I crawled into his lap, running my fingers through his hair as I massaged his head, hoping to relieve some more tension. He held his forehead against mine with his eyes closed. We remained silent. Just breathing.
He finally pulled away where I could study his face. I could tell he wanted to speak, but wasn’t sure what to say or maybe where to start. Maybe he truly wasn’t ready to tell me about them. And I was okay with that.
“You don’t have to talk about it,” I offered him an out.
“I want to. I want to tell you. It’s just not something I like to think about.”
“The picture…it’s of your parents?” I asked, trying to help lead the conversation for him.
He nodded.
“Are you close?”
“We were.”
“You’re not anymore?”
“As close as we can be.”
I looked at him confused. Unsure of what he meant by that. He took a deep breath. Exhaling before he continued.
“My family is dead. They died in a car crash on the interstate when I was ten.”
A single tear escaped from the corner of my eye and the rough pad of his thumb swept it away as it rolled down my cheek. “I’m sorry.”
“It’s okay, princess. It was a long time ago….”
“So your uncle took you in after that?” I tried to connect the dots.
“Not exactly.”
“What do you mean?”
He shook his head, and then tilted it back to rest on the back of the couch, closing his eyes for a moment. When he raised it back up to look at me he had a stony expression. “I don’t want to talk about this any further.”
As much as I wanted to push him to continue, I didn’t. It was obviously hard for him to tell me what he already had. “Okay,” I spoke softly, planting a small kiss on his lips. “Thank you for telling me.”
He pulled my head back to his, giving me a soft kiss, following it with another kiss and then another. Each kiss intensified until he was kissing me aggressively as if he was trying to lose himself in me. I didn’t mind. I wanted to be there for him. However he needed me.
He carried us to his bed where we got lost in each other for the rest of the night.
CHAPTER 9
“How did it go last night?” Lexie asked as she efficiently worked at making a couple of lattes for some customers.
“Good….Great, actually.” I turned, smiling at her after I finished ringing up the last customer in the long line of customers we had this morning. It had been a steady stream of crankiness. Everyone in desperate need of their caffeine fix. Despite their less than friendly attitudes, the happiness I was feeling couldn’t be ruined.
“I’m glad. You seem happier.”
“How about you? Did you spend all day and night with Jake?”
“No. He had plans with his friends last night. Guy stuff.”
“Sorry.”
“It’s fine. I was more than happy to miss out on watching them play video games. Plus, it gave me some ‘me time’ to veg out. We’re all going to the beach to camp out for Fourth of July. You should come. Bring Liam.”
“That sounds fun….but…”
“But what?”
“Will Caleb be there? That could get kind of awkward.”
She laughed. “I think Caleb has figured it out.”
“Really?”
“Yeah…Jake bluntly told him when he asked about you yesterday.”
“Oh. Well that makes me feel like a jerk. I should’ve probably told him myself.”
“Don’t beat yourself up over it.”
I wouldn’t. I knew Caleb was a player of sorts, but it never bothered me. I was never really interested in him beyond the physical.
“Do you think they would be okay if I invited all the guys from Derailed? I’m not sure if they will come, but-”
“Hell, yeah! Everyone likes them and likes bragging about hanging out with them.”
I shook my head as I laughed. “Okay. I’ll send Liam a text when it gets slow again,” I said, turning back to the newly forming line.
The rest of my double shift was long and exhausting. I, unfortunately, never had a chance to text Liam. By the time I got home and took a shower to wash away the coffee bean aroma, I was barely able to hold my eyes open.
I crawled into bed, ready to watch some TV and pass-out for the night. I settled under the covers and picked up my phone. I had a new text from Ava, asking me to join them for dinner this weekend at their place. I typed out my response.
V: Sure….mind if I bring a friend?
A: A friend? As in Lexie?
V: No… ;)
A: Have you been holding out on me?
V: Haha…maybe. It’s new.
A: Details?!?!
V: Lunch tomorrow? Don’t say anything to Rhett, yet….
A: RME…See you then!
I grinned, feeling giddy and excited to tell Ava about Liam. I knew I needed to get her on my side before introducing him to my overprotective brother. Rhett was not going to be easy on Liam. I just hoped he didn’t have Liam running away from me by the end of our dinner. I also hoped Liam would actually agree to have dinner with my family.
I navigated through my phone to my text conversation with him. He had been sending me texts all day on their drive. Texts that had me heated and missing him desperately. I opened the one I missed from when I was in the shower.
L: About to go on stage…it’s going to be hard to focus. All I want right now is for that wonderful mouth of yours to be on me.
I responded, even though I figured he was probably already on stage.
V: I’m sure you’ll be fine. You’ll have all those girls screaming your name. ;)
I sent my text as a joke. But if I was honest with myself, I was concerned about all the women that would be throwing themselves and their undergarments at him. His response came immediately.
L: Don’t joke about that shit, princess. The only woman I want is you. Going on stage. Call you soon.
I smiled sheepishly, setting my phone aside. I curled up in my blankets, snuggling into them as I watched TV, trying to stay awake for his call and ignore my insecurities.
I searched blindly for my phone that was ringing with the sound of Liam’s lyrical voice. I had downloaded one of my favorite songs of Derailed and set it as Liam’s ring tone. I dug through my covers in the pitch black of my room, grasping for the phone, connecting the call just before it rung off.
“Hello,” I answered tiredly, my eyes remaining closed, barely registering my actions.
“Hey, princess. I woke you. Sorry. I needed to hear your voice.” I heard Liam’s amped up sexy voice in my ear. It was like a dream.
“No. I’m awake,” I lied with a yawn, cuddling back down into the warmth of my bed and the softness of my pillow. I heard him laughing through the phone. “How was the show?”
“Good. It would’ve been better if you were here to watch.”
“I wish I was there,” I whispered.
“Next time.”
“Mmhmm….Liam?”
“Yes, princess.”
“Is it weird I miss you already? Does that freak you out?” I’m not sure what had me being so honest with him, likely the fact I felt as if I was still dreaming.
“No,” I heard the smile in his voice. “I miss you, too.”
“It scares me,” I admitted to the Liam in my dream.
“Why?”
“I guess cuz I’ve only known you a matter of days…keep my heart safe Liam…it’s all yours.”
There was silence as I drifted back into a deep sleep. I heard the soft timbre of Liam’s voice one more time, “Sleep well, princess. I’ll be back soon,” and then he was gone.
“So….how long are you going to stall before telling me about this new man in your life?” Ava asked with an anxious smile. We were having lunch on the patio of a little café a few blocks from her office.
I looked up from picking at my chicken salad and s
miled at her mischievously, “I think maybe just a little longer. I like watching you squirm.”
She rolled her eyes at me. “If you want me to help you with your brother, you better spill it. Now,” she demanded.
“Okay! Okay!” I laughed. “Well....he works at the body shop where I got my car fixed.” I decided to leave out the fact that we first actually met on the side of the road when her car got a flat tire.
“Ooh…so he’s good with his hands,” she winked.
I blushed. “And…he’s a musician in a really awesome band. He’s the lead singer.”
Her eyes widened, “And with his mouth. He sounds sexy already.”
“I think your hormones are in overdrive right now.” I raised an eyebrow at her.
She waved a hand at me in dismissal. “Just keep going. What’s the name of his band?”
“Derailed.”
“Oh! I’ve heard of them! Joce had me listen to some of their music the other day. Wow. They’re really good.”
“Yep,” I smiled proudly.
“I can’t wait to meet him. You’re bringing him Sunday night for dinner then?”
“Yeah. Well, hopefully. He’s been out of town for a couple shows the last few days, so I haven’t exactly asked him yet.”
“Well…I will do what I can to keep your brother in check. But we both know how he is….so no promises.”
I let out an exasperated sigh. “Yes…I appreciate any help you can offer. I really like him, and I don’t want Rhett scaring him off. Don’t tell him who he is either. I don’t need him doing a stupid back ground check before he even meets him.”
I was also kind of worried what he might find. Liam had already admitted he had some kind of past he wasn’t willing to discuss right now. I didn’t need Rhett getting in the middle of that and forming opinions on the matter. Whatever it was in Liam’s past, I wanted to hear it from him. Not from some file my brother’s security team put together.
She smiled at me knowingly. We wrapped up our lunch with discussions of her pregnancy and the nursery. She was nearing the end of her last trimester, and I was anxious to meet my little nephew.
“I’m so excited for you, Val,” Ava said, hugging me outside of her office. “It’s been a long time since I’ve seen you this happy about a guy.”
“Thanks. He does make me happy.”
“I will see you guys Sunday night. Love you,” she said, giving me one more hug.
I hugged her back. “Love you, too,” I said before she disappeared through the door of her office.
After dropping Ava back at work, I headed towards Frankie’s body shop. Liam would be pulling into town soon and said he had to head straight to the shop. I figured I could kill two birds with one stone – pay Frankie for my car repairs and greet the sexy man I had been missing for the last forty-eight hours.
We had texted and talked on the phone as much as we could between my work schedule and his show schedule, but it just wasn’t enough. I needed to see him. I needed to touch him. I walked through the customer entrance of the body shop to the familiar dinging of the bell over the door.
Once again, I found it empty of all personnel, but this time I didn’t have to wait for long. Frankie entered the room with a big smile on his face.
“Hey, darlin’! This must be my lucky day if I get to see that pretty face of yours.”
“Hey Frankie,” I grinned back, wrapping him in a big hug. The short, stocky, old man was becoming one of my favorite people. “I have a check for you.”
“I leave town for two days and you’re already moving on to my uncle?” I heard Liam’s voice from behind me.
My heart skipped a beat with the sound of his voice. I turned to his devilish smirk and his thick arms braced on the open door frame that lead to the shop. He was leaning forward, his hands gripping the frame, looking like a sexy mechanic straight out of a GQ magazine. I let my eyes roam, soaking in every bit of that rippled body.
“What can I say? He’s a hard man to resist,” I smirked.
Frankie’s deep, throaty laugh resounded behind me and was instantly joined in by Liam’s. He walked towards me with an effortless swagger.
“Princess, I don’t know what I’m going to do with that smart mouth of yours.” He gripped my hips with his strong hands, connecting our bodies.
“I can think of something,” I murmured, staring up at him as my body hummed. Liam’s eyes brightened as he bit his bottom lip, pressing closer to me where I felt the pressure of his desire on my thigh.
Frankie coughed, pretending to clear his throat, “I’m gonna head back into the shop. Val, you can just leave the check with Liam.” He shook his head with amusement, chuckling as he left us by ourselves.
“Tell me you’re off the rest of the day,” Liam asked, never once letting his eyes drift from me, even with his uncle’s interruption.
I nodded eagerly, “Yes.”
His head tilted down, lavishing my neck with a series of delicate kisses before, placing his lips at my ear.
“Good. Because I’m taking you home. Now. I need to be wrapped up in you before my show… And tonight, after my show….I’m gonna take my time, savoring every curve of that sweet, sexy body…” His hands began to travel, roaming my body with the lightest touch but heavy with intentions. “I’m gonna slowly work my way all around it, saving the best spots for last…it’s going to be painful, princess, so you need to prepare yourself.”
I released a breathy whimper. He growled, planting his lips on the back of my neck, burying his face in my hair.
“I fucking love that noise… Those wonderful noises you make when I’m filling your body…the memory of those sounds have been stuck in my head for the last two days.” He moved so his face was aligned with mine. “We need to leave before I take you on that counter.”
I couldn’t agree more. I gave him a quick kiss on the lips and grinned, “Your place or mine?”
“Mine. It’s closer.” He grabbed my hand, hurriedly pulling me out of the shop, through the door towards my car. “I’ll drive. Give me your keys.”
I handed them to him as we reached my passenger side door where he placed me inside, leaving me with a searing kiss before closing the car door. The man drove like an experienced NASCAR driver. He had us in his bed and naked in a matter of seconds.
Later that night, I relaxed on top of Liam with my arm and leg draped across him as we lay in my bed. As soon as they finished their last song of the night, Liam had rushed me out of the bar and to my house, not even bothering to stay for a single beer with his bandmates. I lifted my head, resting my chin over my hand on his chest.
“I have something I want to ask you….but I don’t want to freak you out.”
He flashed his dimple at me, “What’s that?”
“And if you want to say no, I will completely understand.”
“Ask me, princess.”
I took a deep breath and squeezed my eyes closed, afraid to see the expression on his face when I asked. I released the words rapidly in one breath before I lost my courage, “Will you have dinner with my family Sunday night?”
When he didn’t respond I slowly opened one eye to look at him. He was watching me expressionless. My already rapidly beating heart pounded harder. It was too soon. I shouldn’t have asked. He has to think I’m nuts. He is probably figuring out a way to escape right now, labeling me as a stage five clinger. What was I thinking?
“That’s a big step.”
“I’m sorry. You’re right. It’s too soon. Forget I asked.” I let the words spew out of my mouth before rolling over to hide my head below the pillow. I felt the bed shift beside me as Liam rolled onto his side next to me.
“Valerie,” he stated my name sternly.
I didn’t respond. Instead, I tightened the pillow to the back of my head. I felt his hand glide up my bare back, followed by the heat of his kisses.
“Princess, look at me.”
“No.” I declined through the muffling of my pil
low.
He yanked it away from my head and out of my grasp, revealing my distressed face and now frazzled hair. I lifted my head to look at him. He was grinning.
“I want to go.”
“What? Really?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
He laughed. “Do you not want me to go now?”
“No! I mean yes, I do….I just don’t want you to feel like you have to. I know this is all quick. It’s just this thing we do. Mostly because my sister-in-law loves to cook. Especially, lately. My brother thinks she is nesting or something, but she has always been this way. She is a really good cook, although most of the food is high in calories…,” I rambled on.
“Val. You’re confusing me. I can’t tell if you’re trying to convince me to go or not,” he said laughing, pulling me onto his lap as he sat back against my headboard. “Either way, I want to go. I want to meet your family.” He brushed my hair with his fingers, helping to flatten it back down before pressing his mouth against mine, silencing me.
I stared at him in bewilderment. “You do?”
“Yes,” he laughed again.
“You’re sure?”
“Valerie. I’m not changing my mind, so I hope you’re not changing yours.”
“No, I’m not. I just….I need to warn you. My brother can be slightly overprotective. I just don’t want that to freak you out. He loves me dearly, and I know he means well…but it can be a little frustrating at times.”
“I’m glad to hear you have someone that looks out for you like that,” he said endearingly.
I scoffed, “Yeah, it’s not always a good thing….”
The pad of his thumb brushed across my cheek bone as he held my head between his hands.
“Thank you.”
“Don’t thank me, yet…you may hate me after this.”
“Impossible. I could never hate you, princess.”
I draped my hands around his neck, “Since you’re in such an accommodating mood…I have one more thing to ask you…”
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