A Borrowed Life (Carly and Liam #1)

by Stephanie Cholette

  A beautiful blonde wearing a lilac colored dress leans over his shoulder and diverts his attention away from me. She has perfectly smooth, short hair falling over her bare shoulders, and I conclude she’s probably the reason. He’s with her, and judging by the way they talk and look at each other, they’ve known each other for a long time. I should have known he wasn’t single. He must have been scared to get caught. No, that doesn’t make sense. Why would he risk being seen with me in the Stardust if that was the case?

  A warm, appeasing voice echoes through the speakers. I turn to the stage and immediately recognize Josh Groban singing his song “Broken Vows”. I love him! So he was the famous musician?

  The performance as well as the dinner end within an hour. It’s past nine when people start leaving, and Liv and Ian go back to his room while I take a walk on the deck. I can’t see the stars from here, and I can’t hear people drinking and dancing on the floor above me. I pass through the large doors leading to the rear and I approach the railing to watch the trail of white bubbles the ship leaves behind. I see nothing on the horizon and the dim light of the moon hardly pierces the clouds.

  I end up at the Seabourn Spa; a very popular spot during the day, but always deserted in the evening. The room forms a large bubble with a dozen beach chairs, a spa, and a swimming pool for five to six people max. At the other end of the ship, there is a small party, but there is not a soul here. Those who don’t celebrate, sleep. The water of the pool is cool and the glass shell that decorates the bottom is so inviting!

  I look at my dress. I don’t want to ruin it, and I have no desire to return to my room to get my swimsuit. But since there’s no one around, a wild idea crosses my mind. I’m aware that I’m only wearing small black lace underwear Liv forced me to buy, but the thought of being almost naked in a place where anyone could surprise me is very exciting. Why not? I’m alone and I promised myself I would enjoy this trip and not hold back.

  I let my dress slip down my legs and slowly enter the water. I look at the moon for a minute and begin to relax. I let my legs gently come back to the surface and allow my body to float. My ears sink in the water and I can’t hear anything besides the movement of waves. I pleasantly drift. The look of one man comes back to my mind: his smile, his eyes, his lips. I picture his hands on my hips, wrapping around my waist. My lower-abdomen contracts as I imagine his mouth between my thighs.

  I imagine him coming through the door and sitting down in one of the beach chairs. He just watches me, and wants me, struggling to contain himself while he imagines himself inside me. A quivering sensation radiates in my belly and I abruptly come out of my thoughts. That wasn’t in my head. I really was feeling his look on me.

  I sit up and open my eyes, and I find myself facing him. He’s there, standing in front of me with his hands in the pockets of his black trousers and his jacket pulled back by his wrists. He’s impeccable. So handsome! So well-dressed! While I’m almost naked. Surprisingly, I don’t want to get dressed; the desire I see in his face pleases me very much.

  I’m unable to utter a single word. What is he doing here? Did he follow me, or is this just a coincidence?

  He crouches on the edge of the pool, his smile growing as his eyes devour me. I walk to the stairs and get out of the pool with all the grace I’m capable of showing. Water streams down my body and my almost transparent underwear sticks to my skin. Liam gets up and erotically caresses my body with his eyes, starting at my feet and moving up to my thighs and waist, stopping at my breast and finishing at my smile. He lets out a long exhale, delighting in the show with remarkable self-control.

  His tongue gently wets his bottom lip before he pinches it between his teeth.

  “Hello, Miss Scott. How are you?”

  I try to hide my smile. He’s capable of so much control, but tempting him and knowing he could pounce on me at any minute gives me a sense of power; it makes me feel like a goddess of seduction.

  “It’s a little cold.”

  I head to the hot tub, amazed at myself. Who would have thought I’d be good at this? I’ll have to remember to thank Liv.

  As I slip into the hot water, I see his expression reflected in the glass wall to my right. He pulls himself together, closing his mouth, and his eyes become almost dangerous. The bubbles erupt all around me and I turn my head to Liam who is pressing the power button near the doors.

  He removes his jacket and takes a step forward. He joins me in the whirlpool only wearing his black boxer briefs. His body is absolutely divine and I need all my strength to keep a neutral expression and an acceptable distance between us. His eyes seem drawn to my breast and I try to stay calm.

  “You stood me up yesterday,” I remind him.

  He takes a deep breath.

  “Sorry about that.”

  “That’s it?”

  “Yes. It’ll have to be enough.”

  I sit against the wall, pretending not to accept his apology while in reality, I couldn’t care less about it right now. The attraction between us is so strong that nothing else matters. He chuckles and runs a hand through his hair, leaving it messy by the gesture. I cling to that phrase Liv told me while we were shopping; a man who wants you will be at your feet until he gets you. I’m testing her theory right now and I hope she’s right.

  Liam advances slowly, a devastating expression on his face. The distance between us closes, and a fine mist emanating from the water creeps between our bodies, letting me feel the moisture of his skin against mine. He pushes my hair behind my shoulder with the back of his fingers, grazing my temple along the way.

  “You are so sweet and so innocent,” he desperately breathes.

  What does he mean, exactly?

  “You know nothing of me,” I remind him.

  “And you know nothing of me.”

  “What I know is what I want now.”

  “And you want me, Carly?”

  My lower abdomen contracts at the way he pronounces these words and the way he says my name. Yes, I want him. I want him so bad, dammit! His lips curl into a delicious smirk that I’m dying to kiss, to bite. He slowly leans in towards me, his breath hot against my mouth. His eyelids gently close.

  “Just for one night?”

  “Just for one night,” I confirm.

  I lie. I know that after tonight, I’ll still want him and I’ll want more, but I also know that it won’t be possible. He’ll probably find another woman for another night, and I will be returning to my life within a week.

  “You’re a very bad liar,” he replies, pulling himself together.

  I don’t know what to say. Sorry, I’m not from the same world as you and the two of us would never work out, but I want you right here, right now. I can’t really see him playing the role of a boy toy for me, and I don’t want to tell him I’m not really rich. I have the look and I’ve acquired the attitude in a week, and that’s all he needs to know about me.

  “You can’t become attached to me,” he says.

  “Why?”

  Why this sudden curiosity? I don’t intend to fall in love with him anyway, so I shouldn’t care, right? Before he answers, his wet and warm lips press against mine. My arms wrap around his neck and his hands grip my waist, his fingers digging into my skin.

  “If I tell you,” he begins, catching his breath, “I will have to kill you.”

  I let out a giggle.

  “Don’t you think that is a bit cliché?”

  “Take my word for it, it’s more than appropriate,” he replies, smiling, kissing me again.

  I get lost in his kisses and I don’t care about the rest. It’s only me and him and we are together now, and nothing else matters. He lifts me over his hips, holding me against the edge of the whirlpool. My breath leaves me when I feel the hardness of his penis pushing between my thighs.

  His fingers grab my hair to press my head against his. I let my hands slide on his muscular torso and his palm massages my breast. My head tilts back while he lowers the cup of
my bra to kiss my nipple, softly. His tongue teases around it, and he delicately pinches it between his lips, sending an electric shock through my body.

  I straighten up abruptly, moaning, only to see his gaze rising up to mine, taking in my reaction. I lean in to kiss him, and he hurriedly unhooks my bra and throws it behind me. He tears his mouth from mine, contemplating my bare breasts under his burning gaze. I feel shy but excitement takes over seeing him looking at me with such an intense desire.

  He leans over and kisses my breasts again and again. My fingers slip through the strands of his soaked hair and again, he gently bites my nipple. My fist closes in on his scalp and his answer is viscous, growling while wildly grabbing me and pulling me against him. His erection cruelly presses harder against my private parts and I let out a scream.

  I remain breathless, looking straight into his eyes. They seem to warn me against something; a danger, a prohibited lust, a drug which I won’t be able to stop wanting. He pants for a moment, fighting something inside him. I swallow. I want him now more than ever, and I don’t think I would survive if he were to reject me again tonight. My whole body is completely clenched and quivering in this endless wait, and at this point I might even beg.

  He regains control of his breathing, softens his gaze, and tenderly presses his lips against mine. His hands going up my body, and his touch is delicate and sweet, completely different from what it was a few seconds ago.

  He lifts me again, putting me on the edge of the hot tub while grazing my belly with his lips. He introduces his fingers inside my panties and I lift my hips to encourage him to take them off. His chin presses against my thighs while his eyes stay affixed on mine, and his teeth seize the lacy fabric to slide it along my legs. The intensity of the anticipation is alarming and I’m unable to resist the urge to spread my legs wider to give him free access.

  He lays his eyes down there, and his mouth opens in a sigh of happiness. I can no longer breathe, and I emit a low moan. Right away, his eyes go back to my face and a smile pushes the corners of his mouth. He leans toward my crotch and I close my eyes, letting the moment take me away. His mouth closes on my labia and I begin to breathe heavily. My hips wave to meet him. I lean on my hands behind me and my head falls back in pleasure.

  “Fuck!” he exclaims, and I realize he’s staring at my reflection in the window next to us.

  My long hair hangs behind my back arched in pleasure. My nipples are hard as my breasts push forward, and my legs spread widely before him. The picture is absolutely perfect! Even I am astonished by it.

  His hands grip my waist fiercely, bringing me closer to him. The slight rubbing of my butt against the rough surface is just as stimulating as his tongue flicking against my clitoris and I scream. He holds me so tightly I can hardly move, but I don’t want to. My whole body is in ecstasy. It’s too good!

  His palms massage my breast as he goes faster and faster. Delicious spasms seize my hips before spreading to my legs. He slowly inserts a finger inside of me while his tongue continues exploring my clitoris.

  He straightens up slowly, steadily stroking his finger in and out. I’m mesmerized by his calm expression and self-control as I look at him remove his underwear without feeling any shame. After all, he did allow himself to look at me in my most vulnerable state. When he frees his member and it becomes completely horizontally erected, a hot flash courses through me and my expression betrays my enthusiasm. It’s so big I almost fear it, but at the same time, I can only imagine the pleasure he can give me.

  He approaches me and I wait impatiently. He kisses me tenderly and pushes himself inside of me, inch by inch. His swollen shaft immediately delivers the promised satisfaction and he takes advantage of it, thrusting in and pulling out, again and again with a slowness of true sexual torture.

  He pushes inside fully, allowing me to savor his length and width. Oh! I’m completely under his hold. I only have one desire to please him, abandon myself to him and let him do whatever he wants with my body. He takes control of me, physically and mentally.

  His hips rock back and forth, slowly at first, then quicker and deeper. I’m not used to such a big member, let alone a man who knows how to use it, so my body’s reaction is completely unknown to me. All my muscles tense up to the limit of pain. My heart is pounding. It’s so good I want to scream; many emotions battle inside me!

  My hands grip his neck and I bury my nose in the crook of his shoulder. His hands slip into my hair and down my face. A shiver runs through my spine and I pull away from him, groaning. His eyes immediately land on my breasts, and his thumbs stimulate my nipples in delicious circular movements, instantly amplifying my pleasure.

  Liam accelerates his thrusts in such a merciless assault. My body writhes uncontrollably. My legs stretch behind him and my breathing is out of control. A rumble vibrates between his teeth as he closes his eyes, on the edge of the abyss. I relish the view offered to me right now: his muscles moving before my eyes, his pelvis banging against mine, every sound he makes.

  My eyelids close when our enjoyment peaks. My whole body convulses and I can’t move or breathe, or even produce the slightest sound. I feel my whole body wanting to explode and I can’t take it. Liam screams as he comes, and I pour myself around him. We collapse against each other, panting and drenched in sweat.

  He needs a few seconds to recover, and then plunges a loving gaze into my eyes.

  “Are you okay?” he asks.

  I can only answer with a nod. No sound comes out of my mouth and he smiles.

  He hugs me against him while we slip into the hot water of the jacuzzi. He presses a kiss on my forehead and his arms close around me as I snuggle against him. A few minutes pass without either of us speaking. We just sit there, enjoying the moment and what just happened between us.

  “You know, I don’t think one night will be enough,” he admits, breaking the silence.

  That’s when I remember what we agreed on; one night only and I can’t become attached to him. But it wasn’t enough for me, either. Never have I experienced such an intense orgasm. We have another week left on this cruise, and I won’t be content with just memories and watching from afar without being able to touch him.

  “Me neither,” I say.

  He leans over to kiss me.

  “I’ll see you tomorrow?”

  I nod. “I’ll wait to hear from you.”

  This time, he accompanies me to my room. I know that if Liv is back, she’s surely sleeping, and there’s no risk of her catching us. Once outside my door, he runs the backs his fingers along my temple, causing a shiver throughout my upper body, and then leans in to kiss me.

  “Good night, gorgeous,” he says tenderly.

  “Good night,” I say grinning.

  I don’t see them, but I know they are there the sparks in my eyes from being completely crazy about a guy. I won’t say it’s love because I hardly know him, but I can’t deny the effect he has on me. He smiles back.

  I quietly enter into my room, closing the door slowly. I hold my shoes in my hands so that the heels don’t slam on the tile, and I tiptoe to the bathroom.

  “Got you!” says the sleepy voice of my roommate.

  I grin and turn to her guiltily.

  “Sorry, I didn’t mean to wake you.”

  “Are you kidding me! I was worried sick!”

  “What? Why?”

  “You were not yourself tonight. I know the bad date yesterday really got to you, but frankly, disappearing like that…”

  She stops, studying me for a moment, and then yells out in total surprise.

  “Carly Bray Scott!”

  “What?”

  “Who is it?”

  “Who?”

  “The one who is making your eyes shine like this!”

  “Go back to bed, you’re imagining things.”

  She leaps up, pushing back her covers.

  “Don’t take me for an idiot!”

  She walks with a firm pace.

&n
bsp; “Don’t look at me like that,” I say in a chuckle.

  “You got laid! Carly! Don’t leave me hanging like this, I want to know! Who? How? Where?” She emphasizes the last question.

  I laugh. “That, you will never know.”

  “Wanna bet!”

  I look up to heaven.

  “Alright, alright. The date I had yesterday wasn’t completely screwed up after all.”

  She starts jumping with joy, clapping her hands, then leads me to the bed, begging me to tell her everything.

  “Can I go change first?” She notices that my underwear is in my hands and soaked, and she shows an expression of amazement.

  “You will never stop surprising me! Go ahead! And hurry!”

  I put on comfortable pajamas in the bathroom, observing my body in the mirror. I still feel him between my thighs. I see his hands caress me and I smile… It’s strange how I see myself differently now. It’s the way he looked at me, like I was the most beautiful thing he had ever seen. I notice all the curves of my body, the natural beauty of my face, and the sincerity of my gaze. I see what he saw, and I like it.

  I finally join my friend who’s waiting for me on the bed with her legs crossed, and I tell her what happened last night in a little more detail. She immediately understands my bad mood this morning. Then I summarize my chance encounter with the mystery man tonight.

  “What’s his name?”

  “That I won’t tell you.”

  “What? Are you kidding!”

  “No,” I confirm sliding under my sheets.

  “You know I’ll find out eventually.”

  I chuckle, shutting the light out on my nightstand.

  “Yeah, I know. But for now, it’s my secret.”

  She lets out a laugh that she hides in her pillow.

  “Good night, Carly.”

  “Good night, Liv.”

  Chapter 5