Collided: Chapter 22

My phone buzzes in my bag. I pull it out after searching around for a good minute, my bag an endless pit of loose gum strips, old receipts, and plane ticket stubs.

He responds with a middle finger emoji. I laugh, loving how he doesn’t try to overly impress me, choosing to be true to himself.

When Liam told me he made plans, I didn’t think he meant something like this. He tugs me along behind him toward the grassy area near the Eiffel Tower with a picnic basket in hand, which would probably look ridiculous on someone else. When I question his masculinity, he does a quick twirl, absurdly comfortable with himself.

Liam finds a perfect spot, the green grass lush beneath our feet and the sun hitting us with golden-hour rays. He pulls out a blanket and situates it on the grass. I follow along when he gestures for me to sit. If he were someone else, he would be perfect. But I don’t want to read into this too much, putting labels and ideas where they don’t belong. I stomp all over my rapidly beating heart.

He makes it hard to resist him, especially when he pulls out a bottle of wine and a cheese plate.

“I thought this would be fun before the next Prix.”

“Do you do this for all your French girls?”

His cheeks blush. A bashful Liam tends to be one of my favorites. “Nope. Only sassy little Americans.”

“I’m not little.” My bottom lip juts out. He swipes his thumb across it, the brush of his finger sparking something within me.

“You can fit in my carry-on bag if we tried.” His eyes smolder as they roam over me, taking in my loose blonde hair and mascara-coated lashes framing my eyes.

Did I put effort into my appearance for Liam? Yes.

I’m so screwed.

“I don’t think I want to fly private jets in a carry-on. I didn’t peg you for such a cheapo who wasn’t willing to share his life of luxury.”

Liam barks out a laugh I’ve grown to love. Uh, like. He pours the wine like a pro, cloth included for wiping off any excess drips. We look like classy people using real glasses instead of plastic ones.

“Cheers to another city and another race.” He smiles.

I clink my glass with his and take a sip. The liquid cools me down from the heat of an August day and Liam’s nearness.

I scan the perfectly manicured lawn. “Can you believe people propose here? I don’t think I would ever want something so public.”

We already saw one proposal while walking over to our picnic spot with the sounds of a crowd cheering ringing through the quad.

“Are you a hidden romantic? Do you want some private proposal instead?” His eyes dance, the sun’s rays reflecting off his irises.

“Maybe. I don’t know. I never thought about it before, especially with my parents and their failed attempt at love.”

His eyebrows tip down, his lips matching the movement. “Oh, come on. Every girl thinks of it.”

“Not this girl. Don’t be so quick to jump to conclusions because not every female dreams of a three-bedroom house with a dog.”

“Of course not. Girls dream of fancy mansions with Bandini cars instead of dogs.”

His crazy picture of love makes me laugh up into the sky.

“For someone who talks about how in love his parents are, you sure have a dark outlook on life.”

Realization dawns on me when his eyes dart away from me. I try to backpedal. “I didn’t mean to bring that up.”

He focuses on the Eiffel Tower in front of us. “I know. But it happens. It’s not like I want to be some irritable asshole who lets one comment taint my mood. But in the end, you’re right. I shouldn’t be like this, but I am. Because, sure, my parents have the best marriage, but they have a son with the worst. So it doesn’t matter what we grew up with when Lukas lives a daily nightmare.”

“Have you talked to your brother about this? Based on what you’ve told me, it seems like he loved Johanna. I wouldn’t count that as the worst marriage.” I can’t help but wonder if Liam paints a worse picture in his mind about how his brother copes.

“Even if it wasn’t the worst, it didn’t have a good ending. Hell, it shouldn’t have ended, period. And no, I don’t talk to my brother as much anymore. At least not like before.”

“Then who are you to assume he lives this terrible life? He has two beautiful daughters from the photos you’ve shown me. Johanna may not be alive, but the memory of her continues in her kids.”

Liam’s eyes appear glassy as he turns his head toward me. “I don’t know…”

“You’re right. You don’t know.” I clutch his hand in mine and look him in the eyes. “It’s okay to stop torturing yourself over an idea of how he’s living. Maybe you should ask him instead of hiding.”

“It’s easy for someone to give advice when they haven’t experienced it.”

I scoff. “It’s anything but easy to confront you about this. Easy would be to not mention anything. To sit back, enjoy our limited time together, and take off into the Italian sunset when all is said and done.”

“Then, why do it?” His eyes hold mine captive.

I swallow back my nerves, wanting to say the words before I lose the courage. “Because I care about you. Whenever you mention your brother, you get this wounded look in your eyes. The tragedy in Johanna’s death wasn’t only her dying. It was also you losing part of yourself to compensate for the emptiness of losing a best friend.”

“I think you missed your calling in psychology,” Liam grumbles.

I let out a soft laugh. “Nope. My calling was to end up here all along, ready to kick your ass into gear. You’ve been on more podiums with me around than last year. You’re welcome, by the way.”

Liam shoots me a beaming smile that I feel all the way to the deepest parts of my heart. “You, Sophie Marie Mitchell, are right where you belong. Screw accounting, you’re too hot to sit in a cubicle all day.”

Leave it to Liam to go from somber to humorous in one sitting. I let him get away with his diversion, content on enjoying our happy hour together.

We sit together and people-watch, making up ridiculous stories about tourists and locals alike. He sips his wine, bringing my attention to his lips wrapped around the rim of the glass. The same lips I want kissing me again.

I drain the remaining contents of my glass in a couple of swallows.

“Easy there.” His gravelly voice makes me clench my thighs.

And then I remember my saving grace. The whole reason Liam and I got into this mess together, the start of a relationship I could never prepare for.

I pull out the Fuck It list from my pocket and assess the deeds I can do. “I want to plan what to do next.”

His eyes darken. I review some of the items, wondering what I can choose by myself.

Liam grabs the list from my hands yet again. “The whole point isn’t to plan every little detail. I think I’ll choose this time.”

Goodbye control, catch you later.

“Found one. Kiss in front of the Eiffel Tower.” Liam clasps my hand, pulling me in flush against his body while strong hands hold me close.

I push away from his chest to look him in the eyes. “What are you doing? We can’t kiss here. We’re in public! That’s not what friends with benefits do. They keep it exclusive to specific domains like friends in the outside world and benefits in the bedroom.”

His lips twitch at my rambling. “If you keep benefits to the bedroom, then you’re doing it all wrong.” His deep voice goes straight to my core, a dull throb betraying how much I want him.

“We need clear rules and expectations of what friends-with-benefits means. I think we both have different ideas.”

“Fuck rules and plans. Stop thinking so damn much.”

Liam doesn’t give me a second more to mull over our status because his lips find mine while his hand cups my face. The fresh taste of white wine raids my mouth and runs across my tongue as his lips claim mine. His lips possess me and control my brain and body, bending me to his will as I become putty in his hands.

Tongues clash, sending a shiver down my spine. My toes curl inside of my sneakers at the sensation building inside of me. A soft moan escapes as his hands run across my back, initiating another round of sparks across my skin.

I get lost in the taste of him. Liam claims me piece by piece with a kiss alone, owning my heart and my lips. My arms lock behind his neck and pull him in closer. I nip at his bottom lip. He lets out a groan as my tongue teases his, giving me back a small bit of control.

The sounds of people clapping brings me back to the present moment. Heat floods up my neck to my cheeks while Liam readjusts his pants and puts his hat back on, the brim sitting low enough to hide his face.

“The city of love strikes again.” An innocent bystander smiles at us.

No, sir, there’s no love here.

“Bring out the list.”

My hand fumbles at Liam’s request. I grab the list from my purse and place it on the table of his hotel room. His suite looks like an upgraded version of mine, with a sitting room, dining area, and a huge bedroom.

“Where’s the Sharpie?”

I find a pen after removing two lip balms, hand cream, and a brush. “Are we checking something off? I don’t see anything on here we can do.” My voice betrays my excitement.

He grabs the Sharpie from me and writes at the bottom of the paper, next to his last addition.

Have a friend with lots of benefits.

His written words have a sense of finality to them. “Now that we added that, I wonder where to start…Oh, I know.” His voice drops down to a husky whisper, making sirens go off in my head. “I forgot what a dirty mind you had making this.”

My cheeks burn. Liam rises from his chair and runs one finger down my shirt-clad spine, goosebumps breaking out where his finger trails. He grabs me and carries me toward his bedroom without a backward glance. I’m thrown onto the bed as if I weigh nothing, my body landing in a mangled heap with Liam staring at me from above. The room has enough lighting to make out important details like the way he smiles with mischief.

His gaze lingers on my chest before meeting my eyes. “See, I worry you’re going to back out of our deal. You tend to get all worked up, and as much fun as that is, I’d rather have you unwinding.”

Liam sees through me effortlessly. His words cause a bubble of something to build up in my chest. I stay silent, wondering where this will go.

“So, I think it’s a great idea for us to work out some of the kinks in our arrangement. In the name of making this work between us. So, I have an idea of what we can do to set the record straight.”

I feel afraid yet weirdly excited about which number he chose. “Something from the list?”

“Right. You’re a good girl. You like to be very thorough with everything you do, right?”

I nod my head along to his words.

He snickers. “You don’t want to give up on your list after all this time, right?”

“No.” I lie there like a sacrificial lamb while his eyes gaze over my body, taking in my jean shorts and black T-shirt.

“So, let me help you.”

Liam drops down in front of me once I nod in agreement. What a sexy sight, him with his knees planted on the bed. I lick my lips as he crawls toward me.

My heart thrums in my chest. Liam’s lips find mine, shutting my brain off and dismissing concerns. This kiss doesn’t compare to our previous ones. From the get-go, intensity rolls off him, his lips pushing against mine. Our fingers intertwine as he traps my arms next to my head. Fuck, it feels good.

Liam’s tongue licks across my lips, tempting my mouth to open for him. His teeth pull on my bottom lip as he rolls his body into mine. Emotions and sensations cloud my judgment and apprehension. I already screwed our friendship to hell with a simple kiss, so I might as well enjoy the ride.

He releases my hands, now more interested in exploring my body. His rough hands run across my curves. Despite the material separating his calloused fingers from my skin, I feel him everywhere. On my body, in my head, under my skin. There’s no dismissing the way he owns me, making my body desperate from a few kisses and touches alone. He lets out a moan when I nip and tug on his bottom lip.

My hands embarrassingly grope him like a horny TSA agent, testing out the corded muscles of his arms and back. Jacked doesn’t begin to describe him. Taut muscles press against his shirt, tensing wherever my fingers linger.

I pushed him away before, never wanting to look too close, afraid of my own self-control breaking. Everything about our chemistry makes me question my sanity for denying our connection.

Liam’s teeth graze my bottom lip before they break away from mine. His lips follow the curve of my neck. I sigh at the sensation of his stubble running against my skin, loving every second of his attention.

Our attraction makes me panic, hoping I didn’t ruin anything between us. Will Liam talk to me tomorrow? Am I ruining something between us?

Like Liam can sense my doubts, he tugs on my hair and draws me back into the moment. He erases my concerns with his lips. This man kisses me like it may be our last, branding himself, so I never forget him. And God, I’ll never.

How did I say no to this for so long? And why?

“I’ve wanted to kiss you like that for months.” Liam’s voice strains as he places soft kisses down my neck.

His words seep into my heart and occupy a permanent space, an unwelcome invasion holding me hostage. Silly me for putting feelings where they don’t belong. He runs his thumb across my swollen lips, his eyes assessing mine.

He places another quick kiss on my lips, his stubble brushing against my face. “Say you’ve wanted me just as much?”

My heart squeezes at his vulnerability, catching the way his eyes widen and his eyebrows lower.

I lift my back off the bed and give him a chaste kiss, which shouldn’t mean as much as it does. He pulls away, giving me a huge smile that warms my heart.

“You’re a hard man to resist. You’re easily becoming my weakness.” I drag a finger down his chest before I cup his prominent bulge, thick and hard beneath my palm. My body pulses with excitement at touching him. A mischievous smile spreads across my face as he groans, his body responding to my hand rubbing up and down his length. A welcome surge of pride takes over at making him crave me.

“Fuck, that feels so good.” His head drops to the crook of my neck. “I’d rather not come from your hand alone.” He softly tugs my hand away from his pants. His hands grab the hem of my shirt and pulls it off, chucking it somewhere over his shoulder. My shorts come off next, revealing most of me to him.

“And you wax? Shit.” His voice rasps.

“Yup. Makes me feel sexy.” Screw waxing myself for a guy. I don’t go through that kind of pain for anything but boosting my self-esteem.

“Shit, Sophie, you’re my naughty girl.” Liam’s eyes remain glued to my lavender lace bra.

I mentally high five myself for wearing a fancy bra and matching underwear. His lips return to mine as his hands squeeze my breasts, the lace fabric brushing against my sensitive nipples. My clit throbs at his touch.

Liam pulls away from me. “It’s not too late to stop now. We can go back to normal. Are you sure about this?” He catches me by surprise with his get out of bed free card.

My throat wells up at his sincerity. Instead of shying away, I tug his lips back to mine, giving in to him and the desire circling around us for months. One of Liam’s arms wraps around me and snaps off my bra while the other pulls at my topknot to unleash my hair. He proves himself a man of many multitasking talents.

Our kisses go from intense and needy to soft and sweet. Almost like unspoken words between us, our kisses say things our brains can’t make out. I grind myself against his cock, creating marvelous friction, going from hesitant to begging in a moment. How quickly everything changes.

His lips break away from mine. “We’re going to play a game to knock off an item.”

“And what are the rules?” My husky voice sounds foreign to my own ears.

Liam presses his bulge into my sensitive area. “No rules except for you to orgasm. You asked to experience multiple orgasms in one night.” Oh. “Let’s see how many I can pull from you. I bet three, at least.”

I nearly choke on my sharp inhale of air. “Is that even a real thing? I thought that was something movies and books made up.”

His lips find the hollow of my neck, trailing kisses across the curve. “I can promise you everything with us is the real thing. Even when you feel like you’re seeing stars from me fucking you.” His hot breath runs against my skin.

I shake when he brushes a finger down my body to the top of my thong. “Then do your absolute worst. I expect no less from someone who promises so many wicked things. More show, less tell.”

His head snaps up at me, a promising grin crossing his face, reaching his eyes. I have no clue where my brazenness comes from, but I’m here for it.

It appears I tempted the demon inside of Liam because he shuts me up with a searing kiss that leaves me breathless and mindless. The kiss kindly tells me to shut the fuck up.

With one last peck on the lips, he rolls out of bed. His knees hit the floor before he grabs my thighs and pulls me toward the end.

His fingers find the edge of my panties and tug them down. Another garment of mine gets lost to the floor of Liam’s hotel room, leaving me exposed and waiting for him. He lifts my legs from the bed and lays them over his shoulders.

He leaves a light kiss on the inside of my thigh. “Remind me again what your list said about oral sex?”

“Come from oral sex?” My body flames at the reminder of my intimate yet simple request. It’s a stupid idea now that Liam kneels before me, looking handsome and oh-so fuckable with my legs parted for him.

Liam kisses my center while his eyes remain glued to mine. My back arches off the bed, embarrassingly so, from the new sensation.

“Let me help you out. Has a man ever eaten you out and worshipped you like the goddamn queen you are?” His husky voice sends a warm feeling up my spine.

I shake my head side to side because words take brainpower, and I tapped out about five kisses ago.

He chuckles, sexy and rough, as hot air brushes against my exposed skin. “I’m more than happy to welcome you to the best night of your life.”

No more warnings and no more words as Liam’s mouth lowers. And fuck, once his tongue darts out, I’m knocked out mentally while my body thrives. He really knows what to do because my legs shake as they grip onto his shoulders like a lifeline.

My fingers claw at the sheets in search of anything to ground me. A million nerves fire off in my body, buzzing with arousal and excitement at Liam’s torment. Never in my life have I experienced something as amazing as this. My toes curl and my core throbs.

Tonight is an essential lesson of distinguishing men from boys. Liam’s hands grip my ass, holding me in place as his tongue brands me.

My body disconnects from my brain, entranced by Liam’s dedication to his task. His tongue brings my imposing orgasm to life. He looks at me, hitting me with a look of hunger and satisfaction as his lips wrap around my clit. The sight of him, combined with his synergistic torture, pushes me over. He promised I’d be seeing stars, and damn, the universe has never looked or felt so damn good.

My body quakes as he continues lapping at me, never stopping until my body calms once more.

I blink at the ceiling. Liam gives my sensitive area one last kiss before he places my legs back on the edge of the bed. He leaves behind a few kisses on my thighs before rocking back on his heels, leaving me panting and waiting. I prop myself up on my elbows.

Liam sends me a satisfied smile.

I bite on my swollen lip. “I think the list is going to break me.”

How can I complete all the items with him when a few set me on fire?

“No. I’m going to break you. But I’ll put you back together to watch you fall apart all over again around my cock. What fun we’ll have together.” He gets up and strips out of his jeans, giving me a view of his muscular legs. His hands pull off his shirt. I suck in a breath at the sight of him standing in front of me. Golden skin and ridges of muscle from his traps to his toes greet me, along with his stiff dick pushing against the fabric of his boxer briefs.

Basically, to put it short, Liam is fine as fuck. Screw looking like a Ken doll when he fits the expectations of a G.I. Joe action figure reporting for Operation O.

With two more orgasms to go before he breaks his own bet, I struggle to withhold my enthusiasm. Liam returns to the bed and crawls over my body.

“I’ve wanted to do this since I saw you in Shanghai.” He traces a line of kisses across my collarbone, my skin pebbling when his tongue darts out and traces the delicate bone. Liam’s lips never leave my skin, moving onto my breasts. His lips wrap around one nipple while his other hand squeezes and plays with the other. I can die from the happiness and desire flowing inside of me, never doubting his skills again.

Liam’s eyes meet mine every so often, his icy-blue gaze resembling a summer storm, brewing with swirls of blue.

I push myself into him because I want more. Liam’s tongue runs across the valley of my chest before finding my other pointed nipple. He licks and teases me, bringing me closer to the edge again. His unoccupied hand moves down my stomach.

His fingers pump into me while he teases my breasts, his lips sucking at the soft flesh above my nipple, marking me for no one but him to see. The bite of pain mixed with his steady pumping sets me off again, my brain soaring away from me without a glance back.

He gives me time to come back to the present moment. “Look at that, you have more than one in you.”

This man gives the devil a run for his money. Liam gets up from the bed, opening up the side drawer and pulling out a condom. He pushes his boxer briefs down, revealing his thick cock, looking smooth and ready.

I crawl toward the edge of the bed, my fingers grabbing the package from his hand and ripping the foil. He takes a deep breath as I roll the condom down his shaft. One of my fingers runs up his length once I finish. My knees wobble, but I stay steady.

Liam gets on the bed, tugging me along with him. My head falls against his chest, and his fingers run along the ridges of my spine, his touch searing itself into my memory.

“Ever ridden someone’s cock before?” His husky voice rings through the room.

“Nope.”

“Now’s your turn to show me you want this with us. Make me believe you because I’m afraid you’ll walk out that room and avoid me once everything is done.” He whispers in my ear before his tongue traces the sensitive skin.

His task weighs between us. He wants to give me control because he doubts my commitment to trying. My heart hammers in my chest, afraid of doing something wrong.

“You’re sexy as fuck. Stop doubting yourself.” He grabs my hand and presses it against his cock. “Feel that? There’s no denying I want you to fuck me. You should be confident in yourself, and in trying this out with us.”

My chest tightens at his thoughtfulness to build my confidence. It confuses me. Everything about him sets me off, in good and bad ways, making me uncertain of where to go from here.

I lean into him, pressing my lips against his. My tongue teases his, stealing his groan as my hand runs down his chest. I climb on top of him, kissing him without caution, not giving a damn about something swirling in my chest.

I slowly guide him inside of me, sucking in a sharp breath at the feel of him in this position. My hands press against his chest to stabilize me. Anything to keep me from drifting away, the feel of him overriding every nerve inside of me.

We both sit in silence, our breathing growing heavy as we stare into each other’s eyes, officially breaking the last seal of our friendship. There’s no going back as his cock fills me, an unforgettable sensation I feel all the way to my toes.

“Fuck, you’re so damn tight.” He readjusts himself and presses his back up higher against the pillows. His eyes bore into mine, churning with unreadable emotions.

I banish any thought of wanting to know how he feels. Instead, I decide to live in the moment, done with excuses.

I sluggishly rise before pushing down again. “Oh my God.”

“Sophie. Shit.” His voice strains as his fingers dig into my hips.

His words from earlier about showing him how much I want him run through my mind. I want him so fucking badly. For months I’ve craved him, despite hiding behind friendship and fears. Stupid to think I could avoid our connection.

He guides me up and down, showing me a tempo that makes my head drop back. “You’re so hot. Riding me like you’re desperate for my cock. Show me how much you need me.”

A tingling sensation runs up my spine as I continue to ride him, instinct taking over. Liam’s fingers find my clit, pressing against the sensitive area, helping my orgasm build. I find an amazing rhythm, unable to keep my eyes away from his as I move.

Screw time standing still. It feels like everything rushes by me, with emotions making my chest pinch as I continue to ride Liam’s cock. Liam’s eyes remain half open, his lids heavy from lust. I love the sight of him at my mercy.

“Let go.” His fingers sink into my hipbones, taking control, letting me find my release as he changes the pace.

Everything fades as the pleasure builds inside of me. I moan as I fall apart, giving into temptation and the way he makes me feel: strong, sexy, and so fucking scared.

Liam flips us over, my back sinking into the fluffy comforter as he rams into me. A relentless surge of pleasure takes over my body as he rides through my orgasm.

“You’ve got one more in you. I’ve got enough stamina to fuck you until you give me what I want.” He brands me with a possessive kiss before moving onto my neck, sucking and nibbling the delicate flesh.

“Yes.” I groan and push into his body.

He continues his pace, grabbing a nearby pillow and shoving it under my ass, changing his angle. His dick brushes against my most sensitive place as the pad of his thumb pushes against my clit. The sensation sends heat through my veins as my body pulses with need, the blood rushing through my ears matching my heavy breathing.

“That’s it. Give me everything you have. I want it all. Fuck, I want to steal every last thing from you.” His words and touch push me over, my eyes closing before he tugs on my hair. My eyes snap back open, catching his soft blue irises and prideful smirk as he watches me detonate.

His pumps become erratic as he drops his head to the side, hitting me with an image of him coming undone. “My beautiful angel. Too wicked for heaven, too good for hell.”

I may be his beautiful angel, but he’s my masked devil—too naughty for my heart, too irresistible for my body.

Liam’s body drops onto mine, our bodies pressing against each other as we regulate our breathing. He holds on to me, not moving, the feel of his hand intertwining with mine bringing a smile to my face. My heart squeezes at the simplest gesture.

If I didn’t feel betrayed earlier about my growing feelings toward Liam, this evening sealed the deal.

Seems like I got fucked in more than one way.