To Be Loved But In My Dreams?

"Are you enjoying the party?" Came Liam's voice trying to be loud enough while he poured another wine in the shot glass.

"Yessss" Lara replied almost screaming

Gulping down the wine like a chase, it was bittersweet but she was in the moment

She whined and grinded on Liam's waistline like a stripper in a nightclub

The music was loud it was everything she needed, alcohol, loud music, and a man who somehow she was already in love with.

"Are you good?" Liam asked

She came straight to his face to kiss him on his lips

Lara nodded vibing to the music still.

He grabbed her waist and placed his lips on hers taking the lower part of the lips in his mouth, softly kissing and touching her breast, slowly his hands moved to her thighs where he had access to her bare skin.

"Stop," Lara said abruptly

Her eyes gave her away, it was obvious that she wanted him.

He took her by the hand and they left the party.

"Where are we going?"

"Home"

"Home?"

"Home" he repeated

And she went silent

The alcohol was twirling in her head side by side.

Car came to a halt in front of a brown bungalow

She could see the color

Her eyes moved to Liam, he was already staring at her

"Holl up"

He went down to open the passenger seat for her

Helped her out

She was staggering, he helped her in and pulled out the keys to the house while trying to secure Lara from falling cause of the influence of the alcohol.

He held her closely with one hand and opened the door with the other.

"Home?" Lara asked

Liam nodded

Though her sight was blurred she was sure it wasn't her house

They entered inside and he closed the door behind them

He held her hand guiding her to his bed in the bedroom, maintaining eye contact

He helped her sit and softly lie her back, supporting her head with a pillow, and covering her up with a duvet.

He stood up to dim the lights

"I will let you have sex with me," Lara said with calmness

Liam stiffened, back against her he wasn't sure it was the alcohol that spoke, he wasn't sure it was Lara.

He narrowed his eyes slightly turning to look at her.

"I want you to touch me," she said again, her eyes sparkling with desire.

He turned back to the light switch and clicked on it.

The room turned gentle red, the bulb was soft making the room look cozy and inviting.

He walked to his wardrobe picked a big shirt,

He turned back to the bed, held her close grabbing her dress over her head, completely undressing her

Her perky small breast looking at him begging for his wet mouth

She didn't wear any panties

Her supple skin was exposed to the gentle red light in the room

He stared for a second, thoughts of it in his head

She didn't take her eyes off him

He quickly took the clothes he had taken from the wardrobe and shook off the reverie. Slowly putting them on her, taking his time.

He laid close to her, close enough to feel her warmth, he held her gently he could see the longing in her gaze.

"You want me to touch you?" He said gently brushing her hair from her face to her back

She nodded, her eyes filled with want, definitely from the too much intake of alcohol she had taken earlier.

He held her close and kissed her forehead gently rubbing with one hand on her supple skin, slowly moving his hands down to her thigh, rubbing gently with no pace maintaining eye contact with her.

"You're so beautiful," he said almost whispering

She smiled closing her eyes.

She didn't open them again till morning.

***

Liam woke first and headed to the kitchen to make them some breakfast.

He made pancakes for her and eggs and toast for himself.

"Argh" came from Lara

She woke up with a splitting headache

"Where's this place" She didn't seem to remember anything

She stood up from the bed and realized she wasn't wearing her clothes

"God no no no.. not a one-night stand" she lamented

She remembered she was at a party but couldn't remember who she was with.

She took one hand to her vagina, it wasn't wet and she couldn't remember anything going inside of her

She wasn't so sure, the alcohol was too strong for her to vividly remember everything that happened.

If anything happened she would have been feeling pain cause it was going to be her first time.

She looked around, the bedroom was large with large windows

The bed was king-sized with luxurious bedding

There was a cozy armchair close to the bed

On the wall were art pieces

She was sure she had never been to this particular house

"This person must have a great taste" she whispered to herself.

She could see a door, visibly showing the walk-in shower with a glass door

She headed to the door that looked like the way out

"You're up" came Liam's voice

It was then she realized,

Liam is her new friend that has been all over her lately,

He has been sweet, checking on her all the time and professing love

"Good morning" she replied

"Good morning beautiful," he said smiling

"Breakfast is ready"

The kitchen was open and airy, there were high stools stuck against the large tables that served as the casual dining spot in the center of the kitchen

The house was spacious she could see the living room from the kitchen,

The walls are painted soft neutral colors creating a calm atmosphere

In the living room there's a plush sofa in a gray fabric, adorned with colorful throw pillows, and a stylish table beautifully carved from wood sat in front of the sofa.

On the wall was beautiful artwork that made the house luxurious and full of style.

"What's for breakfast?"

Her eyes finally left all the details and landed on Liam

"I'm guessing you love the art piece," he said with confidence knowing Lara had been admiring them

"They are beautiful," she said smiling

"Pancakes, eggs, and toast" he replied to her question

She walked down to him picking one of the pancakes.

"Mmm these are fluffy and delicious, I love how perfectly golden brown these are," she said while he turned tea to her cup.

"I'm glad you love it"

"Did you sleep well"

"Mmm," Lara nodded using the food in her mouth as an excuse not to say anything.

Liam came close to her and said "You're so beautiful" almost whispering

"Ugh" Lara almost choking

"Are you good?" He asked not withdrawing from her

She nodded flinching

She couldn't look him in the face

Liam had no clothes on, his body revealing his sturdy build

She wondered what it was like to lay close to his skin

"You don't look good," he said whispering in her ears

Sending cold shivers down her spine

Thoughts running through her head, she was unable to control her breathing

She could feel the heat from the moment

He could feel hers too, he was sure she wanted him as much as he wanted her to.

He headed to taking one hand to her neck gently touching her

He could feel her flinch

"Your breakfast is getting cold" Lara blurted out in panic.

Liam withdrew and sat on the closest stool grabbed his breakfast and started eating without making any sound

Lara became uneasy, she wished she didn't say anything.

"I should be in the office by 10am," he said dryly

She wasn't sure if he was chasing her from his apartment already.

She had her house, if not for her carelessness she would have been in her house

"What if he was a rapist or kidnapper," she thought in her head silently

She and Liam had planned that evening to go clubbing

they had been talking for a while and she thought it was time for her to let him hang out with her.

Since she was always staying away from men to avoid getting hurt.

She didn't want to hear it sound like he was chasing her so she said smirking "You won't be late"

He was looking like he just needed to put on work clothes immediately after eating

She figured he must have showered while she was still sleeping.

He munched and chewed silently, one hand on his phone.

He didn't look at her, he didn't look like he was rushing off to work.

She looked at the big wall clock in the living room

It was 9:45am

She adjusted her stool to the back hopped down and walked in the direction of the bedroom without looking back at Liam to see if he was watching her

She closed the door behind her grabbed her dress from the bed and hurriedly wore it

She saw her phone by the bedside, she guessed he had taken it from her to guide it cause she had so much alcohol, she would have lost it

If not for him.

She almost didn't remember she owned a cell phone.

She quickly booked her Uber to her house

"11 Bentley Street..." she was on to the driver

When Liam opened the door, she hung up,

Somehow she was sure the driver heard her

He looked at her but walked to his wardrobe, not to

her.

She thought he'd come close to her, touch her, and kiss her forehead goodbye

She was daydreaming

He opened his wardrobe obviously to check clothes he'd wear for work

"See you some other time Handsome," she said flirting with a mischievous smile

She didn't wait for his response or reaction

Her Uber was already waiting for her.

She got outside the house, she saw her driver across the road waiting for her.

Just as she was about to cross to the other side of the road

A black SUV pulled over in front of the gate, wondering who it was even though it was not her business

The car was sleek, cutting her thought, a not so beautiful brown skin girl alighted from the black SUV

The area Liam was living in was opulent,

"Could it be an Uber, where is she going, and why is she stopping right in front of Liam's Apartment"

Streams of thoughts in her head

She crossed over to her Uber driver, opened the passenger door and sat comfortably, buckled her seat belt

"Good morning ma, where are we headed?" The driver asked

Her eyes were glued to the strange brown skin girl as she walked majestically to Liam's apartment and Rang the doorbell

"11bentley Street"

The driver inserted the key into the ignition, turned it, and the engine roared to life.

Reality hit her, he didn't wait for her to leave completely before bringing another woman.

"It better be his sister!"

In a flash, the Uber driver pulled up to the curb in front of her house

She paid him and walked to her apartment.

There was a package right in front of her door.

"What could it be!" She muttered under her breath walking briskly to it and looking around, wondering who would have dropped it.

"Flowers?" Her jaw-dropping as she picked it up

Beneath it was a box of chocolate and a letter.

"It can't be Liam, I mean he just invited a girl over without letting me go out of the neighborhood," she thought

She opened her door and went straight to the couch, with her legs folded, and her knees drawn up towards her chest.

She laid the flowers and box of chocolate on the side table.

She carefully unfolded the paper, her fingers tracing the creases as she flattened it out, eager to absorb the words it held.

"CAN I CALL YOU ROSE?

for your smile is like sunrise breaking through the dark,

your eyes sparkle like dewdrops on a rose, your skin as soft and smooth as a rose petal,

your body is as perfect as a rose in full bloom, a masterpiece of nature!

Liam."

She swallowed hard as she read the last word, her eyes drifted to the beautiful rose as it sat royally on the side table.

She would never have guessed that he had orchestrated such a thoughtful surprise right under her nose.

"How did he manage to keep such a secret?

Who was the girl who rang his doorbell?

How could he be so sweet after acting so cold this morning,

How did he not touch me,

Could it be that for the first time in my life, I'm getting to know a man with self-control?" She wondered, a smile creeping onto her face.

She couldn't help but marvel at his thoughtfulness, the way he had crafted this surprise just for her, making her feel the most special.

"Wake Lara!! Wake!" She said gently whispering.

Her mind drifted to the previous night,

It was then that she felt the alcohol slowly dissipating from her body

She remembered how she told him to touch her and he had proceeded to turn on the hot light in his room

Physically showing his sexy masculine body in her face without touching her.

On a normal day, she'd never ask a man to touch her,

She could imagine how she was lingering under the effect of the alcohol, her body must have been under pressure!

"Wakeeee!"

She said again, this time loud

She got up and walked in the direction of her restroom

And realized she's supposed to call Liam

She didn't want to be ungrateful or nonchalant

She could understand why he was so cold before she left the house

Such attitude for delivering a package to my doorstep!

"Sweet" she uttered not sure if she meant it

She turned back to grab her phone

Dialed his number, held it close to her ear

The phone rang and then it went silent as someone picked up.

"Hi Liam,

A moment of silence followed by a deep breath as if the person on the other end was preparing to speak

"Who's this?" A woman's voice, clear and crisp broke through the static of the phone line.

" Who are you?" she asked calmly with no emotion in her tone

"Ava Smith, Liam's girlfriend, and you are?" Came the voice.

Lara hung up.

LIAM'S APARTMENT

"Liam!" Came Ava's voice as she dropped the call

"Babeee" he responded from the bedroom she walked to him

"Who's Lara?"She asked with all seriousness, her eyes fixed on his. He was lying on the bed, his phone in one hand.

He had called to the office, that he'd be unavailable. His girlfriend was over at his place, he didn't want to leave her all alone in the house.

"Friend"

"A friend?, okay why did she hang up right after I told her I was your girlfriend!?" Her face flushed with rage and her voice shaking

"Babe she's just a friend trust me." He said calmly to her

Rising to pull her to himself

She stared like she was going to cry.

She let him lay her on the bed,

She didn't want to think about Lara.

He held her close and kissed her forehead

The kisses pierced her head making her forget how silent Lara was when when she announced who she was.

She closed her eyes allowing the devil to engulf her

"I love you, baby," she said to him almost mumbling

She shifted from her sitting position, leaning slightly forward as she wrapped her arms around him, pulling him closer. They both settled into a more comfortable position, with her resting her head on his shoulder,

"I love you more babe," he said despite being nestled in the cuddle, his mind drifted to Lara.

He had ordered the package and sent it while she was still asleep

How can he explain that he loves his girlfriend after sending a package to another woman?

She had not suspected that Lara was coming from his apartment, cause she came right after Lara left.

If someone had walked to him and asked him why he was after Lara meanwhile he had a girlfriend

He would say to the person that she's smooth and flawless, her skin like an emoji, her brown eyes hold a captivating depth, and her body is sexy every time you look at her.

He'd give anything to be with her, he had not touched her while she was at his place cause he respected her and wanted to make sure she felt comfortable.

He was traveling with another woman in thought in the arms of his girlfriend

He shook off his reverie and realized how serene his girlfriend looked in his arms.

He realized how in love he was with her

She had fallen asleep due to his cozy cuddles

He had dated her cause she was real and not like the other girls he had known in school.

She's respectful, responsible and Godfearing, his parents would never want him to leave her for any girl

He's been dating her since she was in medical school.

They took it that since she was studying medicine she wouldn't have time to gallivant and go to clubs like other girls on campus.

They were right the only time Ava was seen in a club was where friends' birthday parties.

He gently slid out from the embrace, leaving her on the bed, she didn't seem to notice

"How could she be in such deep sleep, she only just came around," he thought to himself

"Maybe school stress" he shrugged and walked out of the room to the fridge

Picked up a bowl of stir fry rice with vegetables and protein.

It was already in a microwave-safe container he placed it inside the microwave and pressed on power,

He could see the turntable spinning freely

The microwave beeped signaling the food was ready,

He slipped into the bedroom, the dish with a spoon on a tray, and gently coaxed his girlfriend awake the savory aroma of the meal served as the perfect alarm clock.

He figured that school stress had taken its toll and she couldn't fight the exhaustion

"Hey sleepyhead" he whispered delicately in her ears accompanied by a subtle nudge

Slowly she came to consciousness,

"You must be hungry" he carefully placed the food on her lap, wrapping her hand around the bowl she smiled as she inhaled the savory aroma.

"I'll get water" he left the room to the fridge

He grabbed a cold bottle of water,

A thought struck him "How am I going to see her again? She might never want to see me

Lara.." lost in thought

As he stood with water in his hand, the sound of his girlfriend coughing drifted from the bedroom, prompting him to immediately stop what he was thinking

"I'm coming baby, I'm sorry" he shouted as he ran to give her the water

Did she hear his thoughts or did he say it out loud and didn't realize?