My hand pulls his head back so he can look at me. I watch the turmoil flicker through his eyes. “I choose you. I just wish you’d believe me.”

“Let’s skip the heavy shit. I have an idea.”

“Now I’m intrigued.”

“As much as I’d love to strip you down and make love to you for hours,” he pauses.

“I’m good with that.”

He laughs and kisses me, but before we can get hot and heavy he shifts back. Liam glances at his watch and puts me down. “We gotta go now.”

“Go where?” I ask confused.

Liam smiles and holds me against him. “Trust me?”

“Always.”

He takes my hand and grabs a bag by the door. I reach for mine but Liam grabs it before I can reach. I smile at him and he winks. “We gotta hurry.”

We sit in Robin, and Liam starts her up. My mind starts to wonder if we’re going to Corolla. I would love to spend time with him completely alone and enjoy having that house again. Instead of bugging him, I let him surprise me. We only have a few days before he has to leave, so it’s not like we can be going very far.

I notice we’re not heading south, and now I’m really curious. We continue to head in the opposite direction, until we pull into the airport parking lot. He’s got to be kidding me. How the hell can we go anywhere requiring a plane ride? It’s not feasible.

“Why are we at the airport?” I can’t hold back any longer.

“Because we’re going on a plane.”

He parks the car in the garage and exits. I sit here wondering what in the world he has up his sleeve.

“Lee?” he opens my door and looks at me. “Are you going to get out?”

“Where are we going?”

“Jesus, you’re killing me. Just get out of the car.” Liam grabs my hand and lifts me out. He kisses me quickly and then hoists the bags.

“Did you plan all this from the time I told you I was coming over?”

“I did . . . are you impressed?”

More than impressed, I’m in awe. He trusted that I would come to him. So as much as he says he doesn’t know if he can believe me, this gives me the assurance he does.

We step up to the ticket counter, and we hand over our identification.

“Welcome, Mr. Dempsey. I see you have two in your party traveling to Charleston.”

I look over at Liam with a smile. He knows how much I’ve always wanted to go there. The cobblestone streets and little romantic restaurants are all Reanell talks about. She and Mason go there every year, and in passing, I mentioned how much I’d love to have a getaway there.

“I love you,” I say, feeling overcome with emotion.

Liam wraps his arm around my back and holds me close. “I love you.”

“Your flight will be boarding in about thirty minutes so you should head to your gate immediately,” the woman smiles and hands us our boarding passes.

We head through security, and it dawns on me that I didn’t pack for this. I didn’t grab cute clothes and shoes. I don’t even have enough toiletries. I figured we’d be in his apartment. “I’m not prepared for this.”

“What?”

“The trip. I didn’t bring anything I need.”

Liam smiles and we make it to the gate as they begin the boarding call. “Relax, they have stores in South Carolina. I doubt I have everything either, but all I need is you, and I’ve got that.” He leans in and our lips touch. Everything I was worried about fades away.

“Yeah,” my hand rests on his chest. “You do.”

We check into the HarbourView Inn. It’s magnificent with its old, historical, brick exterior and plush interior. Everything is upscale and pristine. Liam opens the door to our room, and I can’t find my lungs. A four-post, wooden bed takes up the middle with white linens. The opulence is in every detail. The suite features a balcony that opens to a view of the water. It’s stunning.

Liam stands behind me as I take it all in. His hands brush my shoulders and he sweeps my hair to the side. I close my eyes as his lips touch the edge of my neck.

“Are you happy, sweetheart?”

“More than you can imagine.” I turn into his arms and kiss him.

Our mouths connect and Liam deepens the kiss. His tongue swirls with mine and my hands wrap around his torso. In all of this mess, he’s the only person I want, and right now, he’s all mine.

Without breaking, he walks us backward, and I feel the bed hit my knees. He lowers me slowly and tenderly. I devour every moan and sound he makes as our lips stay fused. His hands graze my body, and I squirm beneath him. I’m desperate to make love to him. I want to show him how much he owns me. Give him every part of me and let him take whatever I have to give.

His teeth tug my bottom lip and he pulls back. My eyes roll back as his hand finds its way under my dress. “We’re going to go very slowly,” he rasps. “Do you understand?”

I nod, unable to find my voice. He lifts my back up and glides the zipper down. My hands move of their own accord and trace his body. I lift his shirt and tear it off. He watches me, and my fingers touch his face. The scruff is longer than usual and almost a beard. I inhale the sea air mixed with the sandalwood scent of Liam and commit it to memory. I allow my fingertips to trail to his neck then to the hard lines of his chest. I trace the muscles and feel each dip and mountain. Lower I go until I reach his abs. I stare into his eyes as the pads feel his satin skin tense as I slide down the middle of his stomach.

“We can go slow, but I want this to be equally torturous for you,” I whisper. I want to drive him as crazy as I’m sure he plans to drive me.

I reach his belt and slowly undo it.

“Seems you’re a little overdressed,” he grins while he pulls the straps of my dress off, exposing my fully lace, white bra. It’s one that I can only wear with certain fabrics. Everything is visible and Liam appears to be fine with that. “God, you’re magnificent.”

His mouth descends on my breasts, and he licks me through the fabric. The heat from his tongue against the friction from the lace is too much. I moan and quiver as he moves to the other. The cool air breezing through is blissful agony as it hits the wetness on my skin.

“Liam, please.” I beg for what, I don’t know . . . more of him, more of us, more of this.

He doesn’t let up as he drags the strap of my bra down and alternates between each breast. Bringing me higher and higher. His teeth scrape across my nipples, and I claw at his back. I’m going out of my mind. Finally, he removes my bra and sucks hard, pulling my taut nipple into his mouth.

I’m so lost to his touch that when his finger presses against my clit, I cry out. He pushes and swirls, applying pressure at the right times.

“I’m gonna come,” I say, breathless.

“Not yet,” he replies and lifts up.

I nearly weep with need. He sits on his knees and removes my dress, leaving me in my underwear. My eyes travel his body until I meet his eyes. Liam looks down and tears my underwear off then removes his pants. He stands there at the edge of the bed with his erection begging to be touched. I shift onto my knees and press his lips to mine. My hand travels down and grips him. I pump him slowly while we devour each other’s mouths.