The Proposal (A Billionaire Romance)

by Nikki Wild

  Once…

  Maybe twice…

  But every night?

  Screw that.

  A girl needed her beauty rest, you know? Apparently, that wasn’t going to happen here. By the time I checked in and took my bags to my room, the sounds of the party streaming down the hallway were irresistible. So was the thought of spending a few minutes with Liam, but I was pretending that wasn’t why I was going.

  I changed clothes, putting on a pair of jeans and a low cut red velvet blouse. I’d had a thought earlier that if I opened up to Liam a little, maybe played his game just a bit, then maybe I could get him to open up to me. I wanted to do a good job with this article, and I wasn’t opposed to going to such lengths to make that happen.

  The first thing I thought when I walked into the band’s party suite, was ‘where did all these people come from?’ A least a hundred people were crammed in there, all of them drinking and partying.

  I spotted Ian and Rhone in the corner and decided to join them after helping myself to a glass of wine from the bar.

  “Hello, Catherine, did you enjoy the show?” Ian asked.

  “I did, it was amazing,” I replied.

  “It always is,” Rhone said. Ian shook his head in disagreement.

  “It was shit, Liam went on for way too long,” he said.

  “Did he?” I asked. “Does he do that often?”

  “All the bloody time! I’m convinced he only does it to piss me off.”

  “He seems to piss you off a lot,” I replied.

  “Fuckin’ twat. He does it all on purpose. He loves gettin’ under my skin,” Ian said, as he took a swig off the tequila bottle he was holding. “Always has, since we were lil’ tots.”

  “You shouldn’t let him upset you so much, sweetheart,” Rhone said, lying a comforting hand on his arm.

  “Listen if I could fuckin’ bloody help it, I would. He’s the only chap in the world that can piss me off so much.”

  “Are we talking about me?” Liam walked up with a jovial smile and a bottle of whiskey in his hand.

  Ian rolled his eyes and grabbed Rhone’s hand and pulled her away without a word. Liam turned to me with his hands raised in mock confusion.

  “What did I do?”

  I laughed and shook my head.

  “I have a feeling you know exactly what you’ve done,” I replied.

  “Piss Ian off? Excellent, it’s good for him,” he replied. “But who wants to talk about him? How are you doing?”

  “I’m good. I’d love to ask you a few more questions, if you’re up for it.”

  “Sure, luv. Let’s find a quiet corner,” he replied, turning and searching the room. He grabbed my hand and I let him led me to an empty couch along the window. We’d just sat down when three women walked up, their faces awash with gushing adoration.

  “Liam Mercury!” one of them squealed, sitting on the other side of him. She ran her hand up his arm, and leaned into him, her very exposed cleavage squishing against him. “You’re my favorite! I’ve been wanting to meet you forever!”

  “Oh yeah?” he asked. “How’d you get in here, luv?”

  “Big D brought us up. He said you might have time to have a drink with us?”

  “I don’t know about that. I’m in the middle of some —,”

  “Mr. Mercury, I’ve had your poster on my wall since I was a little girl!” her blonde friend interrupted. “Honestly, I just love you!” she squealed. “You’re so amazing and so talented. I loved it when you sang ‘Somewhere Else’ tonight.”

  “Well, thanks, hon, but I’m —,”

  “My father turned me on to you,” the third girl gushed, “and I’ve been a fan ever since. Can I get you a drink or something?” She sat down on the other side of him, squeezing in between the two of us, completely ignoring me. The three of them began bombarding him with questions and eyelash fluttering adoration. He drank it up, occasionally looking over at me apologetically. I shrugged and stood up and walked away.

  This was obviously not the time nor place for an interview. A few quiet moments alone with this man was not that easy to achieve. If this kept up, I was going to need a lot more than a week to get my story.

  And for the first time, that didn’t really sound so terrible.

  Ten

  LIAM

  As the blubbering women surrounding me chattered on and on about how awesome I was, I made a mental note to kick Big D’s ass when I got him alone. I’d told him no women tonight, and here I was, once again cornered by them.

  I could hardly blame him, considering in the entire five years he’d been with me, I’d never once told him not to bring girls back after the show before. But for fuck’s sake, he’d do well to listen to me, no matter how out of character it was.

  I turned to my right, and was disappointed to see that Catherine had disappeared. I wouldn’t have stuck around either if I were here.

  In fact, what the fuck was I still doing here?

  “Excuse me, ladies, I’ve got to drain the lizard,” I said. They giggled and parted, letting me up for air from their constant barrage of compliments. It was bloody exhausting. How many times could a bloke say ‘thank you’?

  I know, I’m sounding ungrateful again. But for fuck’s sake, give a man a little breathing room, will you?

  After pissing and finding another drink, considering I’d downed the entire fifth of whiskey I’d been holding while I was sitting on the couch, I sauntered off to find Catherine. She was the only thing I was interested in right now.

  It would have been easy to take the three girls back to my room and spend the rest of the night rolling in the sheets with them, but for some reason, since Catherine had arrived, she was the only person I wanted to spend time with. Everything else bored me to tears.

  Maybe it was her steely resistance. I mean, fuck, I wasn’t used to that. Maybe it was her eyes, always watching me, observing me, like I was in a fuckin’ cage or something. I wanted to give her something to write about. I wanted to give her a lot more than that.

  I saw her sitting in the corner talking to Rocket and I cringed. Not that bloody bloke! He was regaling her with tales from the road, or some other bullshit, and she was laughing heartily. I hesitated, watching them from afar before approaching. She was so fuckin’ beautiful, it almost took my breath away. But more than that, she was whip smart, and apparently, not a fan of bullshit.

  I liked that. I always preferred the direct approach in life myself, and I appreciated a woman who didn’t beat around the bush. Life was way too fuckin’ short for playing games. I’d figured that out a long time ago.

  Which is why I decided tonight was the night to make my move. All I had to do was get her to my room, and I’d have her writhing on my cock in no time. But first, I needed to get her out of Rocket’s slimy clutches.

  Eleven

  CATHERINE

  Liam approached like a predatory cat. He slithered up to Rocket and I with hunger in his eyes. I’d be lying if I said I didn’t like being the one he was stalking. Not only did it help with my plan to get close to him, but it was flattering as hell to have one of the biggest rockstars on the planet have you in his sights.

  Which is why I knew the way to get close to him was to play hard to get just a little longer. If I gave in too early, he’d figure it out and get bored and leave. Just like he’d gotten bored with the girls on the couch. I needed to keep his attention a little longer than they had. I looked over his shoulder and saw the three of them sitting on the couch alone, their heads buried in their phones.

  Once he was within earshot, I made my move.

  Rocket was rattling on about their last tour or something, and luckily he said something funny at just the time Liam walked up. I laughed loudly, caressing his arm and leaning into him.

  “That’s hilarious, Rocket,” I gushed, turning away away from Liam.

  Rocket flashed a toothy grin at me and then looked up at Liam.

  “Hey, man,” Rocket nodded.

/>   “What’s up?” Liam said. I felt the heat of his gaze but willed myself not to look up at him.

  “Just chillin’ out, mate,” Rocket replied, followed by awkward silence. I looked up and saw Liam’s icy glare pointed in Rocket’s direction. To his credit, Rocket stuck out his chin and didn’t back down in their silent, manly, pissing contest.

  I was amused, for sure, but I was determined not to get in the middle of it.

  “Why don’t you move the fuck on, Rocket? I want to talk to Catherine.”

  “Seems to me you lost your chance to do that earlier,” Rocket replied, gesturing to the three girls on the couch.

  “Budge up, you twat!”

  “No, Liam, we’re chattin’,” Rocket said, his voice getting firmer.

  “She doesn’t want to talk to your beastly ass, are you barmy?” Liam said, leaning down and getting in Rocket’s face. “She’s here to do a story about me. Not your boring bullshit!”

  “Actually, guys, I’m going to bed,” I said, quickly standing up between them. The last thing I needed was a fucking fight over me. Even if it was Liam and Rocket. Even if I was flattered, I didn’t want any part of that. I’d wanted to make him a little jealous, but not violently so.

  I walked away, leaving them alone to sort it out between themselves.

  A few minutes later, I found Rhone standing alone in the kitchen.

  “Where’s Ian?” I asked.

  “He went back to our room. He’s not much of a partier these days,” she replied.

  “He’s younger than Liam right?”

  “Yes, by a few years.”

  “Seems like Liam got the younger spirit, I guess, because he seems to be all about the party.”

  “You could say that,” she agreed.

  “How do you do it?” I asked. “The partying every night, the constant traveling…”

  “It is exhausting, but after a while you get used to it,” she shrugged.

  “You and Ian seem like you have a great relationship,” I suggested.

  “We do. It’d be a lot better, if it weren’t for Liam…” she hesitated before finishing her sentence.

  “What do you mean?” I prodded.

  “Well, Liam and Ian used to be really close. But I think the constant fighting now really gets to Ian. He keeps trying, but when you feel like you’re the only one trying in a relationship, it gets a little old.”

  “So why does he keep doing it?”

  “I don’t know really. I think he sees something in Liam that nobody else does. They went through hell when their little brother died. Their dad left, and thank god he did, because he was an abusive prick that had no business being a father. And afterwards, after Lennon died, their mom became a shell of who she once was. They were pretty much left to fend for themselves, and all they had was each other. Maybe Ian doesn’t want to let go of Liam because he’s the only family he has.”

  “That makes sense,” I replied.

  “I’m off to join my husband, Catherine. Good luck with your story. It’s not going to be easy to get Liam to open up.”

  “I’m beginning to see that,” I said, smiling at her. She was a really nice woman, and I was glad she was here. “I’d love to have some time to talk to you and Ian sometime, too, for the story.”

  “Sure, any time. See you tomorrow,” she said, leaving me alone in the kitchen.

  A few minutes later, as I was leaving the bathroom I ran into Liam again, Rhone’s words still lingering in my head.

  “Hello, luv,” he slurred, leaning into me. We were the only two in the hallway, and I leaned away from him, the wall behind my back. “I thought you left.”

  “No, not yet. I was just about to, though.”

  “What a pity, darling. Why don’t you stay? Or, better yet, why don’t you come to my room with me?” His blue eyes peering into mine as he reached up and pushed a strand of hair behind my ear. My heart skipped as his fingers brushed my cheek. He was a hot mess, sure, and he was so drunk he was swaying a little, but that did nothing to take away from the pure fucking masculinity pouring off of him. He towered over me, his gaze sliding across my face before it focused squarely on my lips and I knew exactly what he was thinking. Because I was thinking the same thing.

  I wanted him. I’d admitted it to myself hours ago, hell, I’d known it since I first laid eyes on him. I didn’t answer him, though. Fuck yes, I wanted to go to his room. I wanted to lick every fucking inch of him, I wanted to see that cock again, I wanted to feel him inside of me.

  “I don’t think that’s a good idea,” I whispered, licking my lips.

  I don’t think he heard me, but if he did, he didn’t care. Instead, he lowered his head, pressing his lips against mine. I gasped, his lips hot and hungry as they came down on mine.

  He tasted like whiskey. He tasted like sex. He tasted like temptation.

  I kissed him back, and before I knew it we were tangled together in a passionate embrace, the world outside of the hallway melting away. His hands were everywhere all at once, his fingers sliding over my nipples, his hands grabbing my hips and pulling me closer. That cock that I had been thinking about seconds ago was now extremely hard and pressed against me in the most deliciously painful way.

  He pulled away, his lips trailing down my neck, licking, gently nibbling, his breath hot on my skin. I threw my head back, moaning into the pleasure of his touch, his tongue darting out, scraping against my skin with electric shocks.

  “I knew I’d have you writhing at my touch before the night was over,” he growled.

  I froze.

  Wait. This wasn’t the plan.

  I was supposed to be playing hard to get. I was supposed to be the one in charge. I wasn’t supposed to play into his arrogance.

  And now what was I doing? Practically shaggin’ the bastard in the hallway like an easy hussy!

  I pushed him off of me and walked away without a word. I had no explanation for him, so I didn’t even try. I just marched out of the suite and ran to my own room as fast as I could, my heart pumping a million miles an hour and my panties so soaked that I had to remove them as soon as I entered the room.

  Throwing the bolt on the door, I flung myself on the bed, a crumpled mess of unfulfilled yearning.

  Twelve

  LIAM

  The light hit my head like a bloody hammer. Or maybe it was the incessant pounding. I dragged my ass from the bed and stumbled to the front door. Matt stood there, huffing and puffing, and looking down at his phone.

  “Let me guess. Everyone is waiting for me?”

  “Yes, Liam. Your brother sent me.”

  “Right, of course he did. I’ll be right down.”

  Story of my fuckin’ life. Everyone waiting for me while I tried to fuckin’ sleep. I looked around the room and was surprised to see it empty. I jumped in the shower and the events of last night unfolded in my head like a horror movie.

  It had started out so bloody great, too. Kissing Catherine in the hallway was the highlight, her tight little body finally in my hands, just where I wanted it. She kissed me back like a ferocious little tiger and it only increased my hunger for her. But then, I’d opened my stupid mouth and said the wrong thing. Whatever that was. I was lost in the moment, so I can’t really remember what the words were exactly, but it was probably something arrogant and bastardy.

  Whatever. It was probably good she left.

  Because what followed was the ugly part. I’d gone back to the party, and gotten smashingly drunk, ended up in a row with Slade, over who knows what, and as the memory of a chair flying through the hotel window came crashing back into my consciousness, I winced.

  I had a hard time suppressing my anger when I was drunk, what can I say?

  I’d never hurt a fly, really. I kept my ravings to words and when it did turn physical, I turned the violence towards the closest object I could smash that wasn’t a human face.

  No doubt, everyone saw it, with Ian choosing that moment to come back down and tell us
all to quieten down before the cops came, which caused he and I to get into it all over again.

  What a vicious fuckin’ cycle.

  So, now I’m forced to face them all. Walk out to our buses, performing my walk of shame in front of all of their angry accusing eyes.

  I’ve half a mind to just blow it all, leave, take off all by myself and let someone else be the singer. I’m so fuckin’ tired of it. I’m tired of all of these fuckin’ people around me all the time. For fuck’s sake, I’d kill for some peace and quiet. Some fuckin’ solitude. A place to go where I wasn’t constantly surrounded by people who only needed something from me.

  Catherine’s eyes haunted me as I made my way downstairs. Pissing her off was the only thing I truly regretted about last night. The rest of them could taking a flying leap.

  Nevertheless, before I stepped off the elevator, I took a deep breath and vowed to try to be just a little bit less of an asshole today.

  Thirteen

  CATHERINE

  Liam sauntered out of the hotel like the arrogant bastard that he was, causing me to question if anything ever got to him. By now, I’d heard bits and pieces of his escapades at the party. When I’d joined the others this morning, after a surprisingly good night’s sleep, everyone was buzzing about how drunk he was.

  “That fuckin’ twat. It’ll cost at least a grand to fix the fuckin’ window,” Ian muttered to himself. He was pacing up and down the sidewalk, ranting about his brother. Rhone sat across from me and shrugged. “Does anyone even know what started it this time?”

  Rhys and Matt stood next to each other smoking and they shook their heads. Rocket looked over at me quickly, his eyes darting away just as fast. Had he seen us? I wondered. We’d been in the hallway alone when Liam kissed me and although I hadn’t seen anybody else, there was a brief moment when we wouldn’t have been aware of a bomb dropping beside us. The feel of his lips on mine had stayed with me all night. I bit my bottom lip now, as I watched him walk up, the intensity of the memory so strong I felt like I could still feel it.