Unsung (23 page)

And as if the universe was
finally
on her side, his voice filled her car making her warm in an instant.

“I firmly believe that it's the things you have to fight for that are worth the most. The struggle makes it
more
in the end.”

It took her a second to realize
how
hearing his voice was a possibility—her brain was just that frazzled—but he was talking to her through the radio. Well, not to
her
exactly, but to the DJ who was interviewing him.

It was the country station she always listened to on her satellite radio. Nellie Westin did the morning show and she interviewed musicians all the time, getting them to do a live performance at the end. They'd usually replay segments of the interviews throughout the day and week.

Harper had no idea Liam was supposed to be on it.

“More what?” Nellie's northern accent came through the speakers. She was born and raised in Detroit, which was actually where her show was broadcast. Liam had been there two days ago.

“More
everything
. In my experiences, the greatest things in my life have not come easily.”

“This is the theme of your newest album, which will be available in a few months if I'm not mistaken?”

“Yes, ma'am,
Unsteady Ground
will be out the last Tuesday in October.”

Always the southern gentleman. Harper's mouth split into the first genuine smile she'd had since going into work that morning.

“Ladies and gentlemen, I just got ma'amed by someone who's about two seconds older than me. You southern boys sure are polite.”

“Sometimes. Depends on the day.” A low laugh escaped his lips and Harper would bet money on the fact that he had a slightly mischievous smile on that face of his.

“Well, I don't doubt that. Now don't let me get sidetracked here. Let's get back to this new album of yours. There's a song on
Unsteady Ground
that's already creating a lot of buzz. ‘Forever' hasn't been officially released yet, but you've been playing it at concerts and your fans are going crazy over it.”

Harper pulled into the parking lot in front of her apartment, putting the car in Park and turning the engine off. The radio was still running as she leaned back in her seat to listen to the last of the interview.

“Yeah,” Liam continued. “It's a different song than anything else I've done.”

Harper could just see him sitting there in the studio, those massive headphones on his ears while he reached up and ran his hand across the back of his neck.

“It's a love song isn't it?”

“It is. And a ballad, two things I've never really delved into before…or at least not successfully. But this song was one of those
stars align
moments.”

“And how exactly was that?” Nellie asked.

“I found the right muse…the
perfect
muse actually.”

And this was the part where Harper stopped breathing.

“Would I be correct in guessing that this song is based off something that actually happened? Off an actual woman? Because I'm not going to lie, Liam, there are quite a few fans out there, besides myself, who are more than curious.”

“‘Forever'
is
based off true events,” he confirmed.

Harper still hadn't taken a single breath.

“And I wrote the song within twelve hours of meeting her. It was the fastest I've ever gotten anything out on the paper. And it's the clearest melody I've ever heard in my head.”

“Are you willing to confirm the fact that you did fall in love at first sight. That the song is true?”

Wait? What did she just ask?
Harper's hands were wrapped around the steering wheel in a death grip. Her fingers going white against the black.

“I uhhh…you're really going to put me in the hot spot today aren't you?”

“It's kind of what I like to do. Also, you're totally blushing right now.”

“I have no doubt about that. I'm not going to answer that one, though. Not because I don't know the answer, but because I haven't exactly had that conversation with the woman in question. The first time I say it, I want to say it to her.”

Okay…okay…what was going on? What was
even
happening? He…he was in love with her?

“Oh my
gawd.
I wish you guys could see him right now. He's positively smitten. Though I think the cat's out of the bag on that last question. So it's a safe guess that she's still in your life.”

“She is,” Liam answered. “We spent the Fourth together. I got to meet her friends and family and she met mine.”

“So it's serious?”

Another low laugh filled Harper's car, giving her goose bumps for entirely different reasons than earlier. “Yeah, it's safe to say that it's pretty serious.”

He could say that again.

“Can we get her name?”

“Not today. But I'm certain who she is won't be a secret for that much longer.”

“And why's that?”

“Because if I have anything to say about it, she isn't going anywhere.”

“A man who knows what he wants…or in this case
who
he wants. Got to love that. Well, you guys might not get to know the name of the girl behind the song, but you will get to hear the song. Our Twitter and Facebook followers are chomping at the bit. So while Liam gets his guitar ready, I'm going to repeat the facts that all of you need to know. He's still going to be on tour for the next couple of months opening for Isaac Hunter, so get your tickets while you can. ‘Forever' will be released for purchase next week, and the entirety of
Unsteady Ground
will be out the last week of October. I've had the privilege of listening to it all the way through; it's your best yet, Liam.”

“Thank you,” Liam said, the humbleness beyond obvious to her.

“I only speak the truth, and without further ado, this is ‘Forever.'”

Liam's fingers ran across the strings, the first chords of the song flowing through the speakers.

Harper knew the song instantly. Knew it before a single word left his mouth. It was the same song she'd heard all those months ago…in a cabin…in Tennessee.

“Love at first sight was something I'd never seen.”

She closed her eyes, sinking back into the seat, her heart pounding erratically out of her chest.

“But you walked in and became every single one of my dreams. Violet eyes and the lips of a goddess. I knew I'd want more than just one kiss.”

Violet eyes.

“A day, a week, a month, a year. It would never be enough. I want forever, honey. Forever with you.”

Yes, she'd heard that part of the song already…but it was different now. So much different. It was how he sang
honey,
like it was her name. It was as if he could taste it on his tongue…taste
her
on his tongue.

“A million simple things that aren't so simple at all. Your hand in mine. The taste of your tongue. Your head on my chest. You stealing my heart.”

It was then that she realized she was crying. The tears streaming down her face. Well, at least it was a better reason than a tire commercial. God, it was
every
reason. All the reasons.

He'd written a song about her. It was unreal.

The chorus repeated twice,
“A day, a week, a month, a year…”

But it was the very end of the song that really did her in. The end of the song that had her sobbing.

“You were something I never knew I always wanted. Something I never knew I always needed. And now that I know, I can't let go. I need forever, honey. Forever with you.”

He finished up with the last chords, and his fingers strumming the strings of his guitar could've very well been moving across her skin. That was how much she felt the song. Felt his words. Felt him.

I need forever, honey.

Need.
That last verse…it was…God, it was everything.

She reached forward, shutting the radio off. It was the end of his interview, and if it wasn't his voice she was listening to, she didn't want to hear it. Instead she sat there in that parking lot, the rain pinging off the roof as she replayed the song in her head. Kept those words—
his
words—running on repeat.

He'd fallen in love with her from the very start…well, that's what she believed based off what she'd heard in the last ten minutes. But she wanted to hear it from his mouth.
Needed
to hear it.

She jumped as her phone went off in the cup holder next to her. She looked over to see a picture of Liam laughing lighting up the screen. Her hand shook as she reached over and grabbed it, her thumb sliding across to answer it.

“Hey,” she barely whispered past her constricted throat.

“Harper, what's wrong?”

One word. One teeny-tiny three-letter word and he knew something was up in an instant. The concern in his voice wrapped around her and she closed her eyes, trying to find the ability to talk without losing it again.

All she was able to do was sniffle.

“Honey, please talk to me. What's wrong?” he asked again.

“Nothing's wrong.” She reached up, running her fingers under her eyes for what she was sure was the billionth time that night. “I just heard your interview on Daybreak with Nellie Weston…and the song. I heard ‘Forever.'”

A rush of his breath blew out across the speaker, and if she didn't know any better she'd swear she could feel it across her neck. She could just picture him, standing there, his head bowed as he ran his hand through his hair.

“Where are you?” The moment the question was out of his mouth, lightning cracked the sky in half and the thunder followed within an instant, echoing around her…and in the phone next to her ear. A second later she heard Luna barking madly through the speaker, too.

“No way,” she whispered.

“Get up here.”

Her phone was in her purse immediately, most likely still connected to the call. She didn't know. She didn't care. She wrenched her keys from the ignition, dropping them into her purse, too, before she opened the door. She shut the door behind her and ran for the building.

The moment she got beneath the overhang she slowed, being careful on the stairs. As her head cleared the landing for her floor, she saw Liam at the door to her apartment. She walked straight into his outstretched arms and he pulled her inside, not letting go of her as he shut the door and locked it behind them.

T
here was a slight moment of chaos as the air around them was ripped open with another clap of thunder. The walls of the apartment shook as the sky behind the closed blinds lit up again. Luna hightailed it out of the room, most likely going to burrow in the dog blankets on her little bed.

She was over this whole storm thing.

Liam wrapped his arms around Harper, pulling her fully into his chest and pressing his face to her sopping-wet hair. He didn't care that her clothes were drenching his. All he cared about was the fact that she was in his arms.

“You're here,” she whispered, holding on to him just as tight.

“I'm here.” He nodded before he pulled back and looked down into her beautiful face, the face of the woman he loved. Wet hair clung to her cheek and he reached up, pushing it away. “So you heard the interview…and ‘Forever'?”

“I did.” She pulled her bottom lip between her teeth before she let it fall free. “Why didn't you tell me when you were here before?”

“Because, that song…Harper, I meant every word of it when I wrote it in May. And I still mean every word of it now. I wasn't sure if you were ready to hear it. But I knew I couldn't wait anymore.” He shook his head, letting out a huff of frustration. “What is it with us and timing anyway? Ten minutes…I would've been able to tell you myself in ten
damn
minutes.”

“Tell me now. You still haven't exactly said it you know.”

“Haven't said what? That I'm in love with you? Have loved you from the second I saw you? I haven't said that?”

Her mouth split into the most perfect smile as she stretched up and pressed her mouth to his. And then she pulled back, reaching up and touching his jaw, her fingers rasping his beard.

“Love at first sight, huh?”

“Without a doubt.” He nodded, leaning into her touch.

“For me it was at first sound. I knew it when you sang ‘Forever' to me the first time.”

Good Lord his heart was pounding erratically out of his chest. “What was at first sound? You still haven't exactly said it you know.” He couldn't help but mimic her words from only moments before.

“I fell in love with you, Liam James. And I'm still in love with you.”

He moved in close, his lips brushing hers. “Promise?”

“I swear.”

And just like that his mouth was covering hers, parting her lips and his tongue delving inside. He needed her closer. He
always
needed her closer.

She shivered against him, no doubt the air conditioner getting to be too much with the fact that she was still soaking wet.

“I need to get you out of these wet clothes.” He skimmed his nose across her jaw as he pulled her farther into the room and away from the steady stream of cold air coming from the vent above them.

“You just want to get me naked.”

A low laugh escaped his mouth, his lips brushing her cheek. “I always want to get you naked.”

He loosened his arms from their hold around her waist, his hands dropping as he moved back a little. He couldn't stop himself from taking just a second to look at her, those wet clothes plastered to her body. She was a sight to be seen, that was for sure, but it wasn't worth her being uncomfortable.

Not even a little bit. So he reached for the hem of her soaked shirt and pulled up.

“Windows,” she said, looking around.

“All closed.” He tugged again and she lifted her arms without hesitation.

She sucked in a sharp breath as the fabric left her skin. Her nipples were erect, clearly visible through the white cotton of her bra. He reached back, unsnapping the clasp and pulling it away from her body.

The only light in the room was coming from a side table lamp; the overcast sky outside wasn't helping with visuals at all, either. But even with the poor lighting, Liam had known the differences in Harper's body the second he'd seen her coming across the balcony. There was also the fact that he'd had her pressed up against him for the last couple of minutes, and he'd noticed them then as well.

It was hard for him to believe it had only been two weeks since he'd seen her. Maybe the changes weren't as obvious to someone else, but as he was intimately familiar with her body, they were apparent to him immediately. The slight curve of her belly was just a little bit more pronounced, her hips wider, and her breasts larger.

They'd gone up at least a size and his fingers itched to weigh them in his palm. He reached up tentatively, his thumb brushing over her nipple. Her entire body shuddered, but this time he knew it wasn't because she was cold.

“They don't hurt so much anymore,” she said as she covered his hand with hers and squeezed. Her eyes closed in pleasure, her head falling back on her shoulders as he covered her other breast with his palm and squeezed both of them in unison.

“God I've missed my hands on you.”

“Me too.”

“And my mouth.” He kissed her neck before he trailed his lips down her chest and laved his tongue across one of her nipples, needing to taste her.

Harper's moans filled the room, her hands finding their way to his hair like they always did. He shared equal admiration to her other breast—he was just considerate like that—before he worked his way down her body until he was kneeling in front of her. Now level with her belly, he leaned forward, kissing her baby bump.

God, every time he thought about the full scope of what they created he couldn't be anything besides ecstatic.

This child was a miracle.

He looked up at her, that constricted feeling in his throat making it hard to speak, but he said it anyway. “I love you, Harper. I love you so much. And I don't regret how we started, or anything that has to do with this baby.” He ran his palm across her belly. “And I never will.”

“I don't, either.” She shook her head, tears falling from her eyes.

He pressed another kiss to her stomach, right next to her belly button. And then he reached for the snap of her jeans before he pulled down the zipper. It took him a second to shimmy the wet fabric down her legs, but he managed, pulling them along with her panties down. He pulled her flats from her feet before he freed her legs entirely.

The need to be inside of her was slightly overwhelming him…or
really
overwhelming him. He stood up, reaching behind his back and grabbing the neck of his T-shirt before he pulled it over his head. The button and zipper of his jeans were already opened, Harper's hands there before he had a chance.

The second his legs were bare—his jeans, boxers, and socks in a pile on the floor—he pulled her over to the couch, sitting down while she crawled up onto his lap. Her knees sunk into the cushions on either side of his thighs, her hands braced on his shoulders as she lifted up and lowered herself down onto his waiting cock.

“Oh God,” she groaned as she lifted up and sank back down.

Liam on the other hand was left momentarily speechless because everything about the moment was perfection. It was heaven.
She
was heaven. Her warm body wrapped around him, her hands on his chest, her sighs of pleasure filling his ears, her glorious tits bouncing in his face as she moved.

Speaking of glorious tits…his hands landed on her hips, his fingers digging into her flesh as he leaned forward, opening his mouth over one.

“Liam,” she gasped, her fingernails scoring his skin.

“Right here.” He placed opened-mouth kisses across her chest—letting his lips linger at the amethyst pendant he gave her—as he made his way to the lotus flower tattoo under her shoulder.

She continued to move, rising up and circling her hips before she fell back down against him. The back of her thighs hit the top of his as he pushed up into her over and over again. His release was imminent, building at the base of his spine, but she needed to get there first. He wanted her pulsing around him when he found it. Wanted her going wild above him.

Lightning struck again just as Liam looked up at Harper. The flash of brilliant white filled the room, lighting up everything. Her skin and eyes glowed, making her look ethereal.

So beautiful and she was his. The love of his life. Now and forever. He'd yet to fully wrap his mind around the conversation they'd just had. He wasn't sure if he ever would. Harper loving him back was something
beyond
everything. Something other-worldly.

Yeah he
really
wasn't going to last much longer.

“Touch me.” She pulled one of his hands from her hip, moving it between her thighs. His fingers found her clit, circling over the spot and finding a rhythm of pressure that had her hips moving faster. “Harder,” she demanded.

Not one to deny the woman what she wanted, he increased the pressure. He'd never be able to deny her anything ever again. Because she owned him in every way.

Her head fell back onto her shoulders, screaming toward the ceiling as she cried out. The second her body started to tighten around his cock, his orgasm slammed into him like a freight train. Full steam ahead and nothing to stop it.

They fell apart in each other's arms, Harper's mouth landing on his. Her tongue moving against his as her hips slowed. She was still pulsing around him, wringing out every last drop of his release.

Her mouth disappeared from his as she collapsed against him, her head resting on his shoulder. He pulled his hand from between their bodies, grabbing her hip again as the other moved up and down her back, his fingers tracing her spine.

Her skin was damp, sweaty from their bodies moving together and from her hair that was still dripping wet. She shivered, snuggling into his chest and seeking his body heat. He spotted a blanket on the cushion next to them and snatched it up, wrapping it around her shoulders.

“Come on, let's get you warm and dry.” He shifted on the couch, pulling from her body before he stood. Getting her in a hot shower would've been the best option, but as the sky was still lighting up every few minutes, that wasn't going to happen.

Her legs banded around his waist, her arms tightening around his neck as she held on to him. He headed for the bathroom, setting her down on the counter before flipping the switch on the wall.

They both blinked in the light, Harper taking just a little bit longer to adjust than him. He reached to the side, turning on the faucet in the sink so the water would heat up.

“Don't move.”

“Couldn't even if I wanted to.” She shook her head, giving him a sleepy smile.

He leaned in, giving her a kiss on the nose before he pulled away, disentangling himself from her legs and stepping out into the hallway. He grabbed a pink washcloth and a fluffy blue towel from the linen closet before he went back to Harper in the bathroom. The water jetting out of the sink was starting to steam and he stuck his hand underneath, gauging the temperature before submerging the washcloth. He rang it out, lifting the folds of the blanket still wrapped around Harper.

He touched her knee, pushing her legs apart so he could run the warm cloth up the inside of both of her legs, taking special care in the middle. When he was done getting her cleaned up, he tossed the cloth in the hamper before stationing himself between her still spread thighs.

He reached for the tie at the back of her head and with gentle fingers he slowly worked it down her wet hair. When it was free, he grabbed the fluffy blue towel, and soaked up as much of the water as he could. And then he was spearing his fingers in her hair, loosening the strands and massaging the pads of his fingers against her scalp.

Her eyes fell shut almost instantly and she groaned. “God, that feels good.”

She melted against him, her head falling on his shoulder as he continued to work her over. She was practically purring after a few minutes. “I think I'm going to fall asleep just like this.”

“Did I exhaust you with our sexual acrobatics out there?”

“That and I haven't been sleeping all that well. I can't lie on my stomach anymore and it's hard for me to get comfortable. And…I don't like you not being next to me.”

His ministrations paused for just a second, more than slightly taken aback by her words. “I don't like it when you aren't next to me, either.”

One of her hands palmed the back of his neck, her fingers moving against the very base of his hairline. Her head moved from where it rested on his shoulder and she pressed her lips to his jaw.

“I love you,” she whispered between steady breaths, her exhales hitting his skin. And then she moved her head up, looking into his face. “Earlier…you said you had no regrets in regards to the baby.”

He dropped his hands, one bracing her hip while the other ran across her stomach. “I don't.”

Her eyes had followed the path of his hand, watching as his palm moved back and forth. “And what about with us?”

“What do you mean?”

“Do you have regrets when it comes to us?” she asked again, still not looking at him.

“Harper.” He reached up, touching her chin and gently forcing her gaze up. “Why are you asking this?”

“I shouldn't have run from you. I shouldn't have left you in May.” Her voice caught on the last word and the pain in her eyes was bleeding into his heart. “I hate that we missed time because of me.” Tears ran down her cheeks when she blinked. She shook her head, closing her eyes.

“Hey,” he whispered. His hand at her hip slid around to the small of her back and he moved in closer. “Look at me,” he demanded firmly, and her eyes opened immediately. “Harper, you can't play this game. Everyone makes mistakes, honey. Everyone has those moments they want to take back.”

“I know that…I…” She blinked again, more tears falling from her eyes. “I ran because I knew. I knew I was in love with you then and I didn't know how to deal with it. I told you before…Liam, forty-eight hours in and you had the power to destroy me. I was
terrified.
”