Bitch

I respected that. I hadn't given Liam any real reasons to believe I wasn't a crazy bitch, but I could. I would. It would take time, but I would prove it to him. In the meantime, I would have to show him I meant what I had said.

His hair was still damp as I ran my hands through it, but dry enough that it didn't tangle as I worked the curls between my fingers. With my hand gently pressing against the back of his head, I slipped my tongue into his mouth. He inhaled sharply before his tongue met mine, and his fingers gripped my waist just a little harder as we explored each other's mouths. In all the times we'd kissed, we hadn't kissed quite like that, and the excitement of the new sensations trilled through my body.

It was enough for a while, to get comfortable with each other, enough to just kiss and relax against each other. When it wasn't enough, when those little quivers of excitement began nudging something deep inside me to do more, I pulled away just slightly.

"Liam?"

"Mmm?" he said, his eyes opening again. A soft smile spread across his lips, making him look distracted and half-tipsy.

I bit back a smile of my own. "Can we go to your bedroom?"

My question was met with a response I didn't expect. I thought maybe he'd get an excited gleam in his eye, or nervously but eagerly nod, or just stammer and stutter until I had to grab his hand and lead him there. What I wasn't expecting was him to swallow and look away before clearing his throat and looking back at me.

"I, uh... I don't know."

My confusion must have shown because he sighed.

"I want to say yes," he admitted. "I do. I just..."

"I mean, it's okay," I said quickly. "We don't have to... it's fine, if you don't want to, that's totally—"

"No, I do. I really... I really do, I swear. I just..." He paused, took a breath, then seemed to steel himself. "I'm going to say this and I'm sure you're going to take it the wrong way but please let me explain, okay?"

I nodded, though my stomach tensed nervously. "I will. I can do this."

The words were more for my benefit than his, more a soft reassurance that I could truly do this without being a bitch, but Liam nodded anyway.

"Okay. I'm just nervous because I know how, uh, sensitive you are. About your body. And I don't want to make you uncomfortable or do something that you don't like or... well." He cleared his throat. "Thalia, I think you're beautiful. I like the way you look. I want to be able to, well, show you that. I don't want to be scared that I might touch you the wrong way and make you hate me."

That old instinct was there, the one that told me to pick apart everything he'd said. He thought I was sensitive?! He thought I'd be upset if he touched me the wrong way?! I swallowed and pushed those instincts down, firmly telling myself that I knew exactly what he meant and he had every right to be concerned. Liam knew me better than anyone. Those fears weren't unfounded.

"I can't promise," I said. "I can try really, really hard, but I can't promise I won't... you know. Get self-conscious. I just... I'm afraid."

"Why?"

I swallowed, struggling to admit the real reason, but I owed it to both Liam and to myself to be honest.

"I'm afraid you'll see me the way I see me. That you'll see... something you don't like."

"That's not possible," he said plainly. "Everything about you is beautiful. You're the smartest, fiercest person I've ever met. I love everything about you."

Somehow, it was the perfect thing for him to say. I took a breath and nodded slowly.

"I'll try, if you'll let me."

He regarded me for a moment, wary and solemn, before the corners of his lips flicked up and his eyes took on that excited, nervous look.

"You don't have a single thing to be self-conscious about," he said. "Let me show you."

If I hadn't already realized I was in love with Liam, I would have figured it out when he brought me to his room and unwrapped me like I was made of crystal. He kissed me softly, making sure each movement he made was purposeful, tender, and slow. His hands didn't wander as he undressed me, though his lips pressed against my neck and collarbone.

He started with my skirt, a simple enough thing to remove; one tug of the zipper and it fell past my hips and to the ground. I tried not to shake as he lifted the hem of my shirt up, tried not to stiffen when I had to move my arms to let him pull it up over my head. Once it was off, though, I couldn't stop myself from slouching my shoulders forward, staring at the ground just beyond us as he stepped back.

"Thalia?" he asked.

"I'm trying," I said.

He didn't respond right away, instead moving forward and guiding my shoulders back before bringing his fingers beneath my chin and tilting my head back up.

"You're incredible," he whispered.

I half-laughed in response, not quite able to believe him. Liam wasn't having any of it, though; he kissed me again, his hands moving to my waist and pulling me against him. Through his jeans, I could feel the effect I was having. With anyone else, it might have felt like too much, too fast, too rushed.

With Liam, I felt safe.

"You are," I said back, wishing I had something more eloquent to say.

It didn't matter. He smirked against my mouth as he kissed me, and I took advantage of the pause in my own disrobing to tug at his T-shirt. His lips lingered on mine for a moment before he brought his hands to mine and took his shirt off without ceremony, then he immediately brought his mouth back to mine.

I wasn't done, though; once his skin was pressed against mine, I slipped my hands between us and worked the button of his jeans. He made another soft noise against my mouth, and that time his hands didn't join mine. Instead, his fingers traced a pattern up my arm as I carefully unzipped his jeans, only leaving so he could push his jeans down and step out of them.

When he straightened back up, his eyes flicked down my body. I fought the nervousness and focused on the way his gaze made my body temperature rise. I could feel the slightest flush starting on my chest, a warm tinge just beginning to grace my skin. Liam saw it, too, and he met my eyes for just a moment before leaning forward to kiss my collarbone.

I gasped a bit but relaxed against him. He wrapped his arms around my waist and held me to him as he brushed his lips against my skin. I could feel his cock beneath the thin fabric of his boxers, already so hard. He ignored it, though, instead moving his mouth lower and lower until he was kissing the top of my breasts. It moved lower still, his tongue darting out between my cleavage, until he was kissing along the cups of my bra.

"Are you okay?" he asked.

"Yes," I breathed.

He glanced up at me. "Are you sure?"

I was sure, I told myself, and to prove it, I nudged Liam away and made him sit on the edge of his bed. Without giving myself time to think, I unclasped the front of my bra, shrugged it off, and let it fall to the floor.

He was trying so hard to be respectful and selfless, but even Liam couldn't stop himself from inhaling sharply as he stared at my breasts. Instead of feeling uncomfortable, I embraced it, biting my lip softly as he looked at me, not moving until he tore his eyes away and met mine again.

"Thalia," he whispered, and reached for me.

I went to him, and for what felt like the first time, didn't cringe away when someone pressed their face against my breasts. He handled them gently, cupping one breast with his hand as he ravished the other with kisses. I rested my arms on his shoulders, unable to keep in a soft moan when his tongue snaked out to lap at my nipple.

Liam groaned and did it again before sucking on the hardening nub. I moaned again and he pulled me closer, forgetting for a moment that he was going slow because he was nervous. The hand that wasn't squeezing my breast moved to my ass.

Whatever soft gasp I made was enough to remind him he wanted to go slower and he pulled back, looking up with a distinctly panicked expression on his face. Before he could say anything, I nudged him back on the bed and crawled on top of him.

"Oof," he grunted, then grinned as I straddled his hips. "Hi."

I laughed. "Hi."

My pussy was dripping. My panties were already starting to soak through, and it only got worse when I felt Liam's bulge press against my covered slit. Shifting my hips, we both made soft noises as I ground against him. He pulled me down to kiss him again, unable to stop himself from grasping my breast and pinching my nipple.

We were a tangle of limbs on the bed, skin to skin and body to body. Whatever nerves or fears we had were gone; left in their place was desire and exhilarating intoxication. We skimmed our hands along each other, feeling each other, touching each other, exploring and revelling what was happening.

I was the first to push things further. Liam was sucking on my nipple again when I gripped his cock through his boxers. He shuddered against me and I stroked lightly through the fabric before guiding my hand beneath the waistband. When my fingers wrapped around his cock, he groaned into my breast and I grinned.

His cock was dripping pre-cum. I spread it along his shaft with each stroke, feeling the ridges and bumps beneath my palm as my hand moved. He shuddered again and his breath puffed against my skin.

"Thalia, I want you so much," he mumbled.

"You can have me," I said simply.

"Fuck," he gasped, but instead of sitting up or pushing me onto my back, he pushed his fingers into my panties.

I moaned as his fingers traced along my slit, just barely dipping into my entrance before flicking against my clit. My pussy ached as he teased it, desperate to be filled, and I could only handle so much.

"Liam," I said sternly.

He glanced up, his fingers pausing, a modicum of worry in his eyes.

"You better have a condom," I continued.

He grinned, probably partially out of relief, and nodded.

"Get it. Now."

Hannah had been right: I was a person who took what I wanted. Right then, I wanted Liam's cock inside me, and he was all too happy to oblige. It probably didn't hurt that I told him to sit back against his headboard so I could sink down on top of him, both of us sighing as he entered me for the first time.

"Thalia," he whispered as he filled me. "I love you."

"I love you, too," I whispered.

We kissed before I started rocking my hips against him, only parting so Liam could kiss my breasts as I rode him. Any self-consciousness I had faded away into primal need; I couldn't get enough of his cock. I wanted to move faster, harder, take him deeper and deeper inside me. I wanted more, and I took it.

It didn't take long for me to come. Between the way he was sucking on my nipples and how I could grind my clit against his pelvis each time I sank down on him, I was halfway there in no time. His fingers dug into my hips, guiding my movements. When he started thrusting up into me, I was lost.

"I'm gonna come," I gasped.

He groaned in response, or maybe he said something; I didn't know, and I didn't really care. My orgasm hit and my body shook, a radiating rush crashing through me. I cried out, my nails digging into Liam's shoulder as I trembled, and he kept pushing up inside me even as I finished and tried not to slump against him.

When he came, he stilled for just a moment before taking those last few staggered, deep thrusts. His breath was hot against my breasts, his hands holding me in place as he finished, his low groan muffled but almost arousing enough to make me want him all over again.

He finally looked up at me as his cock began to soften, pulling me in for a kiss as we rested against each other.

"I love you," he said again.

"Even though I'm a bitch?"

"You're not," he said. "You're perfect."

I kissed him again. "Thank you for being on my side. I love you."

He pushed my hair off my face before pressing his forehead to mine.

"I'll always be on your side."

His breath hitched when I came out of the bathroom. I raised my eyebrow, folding my arms after standing there for a minute.

"Are you just going to stand there and stare, or...?"

"Yeah," Liam said.

"Well, stop it. You look ridiculous."

He grinned. "Ridiculous? You're the one who has to be seen with me."

I stuck my tongue out at him. When he came over to kiss me, he nipped lightly at my lip.

"You look amazing."

"You do, too," I whispered.

And he did, though I was able to keep my hands off him as we finished getting ready. Liam, on the other hand, grabbed my ass while I was trying to put my heels on.

"Cut that out," I chided.

"Hmm... nah," he said.

I glared at him, though it was hard to maintain it without smiling. "Stop or I really am going to push you off your balcony."

He looked thoughtful for a moment before turning on his heel and marching to the balcony door.

"What are you doing?" I asked.

"Checking how far a drop it really is," he said. "It might still be worth it."

"You ass!" I couldn't hold back the laugh that time and Liam grinned as he turned back around and pulled me in for a kiss.

"Let's go. Everyone's already going to be shocked when we show up together."

"Well, not when we show up together," I said. "When we show up and start making out in front of everyone, maybe."

He snorted, grabbed my ass again, and we hurried to the elevator.

We weren't in a fraternity or a sorority, but Hannah was, and her sorority did a fancy charity dinner every year. I had been annoyed with Liam for insisting we go when she asked us months earlier, but given her role in our reconciliation, I was far less annoyed that day.

Liam and I had spent the weekend together in his apartment, something that didn't seem all that strange until I came back home and announced to my parents that we were dating. My dad felt the need to have a strict discussion with him when he came by a few days later, but otherwise, I don't think anyone was especially surprised. We didn't really make a big deal about it, and while a few of our friends knew, it was the first time we were really going out as a couple.

"There they are!" Hannah exclaimed when we walked in.

"Sorry we're late," Liam said.

"I'll say. They're just about to start dinner. You two get trapped by the duvet or something?"

"Don't be such a bitch," I said, but grinned and hugged her.

Carson was sitting nearby and his eyes bounced from me and Hannah to Liam.

"Did I miss something?" he asked.

"Yeah, probably," I said before sitting down.

"Since when are you two friends?"

"Since I helped her finally see that she and Liam should just fuck already," Hannah replied. "Like everyone else had already figured out."

Carson gaped at me. "Wait, are you two an actual thing now?"

"I don't really like being called a 'thing', you know," I replied. "But if you're asking if Liam and I are together, well, yeah. Didn't you just hear what Hannah said?"

He snorted and shook his head in amazement before turning to Liam.

"You're a brave man. Good luck taming that one."

My temper flared instantly, heat rising through my cheeks. "Excuse me?"

"Why the fuck would I want to do that?" Liam asked before Carson could respond to me. "I love her the way she is."

Carson rolled his eyes and laughed. "Because she's a little intense. It's just an expression. I mean, sure, if you're into that whole... I dunno, girl power thing."

"Well, that would be the difference between you and Liam," I said icily. "He's secure enough that he doesn't feel the need to control me. You, on the other hand, are apparently looking for someone who just sits there quietly. May I suggest one of those silicone sex dolls you can get custom made?"

Carson turned red. "It was a joke."

"It wasn't very funny."

He glared at me. "You can stop being a bitch anytime, you know."

I smiled at him sweetly as Liam took my hand.

"I'm not a bitch, Carson. I'm that bitch. And if you've got a problem with that, well, fuck you."

Before he could respond, the lights in the hall dimmed slightly, and I turned to the stage to listen attentively to the speeches as Liam tried not to laugh.

"Love you," he whispered.

I squeezed his hand. "Love you too."

**

Special thanks to Bebop3, norafares, and OneAuthor for feedback and edits, as well as the absolutely awesome folks who beta-read. Also extending my appreciation to K, A, and Paul M. Finally, a big thanks to you for reading!