Blurb
One night will cure his obsession. But will she ever agree?
World-renowned Irish tattoo artist, Liam Mulligan doesn't care that his mum walked out on him as a child, leaving him with a poverty stricken father who wished he'd never been born. It never mattered. At least, that's the story he tells the world.
His life revolves around wild parties, casual flings and his thriving tattoo studio, which has catapulted him from broke to millionaire. He won't give up his freedom for anyone, especially if it involves messy emotions and the potential for pain.
But that won't stop him setting his sights on a night of passion with privileged Chelsea girl, Mia Henshall. She's the polar opposite of his usual type, she's got a strict rule against one night stands, and to make matters worse, she's shoved him firmly in the friend-zone. But the more she backs away, the more intrigued he becomes.
Liam has never been afraid of a challenge, but Mia is taking playing games to a whole new level. And now, he's ready to win.
Damaged is book two of the Dare to Decide series, but can be read as a full length stand-alone.
Copyright © 2018 Emilia Violet
First published worldwide 2018
All characters and events in this publication are fictitious and any resemblance to real persons, living or dead is purely coincidental.
All rights reserved.
No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted, in any form or by any means, without the prior permission in writing of the author.
There is a print version of this book available.
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Chapter One
Liam
Weddings were not my scene. The food was prissy, the music bland and you had to be polite to a load of people who only seemed to come out for special occasions and funerals. I scanned the lavishly decorated, high ceilinged room now, nodding to an uncle I hadn't seen in ten years, his name on the tip of my tongue, but not quite there. Pasting on a smile, I braced myself for a painfully boring conversation, but he was dragged off to dance by an old lady I didn't recognise and I turned away, making an escape before I missed my chance.
I moved between the circular tables, one hand tugging on the knot of my tie, the other wrapped around a heavy crystal glass of whisky. Pulling the tie loose, I screwed it into a ball and moved to shove it in my pocket. Hesitating, I looked down at the thick bundle of deep blue satin, then on second thoughts, dropped it onto the nearest table. My best man duties were over. I'd remembered the rings, given the obligatory speech wishing the happy couple well and now the nervous tension of the ceremony and dinner was over, the lights had gone down and everyone was loose and happy as they danced and drank to god awful music. I doubted I would ever have a use for a shirt and tie again after today.
I paused, leaning against a pillar, watching the room as I swirled my whisky around the glass. My older brother Kai and his bride Olivia, were dancing in slow circles, her big dark eyes fixed on his as he whispered something that made her laugh. They were surrounded by at least a hundred guests on the dance floor, but they could have been the only two people in the room from the way they were looking at each other. Olivia's face was pink and flushed and I was pretty sure if I knew my big brother, he would have already consummated the nuptials and made it official. Some things never changed. I grinned, watching them. I was happy for him. I didn't understand it, but I didn't have to.
“So, what did you think?”
I looked around to see Ryan, a man I'd not seen for years until tonight, but who I knew almost as well as my own brother, standing beside me. He'd grown up in the same town as me and Kai back in Ireland. Gone to the same shitty school, lived a life that mirrored ours in lots of ways, and none of them good. Between the three of us we'd shared an unspoken agreement that we would escape the poverty of our childhoods and make a success of our lives. And we'd done it. Ryan had made his fortune starting Loki, a massive chain of health food restaurants all across Manchester, and they were popping up all over England now. He'd done so well building it up from the ground, training his managers and passing on his skills that he was running out of things to do now. Kai had somehow convinced Ryan to come and oversee the running of his nightclubs so he could take Olivia on a six month honeymoon around the world, and Ryan, keen to come down to Chelsea had jumped at the chance to sink his teeth into something new. I still wasn't sure how I felt about Kai leaving.
I took a sip of the whisky and rubbed the stubble across my chin, raising an eyebrow in question. “What do I think of what? The wedding or the fact that he's married?”
Ryan laughed. “I would never have believed it unless I'd seen it with my own eyes. Kai Fucking Mulligan giving up his freedom. Willingly!”
“I know.” I took another swig of the whisky. It was harsh and burning, not my usual drink but exactly what I needed tonight. Strong and numbing. Things were changing. Kai was a responsible married man now. I shook my head and grinned, sucking the whisky through my teeth. “If he had to do it, he picked the right girl. Olivia's a sweetie.”
“She seems it.”
My eyes wandered across the crowd to where a woman in her early twenties stood, dressed in the deep blue satin of her bridesmaid's dress. The exact blue of the tie I'd just thrown away. Seeing her in it made me want to go and find the bloody thing again. Her dark blonde hair was swept up, waves framing her heart-shaped face, her soft green eyes fixed on the guy she was talking to. I didn't recognise him, but I knew without having to be told that he was from Olivia's side of the family, not ours. Dirty blonde hair, parted sharply off to one side, pink tie done up as tight as a noose round his throat and shoes that shone like mirrors. Straight out of Oxford or Eton. Not from my world. But from hers, I reminded myself grudgingly. Mia would be right at home talking to someone like him. I wished I could hear what she was saying, but the music was too loud and they were too far away.
“She's beautiful,” Ryan's voice cut in.
“What?” I followed the direction of his gaze, realising he was still talking about Olivia. “Oh, yeah. Really pretty.” I watched as Mia walked out through the side door and down the corridor, and a moment later Mr Preppy followed. I stared after them, knowing I should leave it. I should go and find some gorgeous girl to distract myself with. It was none of my business what Mia Henshall got up to, or who she did it with. But even as the thought went through my head, I knew I wouldn't. I threw back the rest of the whisky and slammed the glass down harder than I'd intended. “Ryan,” I said, slapping him on the back. “We'll catch up later, man. I gotta do something.”
He shrugged and gave an easy nod, turning for the bar, not seeming to notice the edge to my voice. It wasn't like Mia was my girlfriend or anything. Fuck no. I wouldn't want her to be. But we'd been flirting back and forth for almost four months now and I'd been sure that tonight would be the night we finally sealed the deal. For a girl who seemed like sugar and spice and all things innocent, she sure knew how to play games. And it was about time I won.
I walked briskly after the two of them into the softly lit hall that led to the bathrooms. If you carried on past those, you'd reach the stairs that led up to the hotel bedrooms. I didn't want to think about Mia heading up there with anyone but me, but I couldn't bring myself to turn back now. I needed to know. I heard a sound up ahead and was surprised to see Mr Preppy heading back down the hall towards me. He was rubbing his chin, smiling to himself in a cocky kind of way that made me want to punch him right in the mouth. He walked right past me without so much as a glance. I quickened my pace, heading in the direction he'd come from, rounding the corner.
There she was. She was
leaning against the wall beside the door to the women's toilets, and her hairdo had come loose, several waves of thick blonde hair falling over her cheek. She looked breathless. Flustered. Like she'd just been kissed within an inch of her life. She felt my presence and looked up, her eyes clouding over in confusion. “What?” she asked crossly, her eyes narrowing. “Why are you staring at me like that?”
Her reaction caught me off-guard. I'd expected her to be apologetic, or embarrassed. Not angry. “Oh, I am sorry to spoil the afterglow of your little tryst.”
“My what?”
“I just came to check if you were okay. I saw you leave. But you obviously don't need me to do that.”
“I don't know what you – ”
“I thought you... Nah, it doesn't matter.” I turned my back on her, intending to head back to the party, but then my jealousy got the better of me. “So, what? Is he like an ex-boyfriend or something?” I asked, my voice cold as I stepped closer to her. “Because I know you... I thought I did, and you don't move that fast. You're the last person I expected to do something like that. Good kisser was he?” I asked, wondering why I couldn't seem to shut up. I never lost it like this, not over a fucking woman. What the hell was wrong with me?
“What! Are you joking? You think I kissed him? Is that why you're looking at me like that?” She pulled a face, shaking her head. “If that's what you think of me, fine. I won't waste my time trying to convince you otherwise.”
“I doubt you care what I think of you.”
“I don't.” She folded her arms across her chest, glaring at me. She was trying to look furious and intimidating, but her full lower lip pouted out and even now, she looked adorable. She was feisty. Olivia had introduced us, along with her two other best friends, Saskia and Liliana. The four of them, rich Chelsea girls who'd clung to each other through years of boarding school, were as inseparable as sisters. But out of all of them, Mia was the one with the most passion. She had a fire in her that the others didn't, though I wasn't sure I'd like to get on the wrong side of Saskia. She could be scary. Olivia and Liliana were sweet and shy, but though Mia could be like that too, since I'd got to know her, I'd seen a spark there that fascinated me. From the very first moment I'd laid eyes on her, I'd wanted her. Not to keep. Not forever or any of that bullshit, but I hadn't stopped wondering what it would be like to take her to bed. What she would feel like, how she'd taste...
She liked me too. I could sense it, but I'd never known a girl to play the game for so long. Playing hard to get was one thing – after all, the chase was all part of the fun, but lately I'd begun to wonder if she actually liked me after all. She was so hard to read. I'd never been with a girl like her before. My usual type were women covered in tattoos and naughty piercings. Girls who'd come from council estates, not posh women who'd been brought up in mansions in Chelsea. I shouldn't even want her. But I fucking did.
“You know,” I said, stepping forward even closer, so her crossed forearms brushed against the white cotton of my shirt. I saw the goose-pimples raise on her skin and concealed a smile. “You're cute when you're angry. I'm not sure I've ever seen you so worked up before. I like it.”
Her cheeks reddened, her eyes opening wide in shock. “You are such a condescending, arrogant...”
I watched her lips as she laid into me, telling me nothing I didn't already know. She was beautiful. Not just sexy, but utterly beautiful. If she would just give in, give me one night, one night to explore every inch of her, to learn all the secrets she had, devour her until I could get her out of my system, I could move on to easier pickings. There were a hundred girls who would drop everything to come back to my place tonight, but until I had Mia, I couldn't think of anyone else.
She was still talking, her soft pink lips moving fast, her green eyes locked on mine. Her arm was still pushed against my chest, and suddenly I knew the time was now. “Fuck it,” I growled, seeing the confusion in her expression as I grabbed her by the wrist and closed the gap between us. My lips were on hers before she'd even finished talking. I felt her freeze in my arms, startled at the feel of me, but I couldn't stop. Not now. I grabbed the back of her head, my fingers threading beneath the soft mass of her hair, the taste of her breath filling me and then, all at once she seemed to come to life. She gave a soft moan, her mouth opening and the sound travelled right to my cock. I pushed her up against the wall, my tongue sinking deep inside her mouth, our lips crushing together as her small hands reached around my chest to the back of my shirt, pulling me closer to her. I could feel the heat of her through the layers of thick satin, and I felt myself getting harder as she arched her body off the wall, kissing me with gasping desperation. I couldn't help but smile, relief washing over me. I broke away, my hands still cradling her head, our foreheads touching as I grinned down at her. “I knew you wanted me,” I said softly.
Her eyes narrowed, two spots of red colouring her cheeks in an angry flush. “You are so full of yourself, Liam Mulligan,” she said. She shoved me back and ran down the hall, not looking behind her. I couldn't stop myself from laughing.
Chapter Two
Mia
“I knew you wanted me.” The bloody cheek of him! The words played over and over in my mind as I pushed my way around the edge of the crowded dance floor, making my way towards the open doors that led out onto a huge veranda overlooking the manicured hotel garden. I glanced over my shoulder to make sure I wasn't being followed and then headed outside, walking past the groups of people smoking and doing shots. The veranda continued right round the side of the building, and as I rounded the corner I was relieved to find myself mercifully alone. What a day it had been.
Olivia's wedding had been an event I'd been looking forward to from the moment her and Kai had announced it and I'd expected it to be one of the best days of my life, seeing one of my closest friends in the world say her vows. What I hadn't expected was to be followed – practically stalked – by Andrew, her sleazy second cousin. I'd met him at a family garden party about two years back and he'd tried his luck with me then too. I'd politely let him down, but today it seemed, he wasn't taking no for an answer. He'd pushed into the front row at the church, taking advantage of the fact that there was plenty of space due to Olivia's parents being absent, and sitting close enough to catch my eye. He'd whispered several lewd remarks about my cleavage and I'd decided to take the high road and ignore him entirely. It hadn't been easy. As we'd left the church, he'd run a hand down my back, his fingertips grazing my skin and making me shudder with revulsion. He'd leaned in close, telling me he would be taking me for a spin on the dance-floor soon. Telling. Not asking. He was a good looking man, I supposed, and with a personality transplant he could have been worth getting to know, but as far as I could tell there was nothing nice beneath the surface. He made my skin crawl.
Not wanting to cause a scene, I'd kept my mouth shut and stayed out of his way, but when he'd tried to pull me onto the dance-floor after the dinner and speeches, I'd come to the realisation that I had no choice but to put a stop to it there and then. I wouldn't lead him on and there was no way I was going to dance with him. I knew exactly what his wandering hands would do and the idea of it made me want to puke. I hadn't had a whole lot of experience turning men down, it wasn't as if I was drowning in offers, but despite his inappropriate behaviour I still couldn't bring myself to be rude to him. What a mistake that had been!
I'd thought I had made myself clear, but obviously not. When I came out of the bathroom ready to finally start enjoying the party, he'd been standing right there, waiting for me. He'd actually scared me, the way he cornered me and for a moment I'd considered screaming for help. When he'd reached around and grabbed my arse, I'd snapped, my patience long gone, manners no longer on my mind. All I cared about was making sure he left me alone for good. I hadn't held back as I'd slapped his face as hard as I could. The look of shock as he'd staggered back had been hugely satisfying. Served him right, it wasn't as if I hadn't tried with the polite route, tryin
g to save his feelings. Though I would be surprised if he actually had any. Hopefully the slap wouldn't leave any room for misunderstanding. I couldn't be less interested.
Which was why I'd been so angry when Liam had turned up and accused me of kissing Andrew. It was like he didn't know me at all, even after all this time. It made me furious that he would even think such a thing of me. And then, he'd gone and kissed me himself! My lips burned at the memory of his mouth closing down hard on mine, the taste of him still fresh in my mind, bringing a whole different kind of shudder to my body. We'd been heading to this point from the moment we met, but now that it had finally happened, I wished I could take it back. We'd crossed a line now, and as much as I knew he would expect us to keep going, I knew I had to turn back and bring us right back to the friend zone.
The annoying thing was, smug and arrogant as he may be, he was right. I did want him. Liam was like nobody I'd ever met before. We were from different worlds, but that made him all the more appealing. His accent, Irish tinged with cockney, deep and gravelly and always on the verge of laughter made my insides squirm. The boys I'd grown up with all looked like versions of Andrew. Preppy, indistinguishable, Ken dolls with their pressed shirts or their fashionable skinny jeans that never looked quite right on them. Posh boys. Liam could not have been more different with his cropped dark hair, his deep brown eyes always sparkling with an edge of raw passion. He looked like he was up to trouble... and he was covered in tattoos too. All over his arms, his strong hard shoulders, and I'd caught a brief glimpse of a colourful design running up his back when his t-shirt had rode up once. He had a diamond in his ear and I was almost certain his nipple was pierced, but I'd always been too embarrassed to ask. And he smoked cigarettes. He was my mother's worst nightmare, and I knew it, but it didn't change the fact that he was the sexiest man I'd ever laid eyes on. And he was kind to me, usually. But I knew what people said about him. He was out for fun. He liked easy girls and casual sex and as much as I wanted to be like that, not care the morning after, smile as he walked out, not knowing if I would see him again, I couldn't bring myself to become just another notch on his bedpost. I didn't want to be his girlfriend either. I knew I'd never trust him with my heart. I'd made that mistake before, falling in love, being vulnerable. I knew what men did when you gave them that power over you. Used you up until they got bored and then walked away leaving you broken and empty.
Damaged: Dare to Decide, Book 2 Page 1