Nina pushed open the bedroom door. A soft gasp escaped her lips as she took in the decor. It was a stark contrast to the rest of the house. Plush fabrics, warm colors, and ornate furniture filled it. A large four-poster bed was the centerpiece. A plum-colored duvet and French silk pillows covered it.

Someone had left the bed unmade. The rumpled sheets still held warmth. She slid her body across the soft fabric. Lavender and a unique aroma, musky and masculine, filled the air, perceptible to her.

Nina let out a deep sigh of relief. She was no longer a visitor, an intruder in Liam’s private space. Nina was now a part of it. Her scent and presence mingled with his own.

She rolled herself into the warmth of the sheets, experiencing the residual heat of his body. Sounds of the shower, the distant hum of water hitting the tiles, filled the room. She sensed the spray on her skin. The steam wrapped around her like a lover’s embrace.

Nina wondered what he was thinking. Was he was planning their next encounter? Did Liam share her excitement?

She perceived the water ceasing to flow, and the sounds of movement inside the bathroom. Nina held her breath. The door creaked open. Liam stepped out. A towel wrapped low around his waist, revealing the firstfruit of hair.

Liam paused. His eyes widened as he took in the sight of Nina sprawled across his bed, the black lace bra and panties leaving little to the imagination. A small smile touched his lips as he took in the scene.

“A present from Rachel, I assume.” Liam’s voice was a low purr. His eyes roamed over Nina’s body. He leered over the places where the lace hugged her curves.

“She has good taste,” Nina said. Her eyelids drooped. A dreamy smile curled on her face.

Liam took a step closer. “She does.” He reached out, his fingers tracing the edge of the lace panties, his touch sending shivers down Nina’s spine.

“I assume Rachel gave you the key. Did you... look in my old bedroom?” Liam asked, his voice husky but with a hint of concern.

Nina nodded, her breath hitching as Liam’s fingers moved to the side of her hip, tracing the line of her thigh. “I saw the photos.”

Liam’s eyes darkened, his gaze intense as he looked at her. “When I first moved into this house, posing for mom’s photo, I saw you across the street and you were so... beautiful. I remember telling mom and dad I loved you and I would be your boyfriend someday.” Liam said. “They dismissed it as youthful exuberance, a common boyish declaration: I’m going to marry the gorgeous girl across the street someday. I knew even then, it wasn’t a crush. There was something about you, something different.”

A shiver ran down her spine at his words. Nina sensed the weight of his gaze. She was aware of her body, of how the lace panties and bra hugged her curves, of how her nipples hardened under the lace. A growing ache developed between her legs. A deep need she had to address.

“You were watching me,” Nina said. “You’ve been watching me for years.”

Liam nodded. “I have. It started as a crush, a fascination. But it grew into something more. I wanted to know you. I desired complete involvement in your life.”

A mix of emotions swirled inside her. No one had given Nina attention like this. No one found her so captivating before. It was both thrilling and disturbing.

“Then I became a man, and I understood the depth of my feelings for you. I knew I wanted you in my life. I wanted to protect you, provide for you, make you happy,” Liam said, his eyes searching Nina’s for understanding.

A mix of fear, excitement, and a strange sense of empowerment washed over Nina. This was a secret, a dark, forbidden secret she never knew she held. Liam had been watching her, documenting her life, her struggles, her pain, her joy. He had been there, in the shadows, witnessing her life unfold from afar.

“Why me?” Nina asked, her voice hushed.

“Nina, it’s because you’re unique. You are powerful. Your resilience is impressive. However, you are also fragile. It is a rare and beautiful combination.” His fingers traced the curve of her hip. Her lace panties dampened from his touch. His touch sent a jolt of electricity through her body.

Nina looked into his eyes. She desired to read his intentions, his secrets. Yet, only raw desire, a hunger mirroring her own, was apparent to her.

“Then Rachel... noticed you. My parents were selling the house, moving to Fort Worth. I was in a relationship with Rachel and I expressed my desire to keep the house. Rachel bought it from my parents and gave it to me for our six-month anniversary of when we first met. Crazy.” Liam chuckled out of disbelief. “But she started noticing you then. She even changed our shifts and roles at the store so she could spend more time watching you.” Liam’s fingers traced the lace edge of her panties, dipping below her navel. Nina’s breath hitched, her body aching for his touch.

“Rachel told me she admired you. She thought you were fierce and independent. She said you were breathtaking, and she was right.” Liam’s voice was thick with desire as he leaned closer, his breath hot on her ear.

Nina nodded. “And believe me, she noticed me. She flirted with me, invited me to a party... drew me into this web.”

Liam’s fingers stilled for a moment before he pulled back, his eyes searching hers. “I know. I thought myself capable of protecting you, but you are now trapped like I am. Entangled is Rachel’s schemes. For which I am sorry.” Liam’s apology was genuine, the regret in his eyes clear.

A pang of sympathy and a spark of anger struck Nina. Rachel used Nina as a pawn, a plaything for her own entertainment.

But Nina wasn’t a victim anymore. She had chosen this path, had embraced the desires it awakened within her. She was not innocent, not helpless, but a participant. Nina was a willing partner in this dangerous dance.

Nina reached up, her fingers tracing the line of Liam’s jaw, her touch soft. “It’s not your fault. I’m here, with you, by choice. To explore my desires, to embrace the woman I’ve become.”

Liam’s eyes searched hers for a moment before he leaned in, capturing her lips in a heated kiss. Nina responded, her body pressing against his as she deepened the kiss, her tongue tangling with his.

Nina sensed the hardness of his body against her, the heat of his skin through the towel. She arched against him, her hands roaming over his back, his shoulders, his chest.

She was aware of the muscles beneath his skin, the heat of his body scorching through the thin towel. He lifted her, his hands gripping her hips, fingers pressing into the softness as he lowered her onto the bed.

Nina arched into his touch, her breath hitching as he slipped the straps of her bra down her shoulders, baring her breasts to his hungry gaze. He broke the kiss to take one of her nipples into his mouth, his tongue swirling around the sensitive bud before he sucked it. Nina moaned, her back arching as waves of pleasure washed over her.

Liam moved to her other breast, giving it the same attention, while his hand slipped between her legs, tracing the lace edge of her panties. Nina sensed the heat of his touch, the dampness gathering there as her arousal grew.

His fingers teased, tracing the outline of her clit before slipping inside to explore her warmth. She gasped, her hips bucking against his hand as he stroked her, his fingers moving with a sure rhythm, making her whimper with need.

Liam’s mouth moved up to hers, capturing her moans as his fingers worked their magic. Nina’s hands roamed over his body, tugging at the towel still wrapped around his waist. She desired the contact of his body against hers.

Liam obliged. He sat back and removed the towel, revealing his hard, naked body.

Nina’s eyes roamed over him, taking in every detail. She reached out, her fingers tracing the lines of his muscles, the contours of his chest and abs. He was perfect, like a sculpture carved by an artist’s hand. A surge of pride came to her, knowing she had brought him to this state of arousal.

Liam smiled, a wicked gleam in his eyes as he reached for the lace panties, peeling them off Nina’s body. He tossed them aside, his eyes lingering on her naked form.

His hands gripped her hips, his fingers digging into her soft flesh as he guided her legs apart, opening her up to his view. Liam leaned in, his breath hot on her inner thigh before his tongue flicked out, tasting her. Nina’s breath hitched, her body arching off the bed as he teased her folds, his tongue exploring every crevice.

Nina’s hands fisted the sheets, her knuckles white as she tried to hold on against the pleasure of his tongue in her most intimate place. Every nerve ending was on high alert, every touch sending shockwaves through her body.

Liam’s tongue flicked and swirled. His fingers joined in the dance, teasing and tantalizing. His touch was expert, intimate, as if he had studied her body for years.

And he had.

This wasn’t a casual encounter for Liam. Nor was it a fleeting moment of passion. His secret desires and hidden dreams had come to fruition after years of observation. A product of love. A shudder ran through Nina’s body as the thought pierced her haze of pleasure. She knew Liam’s every touch, every kiss, every lick was a testament to the years he had spent observing her, studying her, wanting her.

“Liam? Do you?” she asked. Was this a fantasy, or something real?

Liam looked up from between her legs, his eyes meeting hers. There was a softness in his gaze, a vulnerability she hadn’t seen before. “I love you, Nina.”

A lump formed in her throat. She had never expected to hear those words from Liam, had never thought he held such deep emotion for her. His confession touched and moved her, but also terrified her. She was in uncharted territory, a place where she had never imagined herself.

Though reconciled with Gerald and Rosa, she didn’t return their declarations of love. Nina chose not to say those words to Gerald and Rosa on purpose. She knew those two were disingenuous when they spoke those words. She refused to further complicate this fabricated existence. Liam's words of love were authentic, a stark contrast to her selfish motives.

“Liam, I...” Nina began, then paused, searching for the right words. “I want to be with you too, but I’m scared. Scared of what this all means, of what I’m becoming.”

Liam nodded, a small smile playing on his lips. “I understand, Nina. Fear also gripped me. Every day I’ve watched you from afar, every night I’ve dreamed of having you close, I’ve been terrified. Feared you’d only see me as a friend or another fellow worker. But I couldn’t stop myself. I couldn’t stop loving you.” Liam reached out, his fingers brushing away a stray lock of hair from Nina’s forehead. “And now, I promise, I’ll do everything in my power to make sure you’re happy.”

With those words spoken, he positioned himself between her legs, his hardness pressing against her entrance. He leaned down, his lips brushing against hers as he whispered, “I love you, Nina.”

She tasted herself on his lips, the essence of her arousal mingling with his breath. It was intoxicating, intimate. She responded to his touch, her body opening to him, her hips lifting to meet his thrust.

Liam groaned, a low, primal sound sending shivers down Nina’s spine. He slid into her, his eyes locked on hers, his expression a mixture of pain and pleasure.

Nina gasped as he filled her, stretched her. It was a distinct from Gerald’s manhood, longer, touching places no man had ever before.

Liam began thrusting, his hips finding a rhythm matching her own. Their bodies moved in sync, their breaths coming in ragged gasps, their bodies slick with sweat. Nina sensed every inch of him within her, sensed every pulse and throb of his arousal. The sensation overwhelmed her by the intensity of their connection.

Liam’s hands roamed over her body, his fingers tracing the curve of her hips, the swell of her breasts. He leaned down, capturing her lips in a deep, passionate kiss. His tongue tangled with hers, his breath mingling with hers as their bodies moved in perfect harmony.

She clung to Liam, her nails digging into his back as she urged him on. Her body begged for release.

Liam’s body tensed, his movements becoming more urgent, more desperate. He broke their kiss, his breath coming in ragged gasps as he looked down at her. “I love you, Nina,” he said. “I... love you.”

Nina’s thoughts and emotions jumbled like fruitcake dough.

“Liam,” Nina gasped, her nails digging deeper into his back, her hips lifting to meet his thrusts. She was so close, so close to the edge. “I ... I...” She tried to form the words, tried to express the feelings overwhelming her. She lacked the words, unable to express herself.

Liam’s movements became more urgent, more desperate.

“Liam,” Nina said, her breath coming in sharp bursts. She perceived the pleasure growing within, perceived the heat spreading through her body like wildfire. “Love...” Her body arched up to meet Liam’s thrusts. She wanted to tell him she loved him too, tell him this was unprecedented for her. But the words were stuck in her throat, choked by the intensity of her pleasure.

Liam’s eyes met hers, their gazes locked as he drove into her, his body tense with the effort to hold back his own release. He wanted to hear the words, needed to hear them. Liam knew she loved him, too. He could see it in her eyes, could perceive it in the way her body moved beneath his.

Nina’s breath hitched, her body trembling with the effort to hold back the words. To hold back the orgasm threatening to consume her.

“I love you.” Her body convulsed with the force of her release, tearing the words from her lips. The wave crashed over her, drowning her in a sea of pleasure as her body shook and trembled, her muscles clenching around Liam.

Liam let out a primal cry, his release erupting like a volcano. His body tensed, his movements coming to a sudden stop as he spilled himself inside her. He collapsed on top of her, his body shaking with the force of his orgasm.

Nina wrapped her arms around him, her legs entwining with his as she held him close, their bodies still joined. She sensed his heart pounding against her chest; she sensed the dampness of his skin as he began his descent from the peak of pleasure.

He looked down at Nina, his eyes gentle. “I’ve waited so long to hear you say those words, to become one with you,” he said. “You don’t know what it means to me.”

Nina’s fingers traced the contours of his face. “I think I do. I’ve noticed it too, Liam.”

“Everything has changed.”