“Forget you, Liam.” I grumbled as the loading bar of our scores were displayed on the flat screen, Liam’s name carrying the crown.

The two of us had been playing a dancing game in his living room for about an hour. The auburn-haired man had defeated me by three crowns.

“Fine, I’ll admit it. You’re the dancing queen for now.” I teased.

“Give it some practice and next time you’ll be the one defeating me.” Liam pointed out.

“So, what would you like to know?” We had continued our ‘truth, not dare’ questions when we arrived at Liam’s apartment.

“What are your thoughts on pets?” he asked.

“A bit allergic to dander, but otherwise I’ve no issues with them. My family had fish, birds, dogs, and cats while I was growing up.”

The surprise on Liam’s face made me frown.

“What is it? I don’t look like a pet person to you?” I asked. “I admit that things there have been some big, busy changes in the last few years, but just because I don’t have a pet yet doesn’t mean I won’t adopt one eventually.”

“No, it’s just that pets are messy and you’re generally…tidy,” Liam responded.

“Liam,” I countered as I took a step closer to him and looked him in the eye. “Pets can be trained and washed.”

There was a moment of tense silence before Liam spoke once more. “You’re one of those people that would somehow get cats to pee and flush toilets, aren’t you?” he questioned.

I burst out laughing. “No, I’d just have them do their business outside. Seriously? Flushing toilets?”

The grin Liam sent my way made the laughter die in my throat. It was such a pleased grin, like he wanted nothing more than to have me laugh all day long. I almost felt bad for stopping so abruptly. “Hey,” I began as I tried not to stare at him too hard. “Thanks again for all of this.”

I couldn’t help but stare at him again, due to the warmth that bled into his honey-hued eyes.

“Thank you for putting your trust in me,” he replied.

I felt a tiny surge of boldness at the sight. “You know what? I know that I’ve lost the last several games, but do you mind if I still ask you something personal?” I asked him.

“Not at all. Ask away.”

“When you first joined the company, I know I was a real grouch. It was busy season and even though you were part of a different team, the fact that we were similar in age somehow made me feel a bit threatened by your presence, career-wise…” I confessed. “And for that, I’m sorry-”

“No need to apologize,” Liam briefly interrupted. “You made up for it when we worked on the Clarity project together.”

“I did?” I wondered aloud, distracted by his statement.

“Yeah, you were amazing,” he explained. “You actually wore the sponsored shirt even though it was that wild, glowing lime green color. You were there even earlier than I was on most days and you were so supportive. Do you even remember how many times I asked you how my skits and speeches were?”

That project had been planned for months prior and it was an event that stretched on for days. We had been so busy that I couldn’t really remember, so I shook my head. “That week was a blur of busy.”

“Well, I asked you how I did after just about every time,” Liam said. “You said you were impressed with how I kept the entire auditorium engaged and that you were rather proud of me.”

The more Liam described it, the more I began to truly remember. Both our teams were so busy that week, but he was right. Though the auburn-haired man was no actor or professional speaker, he was still able to really project the company’s goals and ideals regarding the community with every passing day.

“I remember now, you were actually quite nervous,” I pointed out. “And you kept taking those energy drinks even though I told you it was a bad idea!”

Liam winced briefly. “Guilty as charged. And I did regret it the following week when we went back to our usual work.”

“I think both our entire teams were still exhausted the week after.”

“As the team leaders, we made an excellent team ourselves,” Liam stated with conviction. “Every time we were alone together, I kept wanting to kiss you.”

“You did kiss me,” I countered. “The very first day while everyone was still setting up. I was sitting down going over the paperwork and you kissed the top of my head out of nowhere.” I relayed as I recalled. “I remember looking around to make sure no one saw, but I didn’t say anything. I figured the excitement and nervousness were getting to you. In fact, I thought you were even going around kissing everyone on the head.”

The blush on Liam’s face was priceless.

“Yeah, about that…I was caught up in my own personal moment. I mean, I saw you wearing the crazy green shirt for the first time that week and working so hard that I knew you took our project seriously. And I just kept thinking about how you trusted me to handle my team and never questioned me,” Liam elaborated. “I felt then and there that we were a great team. I guess I just completely lost control of my feelings at that particular moment.”

“To be fair, I felt that we worked great together, too.” I responded. “And I may have been a little drawn to your hard work and enthusiasm that week…it was the first time I saw how serious and dedicated you could be.”

“I just knew that the reason you seemed so tense around me was because you thought I was too energetic!” Liam deduced as he closed the distance between us and held my hips with his hands. “What else didn’t you like about me?”

“I was probably making most of it up in my head,” I replied as I curled my hands around the hem of his shirt. It was difficult for me to lift my head due to embarrassment, but I forced myself to peer up at him. I was relieved to see that he didn’t seem to care about my previous misconceptions of him. “I thought you just went around chatting up all the women in your team to get them to do all of your paperwork for you.”

“Ah, I was only begging them all to help me figure out which paperwork was needed for what.” Liam explained. “After I figured it out, I did it all on my own, I swear.”

“Yeah, I realize that now…” I admitted with an apologetic whisper. “Liam, just what do you see in me? I mean, I’m not a person that’s easy to get along with. I have OCD, I’m distrusting, sarcastic, not to mention selfish at times-”

“Everyone’s selfish at times, no one’s perfect,” he interceded. “You know the saying ‘actions speak louder than words’, right? Well, that’s what I think of you. Though you’d rather keep everyone at a distance, when it’s something important, you’re there giving your support. You’re like the kid that always complains and tells his parents that he won’t do any of the chores or take out the trash…but, in the end, he actually does it. I prefer that to the kid that lies to the ‘rents faces saying that he will do the chores, but doesn’t actually do it.”

“I didn’t complain to my parents about chores that often. OCD, remember?” I replied, which drew forth a chuckle from the other man.

“I didn’t say that you did. What I mean is that that I prefer your honesty, even if it’s just pure griping, because your actions more than make up for them.” Liam insisted. “I don’t like liars, especially those that put on a perfect mask to deceive and manipulate others.”

His words brought Kris Locklear’s face to mind. I gave a shudder. “Well, I’m not all that honest, either.” I pointed out. “I’ve clearly been in denial for months when it comes to you.”

Liam shook his head. “No, you were clearly hurt badly. You were being wary and careful,” he countered before another smile tugged at his lips. “Besides, it was worth the wait.”

I didn’t return the sentiment. A part of me didn’t feel as if I were worth waiting for in the slightest. But, if there was something that I truly enjoyed, it was to see the smile on the auburn-haired man’s face. Just as I was about to take a step back, he leaned down to give me a kiss. My mind immediately went blank from the moment I felt his tongue taking over my mouth.

As desire began to rise within me, I felt emboldened. I traced my hands around the hem of his pants, lifting his shirt up in the back so that I could slide my hands inside to give the man’s butt cheeks a squeeze.

Liam immediately broke the kiss, but he didn’t the rest of his body away. “I’m starting to think inviting you to sleep over was a bad idea,” he commented aloud.

A salacious smirk formed on my face. I really liked the sound of that. “If you thought I was going to behave the entire time, you were seriously mistaken.” I cautioned. “So, if you don’t want me to molest you in the middle of the night, you might have to lock your door.”

For a moment, Liam merely looked at me through glazed eyes and gulped hard.

“Seth Slater,” he began. “I’ll be honest with you. Having you right here is the biggest damn temptation I’ve ever had to endure. But, I would prefer it if we didn’t go too far…at least not until after the remaining, official four dates.”

I raised an eyebrow, surprised and amused at the same time. I slowly slid my hands out of his pants and rested them on the small of his back. “I can respect that. But, if you plan to sleep in the nude as you said you usually do…definitely lock your door.”

Liam burst out into laughter, this time dropping his forehead onto my shoulder as his whole body shook with mirth. “I can’t believe it…right now, it feels as if I’m the one acting out the ‘Sensible’ part of our chat names.”

I found myself sliding my hands up his back and turning slightly to press a kiss to his cheek. “Well, you’re not wrong. Sleeping under the same roof as you apparently makes me feel a little ‘Shameless’ myself. But, like I said, if it’s what you want then I don’t mind holding back. Hell, I don’t even mind if you ask me to get tested first.”

“We can both get tested, make sure to clear off any doubt.” Liam added. “But, only after your final answer on date five.”

“It’s a deal,” I replied.

We both heard the sound of my phone vibrating on Liam’s kitchen counter, where I had left it charging. I rushed over and only hesitated for a tiny moment before looking at the number displayed. I let out a sigh of relief when I realized it wasn’t a number, but a name. I quickly pressed the Answer button on the screen.

“Big bro!”

I couldn’t help but grin at the sound of his voice. “Little bro!” I responded.

“I got your message. What’s going on?”

“Well…” I trailed off as I thought of the best way to explain it to him. “I’m sort of seeing someone new. I’ll introduce you two later, I promise.”

“For real? That’s friggin awesome!”

“Thanks. But, this isn’t just about Liam,” I continued. “The two of us ran into Kris…and the next day, I find out that he somehow whittled my number off of Beth.”

“What? How could Beth do that?”

“If there’s one thing I remember about Kris is that he was too conniving for his own good. He would have gotten my number one way or another.” I responded with a sigh.

“He’s a dick. Nothing new. So, you’re gonna get another number, right?”

“Yes I am, but Mike…do you think there’s any way you could live with me for the next couple of weeks? Just in case he shows up?” I pleaded. “I’m worried about the weekdays. My weekends should already be covered.”

“Compromised weekends? That’s starting to sound serious.”

“No, not quite yet.” I nearly pouted at the teasing tone that I heard in my brother’s voice. “So can you come over starting Monday?”

“I’ll be there. Keep safe in the meantime, ok? And I don’t just mean with Kris, if you catch my drift.”

“The same goes for you,” I responded.

“Wait a minute, it’s the weekend now. Are you with your new guy right now?”

“Yes,” I told him reluctantly. “I’m at his apartment.”

“Pass him the phone, I have a few words to tell him.”

“But, you’re going to meet him in person soon enough,” I argued with a frown.

“I’m not gonna scare him off, just hand him the phone and trust me, will ya?”

With another sigh, I slowly held out the phone to Liam. “He wants to have a word with you.”

“Uh-oh,” Liam snickered as he held the phone up to his ear. “Is this the ‘sibling threat of life’ talk already?”

Though I heard the distant sound of my brother’s voice, I couldn’t quite make out what Michael told him.

“Duly noted.” Liam responded before handing the phone back to me.

“The curiosity is killing me and you know it.” I told my brother.

“Yeah, yeah. It’s nothing that you haven’t already guessed. Just told him to protect you, is all.”

“Are you done, then?”

“Yep. Told ya I wouldn’t scare him off!”

“See you Monday.”

“Alright. Love you, bro.”

“Love you, too.”

After I placed the phone down, I headed back towards Liam. Though the sound of my brother’s voice lightened my spirits a bit, I still felt bad about asking him to do so much for me.

“As the big brother, I should be the one taking care of him.” I murmured dejectedly.

“He sounds like a smart and strong kid.” Liam commented. “And he seems to care about you a great deal. I think you’d have hurt him more if you hadn’t asked him to stay with you for the time being.”

I could only hope that he was right.