Consolation (Consolation Duet #1)(33)

“Should I be worried?”

Liam squeezes my hand. “I wouldn’t be okay with you working there if I didn’t think it was safe. I’d make up some bullshit and sabotage it. There’s no way I’d let you be in danger, and neither would Jackson or Mark.”

I take a deep breath and release it. He’s right. No one would ever put me in harm’s way, but the questions nag at me.





“Okay, you ready?” Liam asks as he has me blindfolded for our next part of the date. I focus on everything around me. I can smell hay or maybe it’s just that clean, open air . . . I think. I can’t place it, but there’s no noise at all. It’s completely quiet. I breathe in again, and grass and flowers register.

“Where are we?”

I feel him behind me. He stands there not touching me, but I can feel the heat of his body. It sheaths me and the anticipation builds. I lean back so I feel him and he chuckles.

His hands graze my bare arms as the tips of his fingers glide across my skin. My head falls back on his shoulder and my breathing accelerates. “When I was stationed here the first time, I found this place. It’s where I came after we kissed. I come here when I need to remember how small I am in this world.” Liam breathes against my neck. “Sometimes our problems feel so big that we forget how to be grounded and humble.” His hands move to my shoulders. The touch is tender and sensual.

He unties the blindfold and my eyes adjust. It’s pitch black except for the stars and moon above us. It illuminates the beauty that I’m surrounded by. Trees line the field and tall grass encompasses the entire area. It’s untouched except for the small circular patch we stand in. Liam’s arms wrap around me from behind and I take it in. “Wow,” I breathe. “It’s so beautiful and yet so desolate.”

“You’re not alone,” he says, and I sag into him. My head rests against his chest as he holds me tight. “No matter what happens, you’ll have me. As a friend or whatever this becomes or doesn’t.”

“It scares me. I feel like it’s so soon. I miss him still, Liam.” I turn in his arms so I can see his profile. “I loved him my whole life and the idea of moving on terrifies me. I don’t know that I won’t get gun shy and pull away.”


His hands cradle my face. “I’ll never push you. I know he was your world. I saw the love you two shared and I would be full of shit if I said it doesn’t scare me. You’re supposed to be untouchable, and yet here you are in my arms. I don’t know if I’m lucky or a f*cking idiot. I just know that when we’re together, it feels right. It feels like we’re supposed to be.”

Even in the dark, Liam’s eyes shine bright. He won’t hurt me. He won’t betray me. He’ll be patient and kind because that’s who he is. My hands tangle in his hair as we stand together. Our foreheads touch and he holds my face as I hold on to this moment. I’m at peace in this very second. No hurt consumes me, no fear, just Liam. I close my eyes and allow myself to feel and pray.

Please, Aaron, be okay with this. Please understand I’ll always love you, but Liam makes it a little bit better. He’ll be good to me. So please, forgive me.

I lift my head and press my lips against his. His hand cradles my cheek and he holds me as we kiss. I grab his neck and feel the weightlessness from letting a little part of myself go. He kisses me adoringly and cautiously, allowing me to lead but still commanding me. I lose myself a little more as I moan when his hand presses against the small of my back.

“Let go,” he says against my mouth. “Let me take it for you.”

Before I can say anything, his mouth is on mine again. Our tongues thrash against each other as the kiss becomes hungry. He pulls me close so there’s no space between us. The low sound resonates through his chest, sending shivers down my spine. It’s sexy, and before I know it, my hands are traveling to his chest. I pull his shirt out and my fingers trail up his chest. I want to feel his skin.

Liam breaks the kiss. “Natalie,” my name is both a plea and a request.

“Shhh,” I instruct him as I unbutton his shirt. “I want to feel your heart.”

My hands glide up and he trembles beneath my touch. We stand here with my fingers resting on his chest, feeling his heart beat beneath me. He’s alive and here with me. His hands stay at his sides as he once again lets me decide where I’m going with this.

“I want to touch you so bad,” he admits and his hand lifts then drops. “I’m fighting every muscle in my body right now.”

“Stop fighting,” I say without thinking.

Liam grips my arm and pulls my hand down as his lips find mine again. He kisses me roughly. Taking from me whatever I’m willing to give. I don’t know how far I can go, but right now I’m lost to him. I don’t see, feel, or want anything but him. My mind shuts off completely and for once I’m living in this moment. In the field with him, I’m not drowning. Liam breathes the air into my lungs for me. The life that left my soul months ago, when it was ripped from me, starts to find its way back. I’m alive in his arms. His touch elicits the part of me I closed off to come back and ignite.

“Liam,” I sigh when his lips leave mine and he kisses my neck.

“Tell me to stop.”

“Liam,” I breathe his name again as I feel his tongue glide against my collarbone.