I crossed the road, forcing the memory back, needing to control my body. I made myself look at a row of old lady slippers lined up on the market stall closest to me, thinking of old lady feet until my hard-on relented. I still wasn't entirely sure I should've come on the holiday. I knew Liliana had invited me out of a sense of guilt, knowing I'd be missing Kai, and on top of that, I was pretty sure she'd expected me to bring some guys with me to liven up the party. Guys like me. These posh girls seemed to like their men rough, I smirked, thinking of sweet little Olivia with my brother. I hadn't planned to turn up alone like a fucking weirdo. Only, I'd waited until the last minute to make up my mind about coming, and by then no one had been able to make it. I should have bailed then. It was strange for me to come alone when I barely knew the group. They were my sister-in-law's friends. Not mine. I should have stayed at home.
Yet, without ever making a conscious decision, I'd somehow found myself boarding a flight. Getting in a taxi. Going to find Mia within minutes of arriving at the villa. Turning into Florence Fucking Nightingale when I'd found her hurt. She was getting to me, and I was sure the only way I was going to get her out of my head was to overdose on her until I was bored.
I spied what I'd been searching for – a stall selling “designer” sunglasses – I'd forgotten to pack my own, and was just heading towards it when I saw her. Mia. She was leaning over the bridge looking down at the river below, a smile spread wide on her lips. Those lips. Full. Soft. Perfect.
Sunglasses forgotten, I realised I was staring. My feet were already turning towards her when I saw someone had beat me to it. A blonde guy wearing pressed cargo shorts and a light blue linen shirt was approaching her from behind. He tapped her on the shoulder and she turned towards him so I couldn't see her face anymore. I skirted around the side of the stall, walking in the shade along the edge of the shops, pausing when I was close enough to see her expression again. I could hear their conversation from here, hidden from view behind a crate of apples. I took a cigarette out of the pack in my pocket, lighting it, not taking my eyes off Mia. She looked angry. I took a deep drag, waiting for the guy to turn so I could see his face.
Mia took a step backwards, her forehead creased. She shook her head, turning to leave and the guy spun to follow her. I recognised his face the moment I saw it. Mr Preppy. The guy from the wedding. The one I'd accused her of kissing. I was glad to have a front row seat this time, I needed to know if she was interested in this dickhead. I watched as he said something in a low voice I couldn't hear, then he reached out towards her, putting his hand on her hip. She pushed his hand away the moment it touched her, revulsion clouding her usually pretty features. I couldn't help but grin.
“Like I told you, Andrew,” she said in a harsh voice. “I'm not interested. Don't make me have to be rude to you.” Her voice carried loudly across the street. He gave a disbelieving laugh, stepping closer to her, towering over her now, and I had to force myself not to leap out and drag him to the ground there and then.
“Do you know how many girls I've got lining up to suck my cock?” he asked her. Mia screwed up her face, refusing to answer. “I don't chase girls. But I'm chasing you. Surely that means something?”
She shrugged. “Like I said, I'm not interested.” She began to turn away and he reached forward, his hand grabbing her around the thigh. I threw my cigarette to the ground, clenching my fists tight. “You like to play games, fine. We can play,” he said, shoving his face inches from hers. “But I always win. Just so you know.”
“Get off me!” she yelled, yanking her leg free. She spun away, storming off into the crowded market and I paused, considering. Half of me wanted to chase after her. To make sure she wasn't too shaken up. But the other half wanted to end this dickhead, right now, and I didn't have to consider my options for long to know exactly what I was going to do.
Preppy face – Andrew – smirked as he watched her go, then turned walking in the opposite direction, towards me. He passed the place where I stood, and I stepped out from behind the crate, following closely behind him. He pulled out his phone, typing a quick message and then put it back in his pocket, turning right into a narrow lane between the tall buildings. Perfect.
I had no qualms about confronting him in the centre of the heaving market if I had to, but it would work to my advantage if we were alone – he'd be vulnerable. Scared. After all, a man can lose control when there are no witnesses to see it. And I was fired up enough that right now, I might just do that. The lane was long and overshadowed by the tall buildings to either side, and I followed on silent footsteps ten paces behind him. About halfway along, I called out. “Hey, dickhead.”
He turned towards me, a flash of recognition crossing his features. “Do I know you?”
“You will.” I strode up to where he stood. Instead of coming to a stop, I barrelled right into him, slamming him hard against the brick wall, my forearm pressing firmly against his throat. “I'm a friend of Mia's.”
Despite the pressure of my arm across his windpipe, he burst out laughing. I raised an eyebrow, trying to decide if he was carrying bigger balls than I'd imagined, or if he was just too stupid to realise the shit he was in. “A friend,” he repeated. He shook his head. “I know you. You're Liam Mulligan, aren't you? Olivia's brother-in-law.”
“The very same. But who the fuck are you?”
“Why don't you loosen your fucking grip and maybe I'll tell you.”
I gave a wry laugh. His accent was posh enough to cut glass. He was the definition of the kind of stuck up, privately educated, rich mummy and daddy, kiss my boots Chelsea boy who'd looked down on me and Kai when we'd turned up in the swanky town and made ourselves rich, cashing in on their deep pockets and desperation to be fashionable. But where that accent was cute as fuck on Mia, and made her seem all the more sweet, on this guy it made me want to slam my fist into his mouth just to get him to shut up. I pushed my arm down harder, cutting off his air supply for just a few seconds, seeing the flash of fear in his eyes. I eased off. “I'll only ask you one more time. Who are you to Mia?”
He gasped and licked his lips. “I know her, man! She's a friend of the family.”
“Your family?”
“Olivia's my cousin. I've known Mia years. Since we were teenagers.”
“And you think that means something? You think you've got some sort of claim on her?”
“She wants me, dude, what can I say?”
“Did you follow her here?”
“What?”
“Did you follow her to Croatia? Did you know she was staying here?”
He shrugged. “Me and my boys wanted a holiday. I might have known, what the fuck do you care?” He tried to push me backwards but I was too strong for him. Adrenaline coursed through my veins as I looked into his face.
“I heard you talking. She isn't interested. So you're going to stay the fuck away, understood?”
“Fuck you. I've been working on her for ages. What? You think you've got a chance with her?” he laughed. “Stay out of it, Mulligan. That girl is mine. She'll be on her knees begging for my cock before the end of the week. Guaranteed.”
My fist collided with his mouth before he could say another word. “You must have a fucking death wish,” I breathed, stepping backwards, watching with satisfaction as he sank to the ground. His hands pressed to his mouth trying to stem the flow of crimson blood as it trickled down his chin. “You're going to stay away from her. Are we understood, or do I need to make myself more clear? Because I'd be more than happy to explain the situation again,” I smiled down at him.
His eyes were wide and I realised the twat had probably never taken a punch before. In his world it was all about the banter. Clever words but no real action. Well, fuck him. He deserved it. “You're fucking crazy man.”
“Maybe.” I pulled another cigarette out, lighting it, puffing smoke down to where he sprawled on the pavement. I flicked the ash onto his cheek, grinning when he didn't wipe it away. He was shit scared,
though he was trying hard not to show it. “You want to test how crazy I can get?”
He shook his head. “Fine,” he said, spitting blood on the pavement. “If it means that much, keep the chick.” He stood up slowly, his eyes wary. He pulled a folded tissue from his pocket, pressing it to his lips. “She's not even worth it.” He turned, hurrying away from me, glancing back over his shoulder to check I wasn't following.
“Oh, I think she is,” I muttered under my breath as I watched him go.
Chapter Eight
Liam
The water ran cool over my knuckles, easing the swelling. There was bruising there, I could feel it, but thanks to the lion tattoo snaking down my wrist, covering the back of my hand, the bruise would remain camouflaged. Since I'd seen Mia in the market this morning, I'd not managed to track her down. She'd stayed out all afternoon and now she'd missed dinner. Liliana had told me not to worry, apparently she'd text her with some excuse, but of course I was worried. How could I not be? She was alone in a strange, unfamiliar place and I'd pissed off her stalker. I only hoped he wasn't stupid enough to go after her again.
The rest of the group had gone off to some club, but I'd bowed out saying I had some business calls that couldn't wait. I was acting like a complete bell-end, and I knew it. What kind of needy twat makes an excuse to stay home alone so he can wait on some girl? I'd never stooped so low before, but I had to make sure she was safe. Even if it did mean staying home like a little old man while everyone else was out having fun, doing the shit that I should have been doing. The sooner this little obsession fizzled out, the better.
I dried my hand, now numb from the cold water and walked out of the bathroom, heading downstairs and back out onto the terrace. She'd been missing for hours now and there was still no sign of her. I wondered if she could have gone straight out to the club from wherever she'd been all day. I could end up spending the whole fucking night waiting around for her if she had. Sitting and waiting patiently was not going to be an option. The longer she was gone, the more the need to get out and find her grew inside me. I was pacing now, irritable with worry. I couldn't stop thinking about Andrew. Was he the type of guy who'd do something stupid just to prove he hadn't been beaten? Shit, probably. I was going to have to go and look for her, but I didn't have a clue where to start. Feeling like I could quite happily sink my fists into something soft, I picked up a bottle of beer from the table, still left over from dinner. I chugged it back in one go, slamming the bottle down hard.
“Whoa, steady!”
I spun on the spot and there she was, her dark blonde hair swept up in a messy bun, her lips parted in a soft smile. “For fuck sake, Mia! Where the fuck have you been?”
She shook her head, a tiny line appearing between her eyes. “Didn't Lil tell you? I went to visit my cousin. She lives not far from here.” She screwed up her face, her eyes twinkling. “You weren't worried about me? Were you?”
Relief made me lose the ability to filter. “Yes. I was worried. I thought you might have run into... into someone.”
“Someone?”
“Yes,” I snapped. “Out on your own, in the dark, not bothering to tell anyone where you'd gone.”
“I told Lil.”
But you should have told me! I thought, before realising just how ridiculous that sounded. Why should she tell me? We weren't a couple. I had no right to assign myself as her protector. She was a free, independent woman and I was acting like I owned her. How many times had I walked away from a girl I'd been seeing over them having one of these stupid, unreasonable outbursts. At being yelled at for not stating my whereabouts. For the first time in my life, I finally got what they'd been upset about, and I didn't like it.
“Fuck it. You're back now.” I took a breath, forcing my shoulders to relax, then gestured around the terrace. “The others have all gone out. You want to go and find them?”
She shook her head. “Nah. I'm going down the beach. I feel like a walk.” She turned towards the narrow path, looking back at me over her shoulder. “Are you coming?”
“I'd better. You might stamp on some other stinging mini-beast.”
She shuddered. “Oh, don't! I think once is enough bad luck for one person. Besides, look.” She turned her foot from side to side, the moonlight landing on the sparkly diamontes on her sandles. “I'm wearing protection.”
My eyebrows shot up in surprise and I didn't miss the blush that followed her suggestive comment. She led the way up the path and as we came out onto the beach, we fell into step side by side as we walked across the sand.
“So, how are you anyway?” she asked, her shoulder bumping softly against mine.
“What do you mean?”
“Without your partner in crime. You and Kai have never been apart this long, have you?”
I shook my head. “Oh, that. I'm fine. I mean, it's strange, you know, not to be able to just drop in on him, things like that. And to think of him being married,” I shook my head. “I never thought he'd be a married man.”
“Do you wish he wasn't?”
“No. I'm not that selfish.” I shrugged. “It's just new. I'll adapt.”
She took my hand, squeezing it between both of hers. “You will,” she said softly. Our eyes met for a brief moment, then she looked away, staring out towards the sea. “It's so pretty here.”
“You feel like swimming?”
She looked down at her dress. “I suppose I could go back and get changed...”
“Why bother? It's a private beach. Whip it off. Live a little,” I teased, knowing she wouldn't dare. She held my gaze, a strange look on her face.
“Oh, you think you know me, don't you,” she said, her eyes sparkling. “Good little Mia wouldn't dare to break the rules, would she?” She flashed me a grin. “You don't know me yet, Liam Mulligan.” At that, she pulled her dress over her head, tossing it behind her and kicking off her sandles as she sprinted towards the sea. She threw her bra over her shoulder as she ran, then dipped down, sliding her lacy pants over her tight round ass, kicking them aside before running stark naked into the water. Her body was beyond anything I could have imagined in my dreams. Her waist was small enough that I could have touched my fingers together if I wrapped them around her. Smooth, creamy skin covered her curvy hips, her round, bouncing ass making my dick throb as I watched her run. She was perfect. I wished she'd turn, I needed to see everything. I wanted a picture to store up in my mind so I could look at it whenever I wanted, until one day it wouldn't hold my interest anymore. One day it would be just another pair of tits. Just another ass. Nothing special.
Because right now, I was obsessed, and seeing her naked was driving me close to the edge in a way I couldn't remember having experienced. I'd never wanted to plunge my cock inside any woman as much as I did right now.
I took a breath through my nose, realising my mouth was hanging wide open as I stared after her. This girl was full of surprises. She'd been right – I didn't think she had it in her. She dived below the surface, coming up with a squeal of delight. Peeling off my own clothes I strode down the sand towards her, sure as hell that I wasn't about to miss a chance to go skinny dipping with Mia Henshall. With her usual manners, an attribute that made her all the more sweet, she turned her back as I entered the water, keeping her eyes focused on the horizon. I was grateful. I didn't want to scare the shit out of her by striding up with a massive hard-on.
Thankfully, the cool water helped to ease the aching need, cleared my head a bit. Mia was a little way ahead, jumping high as each wave rolled into shore, playing like she didn't have a care in the world. I wasn't sure how close to get to her. I knew, from the little Kai had told me, that she and her friends had led very sheltered lives up until recently. I didn't know what kind of sexual past Mia had, I guessed she couldn't be a virgin, not at twenty-three, and beautiful as she was, but still I felt out of my comfort zone.
The women I usually dated were obvious, confident and easy. If I were naked in the sea with one of them, they'
d be sprawling on my lap, letting me know exactly what they wanted from me. But Mia was different. Maybe that was why I liked her so much. I swam over to her, grinning as she splashed water at me. “You look like you're having fun.”
“I am.” She gave a happy sigh, wiping a strand of seaweed from her arm. “I feel free. That's pretty rare for me.”
I came to stand beside her, jumping as the waves rolled in, trying to keep my eyes and thoughts off her soft bouncing breasts as they rose above the surface and disappeared back under again. I wanted to ask her what she meant about not being free, but just as I was about to speak a huge wave came rolling in towards us.
“Here comes a big one!” she squealed, grabbing my hand. I pulled her close to my side, lifting her as I jumped, our heads only just clearing the wave. When our feet landed on the soft sand on the seabed, she had somehow shifted, her hand against my bare chest. Her eyes were on my body, her fingers trailing slowly to my nipple. “So, I was right,” she murmured.
“What?”
“Oh,” she blushed, as if she'd only just realised what she'd said. “I meant, it's pierced. Your nipple. I – I thought so.” She ran a finger over the tiny hoop, exploring wordlessly. I wondered if she had any idea of the effect she was having on me. Her fingers traced along my chest, following the lines of the first tattoo I'd ever gotten. I stayed perfectly still, not wanting to distract her. Not wanting her to stop. She seemed to come to her senses all at once, pulling her hand back and looking up at me with wide, green eyes filled with apology. I realised she was trembling.
“You're cold,” I murmured. “Let's get you dry.” I took her hand walking back to the spot where we'd left our clothes, strewn haphazardly across the sand. The air was still warm and I yanked my shorts on over still damp skin.
Damaged: Dare to Decide, Book 2 Page 5