Destiny (The Academy Series Book 1)

by D. D. Larsen

  As I walk around, I see all the little details making the room feel welcoming and classy at the same time. I find a door and walk into a room that houses a huge king bed draped with a gold and red comforter. The TV hanging on the wall must be 100 inches. Off to my right is the bathroom that I can see is lined with white marble. I traveled with Liam for trips a few times, but this room is much nicer then where we had stayed before. Not that they weren’t nice, this room just has an extra level of luxury.

  I feel Liam follow me into the bedroom, he hands me a glass and says, “Its sparkling water with lime, I can get you something else if you would like, but downstairs you mentioned you were done drinking for the night.”

  “Thank you, this is perfect, and this room is incredible.”

  “It is, isn’t it? When I called to book the room I had last time, the room was full, so they upgraded me to the penthouse suite.”

  “Well, I love it!” I walk over and hop on the bed, getting settled in to watch a movie. Liam takes a moment just to look at me then walks over. He sets his drink down and takes mine out of my hand to place on the bedside table before he straddles me and cages me in with his arms.

  His voice sounds huskier when he talks and I know he is turned on, “Jamie, I know we are taking this slow, but I have been dreaming about your lips for months. Can I kiss you?”

  He has already kissed me since he came up to see me, but I can see from his eyes that he isn’t thinking just a peck. He wants to kiss me, really kiss me.

  I look at his lips, they are plump and just the way I remember them. My brain flashes to when Wren kissed me yesterday, but I squish it down and press my lips to Liam’s. They are warm and I can taste the scotch he was drinking earlier as he deepens the kiss.

  It’s not the fire I experienced with Wren, but I feel something for Liam. I just must figure out if I feel enough.

  Liam knows how to kiss. Using pressure but not too much, the occasional nip, and just enough tongue. I feel his hands start to roam, but he doesn’t move to remove my clothes. I can feel his want pressing against me, but I know he is waiting for me to take it further.

  Liking the feeling of kissing him, I let my hands roam as well. I feel his hard muscle under his shirt, the distinct ridges of his defined stomach. Part of me wants to take it further tonight but another knows I am not ready. I don’t want to rush this. After a few more minutes of making out with Liam, I pull back and smile, “I forgot how good of a kisser you are.”

  He gives me a wink. “Do I need to remind you how good I am at…?” He says, as he makes a motion with his hips, thrusting the air.

  I laugh. I know he wants more, but he is being playful with me. “How could I forget? Maybe soon I’ll let you remind me, but for tonight I just want to snuggle and watch a movie.”

  I can see slight disappointment flash into his eyes, but it is gone quickly. “I’m up for whatever gets me more time with you.” He is so sweet. I’m just not ready yet. The way he handled it almost made me want to change my mind, but I remind myself there is no rush.

  I snuggle into his side as I pick a new comedy that I have been wanting to watch. He kisses the top of my head and one of his hands is drawing small circles on my back. This is so nice.

  I start to imagine what it would be like to be in a real relationship with Liam as my eyes grow heavy and I drift off.

  I’m back in the forest. The grey wolf is on one side of me and the black wolf is on the other. We walk together, as a unit. I know they are here to protect me, but I don’t know what from.

  The forest is calm and quiet. Too quiet. I realize that there is no sound. No insects, no birds, not even our footsteps as we walk on the pine needles and sticks covering the forest floor.

  We are on a journey; I don’t know what it is or where we are going, but they will be with me until the end.

  I feel a hand shaking me awake and then lips press to my mouth gently. Confused from my dream, it takes me a moment to return to reality. Liam is standing next to me.

  “Hey beautiful. You fell asleep. I hate to wake you, but it’s getting late and I want to drive you home.”

  I’m so comfortable and I want to get back to dreaming so I can figure out what journey I am supposed to be on. “If it’s okay with you, I’d like to stay.”

  He replies, “Of course it is, but I wanted to give you the option to head home.”

  He walks back around the bed and throws me one of his t-shirts. “You can wear this if you want to be more comfortable.” I hesitate because I don’t want him to take my staying the wrong way; I’m still not ready to have sex with him. He sees my hesitation and adds, “Don’t worry, Jamie. As much as I would love to do more, I won’t until you’re ready. I can sleep next to you in a t-shirt and not jump you.”

  I turn around and stand up, shedding my dress and bra then slipping on his T-shirt. When I turn around, I find him standing there just in his boxers and I take in his chiseled body. He looks better than I remember.

  Catching me staring, he asks, “Like what you see?”

  Embarrassed, I turn away and quickly jump under the covers. I feel him snuggle up behind me, pulling me in tight. His desire pushes into my back, but he does nothing about it.

  I can’t blame him; I am turned on, too. Feeling comfortable and safe, I drift off to sleep quickly. My dream doesn’t return, but I get a lingering feeling that it was a warning.

  Chapter 24:

  I wake up the next morning with sun streaming in on my face. The blinds have been opened and a stunning view of the mountains looks back at me. I smile. This is really nice.

  I look over. The bed is empty and the alarm clock says it’s almost nine. I’ve never sleep this late. Must have been the bed. I don’t know if I have ever slept in something so comfortable.

  I shift to a sitting position and just take in the moment. This is everything I’ve always wanted with Liam, and now I have it. He didn’t pressure me last night and I think my earlier hesitation at his intentions has passed. What we have now is so different than what we had before. I feel connected to him and he seems to care for me. Before, I could never tell if I was just convenient or if he was actually interested in me. I’m still curious what caused this change.

  The smell of food and coffee drifts from the other room. As I am moving the covers back to get out of bed, Liam walks through the door.

  He is wearing jeans and a white, V-neck T-shirt, his hair looking messier than normal. He shoots me a killer smile as his eyes find mine.

  I’m a puddle of need and this man looks incredible.

  He comes and sits on the bed next to me, lightly brushes my hair out of my face, and smiles. I’m sure it is a mess since I haven’t done anything with it since I woke up. I swoon as he places a soft kiss on my forehead, and the last of my will power to take it slow disappears.

  His eyes find mine and my lips find his. They are soft, but not demanding. He is gentle, working my mouth sweetly with his. I taste his coffee and worry about my breath since I didn’t brush my teeth last night.

  Liam shifts onto the bed with his back resting against the headboard as he pulls me astride him. I feel his desire through his jeans.

  Am I ready for this? Why am I so hesitant?

  I want him and he obviously wants me, but a nagging voice in the back of my head is telling me this isn’t right. Not sure whether it is referring to the whole relationship or me sleeping with him.

  I’ve been with him hundreds of times before, what would it hurt to take it to the next level now?

  I make my decision and snake my hands under his shirt to pull it over his head. He looks at me and I nod. Next thing I know, he has the shirt I am wearing up and over my head. I am flipped around onto my back staring up at him. His blue eyes sparkle as they look down on me.

  He lightly nibbles my ear and then starts trailing kisses down my neck, over my collar bone and gently begins pleasuring my breast with his mouth. His touches are sweet and light as he travels down further. Sli
pping off my underwear, he dives in.

  With the help of his mouth, he brings me to the edge and over. I feel blissful and calm as he finishes undressing and sinks into me.

  He moves slowly, kissing me as he takes his time enjoying every second. My mind jumps to the night I spent with Wren; the desire, the desperation, the fire. None of that is present, but it feels nice being with Liam.

  Liam isn’t fucking me like he had in the past; he is making love to me. The amount of passion I feel from him as he continues to move slowly starts to make me nervous. There are so many more feelings from him now than before. He releases my mouth, looking into my eyes. The words are there, but I will him not to say them. Not yet.

  Deciding I need to take control before this leads somewhere I am not ready for, I roll us over so that he is below me and I begin to move, quicker.

  His slow pace was holding me on the edge but not enough to tip either of us over. As I grind into him, I feel myself building quickly, bringing us both over the top quickly.

  I fall back into the bed, breathing heavy. Liam knows what I did, and he looks over and smiles at me. “Soon, Jamie. Very soon.” He kisses me gently, then stands up and pulls his jeans back on but forgets about his shirt. With his tousled hair and bare chest, he looks delicious.

  “I had them bring breakfast up. It may be cold now so we can either eat it or head down to eat in the dining room.”

  “I’m sure it’s fine. Let me shower really quick and then I will be out.”

  I hop out of bed and scurry into the bathroom. Water turned up hot, I step into the shower and lean against the cold tiles. Why does everything have to be so complicated?

  Just when I start to come around to the idea of being with Liam, he is ready to drop the big L word. Even though I thought I loved him before, I never told him, not wanting the pain of him not feeling it in return.

  We aren’t even in an official relationship yet! I haven’t decided if I even want to be. Which is crazy because he is everything I’ve always wanted, but my brain keeps switching back to Wren.

  Guilt settles into my stomach at the idea of what I just did and how I feel like I have cheated on Wren. If anything, it should feel the opposite. Whatever is between Wren and me is not a relationship.

  Knowing I need to hurry up so Liam doesn’t come looking for me, I use some of the hotel’s soap to wash my hair.

  Stepping out of the shower, I am determined to forget Wren and see where I stand with Liam. I think he could make me happy, and he really seems to care this time. We all make mistakes. I know I have made enough of them. I can forgive him for his. Everyone deserves a second chance, right?

  After breakfast, Liam tells me to get dressed. He has something he wants to show me. As I am sitting in one of the hotel’s robes, I realize that the only clothes I have is the nice dress I wore to dinner last night. I’m not sure what his plans are, but there are very few things that it would be appropriate for in this town.

  As if reading my thoughts, he says, “You left a few things at my place, before. I brought them with me.”

  I send him a look. That’s a pretty cocky thing to do when the last time I saw him I told him I wanted to take it slow.

  He follows up quickly. “I was planning to return them to you. As much as I might have hoped you would stay the night, I didn’t bring them assuming you would.”

  Still skeptical but glad I have something else to wear, I nod. He walks with me to the bedroom to grab the jeans and shirt and hands them to me. I turn my back and slip them on, wishing I had fresh underwear. I know for a fact that I had left at least one pair at his place in the past. What did he do with them?

  Dressed in jeans and a flowy tank top, I turn to see Liam is the jeans and white shirt he had on earlier. I like the more relaxed look on him. I’m used to seeing him in suits and this makes him seem more like a real person.

  He grabs his keys and we head to the door. I have asked a few times where we are going, but he says it’s a surprise. We drive out of town, towards the road that leads to The Academy. Where is he taking me?

  About halfway up the mountain where The Academy sits at the top, he flips on his blinker and turns down a road. Something about the road gives me déjà vu, but I don’t ever remember being on it before.

  Wren lives in the area just higher up the mountain, closer to The Academy.

  Flipping the blinker again, he turns down a long, paved driveway. There must be a nice house at the end. The déjà vu grows and it all hits me when the house comes into view.

  I know this house. I have been here once before—The Academy party that has haunted me since the night I attended it, along with Wren and our uncontrollable desire when we were in high school. That was the night I cheated on Mark. I’m not sure I will ever forgive myself.

  My stomach becomes uneasy and breakfast threatens to come up. Why are we here? Why am I having such a bad reaction to a house?

  Liam is smiling and I try to hide my discomfort because I can tell he is excited.

  He gets out and then walks around to open my door. I get out and take his hand as he walks me toward the front door. I do my best to act natural, but this house brings back memories I would rather forget.

  Liam opens the front door and walks in. It looks different than I remember. The whole interior has been redone and the furniture has changed. My discomfort fades since it’s so different than it was before. I follow him into the living room.

  He looks at me and asks, “What do you think?”

  What do I think about what? It may be different, but my brain is still freaking out that this is the house that it hasn’t fully grasped why we are here.

  “About what?”

  “The house. Do you like it?”

  “It’s a nice house.” It is a nice house, but I would really like it if I didn’t have the bad memories.

  “I bought it.”

  My brain is still running in a million different directions and the words don’t sink in.

  “What?”

  “I bought this house. I’ve fallen for this town and decided I want to move here. Obviously, I will have to travel and go down to the office occasionally, but you know I always did most of my work remotely.”

  Liam bought a house. In Accalia. Well, I guess it’s past time we had the talk about where we stand.

  Uncomfortable at being in this house again, Liam takes my silence the wrong way.

  He grabs my hand. “Jamie, I know this is a lot and we will continue to take it slow, but I want to be with you. I’m tired of being a bachelor and I missed you every day when you were gone. I tried to forget you, I wanted to move on, but I couldn’t.

  “But that is not why I bought the house. During the time I have spent in Accalia, I I have found something I never thought I was looking for. Being so close to nature and seeing that view every day is everything I didn’t realize I wanted.”

  I still haven’t said anything, there are too many emotions going through my head, and I need a minute, or a year, to get them straight before I talk.

  Liam holds my hand and leads me into the kitchen. “I had them stock the fridge so that we could have some food and wine here when I showed you.”

  He looks upset and I know it’s because I haven’t said anything yet. I need to say something.

  Taking a deep breath, I give him a very generic overview of what happened. “I’m sorry. I’m happy for you, it’s just that I’ve been in this house before and I don’t have the fondest memories of the visit.”

  Liam looks concerned. “If you don’t like it, I can sell it and buy another one. I want you to feel comfortable here.”

  “No, no, it’s okay it’s just a little bit of a shock. Give me a few minutes to adjust and I will be fine. I could use a glass of wine, though. We need to celebrate! You just bought a house!”

  Feeling better already, Liam pours two glasses of wine and gets out a cheese platter. We take them out on the porch and enjoy the beautiful view.

  I
can’t help my thoughts drifting back to that night. The night that changed everything.

  Chapter 25:

  The longer I am in the house, the more I calm down. I’ve never had such a strong response to a place before. It was like my whole body had tensed up and it was hard to breathe. I have never had a panic attack before, but I imagine it would be like how I felt as the house came into view. The outside doesn’t look like it has changed at all, but the interior has been completely redesigned.

  The longer I sit here and the more wine I drink, the better I feel. Finally, I feel calm enough to acknowledge the other issue. Liam bought a house in the town I live in. Yes, it is a very nice town, but part of me doesn’t believe him when he says the decision wasn’t based on us.

  As we have started to connect again, especially after this morning, I wonder how we could make this work. I’m back and I don’t plan on leaving again. He is a CEO of a large company in the city and needs to travel for work. How would we possibly see each other?

  He bought a fucking house.

  We haven’t even talked about if we are in a relationship. I’m just starting to warm up to the idea of us getting together, officially. What we had before was not a relationship. But since the day Liam showed up at the coffee shop, this has been everything I had hoped for and imagined when we were together before. Maybe the saying is true, absence makes the heart grow fonder. He never cared this much before, so why now?

  Quite a few glasses of wine later, my filter has disappeared. “What are we?”

  I catch him as he is putting a bite of cheese and cracker in his mouth. He chews thoughtfully chasing it with a sip of wine. “What do you want to be?”

  Do I want to be his girlfriend? Titles always make everything complicated. But last time we left it very open-ended, and look how that ended up.