Cookie

35

Liam's gaze sweeps over me, his eyes taking in every detail of my outfit. I notice his breath catch, and when his face deepens in color, a small twinge of worry crosses my mind.

Maybe this jumpsuit wasn’t such a great choice after all. I glance down at my reflection. For tonight’s New Year’s Eve party, I’d chosen a black jumpsuit—a design that covered one shoulder with a maxi bell sleeve and left the other exposed by a tiny strap. The low-cut neckline dips almost to my belly button, mirroring the back, leaving a lot of skin on display. The outfit shows off my chest and bares my upper back, but thankfully, the jumpsuit has a high-waisted cut that covers my lower back. The straight pants elongate my legs, making them look longer than they really are. I added a golden waist belt and matching shoes with the highest heels I’ve ever worn.

Honestly, I felt pretty proud of my look, hoping it would impress Liam. But now, I’m unsure whether he’s mesmerized by it or finds it too much to handle.

"Alright," Greg says, laughing as he taps Liam on the shoulder. "Time to go, or we’ll be late."

The group begins moving toward the door, all of us dressed up and excited for the night ahead. Liam and I start walking toward his car, the silence between us stretching uncomfortably. I can’t bring myself to tell him how incredible he looks tonight. I feel too insecure about my own appearance.

But he does look amazing. Dressed in black jeans, a black jacket, and a white t-shirt—something I never thought he owned, since he always gravitates toward black or gray—he manages to look even sexier than usual. His hair is neatly combed back, and his freshly shaved beard and the scent of his cologne make it hard for me to focus.

I feel a blush rise in my cheeks as memories of last night rush back. How he made me feel—his dark, intense eyes, the soft touch of his hands, the heat of his lips, and the way his cologne smelled, not like a forest, but more like cedar with hints of floral and citrus notes. That memory makes me feel confident, sexy, and strong, so when he starts the engine, breaking the silence, I turn to face him.

Liam's eyes meet mine, glowing in the dim light of the car. His smile widens as he looks me over, his gaze slowly drifting down my body before he licks his lips. My face flushes at the memory of him doing that last night.

"I'm an idiot!" he blurts out suddenly, shocking me.

"What?" I ask, confused.

He reaches for my exposed skin, lightly brushing his finger along the curve of my chest, sending a shiver down my spine. "You're so beautiful, baby. You look incredible tonight, and me—like an idiot—can’t stop thinking about how much I want to take that dress off you right now."

To emphasize his point, he pulls at the material covering one of my breasts, exposing me to his hungry eyes. His lips hover close to my skin, and I gasp, closing my eyes as a wave of pleasure floods over me. His large hand caresses the other side, and I let out a soft moan, feeling dizzy from how good it feels.

"Let’s stay home, cookie. I promise it’ll be worth it," he whispers.

Yes. Please. Let’s do that.

But then I find myself sighing. "No," I say softly. "We can’t, Liam. We promised the others, and they’re probably waiting for us."

I glance out the window, looking for any sign of our friends, but they’re nowhere in sight. "They want us there."

"I don’t want to go," Liam mutters, his voice low and filled with desire. "I just want to have you naked in my bed all night. There’s no better way to start the year than that."

Laughing, I reach for him, pulling him into a deep kiss before nibbling his lower lip, tugging gently at his hair. He moans, his hands tightening around my waist. "Liam, we’ll go to the club with our friends," I say, kissing his neck. I lean in to whisper in his ear, my voice laced with intent. "And afterward, you’ll have me all to yourself."