CRAVE| 18+

four

OLESIA

I retreated to my room, my mind racing and my heart pounding. Pacing around, I tried to shake off the lingering heat of Liam's proximity, but it was no use. Every time I closed my eyes, I saw his face, felt his breath on my skin, and heard his voice whispering how he couldn't stop thinking about me.

And I felt the same way, I couldn't stop thinking of him. I wanted to taste the words he said to me tonight. If he could drive me wild with just the small touches I got tonight, just imagine how wild he could really drive me.

Would Theo really care?

Yes he would.

He's always been so protective over me, ever since my pathetic highshool boyfriend broke my heart and he found me crying on the floor.

But he loves Liam. Wouldn't he think he's a good guy for me?

But what if it ruins their relationship?

All of these questions racked through my brain, only making me more frustrated than I already was.

I felt a familiar ache low in my belly, and I knew I needed to cool off. I headed to the bathroom and turned the shower to its coldest setting. As the icy water cascaded over me, I leaned against the tiled wall, letting out a shuddering breath. But even the freezing water couldn't erase the thoughts of Liam from my mind.

Images of him filled my head: the way he looked at me, the warmth of his hands on my thighs, the almost kiss. I can't ignore the fact that he was right also about it feeling so right. Now that I've had a preview of how my body reacts to him, it'll be so hard to get that high again if it's not him who's giving it to me.

I let my hand trail down my body, imagining it was his touch, feeling the pulse of desire growing stronger with every passing second. My hand trails to my pussy, my hand swiping through the wetness already there from what transpired. I let out a whimper. I wish it was Liam doing this to me. Reality hits me hard in the face, I quickly shook off the thought and finished my shower, trying to regain control.

I wrapped myself in a towel and walked back to my room. I decided on a tank top and a pair of shorts, opting not to wear a bra. As I slipped the tank top over my head, I caught a glimpse of my reflection in the mirror. The fabric clung to my damp skin, revealing more than I intended. I hesitated for a moment, then shrugged. I needed to feel comfortable, considering how over stimulated I was.

When I stepped out of the bathroom, I nearly jumped out of my skin. Liam was sitting on the edge of my bed, his eyes lighting up as he saw me. His gaze traveled slowly up and down my body, making my skin tingle everywhere he looked.

He groans, and throws his head back. The bulge in his pants growing at the sight of me.

I swallowed hard, feeling a surge of confidence under his intense scrutiny.

"I came to apologize, but you just made it very hard for me. " He says speaking up to the ceiling. No pun intended.

"No worries."

He cleared his throat, dragging his eyes back to my face. "The food's here."

I stepped closer, noticing the way his eyes darkened as he watched me. "Sounds good. Thanks for ordering."

Liam stood up, his movements slow and deliberate. He adjusted his pants, his eyes never leaving mine. He smirks when he sees the affect it has on me. "No problem. I figured you might be hungry after all the unpacking."

I nodded, feeling a spark of anticipation. "Yeah, I am. Let's go eat."

As we walked out of the room, the tension between us was unbearable. Every step I took, I could feel his presence behind me, the air thick with unspoken words and unsatisfied desire.

We reached the kitchen, and Liam set the takeout containers on the table. "Hope you like what I ordered," he said, his voice softer now.

"I'm sure I will," I replied, my eyes meeting his. "Thanks again, Liam."

He nodded, his gaze lingering on me for a moment longer before he turned to open the containers. The scent of Chinese food filled the room, a welcome distraction from the tension crackling between us.

We sat down at the table, our knees brushing under the surface. Every touch sent a jolt through me, making it hard to concentrate on anything other than him. We ate in relative silence, the only sounds the clink of chopsticks and the occasional murmur of appreciation for the food.

As the meal wound down, Liam leaned back in his chair, his eyes locked onto mine. "So, how are you liking the place so far?"

"It's great," I said, "It's nice to have a fresh start."

He nodded, "Fresh starts can be good. Sometimes they bring unexpected surprises."

I couldn't help but smile at his words, the double meaning clear. "Yeah, they do."

Liam reached across the table, his fingers brushing mine. "Olesia, I..."

The words hung between us, heavy with meaning. Before he could say anything more, my phone buzzed with a text from Theo.

Theo: I forgot about the grocery store run! We'll go tomorrow.

The interruption broke the spell, and I pulled my hand back, trying to regain my composure. "Theo's reminding me about the grocery trip tomorrow."

Liam sighed, leaning back. "Right. Grocery store."

I stood up, gathering the empty containers. "I should probably clean this up."

He stood too, reaching for the containers. "I'll help."

We worked in silence, the tension still thick between us. Every brush of our hands, every accidental touch, made my heart race. When we were done, I turned to Liam, feeling the pull between us stronger than ever.

"Thanks for dinner," I said softly.

"Anytime," he replied, his eyes lingering on me. "Goodnight, Olesia."

"Goodnight, Liam," I said, forcing myself to walk away. As I headed to my room, I couldn't help but wonder how long we could keep this up, but for Theo's sake, we had to try.