“I’m clean, too,” I feel the need to tell him.
He finishes cleaning me up and then takes the cloth back to the bathroom. He comes back, and he just stands at the end of the bed, staring down at me.
“Do you want to talk about what just happened at the bar with Jeremy?”
I see his eyes close off to me. “No.”
“Are you sure? Because you were really upset, and—”
“Do you want to talk about your family?” he cuts me off. His voice is like a blade.
Tears instantly sting the backs of my eyes.
“No,” I say in a small voice, shaking my head.
His hands curl around my ankles, and he yanks me down the bed. “Neither of us wants to talk, and I know I sure as hell want to forget. Do you want to forget, Taylor?”
“Yes,” my voice whispers into the darkness.
“Then, let’s forget together.” He climbs up onto the bed over me, kneeing my legs apart. He grabs my hands and pins them to the bed above my head.
Without another word, he thrusts his cock deep inside me, and then he starts fucking me like it’s all he knows…like I’m all he needs.
And he spends the rest of the night buried deep inside me, making sure the only thing I remember…the only thing I know…is him.
I blink my heavy eyes open to the bright sunshine and the sound of Liam banging around in the kitchen.
I grab the alarm clock from his nightstand, checking the time. Ten thirty.
We didn’t get to sleep until late. Or early.
Liam had a lot of anger to fuck out, and I was more than willing to be his companion in his endeavor.
He was angry last night though.
But hot. God, was he hot.
I giggle at the thought of what we did in the taxi. And the elevator. And in his bed.
The stamina he has…it’s inspiring.
I stretch out my aching limbs. My muscles are deliciously sore from all the sex with Liam.
Then, my bladder tells me that it’s time to get up. I kick the covers back and head to the bathroom.
When I’m done in the bathroom, I pick up Liam’s shirt from last night off the floor and put it on. I’m sans panties, considering he wrecked them last night. I don’t actually know what happened to my panties. I have visions of them still on the floor of the elevator, riding up and down all night.
I walk into the kitchen. Liam is at the stove, wearing only boxer shorts, and I get the distinct whiff of bacon frying. It makes my tummy rumble.
“Hey,” I say, padding into the kitchen toward him.
“Morning.” He smiles at me from over his shoulder.
I reach him, putting my hand on his warm back, sliding my other one around his waist. He leans his mouth down to mine, softly kissing me.
“You should have a shirt on.” I pat his stomach, nodding at the frying bacon.
“I’m hard-core, Boston.” He grins. “You hungry? I made eggs and bacon.”
“I’m starving,” I tell him.
“Take a seat.” He nods at the breakfast bar, which is set up with plates and cups and a pot of coffee.
I sit down and pour us each coffee while Liam serves up the eggs and bacon. He sits down opposite me and picks his coffee up.
In the light of day, I notice a roof terrace through the full-glass panel in the kitchen. “You have a roof terrace?”
“Yeah. We can sit out there to eat if you want? It’s a warm day.”
“Heights are not my friend. I’m happy to just sit here, from the safety of being inside, and admire the view.”
Liam chuckles and puts some bacon in his mouth. “What are your plans for today?” he asks me as he chews his bacon.
“I’m not sure. I’m not really a planner. I’m more a fly-by-my-pants kind of girl.”
I put some scrambled eggs in my mouth. They’re really good. Guy can really cook.
“Good because I’ve got something arranged for you for this afternoon. If that’s okay?”
“Depends on what it is. You’re not going to make me strip naked and walk around London, are you?”
“No.” He laughs.
Smiling, I eat some bacon. “So, what are you taking me to do?”
“It’s a surprise.”
“Okay,” I say, dubious. “But I’ve gotta say, I’m not a fan of surprises—you know, in case I don’t like it.”
He smiles. “You’ll like it. I promise.”
We eat the rest of our breakfast in amiable silence. When I’ve finished, I get up and take away my plate, and then I come back for Liam’s.
I pick up his empty plate and tell him, “I’ll need to go to the hotel to get changed—”
It hits me out of nowhere. The pain in my head is so severe that I can’t see. My vision blurs. The plate slips from my hand. It hits the floor and smashes. I can’t do anything but clutch my head and cry out in agony.
This is bad. The headaches are getting worse.
“Jesus, Taylor. Are you okay?” Liam’s voice sounds like he’s underwater.
Everything starts to fade to black.
I register my legs giving out right at the time he lifts me into his arms. He carries me over to the sofa in his living room.
“What’s wrong, babe?”
I can hear the worry clear in his voice.
“Head…ache,” I manage to get out.
“What can I do?”
“Tablets. My bag.”
I hear Liam leave me. I turn onto my side, curling into a ball. My hands clutch my head, my eyes squeezing tightly shut, as I will the pain to stop.
Not now. Not in front of Liam. Please.
“I got them.” He’s back. He sounds out of breath. “This was the only pill bottle I could find in your bag. I got water, too. How many do you take?”
“Two,” I whisper, everything sounding loud.
I hear him shake out two pills.
“Open up, sweetheart.”
I feel the pills pressing against my lips. I part my lips, and Liam drops the tablets into my mouth. Then, I feel a water bottle at my lips.
“Drink,” Liam tells me.
I let the water in my mouth and swallow down the tablets.
“Better?” he asks.
I murmur a sound, waiting for the pills to do their job.
Liam sits on the floor beside me, his hand gently stroking my hair.
The headache begins to subside after what feels like forever, but in reality, it’s probably only been five minutes.
“Hey,” Liam murmurs when I blink open my eyes. “You doing okay?”
“I’m better. Thanks.” I touch his hand still stroking my hair.
“Do you always get headaches that bad?”
I press my lips together. “Sometimes.”
“Is it because of the tumor you had when you were younger?”
I press my lips together and slowly nod my head.
I’m lying to him. It doesn’t make me feel good. But the alternative is telling him the truth, and I won’t do that.
“The tablets make it better?”
“Yes.”
“Good.”
“I broke your plate,” I say regretfully.
“Forget the plate, so long as you’re okay. That’s all that matters.”
I swallow past my lies and touch a hand to his face. “I’m okay.”
He turns his face into my hand, kissing my palm. “Did I…” He meets my eyes. “Did I overdo things with you last night?”
I give him a questioning look.
“The sex. You didn’t get much sleep last night.”
“It wasn’t that. I just…I get headaches sometimes. Nothing to worry about.”
He’s staring at me.
“The sex is amazing. I love the way you fuck me, Liam.”
His eyes darken with lust, and I know I’ve gotten him back to where he should be.
“I can’t believe I let you finger me in the back of a taxi.” I grin.
A smil
e teases the corner of his lips.
“Do you think we scarred the driver?” I ask.
“I think the guy probably went straight home and had a wank. I know I would have.” He leans in and brushes his lips over mine. “You, in the back of that taxi last night…riding my fingers—hottest fucking moment of my life.”
I let out a nervous giggle. “Surely not. I bet you’ve done way hotter things than that.”
Holding my gaze, he slowly shakes his head. “Nope. What we did last night was the hottest thing I’ve ever done.” He kisses me again, sucking on my lower lip. “You, Boston, are the most sexually adventurous woman I’ve ever known.”
I can’t tell him that I’m only that way because I have nothing left to lose, so I have nothing to fear. And I want to experience as much of everything that I can, even the things that scare me, before I go to my family.
So, I just smile and slide a hand down his bare chest, heading south, as a distraction for myself, but Liam catches my hand.
“But no fucking today, my Boston temptress, and I’m going to cancel our plans for this afternoon. You need to rest.”
“No.” I push myself up to sit. I hide the wince I feel at the ache that remains in my head. The ache no pills will ever take away.
“Yes,” he says in a firm voice.
“But I’m better, I promise.”
“You just flinched in pain from sitting up.”
Shit, I thought I hid that. Apparently not.
“You’re not better.”
“I am. That was just a little vertigo after lying down for so long.”
“Bullshit.” He gives me a disbelieving look.
“Hey…I’m not bullshitting. I want to go out. I want my surprise.”
He continues to stare at me.
“I’m fine now, Hunter. I promise. It was just a headache, and it’s gone. I’m all better.” I give him my best smile.
“I don’t know, Boston. That headache knocked you off your feet…”
“I’m fine.”
“What if it happens again when we’re out?”
“It won’t. And if I feel even the slightest twinge of a headache, I’ll tell you, and we can come home straightaway.”
He’s still staring at me.
“I flew all this way to come to England. I don’t want to spend it stuck inside.” I get to my knees and press my hands together in front of me. “Please,” I say in a soft begging voice. “I’m only here for a few weeks. I don’t want to waste my time. I want to be out with you, having fun.” I pout to finish it off.
He lets out a sigh. “Okay. But if you feel ill at any point—”
“Then, I’ll tell you. We can come home, and you can be my nurse.” I smile winningly.
“Fine. But I’m not wearing a nurse outfit, just so you know.”
“I wouldn’t dream of asking.”
Liam gets to his feet. Then, he leans down and picks me up, holding me in his arms.
“What are you doing?”
“Playing nurse before we go out.” He starts walking through the living room. “I’m gonna put you in the bath. Maybe wash your hair. Then, I’ll get you off with my hand while you suck my cock.”
A laugh escapes me. “I thought, a minute ago, I was too ill to go out. But, now, I’m okay to suck your cock?”
“Boston, you are always okay to suck my cock. All you have to do is ask, and I’ll whip him out for you. Anytime of the day, no matter where we are, just ask, and my cock is yours to do with as you please.”
“Gee, you’re so kind.” I giggle.
“I’m a philanthropist. Didn’t I tell you?” He grins as he pushes open the bathroom door with his foot and carries me inside.
Liam dropped me off at the hotel earlier and told me he’d be back to pick me up in an hour.
That hour gave me ample time to get ready for my surprise afternoon outing with him.
I don’t usually like surprises. I normally like to know what to expect. But something about Liam surprising me has me all excited. Butterflies-in-the-tummy excited.
The hour is almost up, and I’m ready and waiting for the main man to make an appearance.
I’ve got makeup on—light beige eye shadow and pale pink gloss on my lips. My pink hair speaks volumes nowadays, so the makeup definitely needs to be neutral so that I don’t look like a doll. Because it’s warm outside, I’ve opted to wear my denim shirtdress with a brown belt on the waist, and I’ve got my brown ankle boots on, which only have a small heel, as I don’t know if we’re going to be walking or not.
I’m looking good—well, for someone with a brain tumor, that is.
And that’s enough of the depressing shit.
But I did take some pain pills just in case another headache decides to attack, and my pills are also in my bag.
I don’t want the headaches to become a regular occurrence in front of Liam; otherwise, he’ll start to notice. He’s far from stupid.
But it’s going to be hard to hide them when I’m hardly away from him. I’ve seen him every day since he sat beside me on that plane.
And, now, I’m starting to wonder if seeing so much of Liam is a good idea.
I don’t need to be getting too close to anyone. Or to let anyone get close to me. Close equals attachment, which means complications.
I don’t need complications.
But then Liam isn’t exactly a complicated guy, and I can’t imagine him getting attached to anyone.
We both know where we stand. Two weeks, and then we’re done.
Liam will go back to his life, and I’ll go back to…well, I’ll just go, and Liam will be none the wiser.
He’ll never know what became of me. I’ll just be a fond memory—that American girl he once spent two weeks with.
And for me…he’ll be the last good thing I had.
My cell phone starts to ring on the nightstand.
Liam and I exchanged numbers earlier. As many times as we’d slept together, it was weird that we didn’t have each other’s cell numbers.
“Yes, Mr. Hunter?” I say on a smile.
“Are you ready?”
“I am.” I brush my hand down my dress.
“Good. Come down. I’m waiting outside the hotel for you.”
“I’ll be down in a few.”
I pick up my cardigan in case it gets cold later and put it along with my cell in my bag. I check to make sure I have my wallet. Then, I hang my bag on my shoulder. I grab my room key on the way out and let the door lock behind me.
I don’t have to wait long for an elevator. I ride the four floors down, excited to see Liam, which is crazy because I saw him only an hour ago.
But still, I have flutters in my tummy at the thought of seeing him again.
It’s going to suck when it comes time for me to leave him.
I push through the door of the hotel, stepping out into the lovely sunshine. And I see Liam standing by a…bus.
Smiling, he walks over to me. He looks gorgeous. He’s wearing dark blue jeans and a black polo shirt. His wavy hair is parted down the side and slicked back. He looks hot. So very hot.
“Hey.” He hooks an arm around my waist and kisses me.
He tastes delicious, like mint and coffee.
“Hey.” I smile at him.
“You look beautiful.”
“You’re looking pretty good yourself.” I smile at him.
“I know.” He smirks. “Your chariot awaits you, madam.” He steps to the side, waving his arm out in the direction of the bus.
“We’re going on a bus?” I stare up at him.
“We’re going on a tour bus. I’ve hired it to take us around to the sights of London. I thought it was time you got to see some of my great city.”
“Really?” I beam at him.
I’m going to see the city where my mother grew up in the comfort of my very own bus. It doesn’t get better than this.
“Really.” He smiles down at me, a soft look in his eyes.
&nb
sp; “You’re the best!” I throw my arms around his neck and slap a kiss to his cheek.
Then, I let go of him and skip my way over to the bus.
The doors are already open. The driver is sitting in his seat, waiting for us to board.
“Hi.” I smile at him.
“Good afternoon. I’m Derek, your driver for the next few hours.” He smiles at me.
“Nice to meet you, Derek. I’m Taylor.”
I don’t think he actually cares about my name, but I always feel the need to introduce myself when people tell me their names.
I feel Liam’s hand on my lower back. I turn to him.
“So, where do we sit?” I ask.
“Upstairs. It’s an open top, so you can see everything London has to offer.”
A frisson of excitement passes through me. “We really have the whole bus to ourselves?” I ask as I walk toward the stairs.
“We really do.”
I stop, my foot on the first step. “You’re awesome.” I grin at him.
“I know.” He gives my ass a slap. “Now, hurry up and get your hot arse up the stairs, so we can get this show on the road.”
I quickly make my way up the stairs.
When I reach the top, I look around. “Where should we sit?” I ask him.
He stands behind me, his hands resting on my hips. “Front seat. Best in the house.”
I tilt my head back against his chest, looking up at his smiling handsome face.
“Thank you for this,” I say softly. “It’s really great.”
His fingers stroke down my cheek, his touch featherlight. “You’re only here for two weeks. I want every day to be great for you.” He leans his face down to mine, gently pressing his lips to mine.
“Mr. Hunter, Miss Taylor, I’ll be setting off in a few minutes. Make sure to take your seats.” Derek’s voice comes over the intercom.
“Guess we’d better take our seats,” I whisper to Liam.
He gives me another quick kiss, and then I release myself from his touch, walking to the front of the bus.
A big smile spreads across my face when I see what’s sitting on the front seat. “They’ve provided a picnic as well.”
There’s a picnic basket and a tartan blanket folded up beside it, sitting on the seat.
His hands touch my shoulders. “I brought the picnic,” he says.
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