Conviction (Consolation Duet #2)(48)

“I missed every part of you.”

“You look beautiful. How are you?” he asks and leans back on his pillow.

“I’m good. I miss you,” I say again. I wish I could find better words because missing him doesn’t seem strong enough. I yearn for him in a way that’s probably not healthy.

He chuckles, “I miss you too, Lee. Where’s Aarabelle?”

“With Aaron.”

“Ah,” he says and his face falls slightly. “I got an email from Mark the other day.”

Panic starts to churn, but I try to mask it quickly. “Oh?”

“Yeah, wanted to check in and see how things were. Let me know you were being watched and were doing good.”

“Watched?” I say a little pissed.

“You didn’t think I wasn’t going to make sure you had someone looking out for you?” Liam smirks.

“I think you forget I’ve done this a time or two there, Dreamboat.” I missed our playfulness. It’s one of the things I love most. He makes the most serious of situations easier to tackle.

“Yeah, but I haven’t. I needed to make sure my girls were okay.” The way he includes Aarabelle makes my heart explode with love. He’s going to be an amazing father to our baby.

I bite my lower lip and debate if I should tell him now. I decide to test the waters. “How did the last trip go?”


“Let’s not even talk about me and here. I swear I’ll never be happier to be stateside,” Liam huffs and then continues. “There’s been stupid f*cking mistakes made over and over. I mean, you’d think I’m with a bunch of newbies this time. My frustration level is beyond high, and I’m going to have heads roll if there’s one more screw up. I thought someone would be coming home in a body bag this last one.”

Nope. Not going to tell him now.

“I’m sorry,” I shrug, partially disappointed. I want to tell him about our baby. Of course I wish it was in person versus over Skype or the phone. “The divorce should be final soon, by the way.”

“You okay with it?”

“I’m ready to start our lives with no more ghosts,” I reply earnestly.

Liam pauses and then his eyes get serious. He leans in and sincerity rings in his voice. “I’m going to make you happy, Natalie. I’m going to give you all the things you want, and I’ll never betray you. As long as we’re together, you and Aarabelle will be what I live for. I know she’s not mine, but I’ll love her like she is. I’m going to make sure you never know what it feels like to be second best.”

My heart soars and tears begin to fall. “You have no idea how happy you make me.”

“We’re just right, Lee. I’m not saying we won’t have ups and downs, but I’ll be by your side the entire time. Even when I have to be away from you, I’m with you.”

I shift forward and blow him a kiss. This man has shown me love when I never thought it would exist again. He gave me faith to open myself to him and that he’d protect me. Even when he pushed me away, it was to protect us. The love we share is once in a lifetime. It may have taken a tragedy to bring us together, but it’s true love that binds us.

“I love you, Liam Dempsey.”

“I’m thinking you should prove it,” he winks.

“Oh, and how do I do that?” I smile as his eyes begin to smolder.

“I want to see you, sweetheart.”

I smile and shake my head.

“I want to hear you, watch you come apart with my voice. I need you so bad and this is the best we can get.”

If I ever planned to do this with him, there’s no other time possible. I’ll be unmistakably pregnant soon and then I definitely can’t.

I grab my laptop, shut off the light hoping to hide the bump I have now, and head toward the bed. “I’ve never done this.”

“Me either, sweetheart, but I’m dying and I want to do this with you. If I can’t touch you, I need to see you and feel you in my mind.”

With just the dim light from the setting sun, I glow. I smother my nerves and take my top off. I watch his pupils dilate and hold on to that to keep my confidence up. My heart races as I watch him settle into his bed. “I’m not going to be the only one naked, am I?” I ask.

Liam grins and removes his shirt. My mouth goes dry as I see the sinews of his muscles move. I want to touch him so badly. My hand reaches toward him, but all I can do is close my eyes and imagine the feel of his skin beneath my fingers. “Remove your bra, sweetheart.” Liam’s voice is hushed but full of heat.

I watch Liam as I move my hands behind my back and stop. Instead, I move my hands to my shoulders and slowly drop the straps down. “Like this?”

“You’re so beautiful,” he rasps.

Slowly, I remove my arms from the straps and then reach back and undo the clasp. When my bra falls, the moan that escapes him causes heat to flood my core.

“If I was there, I’d touch you. My hands would be everywhere. Do you wish I was there?”

“Yes,” I breathe and my eyes flutter. This is the most erotic thing I’ve ever done. He’s thousands of miles away and still makes me feel sexy. Liam’s voice drops low as he groans when I push my hair back, giving him a full view.