Standing next to Ellie in the crowded warehouse that resembled a club tonight, I soaked in the festive atmosphere and observed the people who were invited to our surprise birthday party.

I couldn't help it- my gaze drifted to Liam no matter how hard I tried to focus it on something else.

A dark-gray tee hugged his torso, showcasing his strong arms and trim, tapered waist. The black jeans he wore made the outfit even better. Liam was talking to Aiden, drinking something from a cup.

Ellie nudged my arm. "You're staring at him."

"I'm not."

"You are."

"I am."

She laughed. "Gave up fast, huh?"

"Don't you see how hot he looks? He's just so...dreamy."

"Honey, how much did you have to drink exactly?" my friend asked with a mischievous twinkle in her eyes.

"Not nearly enough. Yet. But I'm on my way there." I shrugged.

The melody I recognized rose above the chatter around us. "I love this song!" I beamed, looking at Ellie. "Let's go dance!"

Ellie nodded and took my hand, leading me closer to the DJ.

It didn't take me long to start to move with abandon, feeling myself relax as I surrendered to the music. Secretly, I hoped Liam was watching me as I moved my body to the loud beats song after song, singing with my best friend by my side.

"Sky, do you mind if we go to the ladies'? I want to change the shoes, and it's weird to do it here," Ellie said over the music.

I shrugged. "Okay. Let's go."

We made our way to the toilet in the back of the gym. I headed to the cabin, leaving Ellie at the sink.

I was still inside when I heard her talking to someone. Listening in, I tried to decipher the words, but the only thing I made out was who the voice belonged to.

It was the same voice saying that Liam was a God in bed.

She was here. The girl Liam slept with was here. She must have come to his party to be with him.

Just like that, jealousy overpowered my excitement and ruined my good mood, making me want to cry as I thought about every reason why Liam and I wouldn't work out. There would always be beautiful girls without issues, able to enjoy having sex without suffering from a panic attack.

As much as I hated the thought of facing the dark-haired goddess, I couldn't hide forever.

Slowly, I exited the cubicle and walked up to Ellie.

The girl's attention shifted from my friend to me. "Hey! Sky, right?" she asked. "Happy birthday!"

"Thanks!" I replied, frowning slightly as I opened the faucet and started to wash my hands.

The door behind the gym girl closed in a couple of seconds.

"What's wrong?" asked Ellie.

"Nothing, it's just...The girl who was here? That was the girl Liam went out with. And now I'm kind of afraid to go back in there and see him dancing with her. I guess she's here because of him," I admitted, hoping that Ellie wouldn't think I was a fool.

"Sky, there are lots of people inside. Aiden says Jeff invited many gym regulars. She could've just tagged along," Ellie said.

She didn't know about the conversation I'd overheard. Of course, she would look for an excuse to make things seem different from what they were.

"What I hate the most is that she's nice." I sighed. "It'd be easier if she wasn't."

We weren't alone in the restroom anymore. Ellie took my hand in hers and led me away.

"Come on." She stopped at the table with the drinks and poured some wine in two cups, handing one to me. Ellie and I sat on some chairs in the back, away from the dancing crowd.

Yet, I couldn't stop roaming the dancefloor with my eyes, afraid to see Liam dance with someone else.

"The girl's over there with her friends, and Liam isn't. I'm almost sure he's with Aiden somewhere. So, better tell me what it feels like to be twenty," said Ellie.

I felt like a fool for making my distress that obvious.

"It's weird." I twisted the cup in my hands. "When I was younger, I imagined how my life would be when I turned twenty, and it's nothing like it."

"What did you imagine?"

"That I'd travel a lot, have a boyfriend, enjoy what I studied. Instead, I wasted last year on Paul, who didn't love me. I could've gone out, met more people, and I didn't. It was his parties, his friends, his life. And you know what I like the least?"

Ellie shook her head.

"There used to be tons of things I loved doing. I just can't seem to be inspired by anything now, and least of all by my studies."

"Nobody's life is perfect, Sky," Ellie said quietly.

"Yours is."

The words escaped my lips too fast. Caught up in my self-pity, I didn't think it through. I should have.

"What?" Ellie stared at me. "We must've had a lot to drink for you to say that."

"Isn't it true, though? The grant in the best school? Check. A hot boyfriend who adores you? Check. A diamond on your finger? Vacations in freaking Martinique? Check, check, and check."

"Are you jealous, Sky? Because I honestly don't know what to think after this. It's good to know you think Aiden's hot, by the way."

"God, Ellie, I didn't mean it like that."

"I know." Ellie stared into her cup, and I felt like the shittiest friend ever. The girl next to me was one of the very few people who I could count on. She gave me comfort way too many times, trying to lift me up and telling me all the right things to boost my confidence.

"I'm such a bitter bitch." I groaned.

Ellie sighed. "You're not. You're still my best friend; it's just that I can't believe that knowing everything you know, you still think that everything is easy-breezy for me. Orphan? Check. My dead birth parents? Check. My uncle, who tore Aiden and me apart? Studying my ass off in two schools at the same time? Check, check, and check. Do you know what I think?"

"What?" I mumbled, unable to look her in the eye.

"That you're a stunning twenty-year-old girl who gets to live in the capital of France and study for a degree that opens doors. Your French is excellent. You're the best dancer I've ever seen. You're a crazy talented photographer. Just because you've been through a lot and things with your ex didn't work out doesn't mean your life isn't good. You just need to find something you love, and maybe love yourself before someone else does. How are they supposed to know how great you are if you don't believe that about yourself?"

"God, Ellie, I feel like shit for what I said."

I truly did. Ellie didn't deserve those words, and I knew that she was caring enough not to upset me by showing how bad they made her feel.

"Don't. It's your party. You've got to enjoy it." She gave me a small smile. I doubted it was genuine.

Liam's voice behind me made my heart skip a beat. "Roomie? I've been looking for you. Oh, and Ellie, Aiden's over there next to the food table in case you were wondering."

"Thanks." Ellie smiled. "I'll go talk to him. Go dance with Sky. She was just telling me she'd love to dance to that song with you."

Ellie winked at me and went to where her guy was.

Liam frowned, looking at me. "Did anything happen?"

"Kinda." I sighed. "I acted like a jealous bitch."

Liam took the cup from my hand and laced his fingers with mine. "It's one of my favorite songs. Let's go dance."

I let him lead me to the dance floor, where he hugged me to him. Something about how he held me seemed different. It became even more so when Liam cupped my cheek with one of his hands and placed tiny kisses on my face. One of them landed close to my lips.

I pressed my forehead to his, my breath ragged, and my body vibrating from his touch, no matter how innocent it was.

But then, I saw the same girl from earlier looking at us while she chatted with a friend, and I stilled.

Liam frowned as I pressed my palms to his chest, breaking our hug. Not giving him time to react, I turned around and pushed through the dense crowd, desperate to get out of there.

He followed me. I heard his footsteps behind me right until I was outside, shaking as the gust of wind touched my overheated skin.

Liam shortened the distance between us. My heart fluttered in my chest. I knew what was going to happen. He would tell me about the date-

"Stop doing it, sweetheart," Liam said instead. "Stop running away. For once, just listen to me."

"I saw the girl," I muttered.

He took a few more steps until there was barely an inch between us. Liam's warm hand caressed the side of my face.

"There wasn't a date. Nothing happened between us. I didn't go through with it, and you have to believe me. I was hurt and pissed at you for agreeing to see your ex, but I couldn't be with anyone else when you were already under my skin."

I was trembling, but not from the cold this time.

"Do you believe me? Do you trust me, Sky?" Liam whispered, cupping my cheek.

I swallowed, nodding. "I do."

"I'm going to kiss you now. I'm giving you the chance to stop me because if you don't, there will be no going back. I won't be able to pretend it means nothing."

My eyes met Liam's, but I didn't say no. I didn't want to do it.

Slowly, he moved his hand from my cheek to the back of my head and brought my body to his with his free arm, curling it around my waist.

Liam's lips stopped an inch from mine before he finally moved forward and covered my mouth with his, hardly doing anything else at first.

It changed fast.

Hot and hungry, his lips devoured mine. My lips parted, letting him kiss me deeper. Liam's tongue met mine, caressing it, playing with it, licking my lips between each long, wet kiss. He slowed down when I wanted him to kiss me faster and attacked my mouth with fervor when I expected it the least.

Moving my hands over Liam's back, I pressed him to me harder.

Then, it was the same cycle repeating itself - gentle caresses of his mouth, his tongue stroking mine before he changed the pace, kissing me with so much passion I gasped for air.

We stopped eventually, breathless. Liam kissed my slightly swollen lips once more before moving his mouth to my neck and placing a wet kiss there.

My grip on him tightened. Liam smoothed his hand over my hair and caressed my cheek as his eyes met mine.

"I had to stop," he whispered. "For now, but not when we are home."

We went back into the warehouse. A slow song was playing. Not saying a word, Liam wrapped me in his arms, and his lips sought mine as we moved to the melody.

Our friends weren't near, and I was grateful for that. What happened between Liam and me resembled a dream I didn't want to wake up from.

Aiden and Ellie were back soon. At midnight, we cut our cake and shared it with our guests.

Ellie insisted on talking when the guys went away on Sunday to do some training in the south of France, and I agreed because my mind was too wrapped up in Liam to focus on something else.

Liam's heated gaze seemed to burn me on our cab ride home. Ellie and Aiden said goodbye to us and continued to ascend to their floor. Liam and I exited the elevator on ours.

As soon as we were in the apartment and the door behind us locked, I gasped at the feeling of warm lips on my neck.

"Your room or mine?" Liam uttered.

"Mine."

Lifting me in his arms, Liam carried me to my room and deposited me on my comforter gently.

"Shit. Wait, sweetheart."

He dashed out of my bedroom and was back with a candle he then lit, placing it on the nightstand.

And despite burning for Liam and his caresses, the apprehension kicked in, making me shake as if I were still outside in November chill. What if I disappointed him?

The way we kissed was unique. I knew it because it was also my first. Nobody had ever kissed me with such raw need and passion, gentle but fierce at the same time.

It was the first time for me, but not for him.

"I can feel you overthinking everything from here," said Liam. "We are not going to do anything you're not ready for. One word, and I'll stop. Okay?"

Nodding, I walked up to Liam, who sat on my bed, looking at me with his head tilted to the side.

"Come here, sweetheart."

I kicked off my high-heeled shoes and straddled Liam's legs.

"So damn perfect," he whispered, running his hands along my legs on either side of him, right up to my thighs and over my stomach.

"Kiss me," Liam said, caressing me.

Slowly, I placed my hand on his jaw and touched his lips with mine. They parted, asking me to deepen the kiss. Liam's tongue stroked mine. I felt him hard beneath me and moved just slightly, curious to know what it would feel like.

Liam grabbed the hem of my dress, and this time I didn't say no. His eyes never leaving my face, he lifted it and peeled it off me, leaving me in my underwear.

Liam's T-shirt landed on top of my dress on the floor.

"I want to kiss you here," Liam looked at me, placing his hand on my breast. My breathing became irregular. Shaking, I covered his hand with mine.

"Is it gonna hurt?" I heard myself ask, instantly regretting it.

"What do you think will hurt, sweetheart?" Liam whispered, frowning.

"It's stupid; it's just that I've never done it."

Liam's hand froze over the lace. "Never as in...never?"

Nodding, I sank my teeth into my bottom lip.

"Don't." Liam put his thumb there, making me release the tender flesh. "Sweetheart, it's not going to hurt. I will be gentle, knowing that it's your first. But if you don't want it-"

"I do," I whispered, kissing Liam on the lips. "Please."

His hands moved to my back, and he unclasped my thin bra, pushing the straps down my arms.

Then, Liam got rid of the lacy garment, placing his palms on my bare breasts.

"I knew they would fit in my hands," he murmured, sucking on my neck as he started to massage me gently. His tongue licked my skin, and his hot lips didn't stop kissing me for a second, building up the unfamiliar pressure inside me.

Then, Liam moved his hands to my behind, cupping it and pressing me to him as his wet lips covered my nipple and his tongue caressed it, making it harden instantly.

"Does it hurt, sweetheart?" Liam asked without tearing his lips away from my skin.

"No," I whispered, burying my fingers in his hair.

The sensation was making me dizzy. Licking and sucking on one breast wasn't enough. Liam moved his hot, wet mouth to the other one repeating caress after sinful caress.

I whimpered, shifting on his lap, seeking some kind of friction.

A soft groan left Liam's mouth when I rocked into him just slightly, unsure of what to do.

His kisses didn't stop, and every part of me was on fire, wanting and needing his caresses, and his lips on me, and all of him, everywhere.

"Sweetheart, you're burning." Liam stopped kissing my breasts and placed a kiss on my mouth. "Do you want me to make you come?"

Just like that, memories broke through the bliss, erasing Liam's heat, his kisses, his gentleness, his feelings.

Another year, another month, another man, and memories, memories piercing, tormenting, not letting the air into my lungs. My skin turned clammy, no longer hot from the desire.

"Sky."

Liam's gentle hands, cupping my cheeks, looking into my hollow eyes.

"Sweetheart, did I hurt you? What have I done?"

I shook my head, climbing off his lap, looking for something to put on me, to cover myself so that I could hide.

"Go," I choked out, unable to look Liam in the eye.

"No. I caused this, and I'm staying until you are okay, hugging you and kissing you and having that damn pillow talk."

"Liam-"

"I'm not going anywhere, sweetheart."
Another whisper of his, another featherlike touch of his lips on my forehead, and his hands helping me shove my useless arms in the sleeves of his tee.

"I'm not going anywhere," he repeated with more conviction. "Not now, not ever."