Chapter 7 Shaved
Ava Reed
The car was quiet, except for the soft hum of the engine and a song playing low on the radio. My phone sat in my lap, glowing with a half hearted job search that I couldn’t seem to focus on. It wasn’t that I didn’t need a job, I desperately did. But my mind kept wandering, pulled away from listings by the soft beat of the music filling the car.
I glanced sideways at Liam. He had one hand on the wheel, the other resting lazily on the center console, fingers tapping lightly to the rhythm. His lips moved slightly, singing under his breath like he had forgotten I was even there.
“Chemical” by Post Malone.
It wasn’t my usual vibe, but watching him enjoy it made the song infectious. Before I knew it, my head was bobbing along to the beat, my lips mouthing the words I would never admit to knowing.
“A fan?” Liam’s voice cut through my thoughts, sharp but curious.
“Not really,” I admitted, turning my head to look at him. “Just enjoying how much you like it.”
He smirked, a little flicker of cocky amusement playing on his lips. Without a word, he reached over to restart the song, turning it up slightly.
“Then let’s do it properly.” He said
And we did. Singing along, well, Liam was singing; I was mumbling the parts I barely knew. He didn’t seem to care. For a brief moment, it felt normal, almost light, like we weren’t two strangers stuck in the same car.
When we finally pulled up in front of my building, the air between us shifted again, heavier now that the distraction of music was gone.
“This you?” he asked, though he clearly already knew the answer.
“Yep,” I said, unbuckling my seatbelt.
Liam leaned back in his seat, watching me with a lazy, smug expression.
“Not gonna invite your new friend in?” he smirked
The way he said “friend” made my eye twitch.
“We aren’t friends.” I opened the car door and shot him a pointed look. “Thanks for the ride, though.”
As I stepped out, my phone buzzed with a text. I glanced at the screen and my stomach flipped.
Mom: Dinner at the house next week. Dad says don’t be late.
My pulse quickened at the thought of sitting through another awkward meal. The judgmental stares. The passive aggressive comments. The constant reminders of how I wasn’t good enough. My grip on the phone tightened
Diane had been right. I needed to loosen up. And now I needed to blow off the steam of that impending dinner before it even happened.
The best part? I had just shaved.
Screw it.
I turned back to the car, leaning down to meet Liam’s gaze. He raised a brow, clearly amused at my sudden change of direction.
“That’s rude,” I said, voice dripping with mock offense. “Of course we’re friends. Would you like to come in for some tea?”
The corner of his mouth twitched and for a second, he looked genuinely surprised. Then his signature smirk slid into place.
“Tea, huh?” he nodded
“Are you scared, Liam?” I straightened up and crossed my arms.
And that did it. He climbed out of the car without another word, slamming the door shut behind him.
I smirked at his actions, leading the way to my door, my heels clicking against the pavement. Whatever this was, it was going to be interesting.
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I led Liam into the apartment, putting on the lights and gesturing toward the couch.
“Make yourself at home. I’ll get us some tea.”
Liam glanced around, his sharp eyes taking in every corner. “Cozy.”
I rolled my eyes. “Try not to sound too impressed.”
He chuckled, before settling on the couch with a confidence that made it look like he owned the place. I busied myself in the kitchen, grabbing mugs and setting the kettle to boil. When the tea was done, I handed him a steaming mug and pointed toward the living room.
“Stay put. I’ll be back in a few minutes. I need a quick shower and a change.”
“Don’t worry, I’m not planning to redecorate,” he called after me.
I ignored him, obviously, retreating to my room and shutting the door. The cool air hit me as I stripped out of my party clothes, kicking my heels into the corner. The shower was quick, a rinse to wash off the night, along with the faint scent of sweat and frustration.
After drying off, I went through my drawer for something comfortable. My fingers brushed against the soft fabric of a blue lace nightgown. It was a see through that hugged my skin in all the right ways. I hesitated for half a second before slipping it on.
It’s my house. I’ll wear what I want.
When I stepped back into the living room, Liam was lounging on the couch, his long legs stretched out and crossed at the ankles. A movie I didn’t recognize was playing on the TV, the faint glow casting shadows across his face.
He turned his head at the sound of my footsteps, his gaze dropping to take in my outfit. Before his usual smirk popped on, it was immediate, sharp and entirely too confident.
“Ready for bed?” he drawled, in a low teasing tone.
I walked toward him, acting nonchalance despite the heat creeping up my neck and between my legs. “You got time to tuck me in?”
His eyes sparkled with mischief. “You surprise me, Snowflake.”
I frowned, stopping just short of the couch. “Snowflake?”
He leaned back, balancing his mug on the armrest.
“Yeah, it suits you. You look like one, delicate, soft, unique.” He paused, his lips twitching. “But I bet you melt just as easily.”
Before I could respond, his hand shot out, grabbing my wrist and tugging me down onto his lap. My breath hitched as his arms wrapped around my waist, holding me in place. His gaze burned into mine, the cocky smirk never wavering.
“And you melt nicely into me,” he murmured, his voice a deep rumble that sent shivers down my spine.
What have I done?
Before I could come up with a snarky retort, his lips crashed into mine, aggressive and unyielding. My fingers curled into his shirt as his hands slid up my back, pulling me closer, molding me against him.
His tongue gave me no room to dance or roam, it owned me with a confidence that made me soak my pants shamelessly.
Fuck! It was either I was sex starved or this man I had brought into my house was a sex demon of some sort. I shamelessly let out a moan, arching my back as his hands roamed my waist, I didn’t want to stop kissing him, to let go of the way he devoured my mouth.
When we finally tore away for air, with my chest heaving, he leaned in close, his lips brushing against my ear.
“See?” he whispered. “Told you.”
I bit back a retort, my heart pounding as I met his gaze. Whatever game we were playing, I wasn’t sure I was ready for it. But one thing was certain, he played to win and with my pussy begging me for more, I knew for a fact, I didn’t mind loosing tonight.