I didn't expect that response at all. "What do you mean?" I asked.
She walked back into the bedroom and sat on the bed. "I knew the photographer looked familiar. It didn't dawn on me until now who he is."
Now I'm confused. I sat next to her on the bed. She continued quietly, "Remember that musician you weren't really fond of at the restaurant and again at the festival?"
I could feel the anger start in the pit of my stomach. "Yes," I seethed. "What are you saying Livy?"
She stood up now and faced me. "I'm saying he has it in for me, and I know the photographer was playing in his band that night we did karaoke."
I stood and grabbed her hands. "What does he expect to get out of this?"
She started pacing the room now throwing out scenarios. "I don't know. To embarrass me, to ruin you, to further his career somehow." She looked at me with tears in her eyes. This was worse than anything the paparazzi could do to her. My private ghost of a girl being exposed in this way would ruin her. This was my fucking fault and I needed to fix it. I called George and told him what Livy told me. He was calling in some more favors and would get to this guy before it was too late. I held her tight and promised over and over again it would be okay.
She was restless in her sleep. I was hoping all of this wasn't going to trigger another one of her bad dreams. I couldn't stand what all of this was doing to her. I didn't think I'd be able to sleep but I did drift off. When I woke, I was alone in the bed. I panicked slightly until I heard laughter coming from downstairs. I could pinpoint that laugh in a crowd of a thousand. She was with my mum and laughing, that was a good sign. I checked my phone quick to see if I had heard anything from George. Nothing. No news might be good news. I got up, threw some clothes on and headed downstairs.
There they were. My mum, my sister, and my love all in the kitchen giggling. And the laughter grew to a peak when I walked into the room. Enough to make a guy self-conscious. Olivia came over to me, stood on her tiptoes and gave me a quick kiss before she headed out of the room. The girls filled me in on all that was being discussed about me and how they truly loved Livy. I knew they would but hearing it was proof that I knew my family and I knew her fully and that they all saw what I did in her.
Just then my phone pinged. Text from George.
Crisis averted. Liv must be well connected.
I turned to my mum and asked her if she knew anything. She assured me she didn't. Livy hadn't told her anything about the situation. I decided to let it go for the moment. Bloody hell. I'd find out later what transpired.
Chapter 53
Olivia
I was not about to have all of this derailed because of a jealous, scheming, low life I had given too many chances to in the past. I knew what I had to do to stop him.
It wasn't going to be easy for me to reach out again but I always knew if I needed him, Miles' best friend would be there for me. He was a special agent with the BCA and the only one who could put a stop to this quietly. I had gotten up early and made the call. It was good to hear Chad's voice again and he knew immediately I needed help. I told him the whole story to see if there was anything he could do. Before I could go any further, he tore into me, said there was nothing on this planet he wouldn't do for me. He was angry with me for running off. He worried about me and tracked me regularly to ease his mind, said Miles would come back and kill him if anything happened to me. He even told me that Miles had told him to always look after me.
After his rant, he came up with a plan. He told me not to worry, that the photos would never get out, and that he would make sure the guy learned his lesson. But then he also made me promise to stay in touch or he'd publish the damn photos himself. After a few deep breaths of relief, we talked some more and caught up. I started to feel empowered and reminded of the quote I always loved, "Don't fuck with me, I fuck back!" I once again proved to myself that I didn't need anyone to take care of me. It was nice to have someone want to, but I didn't need them to. That was important to me and I’d be damned if anyone was going to mess with me after all I had gone through already in this life. It felt good to 'fuck back'!
I spent the rest of the morning with Alice and Mia drinking coffee and getting to know them. The connection we had was immediate, just like it was with Harris. I admired this woman for how she raised her son. I thanked her for it too.
Harris had finally made his way down to the kitchen. Poor guy must have thought we were laughing at him when, in reality, we were talking about some bloke Mia had met the other night. I sensed his unease. I went and kissed him quick before I headed out of the room smiling the whole way. I went up to our room to shower up. I wanted to be ready for whatever came our way today. I was feeling confident after what happened and how I decided to take it into my own hands and deal with it. I wouldn't be the helpless female in any relationship and if I am now thrust in the public eye, they need to know that I am not to be messed with. Period!
Chapter 54
Harris
Olivia seemed to be okay. I underestimated how she would deal with everything surrounding me. She might even be better at it than I am. We played around at the house for a few more hours before we headed back to London. Mum and Mia were going to come stay with us for a few days, show Olivia around and spend more time with her. We still hadn't talked about how the situation was dealt with and I was a little put off by the fact that I told her, but yet she felt guarded enough to not be forthcoming with me. We would have some time in the car to discuss things I hoped.
She was quiet when we left. She didn't seem upset but she did seem distant. If this was going to work, she needed to be open with me and I'm not sure that is something that comes natural to her.
"Olivia, we need to talk about what happened. I need you to be open and honest with me or this isn't going to work."
She didn't immediately reply. She watched out the window as the countryside passed by.
She finally spoke, "I called a special agent from the BCA back in Minnesota. He was my husband's best friend. I knew he could make it all go away and he did. I'm not trying to hide things from you, just understand that sometimes things are painful to talk about. That's all." Then she turned to face me. "Ok?" She asked.
I put my hand to her cheek, my fingers in her hair. "Ok, Olivia. I understand you have been through things in your life I can't even imagine. I just want you to let me in. All the way, Baby."
She turned into my palm and leaned in, "It's very hard for me to not have control of situations. That's always been my role in life. This is all new to me so please be patient and understanding and know that I am trying."
Then she grabbed my hand and brought it to her lips to place a kiss. She held my hand in her lap the rest of the way home. We hadn't done much today but I was tired. The whole drama of the morning wore me out. Livy was quiet too. We brought our stuff in the house. Livy headed up to the bedroom while I headed to the kitchen. I warmed up some lasagna and waited for her to come down to eat. After awhile I decided to go and check on her. There she was, sound asleep tucked in bed. All of this tired her out too. We needed to put it behind us and move on. If this haunted us through our relationship, it wouldn't work. We needed to communicate and work as a team in all of this. I was willing, I just wasn't so sure she was able.
I went downstairs and cleaned up the kitchen. After an hour or so I made my way back upstairs to her. She was still sleeping. I couldn't wait to get in beside her and hold her. I needed her in my arms to calm my racing heart. I couldn't get it out of my head that this already wasn't working. I couldn't lose her, not this soon, and hopefully not ever. I pulled her close and stroked her hair. She snuggled in closer to me and I instantly felt my heart slow. She was my calm and I needed her.
I awoke to the smell of coffee. I opened one eye and there she was. She had pulled a chair up to my side of the bed. She was curled up in it drinking her coffee and watching me.
"Hi" she said sweetly.
"Good morning, Beautiful" I grow
led.
"How about we go for a run." She urged.
"Sure." I said "I can show you around the property." She got up from her perch and was headed for the door.
"Livy," I spoke, not wanting her to leave yet. "Do we need to talk about yesterday some more?"
She stopped, spun around, and came back to the side of the bed. She sat on the edge of the bed and shook her head as she traced my lips.
"We'll figure out how to navigate all of this as we go. We'll get through it, we just need to trust in each other."
Then she stood, walked out of the room and closed the door behind her.
I found her in the kitchen. I went up behind her. Grabbed her hips and laid a few kisses on her neck. Her skin felt so good against my lips.
“Fuck running, I have a better idea.” I whispered in her ear. I turned her to face me. It felt like years since I had her lips on mine. I kissed her with urgency. Deep and hungry. She whimpered and gasped as her hands wound in my hair. It had been days since I was inside her and every part of me was ready to explode. I slowed my kiss. Tasting and probing gently now. Savoring the warmth of her. I slid my hand under her shirt and moved up to her breast, feeling her respond through her tight as hell bra thing she ran in. I wrapped her legs around my waist and started to carry her out of the room. Her moans reverberated through our mouths as our kisses became more needy, each of us desperate for one another.
As we exited the kitchen I grabbed my cell phone off the counter, broke our kiss long enough to find my sister’s number and hit dial. I was still panting when she picked up. "When did you leave?" I half shouted at her.
She started to laugh as she replied, "Well, hello to you too, brother. We just left so you'll have a good 3 hours to finish what it sounds like you've already started."
Click.
I hung up without even replying and threw the phone on the couch. I made my way through the living room with Livy attached to me around the waist and her lips driving me insane as she sucked on my neck. I stopped in the hallway just outside the bedroom doors and supported her up against the wall. I held her there with my hips and reached her hands over her head. One hand had her wrists while I let the other travel down her neck with my lips following. I loved to drive her mad like this.
I reached the hem of her sweater and pulled it off, delighted to find that the dreadful sports bra thing had a front zipper. I was able to undo that one handed as well and was treated to the beautiful sight of her perfect breasts begging for me. Her raspy breathing was quickening as she started pleading for me. I let go of her hands and grabbed her again to carry her the rest of the way to the bed where I laid her down. She kept me cradled in her legs as we tore at each other’s remaining clothing. The feeling of her skin against mine was what my body reacted to with a racing heart ready to explode, a desire so powerful it scared me and an emotional connection so deep I continually wanted more. Livy was frantic for me, pulling my hips to her and hungrily devouring my lips. I wanted to savor her. I needed her to feel more than the desire that was overcoming her right now.
One by one I reached for her hands and one by one placed them in mine by her head. I kept her pinned to the bed with my hips on hers and rose up on my elbows to look at her. She had a wild look in her eyes that calmed the longer I looked at her. I started kissing her again slowly setting a pace. She understood and deepened our kiss, opening herself to me completely. Her moans for me were dripping with emotion. As I entered her slowly she responded so naturally, taking me deeper and deeper. No one had ever felt this good to me. Our rhythm was slow and intense and a song started playing in my head like a soundtrack to our amazing scene. Hozier had done a song for a movie, it was called Better Love. It was haunting and sexy and beautiful and the only thing that could make this moment more perfect would be to have it playing in the room.
Making love with Olivia wasn't just a physical act. It was choreographed magic between two bodies and two hearts. As our heartbeats quickened and our senses overwhelmed us, our bodies took over and drove us to the place we each craved. As we held tight to each other's sweat soaked body and muttered each other's name with immense intensity, I felt a physical version of what my love for her would convert to. This is what it's like to love and be loved and it's an overwhelmingly beautiful thing.
Chapter 55
Olivia
I had never experienced a level of passion and emotional connection like I just did. Just when I think his fame is going to drive a wedge between us, he counters it with the most amazing way to reassure our feelings for each other. If all of the angst and frustration from the last few days can lead us to this level of intimacy, bring it on, world.
Harris tried to roll off of me but I didn't want him to go, so I held him in place by wrapping my legs around him. A move I learned he liked very much. I smiled, "I'm not letting you go just yet."
"I’m not letting you go ever!" He replied with that endearing smirk of his own.
He then raised up on one of his elbows and looked at me, half smiling and half serious, bouncing between his dimply grin and his serious pursed-lip look. This prompted me to giggle. He amused me and entertained me and drove me to the edge like no other. I realized I was madly in love with him, just like that.
He started telling me about the song that started playing in his head, to which I giggled even more. "You hear songs playing like you're in a movie when you're having sex?" I blurted out.
"Well, I never have before. Why? Do you think it's weird?" He asked.
"Yes, I think it’s weird." I said, laughing while laying a sweet kiss to his hand playing with my hair.
"C'mon, Beautiful." He spoke as he rose and pulled me with him.
He had me in tow as he headed for the shower. He opened the door and turned on the water. I sat leaning up against the long counter containing the double sinks watching him. I loved how he moved, his long limbs graceful yet masculine. He spotted me watching him so he made his little walk back to where I was more of a half dance, half stalk. Damn, he was something, so hot, yet so unaware of his effect on people, especially me. He pulled me to him and laid an amazing kiss on me, followed by my favorite wicked grin. He led me to the shower and opened the door. The water was hot but it felt fantastic as it washed over me. I had my eyes closed, rinsing my hair when a song started playing through the speakers overhead. It was a haunting voice singing. Before I could open my eyes, his lips were on my neck just below my ear.
"Thought you'd want to hear our song." He said low in my ear.
The melody already had me rapt when Harris leaned into me against the wall. The song was sensual and beautiful and I could feel my need for him again. He lifted me and entered me gently. Kissing and sucking my neck then my breasts. Pulling my nipple into that beautiful mouth of his, sending shivers down the entire length of my body, as he slowly moved in and out of me. The song played over and over as we found ourselves on the edge, taking each other over it with cries of want and pleasure. He set me back on the floor but held me knowing my legs weren't going to support me just yet. I was resting my head on his shoulder when he pulled back. He moved back in, forehead to forehead, and grinned.
"I like our song." I said smiling. "It's kind of hot."
"Right?!" He blurted out all animated, hands flying in the air. "Now you know why it popped in my head."
"And I certainly think it enhanced your performance." I winked.
"Oh, you think so, do you?!" he said grabbing me by my ribs and tickling, but only for a moment before he pulled me into his arms and whispered "I love you, Olivia. There is no better love than ours." And then he held me for what seemed like forever as the water poured over us. And our song kept playing. I loved it more each time I heard it and I'm pretty sure I loved him more each time, too.
We took our time getting ready and by the time we were heading downstairs our company came flying in. "Well, don't you look relaxed." Mia said to Harris as he pulled her into a hug.
"Shut up," he said, as he
grinned into the top of her head and shot me a wink.
We all headed into town. Harris dropped us girls off to go shopping and he would meet up with us later for dinner. He had to sit down with some record execs and then with George this afternoon. I was looking forward to seeing London as a tourist for a bit.
We hit some shops, had a few too many Mimosas with lunch, and then shopped some more. I thought I was a shopping queen, but I had nothing on his sister and his mother. I could barely keep up. I noticed a few paparazzi along the way but Harris was right, they kept their distance here. Like they all had manners or something.
We finally reached the restaurant and I could feel myself getting excited knowing I would get to be with Harris again soon.
We were sitting waiting in the bar for him when I heard a familiar voice and accent penetrate the crowd. Before I knew it I was spun around on my stool and hoisted up into the arms of one loud Irishman. Not really knowing what to do, I flung my arms around his neck to hug him back and found the most gorgeous face staring back at me, smiling. They must have run into each other at the studio. Nic had been working on some solo stuff himself. And Harris looked so happy. Nic held on to me while he yelled more greetings to Mia and Alice. I just held on and stared at Harris. I managed to mouth, "I love you" and capture a wink before I was abruptly dropped back in my seat. He moved on to the other girls as I felt hands on my shoulders. Harris leaned over, sucked my ear lobe in between his teeth and said, "Hi, Love. Miss me?"
He grabbed the empty stool next to me and spun me around to face him. He placed his hand on my cheek and ever so sweetly pulled me in for a quick kiss. Then he proceeded to tell me all about his day and all his meetings and all the great progress on the album. I'm not sure if it was still the mimosas floating around inside me, or the wine I had just consumed waiting for him, but I couldn't stop grinning. Today was the most we had been apart since he showed up that day in Minnesota. And I think I realized how much I missed him. I was happy to see him and hear about his day and to see him so excited. And to see Nic! It was all a bit overwhelming in the sense that I don't normally get like this.
Third Time's A Charmer Page 12