Strong (Book 2 in the No Control series)

Chapter 13

The next morning my eyes flutter open to find Liam already awake and looking at me with that incredible look. The one that makes me feel as though I'm the only woman in the world.

I smile. "Please tell me I wasn't snoring."

Liam looks serious at first. "Oh no, Love, not at all." Then a grin appears. "You were drooling a bit though." He is laughing loudly as I'm hitting his chest.

I'm thinking, what a little shit. However, I wouldn't want to wake up any other way.

Liam locks me in a tight embrace. "Good morning, Beautiful." He kisses me. Everytime he kisses me, whether it's a quick sweet kiss or a long passionate one, my heart still skips a beat and the butterflies take flight in my stomach.

"Coffee on the balcony?" He asks.

My face lights up. "That sounds perfect."

Liam kisses my cheek. "I'll make the coffee and meet you out there." He says.

I quickly get myself ready, throwing on a casual dress. I'm standing on the balcony overlooking the canal, waiting. I hear him behind me. I'm not sure which I'm more excited for, the coffee or Liam? Ok, let's be honest...I'm more excited for Liam. With a smile I turn to face him.

My heart drops. He's holding my iPad in his hand and has a strange, apprehensive look on his face. "What's wrong, Liam?"

He reassures me. "No, everything is fine. There is just a story in the tabloids that you won't be happy about."

Oh geez. I hate those things. "What is it this time?"

Liam hands me my coffee. "The couple from the cooking class, sold a story about us."

I look down, shaking my head. "They seemed so nice. What does it say?"

"It says we are getting married here in Italy, in the spring." Liam frowns.

I sigh. We weren't going to announce that. "I'm so stupid. I shouldn't have said anything." I feel my eyes filling with tears.

Liam wraps me tightly in his arms. He speaks quietly. "Love, it wasn't your fault. You were just being polite and answering her question. Don't you dare feel bad about this. You did nothing wrong." He pulls back and looks in my eyes. "Nothing, Babe." He sternly reminds me.

"What else did they say?"

He looks back at the story. "The picture of the four of us from the class is in here." He says.

I shake my head. So she'd planned this all along.

Liam snickers. "She talks about how I couldn't keep my hands off of you. Apparently you and I were fondling each other the whole time rather than cooking."

I roll my eyes. "I hope they needed that money for something really important."

Liam pulls me into his arms. "Overall it really isn't that bad. It could have been worse. The only thing they made up was the fondling each other in public. I mean I thought about it a lot but I didn't actually do it." He grins.

"I just feel bad. I'm sorry, Liam."

He puts his finger under my chin, lifting it to meet his eyes. "You have nothing to be sorry for, Liz."

I take a deep breath. He is so understanding. Some guys would have flown off the handle, freaking out, yelling. Not my Liam though. I wrap my arms around his neck, and smirk. "Speaking of fondling...I was thinking about fondling you too, Handsome."

He turns us so that he has me up against the balcony wall. His hand sliding up my thigh, under my dress. "Really? Care to show me how that would go?"

I feel Liam's hand on me. I hadn't bothered with panties this morning when I threw on the dress.

He murmurs in my ear. "Mmm, no panties, I like that." His fingers begin to work their magic on me.

"Baby, we are on the balcony, someone could see us." I say through my panting.

"Well we've been accused of public fondling, we might as well do it."

I look in his eyes, then throw my head back in absolute pleasure. "You are so right." I say as I slide my hand down the front of Liam's sweatpants. He moans out my name. Right when he's close to the edge he picks me up and carries me to the bed. We rid ourselves of the little bit of clothes we have on. Liam and I join together quickly. He hovers above me. I rake my fingernails down his back. Watching as his eyes close half way from pleasure. Our rhythm escalates. I feel Liam explode inside of me, I follow right behind. Just when I think being with Liam can get no better, it always does. We stay frozen for a moment while the waves continue to ride through us.

Liam moves to lay beside me, pulling me into his arms. He kisses the top of my head. "I want you to always be happy, Liz."

"Things may happen in this world that upset me, but you Liam...you always make me happy."