such a close time frame before.” He paused. “Like I said, it was dark, she didn’t say a word, and when I woke up this morning…”

He couldn’t finish. She turned around to see him bow his head in defeat. “I always knew she was conniving, but I never thought she would stoop this low. James and I snuck out for a couple beers last night. I was tipsy and went straight to my room to pass out, but she tricked me, and I’m so sorry. I love you, Teegan. Please believe me, because I always will. I’m so sorry, Sunshine.”

“So what you’re trying to tell me is that you thought it was me?” she asked, just to be clear. “Is that honestly supposed to make any of this better? You fucked your ex-girlfriend, and I’m expected to be okay with that because she tricked you? I don’t think so. I love you, Liam, but you hurt me. You have just betrayed me in the worst way possible, and I just can’t be around you right now.” She backed up just enough to be out of reach before making a run for it. Her perfect life was crumbling around her, and this news was only the beginning.

***

The next terrible moment came about four weeks after she found out about Lucy. Liam’s news had been devastating, but he called every day and spent as much time as he could trying to be around her, to get through to her, to beg her to forgive him. It hadn’t helped that James backed Liam up by trying to explain the type of person Lucy was. Teegan eventually caved because she loved him and realized he’d been taken advantage of, hurt by what Lucy had done just as much as she had been.

Liam planned to bring her to meet his parents for lunch at his house. As if that hadn’t made her nervous enough, when they walked through the door, everyone was seated in the living room. It didn’t seem strange at first until they entered the room and Teegan saw Lucy standing in the corner by the window.

“What is she doing here?” Liam asked through a clenched jaw as he tightened his hold on Teegan.

“Calm down, son,” his father said as he stood up and approached them. “There’s a family situation we need to discuss that involves Lucy. I think it might be best if you take Teegan home.” He looked apologetic as he suggested it. “I’m sorry, dear.”

“No way. I don’t keep anything from her, so whatever needs to be said, can be said with Teegan by my side. I plan to make her part of this family one day, and there are people here that need to get used to it.”

Lucy clearly wanted nothing more than to separate them, and Teegan worried she may have succeed at that point with Liam’s family supporting her. But what could be worse than what she’d already done?

Lucy stood still on the other side of the room as she watched the exchange between father and son. Clearly not liking Liam’s response, she narrowed her eyes, and a dirty look was painted across her face as she examined Teegan.

“Well, I have some news,” she said. “Bye-bye, honey. It was nice knowing you.” She waved as she said it, and if Teegan wasn’t afraid before, she was now just at seeing Lucy’s confidence.

“Cut it out!” Liam snapped, but Lucy only smiled.

“I hope you’re all just as excited as I am. Congratulations, Daddy!” She moved toward Liam with her arms extended, as if she suspected he’d jump into them.

Liam stood there motionless. “What?”

“I came back to let you know we’re having a baby, Liam. I just found out yesterday. We can finally be a family.” Lucy bumped Teegan out of the way to get closer to him.