Page 21 of Broken Desires
“It’s just basic human decency,” he responds earnestly. “He didn’t choose to be deaf. Why should he have to adapt to my world if I don’t try to understand his? That’s what family is for.”
A pang hits me as I mumble, “Mine didn’t.” I bite my lip, not intending to share so much, and notice Liam’s expression soften with understanding.
“What I meant to say is, it doesn’t change anything about you,” he continues. “You’re still… a wild rose.”
“A wild rose?” I ask, raising an eyebrow with a faint smile.
“I—” He winces slightly, and warmth spreads through my chest again. It’s a nice feeling but intimidating. How can I feel this connected to someone I hardly know? Yet, how can he show more consideration than my own family?
Impulsively, I lean in and kiss him. He stiffens in surprise, but instead of pulling away, his hand cradles the back of my head, transforming our tentative contact into a deep kiss. His lips move against mine with an intensity that sends sparks through my entire body. My arms wrap around his neck, drawing him closer, and I melt as he groans into the kiss, the heat between us intensifying.
Our mouths move in a dance of raw desire, his tongue exploring mine with an intoxicating blend of tenderness and assertiveness. The world outside our embrace fades into oblivion, leaving only the racing of my heart and the heat of his body against mine.
His grip tightens, pulling me impossibly closer. Every point of contact is electric, sending waves of heat through my veins. I respond in kind, my fingers tracing the contours of his neck, drawing a low, primal groan from him. His breath is hot against my skin, each exhale a whisper of unspoken need.
The kiss escalates, teetering on the edge of control. His lips trail down my jawline, igniting a trail of fire with every touch. My heart pounds against my chest, each beat echoing my growing desire. The air around us is thick with passion, each breath laced with longing and unbridled need.
He’s not just the controlled, stoic man I thought he was; there’s a depth of passion waiting to be unleashed. And I know, if this kiss is any indication, he could give me a night I’d never forget.
As we reluctantly part, breathless and dazed, I realize the depth of what we’ve just shared. This is no ordinary kiss; it’s a promise of something more, something wild and uncontainable. My heart races with the thrill of it, the possibility of what could be.
I place my hand on his chest, feeling his rapid heartbeat. “I think we should stop,” he says, his knuckles gently tracing my cheek, sending shivers down my spine. “This isn’t the right place for what might happen if we don’t.”
A thrill courses through me at his words. Part of me wants to throw caution to the wind, but I know it’s irrational—here, in the afternoon, in the middle of a busy parking lot.
I lean back in my seat with a sigh, the tension and desire still hanging thickly in the air between us.
“I should head back,” I say with reluctance. A quick glance at Liam reveals his own struggle; his arousal presses against the fabric of his jeans, evidence of the intensity of our encounter.
He nods, a taut line to his jaw, his eyes dark with lingering desire. “We’ll talk… soon.”
A part of me wants to dive into the depths of what we’ve started. To explore this magnetic pull between us. “Yeah, we need to,” I agree, my voice steady despite the chaos of emotions I feel.
His hand reaches out, his knuckles brushing my cheek in a tender, almost reverent gesture. “You’re trouble, Vanessa Caldwell.” His gaze is so intense it makes my stomach flip.
A playful smile dances on my lips. “The best things often are.”
He laughs, shaking his head. “True words of a wild rose,” he says, echoing my thoughts. “I’ll see you soon.”
Stepping out of the car, I embrace a newfound confidence. I walk away without a backward glance, holding on to my pride, even as my face betrays the depth of my feelings.
As I make my way back to my apartment, a realization dawns on me, both exhilarating and terrifying. I’m already addicted to him.
Chapter 8
Nessa
When I walk back into the apartment, my heart is still racing, and my lips are still tingling from the kiss with Liam.
However, I see my girls sitting there. Eva’s distress is still showing despite her best attempts to hide it.
Boy problems can wait. Now it’s time to be a sister.
I take a deep breath and plaster a smile on my face. “Ladies, it’s time to get shit-faced and spill secrets!” I say, getting the tequila bottles out of the bag.
“How did you even buy this? You’re eighteen,” Poppy asks, leaning back in her seat.
I shrug. “The proper Brit helped. He’s twenty-one.”