Sitting next to Liam, she danced between wanting his hands on her skin and wondering why she was running toward so much intimacy, so fast. Cancer left him with side effects no man would wish upon himself. Did her proximity and lack of suitors make her an easy consolation prize?
She shrugged. “I haven’t changed much of anything in the house, like the furniture or even the way it’s arranged. I’m doing the same kind of work. And I haven’t made any kind of effort to date. My birthday kind of snuck up on me.”
Anna didn’t want to keep accentuating the fact that she was eight years older than him.
He continued to trace slow circles between her sweater and skin. “It seems to me you’ve been rocking the boat this past week, and I think Elaine’s gift to you was a wake-up call. It’s her way of saying she’s worried about you, that she loves you.”
She lowered herself beside him, settling her head in the dip below his shoulder. “How’d you get to be so smart?”
“Cancer,” he stated, his voice clear and matter-of-fact. “That was my wake-up call.”
Silence continued to connect them as they retreated into their own thoughts.
Liam was the first to speak. “I thought about what you said about the possibility of snow. My revised plan is to leave tomorrow afternoon, pick up whatever gear and maps I need in Vancouver, and head up the coast. I think I’ll be gone about two weeks.”
Feelings churned below the surface of her skin, new feelings. What was he trying to say? Was he trying to put some distance between them? Lowering her expectations?
“If I remember correctly, you’re going on a trip soon too?” he added.
“Yeah, I am. I’m meeting a friend I haven’t seen in a long time.”
“Do you think your trip could be another boat-rocker?”
“Maybe,” she answered, without offering any more commentary.
“We have less than twenty-four hours before I leave.”
“I know.”
He slid his hand over the expanse of her back. “I’d like to spend as much of that as possible with you. We have some studying to do.”
Anna curled herself into his warmth, her eyes drawn to the stars. Familiar constellations twinkled above. “Let’s go to bed.”
The king-sized mattress spread in front of them, beckoning. Liam went to start a fire in the woodstove. Anna began to undress. She hesitated when all that was left was her bra and underpants. Seconds later, Liam’s back still to her, the flimsy pieces topped the pile on the floor.
“It’s cold in here!” She scrambled across the sheets and pulled them over her legs and breasts.
Liam turned away from the woodstove, caught her straightening the thick quilt, and laughed. “You could have waited for me to help warm the bed. I’ll be right there.”
Closing the glass-fronted door, he paused to make sure the draft had taken hold before moving to sit at the end of the bed. He peeled off his socks and stood facing Anna. Low light cast shadows under his eyes, cheekbones, and mouth. He undid the buttons at his cuffs, moved to the ones lining the front of his plaid shirt, and let the garment drop to the floor, adding to Anna’s pile.
“You can take your time with that,” she said. “I’m in no hurry.” She propped herself on one elbow and tucked the sheet tighter. Liam lowered the pull on his zipper tooth by tooth.
“Like this?” He slid his hands underneath his briefs and down his legs and left his pants on the floor. Anna admired the unfolding scene as he cupped himself, adjusted his cock, and kneeled on the bed.
“You’re naked,” she observed.
“So are you.” He pulled away the sheet, exposing her breasts. Anna’s skin tightened as cold air passed over her. “Would you roll over for me?”
She moved to her belly, propped the side of her face on her stacked hands. Liam slid one hand up the inside of her right thigh and pulled her legs apart. He kneeled between her calves, and stroked the backs of her legs, from her ankles to the crease under each butt cheek, squeezing, running his thumbs toward her hidden labia then down her legs. Every time his hands neared her ass, he took more of her flesh into each hand, massaging, reaching, letting his growing erection play against her skin.
He brought his tongue into play, exploring her folds. Anna groaned, pressed herself into the bed and reached for the wall, Liam stroking her from behind. When undulations slid her knees farther apart, he took hold of her hips and spiraled her onto her back.
His shoulders, arms, and chest were illuminated by firelight. For one brief moment, Anna dropped the weight of her offspring’s judgement and allowed herself to embrace desire and being desired.
Liam lowered his chest to meet hers, bringing his mouth to her lips. The weight of his body sank against her front, taking them deeper into the dips of the mattress.
“Do you want me?” he whispered. Words came out of his mouth, after rippling up the front of his taut belly and rumbling through his chest. Sound moved from his throat to his tongue to her mouth.
Anna lifted her pelvis in answer to his question and wrapped her arms around his neck for emphasis. “Yes.”
“Will you wait for me?” His hand circled his cock and brought the smooth head to her inner thigh, stroking around and over her swollen labia. The musky scent of mutual arousal slid between their chests.
“Yes.” Her voice went raspy, her body urged him to enter her, and she was on the verge of letting go of any stray voices urging her to consider slowing down.
“I have a confession,” he
