Dedicated to two wonderful ladies JessEubanks and ViDisha21. Girls, you will know why. *chuckles*

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Love,
A.

"No, wrong door."

Putting my arm around Sky's waist, I led her toward the bathroom, away from the kitchen.

My eyes landed on Sky's feet. "Let's take these off," I said, crouching down next to her.

Sky placed her hands on my shoulders to steady herself. I wished she wasn't drunk, and I undressed her differently.

The right shoe slid off Sky's foot, revealing the redness on her heel. She moaned, throwing her head back when I touched the tender skin.

"Careful with those sounds, sweetheart," I said, helping her get rid of the left shoe.

Sky moved her hands to the back of my neck. The featherlike touch of her fingertips made goosebumps erupt on my skin.

"Liam," she whispered, tightening her grip on me.

I swallowed hard. "Yeah?"

"I think I'm gonna be sick."

"Okay, come here," I said, getting up.

Pulling a clean towel from the cabinet, I lay it on the floor and made Sky sit on it by the toilet.

It was as far from my idea of a night with her as it could be, but then again, things hardly ever went according to plan.

"It's okay." I held Sky's hair up with one hand and stroked her back with the other. "You need to get rid of the crap you drank, sweetheart. Why the hell would you do this to yourself?" I asked, not expecting Sky's answer.

"He said things about me," she muttered. "He always does, Liam, but I know I didn't invent-"

The rest of the words never left Sky's mouth. I sat on the cold tiles next to her until she could drink a glass of water without throwing it up, all the while trying to shove the memories of my dad's drinking to the back of my mind and reminding myself that it wasn't the same.

"I'm better now," I heard Sky whisper as she looked at me and tried to get up without much success.

"I'll help you," I said, rising from the floor and pulling Sky up.

She managed to brush her teeth. Undressing was a different story.

When we were in Sky's bedroom, she was on the verge of passing out. Trying my hardest not to let my eyes linger on any part of her anatomy in particular, I unzipped her dress and took it off her, leaving Sky in her underwear. Immediately, I whipped off my tee and put it on the girl who was already lying on the bed with her eyes closed.

Going to my room would be the sensible thing to do. What I did instead was opening the comforter and making sure Sky was comfortable before lying down beside her in nothing but a pair of boxers and pulling her to me.

I wanted to be close to her in case she didn't feel well. At least, that was the excuse I came up with to justify why I was going to spend the night in her bed.

Partly, it would be true. I did worry. It wasn't like Sky to get this drunk. That, and the questionable quality of the liquor she consumed might, in fact, make her sick again. If that happened, I wanted to take care of her.

Sky snuggled into my chest and moved one of her legs so that it touched mine. The heat of her body was driving me crazy. It would be a long night for me.

I caressed Sky's back, careful not to touch her bare skin. She let out a small moan, burying her face in the crook of my neck.

My hand glided over her tee again. Once more, she reacted to my innocent touch in the same way, which made me wonder if she had told the truth earlier. Was that asshole so selfish that he never gave her what she needed? Was she insecure because of that? It would be ridiculous. If he was awful in bed, it wasn't Sky's fault.

One thing was clear- I couldn't bring up any of the things she said while being drunk. It would make her mortified, and that would be the opposite of what I wanted to achieve.

I would spend the day with Sky while Tim was at his friend's, just the two of us. Hopefully, it would be enough for her to trust me a little more- enough to answer some of my questions.

Something warm was in bed with me. A sudden flash of panic made my eyes flare. I closed them again when I saw that the arm on my waist belonged to Liam. As did something else, pressed to my butt.

Feeling the blush creep up my cheeks, I tried to recall how we ended up in bed together. I wasn't naked, which was a good sign. Frowning, I examined the shirt I had on me. It wasn't mine. The faint trace of the perfume on the soft fabric told me who the owner was.

I wanted to see Liam's face, but I couldn't move. If I did, his morning excitement would touch the front of me, and I felt ashamed, just thinking that I would like that.

Liam's warm breath tickled the back of my head. Sighing, he pressed a palm to my stomach, making our bodies touch even more. What if-

Shaking my head, I grabbed my phone from the nightstand. Seeing that it was after ten a.m. made me gasp. Liam missed work.

I rubbed my throbbing temple, hoping to recall what led to my current situation.

I remembered the club and Paul lurking in the dark hallway, humiliating me once more. I was scared, then helpless, then sad. I ordered vodka, and that was the last memory I had of the previous night.

"Don't move a lot, sweetheart," Liam murmured, touching the back of my neck with his lips. The fireworks went off immediately. I wiggled my butt to see if he was awake or just sleep-talking.

"Sky...I'm just a guy, sweetheart. If you don't want me to run away like the first time, be still for a little while."

"Are you awake?" I whispered.

Liam chuckled. "Who do you think is talking? He woke up before I did, but he's not that smart. I'm still in charge."

"Liam!" I squealed and turned around to face the guy who was giving me the cheekiest grin I'd seen.

"Feeling better, huh?" Liam brought his hand to my face and ran his fingertips along my jaw.

My eyes sought his. I swallowed, seeing how close our faces were.

"You missed work," I whispered to break the spell.

Liam moved even closer to me and pulled me to him, making my cheek collide with his bare chest. "I didn't. I called in sick early in the morning."

"Why?"

"I wanted to spend some time with you like this," Liam whispered against the top of my head. "Besides, I wanted to be near in case you didn't feel well."

"I don't remember what happened. Did I do or say anything? How did I get home?"

Liam's warm hand stroked my back as he said, "I picked you up at the club. You had too much to drink, and your friend called me. I took you home, you got sick, then I undressed you, and we fell asleep."

I tilted my head up to see if he was telling the truth. "And that's it? I didn't say anything?"

Liam chuckled. "We talked about oranges. You said they were good for your health. Speaking of which, you need to eat breakfast. Then we can do other things."

"Like what?"

"I believe we have a movie to watch."

I groaned. "I thought you were kidding."

Laughing, Liam kissed my forehead. "Of course, I wasn't. You can choose the one you want, depending on what you like. I will give you several options."

"This is an awful idea," I said, looking him in the eyes.

"I think it's a brilliant one. You are comfortable with me. We woke up in the same bed, and we can talk without freaking out over the little clothes we have on."

"I guess you're right." I sighed. "A bet is a bet. Sky Sullivan doesn't ever back down. Will you get the snacks?"

"I'll run to the store. Any preferences?"

"I don't know. Candy?"

"Done." Liam pecked my cheek and rolled out of bed. I pulled the comforter tighter around me, desperate to retain some of Liam's heat.

My eyes stayed open, glued to the sculpted body of the boy who was giving me a show, making me see every defined muscle of his as he stretched and grabbed his phone to check something on it.

Liam wasn't bulky. He had the body of a dancer, flexible and gracious - a dancer who worked out. How could I have not realized it earlier? Probably because those I used to dance with were boys. Liam was a man.

The unfamiliar feeling made me squirm the longer I watched my roommate. We both felt things, but neither of us acted on it.

"I'll be quick," Liam said, turning around. "I'll get something for lunch and the movie, and then we can eat breakfast together. Deal?"

"Yeah. I'll get ready, meanwhile."

Liam winked at me and walked toward the door.

"Liam?"

"Yeah?"

"Thank you for taking care of me and for picking me up at the club. I hope I didn't give you too much trouble."

Liam made a few steps until he was next to me and leaned down to kiss my cheek. "It's okay, sweetheart. I'm glad you're feeling better."

***

"So, we have some promising titles here. Dick Paradise, Super Dick-"

"Liam, please." I buried my face in my palms, blushing a bright shade of crimson. "Just pick the one you want."

Liam chuckled. "Okay, the synopsis of this one is good. Two roommates, the undeniable attraction-"

"You're kidding." I stared at him.

"Aye? Why? Are you afraid to indulge in your forbidden fantasy featuring me, roomie?"

I threw a cushion at the guy who was set on doing his best to mortify me for the rest of the day.

"Ouch." Liam laughed, rubbing the back of his head. "No need for violence, sweetheart. I'm just giving you options. You can choose the one about a desert island full of dicks, but the roommate one is cuter. More relatable, too."

"Okay." I sighed.

Liam strolled to the couch and paused next to it with the remote in his hands. "Make some space for me. I'm gonna cuddle you when we watch it."

Grinning, I let Liam lie back on the cushions and pull me to him. We placed the bowl with popcorn and candy on the coffee table next to the couch.

"Let's get it started," Liam mumbled, kissing my temple. "Are you comfortable?"

"Yeah. You?"

Sighing, Liam pressed the play button. "Way too much, sweetheart."

It took me five minutes to start blushing. The roommates on the screen went for it straight away. The guy was about to take his pants off in no time.

Liam paused the movie and chuckled, looking down on me.

"Okay, let's make a guess. What is she gonna say now?"

I buried my face in the cotton of Liam's tee. "I don't know."

"I do." Liam cleared his throat. "Oh my God, it's so big!" he said in a high-pitched, girly voice. "I didn't know you were packing, roomie. It's a cucumber...no, damn it. It's a courgette. An eggplant. A big, shiny, delicious-"

"Liam! Stop it!" The muscles in my belly spasmed from the laughter. Liam joined in until we were on the verge of tears.

"Oh, fuck," Liam said. "I'm killing the mood, huh, bebegorl?"

I giggled. "What did you call me?"

"Bebegorl?"

"Liam!"

The ridiculously funny voice he used this time made me laugh even harder, clinging to his shirt as he grinned, stroking my back.

"It's the way a dude in one of Tim's favorite cartoons speaks," Liam said. "Be-"

"Stop!" I covered his mouth with my palm. "I don't want to pee myself laughing so hard."

"Okay." Liam trapped one of my fingers between his lips and gave it a gentle bite. The jolt of pleasure shook me to the core, making me gasp at the wave of heat that went straight to my lower body.

"Did you like that?" Liam whispered against my hand, repeating the same thing on my other finger.

I could lie, but the new sensation turned me into someone who wasn't able to think. "Yeah," I admitted, looking into Liam's eyes.

Without breaking the eye contact, he pressed his lips to my wrist. I felt the tip of his tongue move from my wrist to my palm, and then to my fingers. Liam sucked one of them into his mouth, and I moaned, caught off guard by the pleasure something like that could give me. What was wrong with me?

"Fuck," Liam muttered, dropping my hand as if it burned him and tilting his head back, letting it rest against the cushions.

"Let's go on watching," he said, feeling the blanket he'd draped over us for the remote.

"I have it."

I pressed the play button.

"Oh my God, it's so big!" the girl on the screen said, making me giggle.

Liam smiled, tucking a strand of hair behind my ear. "See? I told you she'd say that."

"Have you watched it before?" I squinted at him.

Liam shook his head, tracing the contour of my jaw with his thumb. "I don't need that. I have my own fantasy here. Sweet, forbidden, delicious fantasy."

I leaned into his hand, making Liam release a soft chuckle as he cradled me to his chest and pressed his lips to my forehead.

I loved how they felt on my skin. I wanted them on every part of me way more than I should.

"Oh, damn. Time for some action."

Moans filled our living room. Liam covered my eyes with his palm, not letting me see.

"Liam!" I removed his hand, glaring at him while he laughed. "Why did you do that?"

"Thought you were too innocent to see that."

"Acting like my dad again?" I raised my eyebrows.

Sighing, Liam paused the movie. "Okay, here it goes again. I was right to be concerned. I don't want to act like your dad, Sky. I just... Forget it. Let's watch."

I stared at the screen where the girl was enjoying what the bulky dude was doing. At least she knew how to enjoy things, unlike me. I pressed my cheek to Liam's shirt, sighing.

"She's faking it," Liam mumbled. "The guy has to try harder."

"Maybe it's not him," I whispered, feeling ny mouth go dry.

Liam snorted. "He's the one pounding his...sorry. Too graphic. It's on him, Sky."

"How do you know it, anyway?" I asked.

"How do I know what?"

"If she's faking. Maybe she isn't."

"She is. You can tell, anyway, but those two are actors, and it's over the top, regardless."

"How can you tell?"

"You can feel things, Sky. What you feel is the same thing the guy does. Obviously, if you feel nothing, he knows."

A wave of embarrassment swallowed me whole. Of course, Liam would know if I did the same thing I'd be doing since my first time. How stupid did I have to be to let myself forget that?

Throwing the blanket off me, I got up from the couch and rushed out of the room.

Once in my bedroom, I locked the door, feeling equally embarrassed about my stupid question and my outburst that followed.

Liam's voice sounded in the hallway in no time. "Sky, open the door."

"No," I squeaked.

Liam groaned. "Yes. Come on. Do it, or I will. You know I'm not kidding."

Padding to the door, I unlocked it. Liam made his way inside. What I didn't expect was him backing me up against the wall as he put his forearms on either side of my face. "Liam-"

"Talk," he whispered. "For once, tell me what's on your mind. We cannot keep doing this, Sky. Shit happens, you assume things or run away from me. I'm not a mind-reader. I'm a guy who's getting to know you. I want to get to know you, but you have to be honest with me for once. I'm going to ask you a question now, and I need an answer. Okay?"

"Okay." I nodded.

Liam pushed off the wall and clutched my hand in his as he led me to the living room.

The TV was off. The spatter of the rain against the glass was the only sound, strangely soothing and inviting to a conversation.

Liam sat down on the couch and pulled me onto his lap, running his hands over my legs. "Why did you run away? Was it me or something I said?"

"No, it wasn't that." Taking a deep breath, I forged on, "I have an issue, and what you said reminded me of it, that's all."

"What issue?"

I looked down at Liam's hand that was gripping my hip. I'd never noticed how long his fingers were until now.

Tentatively, I traced a line from his wrist to his knuckles just like he did, except he did that with his tongue and lips.

"Sky?"

"Yeah, I...I can't feel anything when making love," I blurted out. "I've never managed to, not a single time, and I feel awful because of it."

Panic fluttered in my chest when Liam said nothing, frowning as he looked anywhere but on me.

Then, he sighed, running his palm across his face. "Was he the only guy you did things with? I'm not talking about sex. I mean kisses, caresses, foreplay, stuff like that?"

I nodded, biting my lip.

"I see. Thank you for telling me. We're not done. I'm going to make something for us to eat, and then we will talk. Really talk, okay, sweetheart?"

"Okay," I said, feeling strangely lighter as Liam pecked my cheek and led me to the kitchen.