Liam could still feel the warmth of Vee's lips on his, the kiss lingering like an electric current buzzing through his veins. His breath was shallow, his chest rising and falling as he tried to catch it, but the intensity between them made it impossible. The car was quiet, the only sound being the hum of the engine and the subtle rhythm of their breathing.
He stared at Vee, his heart pounding in his chest. He wasn't drunk—not really. Maybe the Nigerian gin had loosened him up a little, made him braver, but this was real. The way Vee made him feel was real. He leaned in again, his eyes locked onto Vee's, the space between them crackling with unspoken words.
"I like you, Vee," Liam said softly, his voice filled with more emotion than he'd intended. "A lot. I want you."
He could see the flicker of something in Vee's eyes, something that made Liam's heart race even faster. He leaned in again, ready to close the distance, to kiss him like he'd wanted to for so long. But just as their lips were about to meet, Vee stopped him, his hand gently but firmly pressing against Liam's chest, holding him back.
"Liam," Vee said, his voice calm, but there was an edge to it, a hint of control that Liam knew all too well. "You're tipsy. You should rest. We'll be home soon."
Liam's heart sank a little, frustration bubbling up inside him. He wasn't drunk, not like Vee thought he was. He knew exactly what he was doing, what he wanted. And he wanted Vee. But there was something else in Vee's eyes, something that told Liam this wasn't just about him being tipsy. Vee was holding back, keeping a part of himself restrained.
Liam searched his face, his eyes flicking between Vee's dark, piercing gaze, trying to find the reason, the hesitation. He knew Vee was a dominant, someone who thrived on control and power, but right now, that control felt like a wall between them.
"You're holding back," Liam whispered, his voice barely audible, but the accusation hung heavy in the air.
Vee's jaw clenched slightly, and for a moment, Liam thought he saw a crack in that carefully controlled facade, a flicker of something raw, something untamed. But then, just as quickly, it was gone, replaced by the calm, commanding presence that Vee always exuded.
"I'm protecting you, Liam," Vee said quietly, his voice firm but not unkind. "You think you know what you want right now, but we both know that in moments like this, things can get... complicated."
Liam swallowed, the words hanging between them like a challenge. He wasn't sure if it was the gin or the frustration boiling inside him, but he didn't want to be protected right now. He wanted Vee to let go, to stop holding back. To want him the way he wanted Vee.
"I'm not drunk," Liam insisted, his voice stronger now, filled with determination. He reached out, his hand curling around the back of Vee's neck, pulling him closer until their foreheads almost touched. "And I know exactly what I'm asking for."
Vee's eyes darkened, his breath coming a little quicker now, but his hand remained firmly on Liam's chest, keeping that small but deliberate distance between them. There was a tension there, a battle between his desire and his restraint, and Liam could feel it. He could feel how much Vee wanted him, how much he was holding back.
For a moment, they just stayed like that, the space between them charged with unsaid words and unfulfilled wants. Liam's heart was pounding so hard he thought it might burst from his chest, but he wasn't backing down. Not this time.
"I want you, Vee," Liam whispered again, his voice soft but insistent.
Vee's gaze softened, just for a second, and his hand slid from Liam's chest to his jaw, his thumb brushing lightly across Liam's cheek. The touch was gentle, almost tender, but the intensity behind it was unmistakable.
"You don't know what you're asking for, Liam," Vee murmured, his voice low, filled with something dark and tempting. "Not yet."
Liam shivered at the sound of Vee's voice, but he didn't pull away. If anything, he leaned in closer, his lips barely brushing against Vee's. "Then show me," he breathed, his heart racing, daring Vee to let go of that control, to give in.
Vee's grip tightened slightly, his fingers digging into Liam's skin just enough to make him gasp, but then, just as quickly, Vee pulled back, his gaze hardening once more. "Not here," Vee said quietly, but there was a promise in his tone, one that sent a shiver down Liam's spine.
Liam exhaled slowly, frustrated but knowing that this wasn't the end. This was just the beginning. And as the car pulled up to Vee's place, the tension between them still thick and unresolved, Liam knew that whatever came next was going to be more than he had bargained for. But he was ready for it. Ready for him.
