Her fingers curl into his shoulder as his hand slides higher, the weight of his palm settling against the heat between her thighs. She doesn't answer—can't, not with his mouth trailing down her neck, not with the way her body is already opening for him, soft and ready. The phone screen has gone dark again, but she can feel it there, a small rectangle of silence on the nightstand, holding words she hasn't read.
His thumb finds her clit, circles once, slow and deliberate, and she gasps, her back arching off the mattress. 'Liam—' His name comes out breathless, half a plea, and he answers by pressing his forehead to hers, his eyes searching her face in the gray morning light.
'You're sure?' His voice is rough, still thick with sleep, but there's a thread of something careful underneath—like he's leaving the door open for her to walk through if she needs to.
She pulls him down into a kiss instead of answering, her tongue sliding against his, her legs falling open wider. He groans into her mouth, and his hand moves again, fingers slipping through her wetness, gathering it, spreading it. She feels herself clench around nothing, desperate for him to fill her.
The phone buzzes again. A fourth time.
He breaks the kiss, breathing hard, and looks at her. Really looks. 'Sofia.' Her name, quiet and steady. 'Do you need to see what she said?'
She doesn't know how to answer that. Doesn't know why Maya is reaching out now, after weeks of silence, after the breakup that still sits like a bruise somewhere deep in her chest. Doesn't know why she's afraid to look, and more afraid not to.
But Liam's hand is still between her legs, his palm warm against her, his thumb tracing slow circles that make it impossible to think straight. She shakes her head again, but this time he doesn't move.
'Then tell me,' he says. His blue eyes hold hers, steady and patient. 'Tell me you want me. Not because you're running from something. Because you want me.'
The words hit her somewhere soft, somewhere she didn't know was still tender. She feels the sting of tears behind her eyes, and she blinks them back, angry at herself for almost crying. This isn't sad. This is the opposite of sad. He's right here, warm and real and looking at her like she's the only thing in the room.
'I want you,' she whispers. 'I want you, Liam. Only you.'
Something shifts in his expression—a tension she didn't notice releasing, a wall she didn't see him holding lowering. He kisses her, soft this time, his lips brushing hers like a promise, and then he settles between her thighs, the head of his cock pressing against her entrance, not pushing in, just resting there, letting her feel the weight of the moment.
'Say it again,' he murmurs against her mouth.
'I want you.'
He pushes in, slow, inch by inch, and she feels herself stretching to take him, her breath catching as he fills her completely. He holds still for a second, letting her adjust, his forehead pressed to hers, his breath ragged in the quiet room.
'Fuck,' he breathes. 'You feel—' He doesn't finish. Can't. She knows the feeling because she feels it too—the impossible rightness of this, the way her body seems to recognize his, the way she's never felt so full.
She wraps her legs around his waist, pulling him deeper, and he groans, dropping his head to her shoulder. 'Sofia.' Her name again, like he's praying. Like he can't believe she's real.
He moves, a slow roll of his hips that sends a shiver through her whole body. She digs her nails into his back, and he hisses, thrusting harder, once, twice, finding a rhythm that makes her see stars. The bed creaks beneath them, the headboard knocking against the wall, and she doesn't care who hears, doesn't care about anything except the way he's looking at her, the way he's saying her name like it matters.
His hand slides down to where they're joined, his thumb finding her clit again, pressing circles in time with his thrusts. She gasps, her hips meeting his, chasing the pressure, the heat building low and tight in her belly.
'Come for me,' he says, his voice rough and desperate. 'Please. I need to feel you.'
She shatters at his words, his name torn from her throat as her body clenches around him, waves of pleasure rippling through her, pulling him deeper. He follows a second later, his hips stuttering, his groan muffled against her neck, his warmth spilling inside her as he trembles above her.
For a long moment, neither of them moves. The only sound is their breathing, ragged and intertwined, and the faint hum of traffic somewhere outside. His weight is a comfort, pressing her into the mattress, keeping her tethered to this moment, to him.
He pulls out slowly, carefully, and rolls onto his side, pulling her with him. His arm wraps around her waist, his hand resting on her stomach, and she lets herself sink into the warmth of his body, her back against his chest, his breath warm on her neck.
The phone is dark. Silent. The messages unread.
She reaches for it anyway, her hand moving before her brain catches up, and Liam's arm tightens around her, not stopping her, just holding her. She picks up the phone. The screen glows to life, showing four notifications. All from Maya.
The first one, from two hours ago: Hey. I know it's late there.
The second, an hour later: Just wanted to say I'm glad you're happy.
The third, forty minutes ago: I heard from Jenna. About the guy.
The fourth, from three minutes ago: I miss you. Not in a trying to get you back way. Just... I miss my friend. I miss knowing you're okay.
Sofia stares at the screen, her chest tight, her thumb hovering over the keyboard. She can feel Liam's heartbeat against her back, steady and patient, waiting.
She types: I'm okay. I'm happy. Really.
Her thumb pauses. Then she adds: His name is Liam. He's good to me.
She sends it before she can second-guess herself, and sets the phone face-down on the nightstand again. Liam's hand finds hers, his fingers lacing through hers, and he presses a kiss to her shoulder.
'Good?' he asks, his voice soft.
'Good,' she says.
And she turns in his arms, burying her face in his chest, letting the warmth of him chase away the last chill of winter.