The Lies That Define Us (Us 2)

Before I knew what was happening he’d picked me up and lowered me onto the ground. The sand was cool beneath my back and stuck to the damp skin of my legs.

He parted my legs, fitting his body in-between them.

“Ari,” he breathed my name, gazing down at me with what I would’ve once described as lust, but now it was love. Just love.

I rubbed my fingers over his cheek, and he relaxed into my touch.

We were two people who’d worked so hard for that moment. To reach the point where we were not only comfortable with each other but with ourselves.

After all, you can’t love someone else if you don’t even love yourself.

He ducked his head and pressed his lips to my neck. I grabbed the back of his neck and urged him toward my lips. He was more than happy to oblige.

I felt like my body and soul was on fire—I was burning for him.

I’d never felt that way before—so completely and utterly consumed, in control and out of control all at the same time.

I wanted more. So much more.

“Liam,” I pleaded against his mouth, “I need—”

“What do you need? Tell me,” he panted, struggling for breath as much as I was.

“You. Just you.”

He kissed me again. “You have me.”

“No,” I took his face in my hands so he had to look into my eyes. “I…I…” I didn’t know how to say it. I had no experience in the sex department. How could I? But he didn’t know that. Heat flooded my cheeks, and I forgot how to breathe for a moment.

“Ari?” he prompted.

“I-want-you-to-make-love-to-me.” I slurred the words together like that would somehow make them easier to say. I squished my eyes closed, embarrassment flooding me. I couldn’t believe I had said those words out loud. I’d sounded completely ridiculous and cheesy. But how was I supposed to go about that sort of thing? Was I not supposed to say anything? Did I just start taking off my clothes? Or his clothes? Or—

“Ari, look at me,” he pleaded, but I wouldn’t open my eyes.

I felt his hands come to rest on either side of my head in the sand, and his weight was eased slightly from my body. I missed the warm cocoon he provided, but I still wouldn’t look at him. I didn’t want to see him laugh at me, or worse, look at me with pity.

I felt him lift one hand, and he brushed his fingers against the curve of my cheek.

“Ari,” he whispered my name, trying to coax me out of the shell I’d crawled into.

My whole body burned with the flames of embarrassment. I couldn’t believe I’d said that. His fingers disappeared, replaced by his lips and his teeth making their way down my neck and over my breasts. I gasped and my eyes flew open.

“Ah, there you are.” He grinned, moving back up into my line of sight. “Don’t be nervous.” He cupped my cheek. “It’s okay.”

I swallowed thickly. I didn’t know what to do, or say. I’d become frozen.

Liam rolled off of me and helped me up.

“W-What are we doing?” I stuttered, suddenly finding my voice, although it came out timid sounding.

“Going back to the room.” He winked.

My stomach flip-flopped and my heart sped up. I was an excited and nervous mess. Maybe that was how it was supposed to feel before the first time you had sex. I wouldn’t know, and it wasn’t like I’d had anyone to ask.

All of it was new to me, but I wasn’t scared. I wanted it. I was ready.

Liam led me all the way back to our room, not once letting go of my hand, and stopped along the way to kiss me or whisper in my ear.