Chapter 2

2.

I hurriedly tidied the bed and rushed to wash the stained sheets.

As I was cleaning them, I saw Liam walk out, holding Bella in a bridal carry without a hint of hesitation.

There were faint red marks on Bella’s neck and collarbone, proof of how intense they had been the night before.

“Morning, Clara. You should join us for breakfast, I ordered takeout!”

Bella was snuggled in Liam’s arms like a pampered kitten.

Liam held her, looking at her with such sweetness.

Seeing this scene, my heart stirred again.

What woman doesn't want to be loved?

Perhaps, I also wanted a strong chest to lean on.

The two of them were very affectionate at the table, with Liam feeding Bella every so often.

I stared at them, lost in thought, until Liam suddenly looked up and cast a playful glance my way. I hurriedly averted my eyes.

I ate that meal absentmindedly, my brain filled with thoughts of the night before.

After breakfast, Bella went to work, leaving Liam and me at home alone.

He was very attentive and insisted on doing the dishes. I couldn’t refuse, so I agreed.

Watching Liam busy in the kitchen, it felt like I was back in the early days of my marriage.

After he finished, he went to shower.

We only had one bathroom, and usually, I would intentionally avoid the area or watch TV in the living room during this time.

But today, with Bella gone, my heart was a mess.

The water splashed in the shower. As if possessed, I stood nearby and stared.

The glass window outlined that strong silhouette, and the wheat-colored muscles were visible through the steam.

My body began to burn, and I felt inexplicably excited.

The moment Liam raised his arms inside, the muscles on his body were displayed clearly, with very smooth lines.

Suddenly, his voice came from inside.

“Clara, are you there?”

His voice sounded hesitant, muffled slightly by the glass.

My heart skipped a beat. Had he noticed me watching him?

“Yes, I’m here. What’s wrong?”

I tried to steady my breathing, making my voice sound natural.

He moved closer to the glass and whispered, “Clara, I forgot to grab my clothes when I came in. Could you help me pass them? They’re on the chair in my room.”

“Okay.”

I breathed a sigh of relief. He hadn't noticed.

I pushed open the door to their room, and saw lacy underwear scattered on the floor. It must have been Bella’s; apparently, Liam liked that style.

I found the pants draped over the chair, with a pair of lacy panties underneath.

As I picked up the clothes, I impulsively took a sniff. It was a scent I hadn't smelled in such a long time!

I flushed crimson again, unable to stop myself from clamping my legs together!

What... what is happening to me?

I felt chaotic as I approached the bathroom. The water had stopped. The fog on the glass door had dissipated, making the view inside even clearer.

Liam was leaning against the glass door, as if waiting for me.

“Um, I brought your, your pants.”

I stuttered, feeling completely unnatural.

Liam hesitated for a split second, then opened the door and reached out.

“Clara, you can just hand them to me.”

His fingers were long and slender, with distinct knuckles, and water droplets hung from his wrists.

I passed him the pants, and my hand accidentally brushed against his arm.

My face and ears burned instantly, and my mind went blank.

Less than a minute later, Liam stepped out.

He only wore his pants, his torso bare, with a towel tossed casually over his shoulders.

Water droplets from his hair dripped onto his shoulders, sliding down his body. It was incredibly seductive and intoxicating.

At that moment, I felt a wave of intense heat wash over me.

He squinted, scratching his head in a bashful manner. “Sorry for the trouble, Clara. Thanks for bringing me my clothes.”

I held my breath and, as if drawn by a magnet, stepped two paces closer to him.

Just as I was about to speak, my foot slipped, and I fell forward.

I braced myself to hit the floor hard, but a powerful force caught me.

In an instant, I met Liam’s gaze.

I was pulled into his arms, pressed tight against him.

I went rigid, forgetting to pull away, my face burning hot.

“Clara, are you okay?”

The air was thick with the scent of a man. I stared blankly at his handsome eyes.

It wasn't until Liam spoke that I snapped out of it.

Just as I tried to get up, a sharp pain shot through my ankle, and a gasp escaped my lips uncontrollably.

In that moment of slipping, I had twisted my ankle.

Liam noticed immediately and knelt to squeeze my ankle.

I drew a sharp breath from the pain.

“Clara, I’m so sorry. It’s my fault you fell. Try to move it, can you walk?”

He grabbed my wrist firmly. I tried to shift, but the piercing pain in my ankle was unbearable.

I could only lean on him, but the next second, he scooped me up in his arms.

I looked at him in shock, but he was wearing a look of intense, serious concern. As my head rested on his chest, a strange, blissful feeling bubbled up from the bottom of my heart.

“Clara, you’ve sprained it. You absolutely cannot do any strenuous activity for a while.”

Liam lifted my foot and began kneading my ankle with his thumbs.

A tingling, strange sensation spread from my ankle through my entire body, like an electric shock.

His arm stretched out in front of me, veins showing.

I felt like I had lost control, and I leaned into him.

Through his clothes, I could feel his skin temperature. Droplets of water from his hair fell onto me, incredibly alluring.

Liam was completely focused on treating my sprain, seemingly unaware of our intimate contact.

The fabric of his clothes was thin; I could feel the heat radiating from his body.

I became increasingly unnatural, to the point where I couldn't even feel the pain in my ankle anymore.

My breathing grew rapid, and I bit my lip hard, terrified of making an compromising sound.

“Mmm...” I couldn't help it, though I silenced myself within a second, Liam had noticed.

He lifted his arm, and in that moment, it brushed softly against my chest. I shivered uncontrollably.

“Did I press too hard?”

Liam eased his pressure. I caught my breath, relieved that he hadn't discovered my true state.

I wouldn't usually be this bold, but today, something had taken over. I was terrified of my own thoughts, yet my body instinctively pressed against him again.

I leaned my whole body into him; for the first time in five years, I felt grounded.

Liam was rubbing the bruising, his arm moving up and down, brushing against me repeatedly.

My physical reaction was becoming obvious. Liam must have felt it, but he didn't pull away; instead, his touch became firmer.

Was he... perhaps giving me permission?

I lowered my body slightly, pretending to look at the injury.

Now, my body was pressed almost seamlessly against his solid arm, and Liam didn't move.

I looked at his face up close―his eyes clear and dark, his nose bridge high, his thin lips slightly parted.

The scene felt like a fantasy. If not for the real sensation of his body, I would have thought it was a dream―a dream I never wanted to wake up from.

I was breathing shallowly when Liam’s hand suddenly stopped.

He looked up and locked eyes with me, as I was staring right at him.

His face flushed instantly, sweat beading on his forehead.

“Cl-Clara, how... how does it feel now? Does it still hurt?”

He stammered, and I started to panic too.

“It’s much better, thank you!”

Hearing this, Liam seemed to realize something. An awkward look flashed across his face, and he pulled his arm away from me.

In that instant, my heart felt like it had been yanked away, leaving a hollow ache.

The air was filled with awkwardness, and my ears burned.

I braced myself on the sofa, preparing to flee this embarrassing situation.

But as I tried to take a step, my foot gave way, and I fell straight forward, pinning Liam onto the sofa.

He fell backward, and I ended up kneeling on top of him in a strange position.

Terrified of sliding off, I instinctively wrapped my arms around his neck. Our lips were less than a centimeter apart.

His large hands were beneath me, supporting my hips.

I could clearly feel the heat of his fingers, rough and calloused, making me tremble uncontrollably.

My body’s reaction was spiraling out of control. I held onto his shoulders, curling slightly.

I was flushed all over, feeling a strange tension, and a warm current seemed to be flowing from within me.

His breathing was right in my ear. I noticed his fingers twitch, his Adam’s apple bobbed violently, and he let out a stifled groan.

He had... felt it!