The various herbs and spices being used in the kitchen waft around us suddenly, making my stomach rumble even more. The hints of garlic and rosemary tickle my nose as we walk by various tables. There’s a bar along one side of the restaurant with low hanging rose-gold ceiling lights. Matching bar stools litter the outside where various patrons in business suits sit and chatter. Usually you need to book a table here weeks in advance, but the bar area is open to anyone. I know there are private dining rooms and an events room you can hire upstairs, but it seems quieter today. A strong sense of achievement hits my otherwise shredded ego. I worked hard to get here, I worked even harder to establish a good reputation for Bellucci. I can’t help but smile as my success pays me back in little snippets like this. Matt takes us to a round table for two, situated in the far corner. He takes our coats and our drink order before coming back with menus for us.
“I’m glad I finally got you to dinner” Liam says with a smirk. Glancing up from my menu I raise an eyebrow at him.
“We had dinner on Saturday” I remind him.
“Alone” he huffs without looking up from his menu. I recall how I hated him, and then I kissed him, I hated him again and blah blah blah…. I’m confusing myself, I can’t image what he’s thinking. Granted, I may have underestimated him as a man when we first met, but that doesn’t mean I’m going to let him underestimate me. After ordering our food, and taking a welcoming sip of the crisp, Californian white wine I stifle up the courage to start a conversation.
“Do you come here often?” I question and cringe as soon as the words leave my mouth but Liam bursts out laughing. The sound he makes is beautiful, and I realise I haven’t seen him smiling like this before. The wide dazzling smile spreads across his face, leaving laughter lines in its wake. His gorgeous oceanic blues give way to genuine crinkles at the sides. It’s nothing like the other smiles he’s given me. The sound is music to my ears and I can’t help but smile myself. He looks so serious most of the time, I wonder when those other times where when he did laugh.
“Shut up” I say with a smile.
“Oh, come on! You just totally came onto me!”
“I did not! I meant it as I said it!” I argue. His laughter dies down but with a broad smile he clears his throat before nodding.
“Yes. I do, and I’m guessing you do too” he refers to the waiter greeting us earlier before he takes a sip of his whiskey and places his clasped hands on the table in front of him.
“Yes, I like the food”
“Oh, so you do know what dinner means then?”
“Excuse me?”
“Dinner equals food not fucking” he whispers across the table, “I told you, you get angry or snappy when you haven’t eaten, but I’m guessing it’s because you haven’t had something else too” he says with a wink and a smile, acting as if he’s known me for longer than a few weeks. My insides melt a little and I can’t help it when I pull my bottom lip between my teeth. I want to argue, but he’s probably right and that damned wink has my argumentative brain cells shut down. Liam’s eyes flash to my lips for a split second before landing back on my eyes.
“I go running every day, so I can eat like a pig” I laugh, deciding to ignore his reference to fucking, and wanting to lighten the mood, and move away from the sexual tension. Thankfully he bites.
“You run? Where do you go?”
“Either Hyde Park or Kensington Gardens, how about you? You obviously do something athletic” I train my eyes on his face, willing them to stay there and not ogle over the bulging biceps straining his white shirt. Liam lets out a small laugh, ducking his head before looking back at me.
“Yeah, I have a personal trainer. I do run the park sometimes though”
“Do you live close by then?”
“Yeah, I live in Kensington, but I have a place outside the city too, that’s why I was at the hotel on Saturday” he reminds me. My eyes focus on his lips, the way they felt against mine, the way our tongues danced a waltz only we knew. Blinking away my wayward thoughts I raise my eyebrows and nod silently. What I wouldn’t give to be a fly on the wall for that training session, or to see his place. Kensington is one of the most expensive places to live in London, I daren’t think of the extravagance of his house.
Our food arrives and we both tuck in. The silence is comfortable, accompanied by the clanging of cutlery and the chatter of other diners. We both clear our plates, and I’m glad I went for an aromatic chicken and salad dish instead of anything heavier. I didn’t fancy gauging on pasta and feeling bloated afterwards, especially considering I’m here with Liam. What are you expecting? The evil little crow chimes. Nothing, I’m expecting nothing! I appreciate that he didn’t make this awkward for me, granted he may not notice that he’s doing that, but still. My nerves are still trying to repair themselves anyway. Brave face and all that. The waiter comes and clears our plates, and Liam leans in across the table.
“So…” Liam starts, and I cringe. I knew this was coming, I already know what he’s going to say. Leaning forward slightly, small strands of his hair fall onto his forehead. God he’s sexy. Closing my eyes and folding my hands together in my lap I will my emotions away. I’ve never dealt with rejection and the need for sex together before. All the dancing between my sheets has been my doing, on my terms. Well besides that once. Opening my eyes again I see Liam staring at me intently.
“How are you really doing?” his voice is deep, reassuring and downright confusing. Sensing my hesitation, he lets out a breath of air before continuing.
“What? I can’t care about you now?”
I stammer a bit before the words finally escape my dry lips. “I thought…I thought you wanted to drop the whole business thing” I say with a little more backing in my voice than there was earlier.
“What?” he laughs, “Why would I do that?” he asks gazing at me like I’ve lost my mind. I probably have, a long-damned time ago.
“Isn’t it obvious?”
“No” he huffs.
I can’t help but laugh, he’s the crazy one at this table.
“Liam, Jesus. After everything you seen last weekend, and Saturday…” I start but don’t finish my sentence, hating how self-deprecating I sound. You sound like an idiot.
“What about Saturday?” he questions with his brow wrinkled.
“Look, I wouldn’t blame you for not wanting to go into business with me after the way I’ve treated you. You’ve been nothing but nice to me, and I’ve been everything and a bitch back” I say more confidently. Bringing my hands to the table, unable to deal with the weakness any longer. He lets a second pass before he moves back in his chair, hands resting on his thighs making his biceps push against the fabric of his shirt.
“What I seen last weekend was a strong woman reach her breaking point” he begins, and I go to interrupt him, but he quietens me with a glare and I snap my mouth shut.
“You had no control over anything that happened to you. I understand why you threw me out. I know panic attacks, I know what they are, how debilitating they can be. But you should know that I know you aren’t telling me the whole truth” leaning forward again, his eyes softening.
“I know that everyone is different, and everyone deals with them differently. I gave you space because that’s what you asked for. Nothing that happened last weekend, or on Saturday for that matter have changed my views on you. Forget the fucking business, that’s a different side of you. A part of you yes, but it’s not all you are” his words sink into my brain like a heavy stone would in a lake, and I feel my confidence starting to grow.
“I want to know you, who you are. Not what you are in the business or legal world. You’re still a beautiful woman who I can’t get out of my head. And besides you gave me a chance after seeing Cassidy on my desk” he smiles. I grimace slightly at the vision he just returned to my head, but he makes a fair point. Visions and fantasies of him throwing me on his desk make me clench my thighs together, he still wants you! My inner woman does a victor
y dance and a smile spreads across my face.
“Liam…” but before I can finish he’s standing, walking around the small table with the rose-gold centerpiece, grasping my hand in his and pulling me to my feet. He stares at me for a split second before grabbing me at my nape and pulling me closer.
“Shut up and kiss me” he doesn’t give me time to respond as his lips smash against mine. I don’t think I’ll ever get used to this. The world around me disappears as I melt into his lips. The kiss is desperate, wanting and I can’t help but want it too. Needing the grounding, I push up on my toes meeting him halfway and kissing him back. My hands creep up his bulging arms, wrapping around his neck and tickling the hair at his nape. My mouth opens when his tongue pushes against my lips, invading my mouth and my senses. My nipples harden against my lace bra, and a small moan escapes my mouth. The taste of him is drugging, the whiskey he had with dinner mixed with mint and I can’t get enough. Liam pulls away first, and a small groan of disappointment leaves me.
Chuckling, he draws his thumb down my cheek lightly, before trailing it across my now swollen bottom lip, and I instantly remember that we’re in public. Redness flushes my cheeks and he smiles even wider at me. Thankful that we’re tucked away in the corner, hopefully no one seen my needy performance.
“Come on, let’s get out of here” his voice is hoarse from our kiss, and I’m so glad that I’m not the only one effected. I turn back to the table to grab my bag as Liam is heads over to a waiter.
“Ready?” he asks, bringing me my coat before helping me into it. I can’t help but smile at his manners as he throws his on.
“Yep” I sound almost giddy. My brain is mush from confusion and I can do nothing but roll with it. I’ve learnt the hard way that if you fight the current, you’ll only drown.
“Let’s go” he holds out his arm, bent at the elbow and I blush. Threading my small arm in his large one we walk towards the exit. I stop instantly realizing we haven’t paid the bill.
“Are we being runaways and not paying? I’m not doing the dishes” I widen my eyes to prove my point.
Liam laughs before pulling me along towards the door.
“Already taken care of”
Liam!” I scold him. I’m not a woman who expects a man to pay for our date, yes, it’s sweet and yes, it’s romantic. But Liam and I are neither of those things, are we? Liam rewards my annoyance with a show stopping smile, and I forget what I was scolding him for as excitement and anticipation takes over.
Chapter Nineteen
We arrive at my building all too soon, and I don’t want this to end yet. I realize that Liam has changed his attitude towards me and that I should probably change mine too. You know, play nice. Figuring that I’m in this far, I may as well grant myself the power to do whatever I feel like doing in the moment. Liam had his driver come and collect us from the restaurant, the car was already waiting at the curb when we got outside. I can’t say how grateful I was given the arctic conditions that are still gracing London. The car ride was filled with unanswered questions and toxic electricity, and by the time we reached my flat I was about ready to mount his thick thighs and get myself off. I turn my body to face him, his eyes are twinkling with the mischief of an eighteen-year-old boy making me blush like an equally young girl. Grateful that we’re both on the same page, I throw all my eggs in one basket before asking him “Would you like to come up for a coffee?”.
I don’t want him to think I’m expecting sex. I’m not. Well maybe just a little bit, but I do want to get to know him. It can’t hurt to have another friend can it? Especially one I’m going to be working with. I’m all too aware of the silent gentleman in the front seat and flick my eyes to him quickly. Liam lets out a small laugh, but his face breaks out into a breath-taking smile. His strong jaw is highlighted by the soft glow of the street light, and his high cheekbones rise even higher when he smiles.
“I thought you’d never ask”
Relief washes over me as he jumps out of the car and rounds it to open my door. Okay, this is good. Coffee just coffee, I repeat the mantra to myself as we walk into my building before I grab my mail from Rick at reception.
“Thanks” I smile at him as he eyes up Liam questioningly. I decide to ignore it and walk over to wait for the lift. Rick’s worked here since before I moved in, he’s an older guy who looks like your typical uncle. Caring, friendly and too damn nosy for his own good.
Once we’re inside he doesn’t take his eyes off me. I squirm a little under his gaze, but I like it. My body reacts to his in ways I can’t explain, and I’m already tired of fighting them. Remnants of his kiss linger on my lips and I resist the urge to raise my fingers and feel them. I can’t tell if their as swollen as they feel but I want him to do it again. I haven’t had anyone look at me like this in years and the butterflies are a welcome change. My body is screaming to be fucked by this man, and I know if he asks me again I’ll say yes. I mentally scold myself for not going to dinner with him sooner, but hindsight is a wonderful thing isn’t it!
Once we’re inside, Liam takes his time observing his surroundings, seen as I didn’t give him much of a chance over the weekend. It seems to have that effect on people when they take in the view. During the summer when the Notting Hill festival is on, it can get quite hectic, but the atmosphere makes it worth it. I head into the kitchen to make us some coffee, draping my coat across the back of the stool before flicking the kettle on and sorting through my mail. An envelope with my address handwritten in a scribble on the front immediately catches my attention and my stomach drops.
“Everything okay?” Liam’s deep baritone voice shocks me, and I jump slightly.
“Didn’t mean to scare you” he says as I turn around and crumple up the letter I know is from my mother and throw it in the bin next to me.
“Yeah, sorry” I force a smile and turn to finish making our drinks. I follow Liam back into the living room where he heads over to the window.
“Great view, isn’t it?” I pass him his mug before blowing on mine and taking a sip.
Liam tilts his own mug to his lips before turning and looking at me. His eyes rake over my body for the hundredth time tonight.
“I’m definitely not complaining” I roll my eyes as I feel my cheeks flush and my stomach does a little dance. I turn to take a seat on my sectional and switch the end table lamp on, letting the room glow in its low light. Letting my eyes wander to the window, the twinkling city lights dancing like small wild fires across the city are starting to turn festive. Christmas isn’t far away, streets are now lined with festive colors and ornaments; huge trees are popping up everywhere. Red, Greens, Golds and Silvers are adorning the city in a new comforting glow, and I would love it if I had any family to celebrate with. I wonder what Liam does for Christmas, I bet he goes home to his parents or something. I’ll be bombarding Becca and Jason’s Christmas as has been tradition for years now.
Liam comes to join me and sets his mug down on my coffee table. Turning his body towards me, he braces one leg on the sofa beside me and rest his arm cross the back. I turn to face him a little before he speaks.
“The first time we met, I had no idea what to expect of you. But I do know that now we’ve come this far, I’m not stopping” his features are darkly serious, and I swallow before thinking of something to say.
“What do you mean?”
“I think you know what I mean but given our current working situation I think we need to clear a few things up” he clasps his hands between his knees, like he would in a business meeting.
I roll my bottom lip between my teeth before nodding for him to continue. I know deep down that I shouldn’t get involved with him, but the attraction to him is something I can’t bring myself to ignore.
“I know you’ll remain professional in our working life, and I assume you know the same about me. I know you hate being out of control of certain situations, but if we’re going to do this then you will have to relinquish some of that”
“Okay” I say quietly, as the light behind Liam’s eyes dances with anticipation.
I may be confused that he’s still here, and that he still kissed me like his life depended on it, but I’ll be damned if it doesn’t please me. I place my mug on the table next to his, eager for his next words. I don’t even know if I want a choice with Liam. A fleeting thought crosses my mind that it’s possible he is feeling the same, but rather than fighting it and denying himself he’s going with it. Like he keeps telling me to. Like Becca keeps telling me to. As if he senses that I’m not going to say anymore, he leans in as I hear myself inhale. I don’t feel like I’m breathing as my nose is drowned in his spicy scent and my body temperature cranks up a notch as he gets closer. My gaze diverts from his eyes to his lips and back again, before he closes the distance between us. I didn’t expect his lips to still feel as soft as they look, but they brush against mine too gently, giving me another sample of him. I’ve had one too many of his kisses and I know deep down that he’s only giving them to me to pacify my need, but I’m past that point, I desperately crave more of him. Pushing a little harder against me as if he senses my need, my body relaxes into him, trusting him to make that ache go away.
Powerless (Power Series Book 1) Page 14