by T. C. Clark
Irene touched her warm cheeks. “Mel…”
“Admit it; you’re a little pissed because he’s not putting out.”
Irene chuckled; if she was honest, Mel’s blunt words held some truth to them.
“I’m not mad at you. I’ve seen Liam, and I get it. But clearly, he wants more than sex with you, why don’t you give him a real chance? He isn’t a bad guy.”
Irene sighed; it wasn’t that simple. “You don’t get it, Mel.”
“Then make me get it.”
“I made a huge mistake a long time ago, and it’s haunted me. I can’t be in the public eye. Trust me, it will get bad, and I don’t want to do anything to jeopardize Liam’s career.”
Mel was quiet for a moment. Irene knew she was thinking about the time right after she’d first come home. Irene had been an emotional wreck, and she hadn’t been able to talk about it. Mel had respected her need to stay quiet.
“What happened to you, Irene? And this time, don’t pretend like everything is fine. We both know it’s not. I know your ex broke your heart, but obviously, something else happened as well.”
Irene sighed; she couldn’t put this conversation off for much longer. “I should have talked to you about this a long time ago, and I will, but not on your honeymoon. You only get one of those. I’ll figure out how to deal with Liam in time on my own.”
Mel exhaled, “Fine, but once I make it back to Louisiana, you and I are going to have a long talk, and for once, you are going to tell me everything that happened in Europe.”
Irene agreed. It was time to tell Mel about her past. She should have talked about this earlier; if she had, maybe it wouldn’t have taken her so long to get over it. “I promise, when you get back here, I’ll tell you everything.”
“Either way, there is a simple and effective solution for dealing with Liam.”
“And what is that?”
“Look, I know you’ve been out of the game for a while. But men are still just men. I’m sure if you put your mind to it, you could very easily seduce him.”
Of course, why hadn’t she thought of that? She kept waiting on Liam to make the first move. “Seduction sounds good right about now.”
“Yep, it’s what men have been doing for ages now, and trust me; it’s much easier for us. Honestly, all we have to do is take off our clothes and bam, the man is seduced.”
“I think you’re right. I’ve been waiting on Liam to set the pace for this relationship, and it’s time for me to take back control.”
“That’s my girl. Let me know what happens and promise me you’ll keep an open mind with Liam. I think he’s a good man, and you deserve a good man, remember that. Don’t let your past disrupt your future, okay?”
“Okay, thanks for the pep talk, Mel. I knew you would know just what to say to me.”
Irene hung up the phone, and Liam looked up from his conversation. He smiled at her, and her womb reacted. There was a wealth of promise in his eyes. She wondered if he understood just how deeply he affected her with just a smile.
Irene shook her head to clear the unfamiliar feelings. She couldn’t focus on that; she needed to take back control in this relationship. Liam thought he could change her mind with time, but she knew better.
There was an expiration date on their relationship, and that increased her desire for him. She wanted to be with Liam in all ways, right now, while they had time. That meant it was time for her to turn on the heat and show him exactly what he was missing.
Liam Campbell better get ready because he was going to get a different kind of woman tonight.
* * *
Liam knew he was in trouble the second Irene opened the door. Maybe it was the skintight dress or maybe it was the mysterious smile hovering at the edge of her lips, but he knew she meant business tonight.
It had taken all of his will power to walk away from her these last few nights. She’d given him all the right signals to indicate she was ready to take their relationship to the next level.
The problem was he knew she didn’t see them surviving as a couple, but he knew better. Every date gave him a clearer picture of Irene. She was a reserved woman with a mostly quiet nature, worlds away from the women he’d dated before. But he liked that about her.
Irene was clearly on a mission tonight, and that meant he needed to watch his back. Something in the depths of Irene’s dark eyes made it clear that she was done waiting on him to make the next move.
Irene took a moment to examine him, and his body responded to the frank interest in her eyes. Damn, how was he supposed to ignore her need when it matched his own?
“So, where are we going tonight?” he asked as he stepped into her apartment.
Liam’s eyes followed Irene’s curves until she disappeared into the kitchen. He adjusted himself in his fitted slacks and sighed. Tonight was going to be difficult for him.
Liam looked around her living room and smiled. Every part of Irene’s place displayed her personality in some way. Medical pictures covered her wall, and the centerpiece was a poster-size version of the chemical table. Even her new coffee table had chemical elements engraved into the wood.
“I thought we’d stay in,” she yelled from the kitchen.
Liam shook his head. Staying inside with Irene would be a mistake. “What about trying the new Italian place on the corner? I hear they have great desserts.”
“I have something else planned.”
He followed her voice into the kitchen and stopped. He was so distracted by how sexy she was in her dress that he hadn’t noticed the smells wafting through the room.
“What is all this?” Liam smiled when he recognized some of the dishes on her table.
“I called Cole and asked him what you like, and he told me about this potato and lamb stew recipe. Dinner is my attempt at recreating your favorite Scottish dish. I did make it vegetarian, but it came out pretty good.”
Irene sounded hopeful, and that endeared her even more to him. She held her breath as he tasted her food.
She must have worked hard on this. “Damn, that’s good. What did you use in place of the lamb?”
“Marinated tofu.”
“Well, this is fantastic, Irene. The tofu tastes just like lamb.“
“Really!?” Her brown skin darkened from the praise.
“Really, and you know I don’t say that lightly. I hate tofu. So, after we eat, what else are we doing tonight?”
“Well, I have us down for finishing this stew, having dessert, and then making love until the morning. I feel like if we get through this dish relatively fast, we should stay right on schedule.”
“Irene…”
“Stop, Liam. I know you want to wait for me to come to my senses or whatever. But I want you now, and I don’t think time is going to change anything.”
“How do you know that?”
“My issues with us as a couple aren’t a whim. Those worries were created from real situations in my life. I know me. Whatever this is between us will burn out eventually. But I would like to experience it for myself. Running from pain has never stopped it from happening. So, let’s stop waiting and see what happens.”
“I’m not giving up on us,” Liam said as he put his spoon down and wiped his mouth with a crisp linen napkin. “But I’m a man who knows how to give my woman what she needs and what I hear right now is you need me.”
Liam stood up, grabbed their plates, and placed them in the sink.
“You won’t change my mind,” Irene said softly as she stood.
Her eyes locked on his lips, and he knew what needed to happen next.
“We’ll see about that,” Liam murmured as he took her mouth. His hands pulled her in close as he tasted her lips.
She moaned as his fingers dug into her skin through the thin red dress. He forced her head back with the pressure from his lips, and she submitted to his hunger.
Her hands moved from his waist to wrap around his strong shoulders. He loved the way she touched him. Th
e tips of her fingers moved lightly over his skin as if in awe of his strength.
She made him feel things no one else ever had before. How was she able to turn him inside out by simply touching him? What gave this woman so much power over his senses, and how did he get that power back?
Liam picked Irene up and carried her to the bedroom. His hunger for her was heightened because of the weeks of denial. He wouldn’t last a moment inside of her.
He was contemplating this issue when he laid her down across her yellow velvet duvet. Her eyes closed as she pulled him down to cover her. Once his body touched hers, Irene took over the kiss.
Her fingers dug into the thick muscles of his back as she pushed her tongue deep. She tasted of his future. He would never get enough of that.
Liam let her set the pace because he knew that’s what she wanted. Each stroke of her tongue pushed him closer to the edge. He had to keep it together, and he needed her naked.
His hands went to the zipper of her dress, and she pushed them away. Irene sat back and kept her eyes locked on his. His cock jumped at the certainty he caught in her gaze.
“Take off the dress, Irene,” Liam commanded. He had no idea why it was vital that she stripped for him. He just knew he needed to see it happen.
“Take off the dress….” she said, willing him to find the right plea to make it happen.
“Take off the dress now!” he growled.
Irene gave him a mock shudder and stood up away from the bed. “Your wish is my command.”
She unzipped her dress slowly, and with each inch of brown skin revealed, Liam felt his self control slip.
When Irene finally stood naked in front of him, his cock swelled against his fitted slacks. He needed to be buried inside of her as quickly as possible.
“Damn, Irene, how am I supposed to last when your body looks like that? Are you trying to drive me crazy?”
“Who says you have to last? I recall that I said that we would be making love all night long. That means multiple tries. Just relax and let me have a little control.”
His eyes followed the sway of her breasts as she climbed back onto the bed. “Now it’s your turn; let’s see what’s under your clothes, Liam Campbell.”
She said the words confidently, and he responded in kind. “As you wish, my lady.”
Liam stood up and took off his clothes slowly. Irene watched him closely with open hunger on her face. When he was fully naked, she licked her lips.
His cock jumped at the action, and he moved to cover her. She laughed and used her strength to push him onto his back.
“This feels like déjà vu,” Liam muttered as he flipped over.
“Let’s see what you say tomorrow,” she whispered. Irene kissed her way down Liam’s body.
Each gentle kiss caused him to hiss. When Irene grabbed his cock and placed her mouth over the mushroom tip, Liam froze. This wasn’t the first time they’d done this.
Their night in Vegas had ensured they tried several things in the bedroom. Still, his body reacted as if this was new. His balls tightened, and his fists balled in the covers as she devoured his cock.
Each strong pull of her mouth made his toes curl and his body buck against the bed.
“Irene… I can’t keep this up,” he growled as she took him deeper into her throat.
She didn’t stop; if anything, she moved with more force. Her mouth was an instrument of torture, and it drew shouts from the back of his throat. Liam’s body shook, and he gave up the fight to maintain control.
His hands reached under her arms and pulled her up against his body. She laughed as she fell across his chest. “You have a short fuse,” Irene said. She lifted herself and straddled his body.
“As far as you are concerned, I do.”
Irene stopped laughing when he positioned the tip of his hardened cock at her entrance. There was no more foreplay necessary. She was wet and ready and didn’t want to wait.
He pulled her hips down as he thrust forward, and they both groaned from the action.
“Fuck, Irene. How is it like this every time?”
Liam’s hips lurched forward automatically, and the short, brutal thrusts made Irene gasp.
“Liam…” she whispered as she braced herself against his chest.
“I know, baby. Give me a second.” Liam forced his body to go still. Irene needed him to calm down.
Irene exhaled deeply and rocked on top of him. Her tight sheath clamped down on his cock until he had to grit his teeth to stay calm.
Irene closed her eyes as she picked up the pace. As soon as her sheath relaxed around him, he moved. She rode him hard, caught up in the pure pleasure of the moment.
“I’m so close…” Irene whispered. Her sheath quivered around him, and he reacted automatically.
Liam turned on his side, and Irene landed in the bed. The movement forced him deeper. He lifted her leg higher on his side as his hips pounded into hers.
The change in their position and the angle of his hips pushed her over the edge.
“Liam!” Irene gasped as her body convulsed around his. Her sheath clamped down and milked his cock. Her womb demanded its due, and Liam’s body jumped to obey it.
He lost control and pounded into her. He thrust until his body couldn’t hold back anymore. Fuck, every time with Irene was something else.
Liam yelled as he came. He filled her with his seed and ground his hips into hers until she’d received every drop. By the time it was over, he could barely move.
“We didn’t use protection,” he said quietly. The thought didn’t alarm him as much as it should. He would reflect on that later; now, he needed to know if he should be worried.
“I’m on the pill and disease-free,” she said softly.
“I am, too… disease-free, that is. I’m not on the pill; my body doesn’t agree with it.”
Irene grinned, and Liam’s cock swelled “Good. You know what this means?”
Liam loved the wicked smile on Irene’s face. “Tell me what it means.”
“How about I show you instead.” Irene leaned forward and kissed Liam softly on the lips.
Irene traced the lines of Liam’s face. He leaned into her touch. He knew she still thought they wouldn’t make it as a couple. But at least this was a start.
It would take some effort, but she was worth it. All good things were. With time, Irene James would be his and she would learn what he already knew—they were inevitable.
Six
Where there is a will, there is a way...
* * *
A few weeks, several dates, countless hours of lovemaking, and one pushy nephew later….
Irene looked out of the window of the airplane and sighed. Liam was sleeping peacefully by her side. His dark head resting against her shoulder.
How had she gotten into this mess? There was no denying Liam was a major part of her life, and to be honest, she didn’t want that to change. She’d waited for him to reveal something that she didn’t like, anything that would make it easier to walk away from him. But he was exactly as he seemed.
The last few weeks with him had revealed a different side of her nature. It was a part of herself that she’d buried soon after her breakup with Bryce. Apparently, he’d talked about her to his niece, and Ansley requested she come on their next uncle-niece date. The little girl really wanted her to meet little Ramsey.
At first, when he’d made the offer, she’d refused. They were moving too fast and Liam was slipping past all of the barriers she’d erected around her heart. But Deshaun and Mel had convinced her that this trip would be a good test.
To be fair, it hadn’t taken much to convince her. Irene didn’t want to be without Liam for even a few days. She didn’t examine that thought too closely for fear of what it could mean. Her budding relationship with Liam was terrifying and amazing all at the same time.
Irene thought about all the memories they’d created so far and shivered. Small goosebumps formed on her arms and she inhal
ed deeply.
“What’s wrong, baby?” His voice hoarse from sleep sent shivers up her spine. Damn, his voice alone could make her wet.
“I’m fine, just a little cold. Go back to sleep.”
She smiled when he lifted his head to kiss her lips. His lips were light on hers. For such a big man, his gentleness was always astounding to her.
He pulled the blanket higher up on her waist as he relaxed against her side. She placed her hand in his and they locked fingers; he immediately fell back to sleep.
She examined Liam’s relaxed expression. He was a magnificent specimen of a man. He was funny, sexy, and compassionate. Irene sighed; she couldn’t deny him anymore.
Whatever walls she’d built around her heart were slowly dissipating and there was nothing she could do about it. Irene was falling for Liam Campbell.
The news wouldn’t alarm a normal woman; after all, a man like Liam was worth it. But she wasn’t normal and she didn’t have an ordinary past. Irene knew the best thing she could do for him was walk away and yet she couldn’t bring herself to do that. Liam’s hand tightened on hers and she looked back at the gentle giant resting so serenely by her side.
No, she shouldn’t be here; still, she couldn’t bring herself to regret her time with Liam Campbell. Every minute with him was another memory for her to have later.
She would find a way to enjoy this trip, and once they returned to New Orleans, they would have a serious talk. Her feelings for Liam were growing fast, and she knew if she ignored them for much longer, in the end, it would be too late.
Irene sighed as the resolution formed in her mind. She had to be strong here. She cared for Liam, and she didn’t want him to experience even a fraction of the hate she’d received years ago.
No, this decision wouldn’t be easy. Tough decisions rarely were, but in the end, letting Liam go was necessary.
She would honor the part of herself that wanted the best for him, and somehow, she would find the strength to let him go.
* * *