by Vivian Wood
She looked at him like he’d suggested that he should shoot her in the foot.
“They will not,” she said, picking up her sake cup and knocking back the contents with a wince.
Liam shifted, moving over a couple of inches so that he knelt closer to her. The table came up to their waists, hiding their knees and laps underneath a pristine white tablecloth.
“Almost definitely. Just you wait,” he said, picking up the carafe of wine and pouring some for them both.
Audrey pulled a sour face, but didn’t comment further. Across the table, Jack started telling some ridiculous fib about a goal he scored some years past. Audrey focused on him and sipped her wine, which was perfect.
Liam leaned back and glanced under the table. Audrey was wearing this short blue dress, exposing her bare legs. He reached over and ran a fingertip along the crease formed where she knelt, teasing her upper thigh.
She jumped, her head snapping around so she could give him her steeliest stare.
Stop it, she mouthed.
No, he returned.
Her face went perfectly smooth. She turned back to Jack’s story, and food began to arrive at the table. Seaweed salad, gyoza, tempura vegetables.
As everyone chatted and sipped their sake, Liam moved closer to Audrey. He slid his palm against the top of her thigh, grinning when she didn’t budge.
Her determination not to react made the game that much more fun for him. He slid his hand up her leg and squeezed, feeling the tiny muscles at her inner thigh begin to flutter.
She sipped her sake and smiled wanly at the brunette beside her, nodding at the story the girl was telling. Liam sipped his sake with his free hand, pretending interest in Jack’s story.
In truth, he was more captivated by the silky feel of the delicate skin of Audrey’s inner thigh. He could see her start to breathe faster, her chest rising and falling in a way that encouraged him.
Audrey reached down under the table and grabbed his hand, sliding her gaze over to him. They stared at each other for several long beats, and Liam couldn’t miss the twin blooms of pink in her cheeks.
Audrey bit her lip and glanced away, but she didn’t push his hand away. She simply removed her own hand, bringing back up to the top of the table, and went back to nodding and smiling at her friend’s story.
That was all Liam needed. Starting at her knee, he swept his fingertips up, up, up… Until he touched soft, wet heat.
Bloody fucking hell.
Audrey was excited… and she wasn’t wearing any panties.
Liam must have the luck of the angels on his side, because he couldn’t imagine a scenario better for what he wanted. He couldn’t quite touch her like he wanted, but he could tease her well enough.
He was hard as a fucking rock already, and he wanted Audrey to be every bit as hot and heavy and hard up for it as he was.
He eased a fingertip up and down her slit, brushing her clit, then withdrew. He casually brought his hand up above the table. Audrey’s gaze narrowed in on his fingers as he slowly brought them up to his lips.
Her mouth opened a bit, her cheeks went flaming red as she watched Liam pop both fingers into his mouth and give them a quick suck. Making eye contact with her all the while, of course.
Her nostrils flared, her chest heaved, and she turned away from him entirely.
It was hard to tell, but he got the idea that he was getting somewhere. He just needed the right bit of leverage…
Like jealousy, perhaps?
Liam’s lips curled upward. He looked at his mate Carson, who sat across the table next to Jack.
“Trade spots with me, will you?” Liam asked.
He could feel Audrey go frigid, and it was hard to keep from grinning as he jumped up and jogged around the table. Liam sat down next to a stunning blonde named Chelsea, who turned out to be a very smart investigative reporter.
Liam chatted and flirted with Chelsea, touching her inner wrist, laughing at her slightly dry jokes. Chelsea seemed to size him up right away and take him for just what he was: a terrible flirt with no deeper intentions.
Still, Liam felt Audrey’s gaze on him time and again. Carson, the poor chap, seemed to be having a terrible time trying to chat Audrey up. She kept giving Carson quick, disinterested smiles until he lost interest and turned away.
Once Carson abandoned her, Liam began to feel a little guilty. Audrey looked stranded in the middle of the table, everyone coupled off and deep in conversation. This was her dinner, after all. Liam had eavesdropped on her conversation as she planned it.
A girls’ night out, she’d called it.
Now she was left out, because Liam had distracted all her friends with a bunch of handsome professional athletes. It was a little unfair, though she could have played along and chatted with Carson if she’d so chosen.
But Audrey was stubborn. She heaved a sigh, shot Liam a glare across the table, and nimbly got to her feet. She vanished toward the back of the restaurant, and she was gone a good couple minutes before Liam stood and followed her.
He went around the pagoda bar to the hallway where the restrooms and coat closet lay. No sign of Audrey. He checked the closet, then knocked on both restroom doors. Silence.
He headed toward the end of the hallway, and was ready to turn around and head back to the table when he saw a strange wood-and-glass door. A vintage phone booth, built seamlessly into the wall.
When he moved to examine it, he found Audrey standing inside, sticking out her lower lip and scrolling listlessly through her phone. He pulled the door open, startling her.
“Ugh, go away,” she sighed. When he stepped into the booth, pressing right up against her as he closed the doors, she actually growled at him. “What are you doing, Liam?”
“Apologizing for crashing your dinner party,” he said, sliding a hand around to her lower back to pull her against his body.
“I don’t want your apologies,” she snapped. She looked him right in the eye. “I don’t want you, Liam.”
“No?” he asked, bringing his lips down to her ear. He nipped her earlobe, then kissed her neck. Already he could feel her melting against his chest. “I think you do, Ginger.”
“Don’t call me that,” she said, her voice dropping to a throaty purr.
Liam cupped Audrey’s chin, marveling at how petite and delicate she was in his hands. He dragged his thumb over her lips and they parted for him. The look in her eyes, the hunger and conflict he saw there…
He lowered his lips to hers, taking her mouth in a deep, possessive kiss. She sighed into the kiss, her arms snaking around his neck, fingers burying in the hair at his nape. Her nails gently scraped his scalp, his neck, his shoulders.
Their teeth clashed, tongues meeting and dancing, breath fleeing as they kissed long and hard.
Remembering how she’d responded before, he found her nipple and gave it a hard pinch. Audrey’s lips parted from his and she moaned, this irrepressible sound that made Liam want to be inside her, right that bloody minute.
There was no doubt about it, buttoned-up little Audrey was going to be an absolute fucking wildcat between the sheets.
Liam dragged one shoulder of her dress down, taking her bra with it, shoving at the fabric until he freed one full, lush breast. He grabbed her by the waist and lifted her up, pinning her against the wall so that he could pull her pert pink nipple into his mouth.
On the first long, hard pull of his lips, the first scrape of his teeth, Audrey pressed her hand to her mouth to smother a loud, passionate cry. He sucked and nipped hard, drawing on her nipple again and again, until her hips were rocking against him, until her eyes were closed and she was moaning over and over.
Fuck, she was incredible. Now to make his mark, really show her that he could please her. That for once in their short but oh so sweet acquaintance, he could give without taking.
Give her what she clearly needed.
When he dropped to his knees, her eyes went wide even as her fingers knotted in h
is hair.
“What are you doing?” she whispered. “Anyone could see!”
Liam didn’t reply. He was too busy shoving her dress up, parting her thighs and getting her knees over his shoulders.
“Liam— ohhhhh,” she moaned when his tongue traced her damp slit, lips finding her clit for a soft, teasing kiss. “Oh god…”
Her fingers gripped his hair hard as he flicked the tip of his tongue against her most sensitive spot, making her hips jerk against this lips, seeking more. He made a long mmmmm sound, purring against her as his tongue worked her in slow, rhythmic circles.
Already she was panting, cramming her fingers against her lips. Liam could feel her holding back, feel her trying to keep herself in check. Always desperate to stay in control.
He would strip it from her, make her thank him and beg for more. All in good time…
This is only the first step, he reminded himself. Next time, I’ll have her in my bed. I’ll have her wild, desperate to ride my cock.
He took her right to the edge, his skilled tongue working faster, harder until her thighs shook, until she was gasping for breath, begging him.
“Liam, please,” she whispered.
That simple plea did strange things to him, made his stomach flutter oddly. He’d never heard her ask for something before, not like that.
Damn, he would kill to hear that from her lips again.
In the next moment Audrey tensed, then shattered with a loud cry, her head slamming back against the booth as she thrust against his lips and tongue. She shuddered, soaking his lips and chin, her legs trembling so hard that Liam was the only thing keeping them both from collapsing to the floor.
“Ahhh…” she sighed, her eyes closed.
Liam gently lifted her and moved back, setting her on her feet once more. To his gratification, she wobbled a little, leaning into him for support. Her eyes opened, that ice blue gaze searing him, burning him up inside.
If they were almost anywhere else, he’d lift her up and take her right here, fuck her up against the wall until she screamed his name.
But she was giving him this funny look, sort of soft and… well, vulnerable. Another first. She was always a bit of a battle-axe, forcing life to bend to her will. Seeing her like this was unexpected.
His stomach did that funny thing again. He leaned down and cupped her jaw, then gave her a long, deep kiss. The sweet tang of her was still on his lips, and sharing it with her was surprisingly exciting to him.
After a long moment, he stepped back.
He’d promised himself he’d give, without taking. Another minute in this booth, and that promise would be utterly lost.
“See you back at the table,” he said with a quick grin. “You might want to visit the loo first. You smell like sex.”
Ignoring her sound of protest, he wedged the door open and stepped out into the hallway. After taking a quick moment to adjust himself, making sure his raging hard-on wasn’t evident, he strode back into the restaurant.
At the last second, he pulled his phone from his pocket and held it up, pretending aggravation as he reclaimed his seat.
“Bloody agent, always calling at the worst time,” Liam bluffed, rolling his eyes.
“Sounds tough,” Chelsea said, rolling her eyes. She clearly didn’t believe him for a hot second, but as long as she didn’t make waves, Liam didn’t particularly care.
“Hey, where’s Aud?” Jack asked, standing up and offering a hand up to Britta. “We’re about to get out of here.”
“Beats me,” Liam said with a shrug. “Maybe she went home.”
Audrey presented herself a few minutes later, as the check was being split up. Liam and a couple of the guys took care of the bill, and most everyone left in good company.
“Want a ride home?” Liam asked Audrey when they stepped outside into the suddenly chilly night air.
Audrey glanced at him, then shook her head. “No thanks.”
She stepped out and flagged a taxi, without so much as a backward glance. Liam was left standing on the curb, waiting for the valet. He stared after the cab, perplexed.
She’d acted as if there was nothing between them, as if he hadn’t just kissed her lips, sucked her nipples, made her come so hard she shook for minutes afterward.
If he’d merited her for keeping him on his toes, well… this was a new level of complexity, and Liam felt hopelessly mired in trying to sort it through.
Did Audrey even like him as a person, or did she merely fall prey to lust from time to time?
She was only human, after all…
Lost in thought, Liam took the scenic drive home. When he arrived, Audrey’s bedroom door was shut tight, all the lights in the house off.
No answers to be had tonight, then. If he were honest, he wasn’t even sure why he cared so much. He wasn’t much for trying to get into females’ heads, trying to understand the logic of them.
He liked arses, he liked tits. He liked easy smiles at his jokes, tequila shots off of girls’ bodies.
This… this wasn’t like him, not at all. He shouldn’t be so wrapped up in Audrey. They were from two different worlds, both in childhood and current day.
Plus, if Jack found out about any of this, he’d blow his fucking stack.
Best leave her alone, he told himself. She’s not for you, and you bloody well know it.
Tomorrow, he’d start fresh. This obsession with Audrey and her fit little body would fade, piece of cake.
Right?
7
Audrey
“Liam, will you please slow down?” Audrey asked, cringing as Liam wove through multiple lanes of downtown traffic.
“I don’t understand why there’s so much traffic at eight in the evening,” Liam muttered. “This is complete bollocks. Where are all these people going?”
Audrey glanced at him. His jaw was tense, and he was gripping the steering wheel pretty damned hard.
“What’s going on with you?” she asked. “Why are you in such a rush? Practice always runs late on Fridays, you know that.”
“I have a social life,” he said.
“Not this weekend, you don’t,” Audrey said. “Your first match is Sunday. You are supposed to power down and rest until then. Coach Havershom’s direct orders.”
A muscle ticced in Liam’s cheek.
“Coach Havershom doesn’t have Jack to deal with,” he muttered.
“What do you mean?” Audrey asked with a frown.
“I mean, I got word from a mate of mine that your brother’s debt is going to be called in this week, and now I’m trying to find someone who knows that in the hell is going on.”
“And you’re going to find that someone… where?” Audrey asked.
“At a party,” Liam said, glancing at the clock on the dashboard. “In less than two hours. I have a lot to do, and a very short time in which to do it.”
“Where’s the party?”
“Out a bit,” Liam said with a shrug. “I just have an address, but I looked it up and it’s about half an hour from the city.”
“And what’s the attire?” she asked, trying to formulate plans in her head.
Liam glanced at Audrey, then shook his head. “You’re not coming with me.”
Audrey snorted. “Fat chance of that.”
Liam cocked a brow, looking annoyed.
“Don’t give me that look,” Audrey said. “My job is to keep you out of trouble. This is precisely the type of situation I was hired for, Liam.”
She could just imagine letting him go to the party alone. She’d probably be rousting two or three girls from his bed the next morning, long after he’d slipped off to practice.
Hell no.
“I’m only going to help your brother. I’m not thick enough to be drinking and partying right before my first big match playing for a new team.”
“I don’t care. I’m going.”
“You’re going to be a complete drag the whole time.”
“No, I won’
t.”
“Is that a promise?” Liam asked.
Audrey bit her lip, then nodded. “Yes. I promise. As long as you’re not in danger, I won’t butt in. I will just… observe.”
Audrey watched as a trace of amusement rippled across Liam’s face.
“You’re to remember that I warned you. You are likely going to be completely stuck up about it.”
“I am not!”
“Want to make a bet?” he asked, his lips twitching.
“On me being stuck up?” Audrey huffed. “I think I can control myself, thank you very much.”
“No harm in taking the bet then, is there?” he asked.
“Let’s hear the terms,” Audrey said, crossing her arms.
“If you lose your cool about anything related to where we are or what the party guests are doing, I win.”
“Are you going to tell me anything more about what this party is for, or who’s attending?” Audrey asked.
“Not a word,” Liam said, a dimple flashing in his cheek.
Audrey considered his words for a moment. “What do I get if I win?”
Liam grinned. “That’s the spirit. What do you want?”
“You stay home and out of trouble for a whole week.”
“That’s not a proper prize, is it?”
“I want that, and I want a full spa day. You’re paying.”
“That’s more like it.”
They pulled up to the house, climbing out of the Range Rover. Audrey trailed Liam inside.
“What’s your prize if you win?” she asked.
Liam pursed his lips, considering.
“Sex?” he asked, raising a brow.
“Absolutely not!” Audrey said, offended.
Liam waved her down. “Just seeing what you’d say, calm down. How about… a kiss?”
Audrey eyed him. “That’s it? A kiss?”
“A proper snog, nice and long. Very hands-on,” Liam clarified.
Audrey scowled at him, and he laughed.
“What?” he asked. “I haven’t seen you hate a kiss from me yet. Besides, you said you could control yourself. If you’re so certain, what’s the harm?”
“There is none,” Audrey snapped, then stuck her hand out. “Shake on it.”