Chapter 32
SHANE
Once the water no longer embraces us, Liam takes my hand and gently guides me out of the shower. The cool air envelops me as I step out, making me shiver. As we walk towards his room, I can’t help but admire his naked body from behind. His broad, muscular back is defined with the clarity of every fiber, tapering down to a narrow, perfectly sculpted waist. His well-formed, toned rear catches my attention, culminating in strong, muscular legs that demonstrate his dedication to fitness. It’s clear that he stays in shape, and what surprises me is that he shows not the slightest embarrassment as he walks completely naked in front of me. I mentally scold myself for feeling a bit intimidated, especially after sharing so much in such a short amount of time, as if this should be as simple as walking naked beside me.
“Wait here,” he tells me before returning to the bathroom. I bite my lower lip, searching for my clothes on the floor, but there’s nothing.
So I walk to the closet and linger for a moment at the threshold, feeling the contrast between the warmth of the shower and the cooler air around me. The towel wrapped around my body is a reminder of the intimacy we just shared, and at the same time, it makes me feel vulnerable. I decide I can’t just stand there, so I approach the closet, looking for something to wear while Liam is in the bathroom.
My fingers slide over the hangers and soft fabrics until my eyes land on Liam’s long-sleeved white dress shirt. I touch it gently, and as I pull it out, I catch a whiff of his fragrance mixed with a hint of soap. Without a second thought, I strip off the towel, letting it fall to the floor, and put on Liam’s shirt. The fabric feels fresh against my skin, wrapping around me in a way that makes me smile; even though it barely covers my backside, and let’s be honest, I have a big rear, the garment gives me a sense of security.
I roll the sleeves up to my elbows, enjoying the relaxed fall of the fabric over my arms. With a small grimace at my reflection in the mirror, I realize I’m missing one thing: underwear-there’s no way his boxers will fit me. Damn, I’ll have to ask him what he did with my panties; I don’t care how dirty they are, something is better than nothing. I step out of the closet and hear the sound of the shower running, leaving the room quietly and heading downstairs to prepare breakfast. With my stomach growling, I quickly descend the stairs into the kitchen, immersing myself in the warm morning light filtering through the windows.
As I enter the kitchen, I glance at the microwave and realize the time: it’s 7 AM. My heart races; if I don’t hurry, I’ll be late for work. With my mind racing, I set out to prepare something quick. I open the fridge and check its contents: some fruit, a couple of eggs, and a bit of ham. I decide that an egg sandwich will suffice, so I start whisking the eggs in a bowl while the bread toasts and the aroma of coffee envelops me.
While I cook, my mind wanders, thinking about Liam and the night before. I can’t help but smile at the warmth of his embrace under the shower, the way his eyes sparkled as we shared that moment. At that instant, I feel a connection beyond the physical; there’s something deeper in the way we feel about each other. I also make a mental note of a few important matters regarding our relationship that we need to discuss, and one of them is rather obvious to anyone.
Finally, I prepare a sandwich and let it cool for a second before bringing it to my mouth. Just as I’m about to take it off the plate, I hear the sound of the bedroom door opening.
“Did you start breakfast without me?” Liam appears like a freaking Norse god at the top of the stairs, which has an open view of the entire ground floor, with his hair damp and a towel wrapped around his waist. His expression lights up upon seeing me dressed in his shirt, and I can’t help but blush.
“I’m sorry, but I just realized the time.”
He laughs, descending the stairs, and when he reaches the kitchen, he comes closer, taking my hand and spinning me around to see me in the shirt.
“It looks better on you than it does on me,” he says, kissing me on the lips.
“Thanks. I think.” He gives me that playful smile that does crazy things to my body.
“I understand it’s late, but it never hurts to take a moment to enjoy ourselves,” his voice is soft, almost captivating, as he starts pouring himself a coffee once he lets me go.
We look at each other, and in that moment, there’s a complicity between us that only grows stronger.
“I promise that after this breakfast, I’ll take you home to change,” Liam says as he finishes his coffee, looking at me with a mix of tenderness and admiration.
I nod, appreciating his thoughtfulness.
“Thanks. Although I might be quite late for work.” Liam nods in agreement.
“And after that, maybe we’ll have time to see each other later,” he tells me, and while it sounds like a question, it isn’t.
“First, we need to talk and clear up a couple of things that have been bothering me. And unless you’ve had a vasectomy, we need to stop ignoring the big elephant in the room.”
“Wolf.”
“What?” I look at him incredulously.
“Wolf. If you have to use an animal for your metaphor, it should be a wolf.” He smiles, and for a moment, I completely forget the time, the outside world, and what I was just saying.
I shake my head to try to refocus as I watch him circle the kitchen island and take a seat across from me.