Chapter 25
Ciara.
Liam helped me get off the horse after we arrived at a beautiful lake. It was surrounded by trees and the scenery was perfect in every sense of the word. I loved the cool air and the sound of birds singing. "Wow," I said, drawing near to the lake which had the sun's image reflected on it.
"Do you like it here?" Liam asked.
"Are you kidding me? I love it here. It's so... peaceful," I said, trying to find the right word to describe it as I sat down, taking off my boots and putting my legs in the water. "Exactly why I come here every now and then to escape the palace's troubles," he said.
"To be fair, you're the one who causes most of the trouble," I said.
He laughed. "I can't argue with that," he agreed with a shrug.
"I wish I knew how to swim, I would have been out here all day," I said, wiggling my toes in the water.
"You probably don't remember it, but I'm sure you were a great swimmer. All you need do is get into the water and your mind will direct you into doing so," he said.
I was serious about being unable to swim, but he believed I didn't know what I was saying. Who could blame him though? I was the one pretending to have lost my memory.
"Maybe another day," I declined politely.
"Nope, it has to be today. Watch me," he said, then proceeded to take off his clothes so that only his boxers were left, and he then dived into the water.
The waves washed against him, creating something so beautiful; so magical. He soon came back up for fresh air, dripping with water with a big smile plastered on his face. I hadn't seen him smile so brightly like he did now, and I smiled back at him.
"What are you waiting for? Come on in," he urged.
"I want to, but I'm terrified."
"I'll help you stay on the surface, Ciara. Nothing can go wrong as long as I'm with you," he promised, and looking into his eyes, I could see he meant every word he said.
I didn't need further convincing and took off my clothes, leaving only my purple bra and panties before wading into the water.
If he had asked me a few days ago to come in for a swim, I would have blatantly refused, thinking it was a trap to kill me. It was amazing how things had changed so fast.
At first, I was a bit afraid, but I soon became thrilled to be in the water for the first time for my own leisure, and not just because I wanted to go and get water from the stream. "Good, just open your legs wide and spread your arms like this," Liam instructed, demonstrating a good example.
I did as he instructed and followed his demonstrations, and I was soon getting the hang of it, feeling the water rush around my body.
After several minutes, I felt relaxed enough to allow myself to sink lower, but that soon backfired when the cold water engulfed me and in my panic, I forgot all of Liam's instructions and started to drown. My heart was pounding in my chest as I sunk in lower and lower. I thought I would die, but fortunately, Liam's strong arms held onto me tightly, pulling me back to the surface and leading me to the shore. Once I got out of the lake, I coughed up the water I had swallowed earlier and was shaking like a leaf, breathing heavily.
Liam got his jacket and put it around me, brushing the damp strands of hair from my face and drying me up with his shirt.
"What would you wear now that your shirt is soaked?" I managed to ask, my teeth chattering.
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He didn't answer the question and instead pulled me in for an embrace which warmed me up.
"I'm sorry for making you go in," he said.
"It's okay. You saved me and that's what is most important," I said, as he pulled away from me.
It was only then I really looked closely at him.
He was hot, and I didn't just mean that in a matter of temperature, and no, he didn't just have a handsome face; he was hot through and through.
His muscles were rippled under his tanned wet skin, with his dark hair damp and messy in such an attractive manner. His nipples, lips, abs- every part of him called to me and I just couldn't stop staring into those beautiful grey eyes of his. He also couldn't stop staring at me and it got me wondering if he was thinking the same thing as I was. Did he find me attractive also? Did he think I was beautiful?
And just like that, as though he had read my mind, he said, "You are fucking beautiful, Ciara."
I was too stunned to speak, but I didn't even need to because right there and then, his lips came crashing down on mine.
It wasn't slow or passionate; it was aggressive, like he wanted me and damn! I wanted him, too.
I wrapped my arms around his neck to pull him closer, and his hands roamed over my body. The jacket fell to the ground and he undid the hook of my bra until his warm hands covered my bare breasts, squeezing them with reckless abandon. He winged me around to sit on his lap, and his lips pressed against mine with his tongue plunged into my mouth.
I moaned, wrapping my legs tighter around his waist.
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His hands trailed down to cup my ass firmly and he lowered his head to suck on my nipples affectionately; one after the other. I felt my back arching as his lips moved from my nipples and traveled further down my thigh to the place where I wanted it so desperately.
I groaned in anticipation of what was to come as he flipped us over so that I laid beneath him on the cool sandy soil, but when his fingers made their way to my panties, somehow; my mind flashed back to making out with Blake. Sure, Blake had said he didn't want me anymore, but I still felt like I owed him a little bit of loyalty, or maybe I wanted to prove to him that I could control myself instead of putting the blame on the mate bond.
Either way, as Liam's fingers glided through my panties, I held his hand, stopping him and gently pushing him away.
"What's wrong? Did I make a mistake?" his voice was a hoarse whisper.
"No, Liam. I did."
"What? What do you mean?"
"I'm sorry, I can't do this," I told him, standing up and finding my bra and clothes.
"You can't do this? I was almost-fuck! What's the problem? Blake? Did you suddenly remember him?"
I didn't try to deny it and just put on my clothes, wondering why I had started anything with Liam in the first place against my better judgment.
"Fuck!" he cursed, looking so angry but desperately trying to control himself.
"I'm sorry," I offered, avoiding his gaze as I made my way back to the palace on foot. He didn't even bother to take me back on the horse, and I was grateful that I hadn't given myself up to someone like him.