by Olivia Marks
His gold-flecked eyes studied mine. “I know you do. And boy do I appreciate that. But you gotta know that I didn’t want to drag you into my muck. You’re here to have a rocking summer, not to hear some dude get all tortured.”
My heart broke a little to think he was trying to spare me his pain. But I was just as sad that he didn’t get how into him I was, and that included the not-so-great bits.
“I don’t think you understand,” I said. I reached for his rough, calloused hands. “Like you said after the photo shoot, I’m not just in this for the flash. I want to get to know the real Liam Carter, even if it takes time, and even if it’s not all good. That’s the kind of girl I am.”
Liam played with my fingers, his other arm still firmly around my waist. “You’re one amazing girl, Shayla, that’s who you are. And I am one damn lucky guy. If you promise not to run, I’ll promise to do my best to be more real with you. Might take some time, but you have my word.”
I smiled slowly. “You want to shake on that?” I whispered, my heart skipping with joy.
“How about we kiss on it instead?” His eyes regained a bit of that old gleam as he leaned forward and planted a blazing kiss on my lips.
I breathed him in as we pressed our lips together again and again. I’d been so certain that I’d never taste him again that my head was all but reeling with the feeling. He began to kiss me harder, stroking his tongue against mine and biting me on the lip. I was literally breathless as he brought his mouth down on mine again and again, devouring me with kisses.
He then moved his assault to my sensitive neck where he began lightly biting and sucking. I knew he was going to leave marks but in the moment I just didn’t care. I just wanted that soft tongue to caress me again and again. I moaned as he moved down the front of my V-neck, gently biting the soft skin at the top of my breasts.
Before I knew it, he picked me up and set me down on the bed with a thump, tearing off his clothes, and then pulling off mine. He settled his naked body alongside me, letting me feel every inch of his powerful, muscular, and oh-so-manly body.
“I want to start showing you how much I appreciate you right now,” he said roughly in my ear, his erection nudging the soft parts between my legs. “Hold on, because I’m not going to let you get up until you get a good sense of how much I care.”
He looked deeply into my eyes then. My body shuddered under his. “And Shay, despite how I’ve acted, I care, I really do. We’re going to start with this for now. But I promise you, I’m not going to let you down.”
* * *
I sat in Liam’s lap the next morning, feeding him bites of chocolate croissant. Liam knew a French bakery where they were made fresh and he’d dashed out, returning with a greasy brown paper bag full of them. He was officially my hero. The chocolate was still soft and I was feeding Liam with my very sticky fingers. It was all very decadent and not just because I was sitting on a gorgeous man in skimpy boxer briefs.
He took another bite before giving me a chocolatey kiss. I was still not tired of him, even though we’d spent an entire day together in this room making love, ordering take out, watching bad movies, and chatting about everything and nothing. My heart started to sink when I realized that it couldn’t last forever.
“You have to work today?” I asked, dreading the answer.
He grimaced. “I have a meeting with the guys and the label today. We’re going to talk about recording a full length album.”
My heart skipped a beat. “You’re recording an LP?” I gasped. “Congrats, that’s so amazing!”
He grinned and planted another quick kiss on my lips. “You bet. Label wants to invest in us, says that things are looking good for the band.”
“I’m so proud of you. Does that mean you’ll be in New York for a while longer?”
“Looks like it.” He looked at me seriously, the grin slipping off his face. “I hope you will be too.”
My mind raced. I only had a couple more weeks in New York before I was supposed to return to Minnesota. But I didn’t want to kill our perfect morning with this less than great news. “I hope so too,” I said weakly.
He looked at me funnily, before bundling me close. “Let’s not think about that now. First I want to kiss you, shower with you, and then maybe make you dirty all over again.”
I smiled against his warm, broad chest. The thought of soaping up that muscular body with my bare hands in the steamy shower was better than any fantasy I’d ever had.
It also helped that I was beginning to feel less shy with him. At first I’d felt super shy to be, well, so bare in front of him, especially in the shower.
But Liam had been gentle with me, stroking my body with great care before soaping me up from head to toe. I was a little ticklish so we both ended up in a laughing fit, which seemed to break up the ice. Showers since had just a lot easier and a lot sexier too. A shiver ran through my body. Liam tipped my chin up to look at him and his eyes danced as if he was sharing the same thoughts.
Within a couple hours and a lot of getting both dirty and clean Liam was off and I was in a cab heading uptown for a date with Aimee. She’d been texting me incessantly since I took off from Felicia’s apartment. She’d been going back and forth between threats “Miss. Shayla I know you’ve gone to see him! Call me NOW!” and pleas “So worried about you! I swear I am coming to find you in an hour if you don’t call!”
Eventually I texted to say that all was OK and that we’d reunite at our mani-pedi date the next day. I knew she was dying to hear about my crazy adventure and I was dying to tell her.
The cab pulled up in front of a posh spa in Tribeca. Liam had met the owner at a shoot and since she was eager for more business she’d agreed to a hefty discount for our appointment.
Aimee was waiting on the curb and after I paid the cabbie we rushed into each other’s arms. I gushed over her cute outfit. Aimee already looked way New York with her cute black and white striped curve-hugging dress and wedge sandals. It made me proud to see her flaunting her gorgeous self.
The salon was in a beautiful old stone building with high ceilings and floor to ceiling windows. Everything, from the curtains to the sisal rugs, was in soothing shades of brown. Aimee and I got settled in super comfy chairs where we picked from a rainbow of swank Chanel polishes.
The aestheticians got to work on our funky feet. We were handed iPads to pass the time but Aimee and I were way more interested in catching up. I let Aimee berate me for a few minutes about my sneaky exit before we both burst out laughing. It was way too ridiculous that shy old me had actually gone racing out of the house to track down my rock star crush.
“Who are you anyway?” she asked laughing. “Minnesota Shay wouldn’t even talk to a guy she liked.”
I shook my head. “I don’t know what’s gotten into me. I guess I really like this guy.”
She eyed me thoughtfully. “I’m really happy for you hon. Believe me, I’ve been waiting a long time for a guy to come along and treat you right. But I gotta know—have you told him about college?”
I took a deep breath. I was enrolled in the marketing program at Minnesota State University that fall. Aimee was enrolled too but in music industry studies and we planned to scope out an apartment for two in Mankato as soon as we got back. This had been our scheme since, well, since we’d met.
“I haven’t told him yet,” I said finally. “Is that bad?”
Aimee gave me her best uh oh look. “Oh Shay, you gotta tell him. If he’s getting more invested in you he has a right to know. Has he said anything about the fall?”
“Only that he hopes I stay in New York. He’s going to be recording a full album here with the guys.”
“And you said…?”
“I said I hoped so too,” I replied weakly. I wanted to vanish into my chair but the pedicurist had a very strong hold on my ankle. I looked down at her as if for assistance but she was too busy buffing my gnarly feet.
Aimee looked at me bug-eyed. “Are you plann
ing on staying?”
“No...”
“What the hell Shay!” she burst out, causing both pedicurists to look up at us with alarm. “Sorry,” she whispered.
“Boy trouble?” asked my aesthetician, a pretty blonde with a diamond nose stud.
“Shay’s dating this rock star. But this chick still hasn’t told Mr. Love Struck she has to go back to Minnesota.”
“Wow,” said the blonde. “What band?”
“Hazard 41,” I answered, shooting Aimee a dirty look.
“No way!” they both said. “Do you know their lead singer, Callum?”
“Yes and he’s not very nice,” I said huffily. “Aimee, I’m going to tell him but everything is going so well right now. I don’t want to burst our bubble. Please don’t be mad at me.”
Aimee sunk into her chair, deflated. “I’m not mad, I’m just worried about you. You have to be clear with him or both of you are going to get hurt.”
I sulkily contemplated the hot coral polish being applied to my toes. “I will, I just don’t know how I’m going to deal with letting him go.”
Aimee reached out and touched my shoulder, her crystal clear blue eyes filled with concern. “If it’s meant to be you two will find a way. But don’t chuck out your life for him. His career is really taking off and God knows where that’s going to take him. You need to look out for number one and then hope for the best.”
I didn’t feel uplifted by this speech though I knew she was right. Thankfully, my feet were done and it was time for my manicure. Aimee wisely left me to brood over everything.
As my nails were painted the same fresh coral as my toes, I ran over the issues in my mind. How were we going to keep our twosome going with me in Minnesota and him bouncing around the country? Plus, I’d be a normal college girl and he would be living the high life. How were we supposed to find common ground?
Yet as soon as Liam entered the salon all my negative thoughts vanished. He was wearing black pants and a tight black T-shirt that showed off his muscular, tattooed arms. He smiled as soon as he spotted me and I could feel a crazy smile breaking across my face in return. He strode over, attracting stares from every woman in the room, before planting a long, sexy kiss on my lips. That’s right ladies, he’s mine!
“Hey, hot stuff,” he said in his deep, rough voice. “Nice nails.”
I grinned foolishly back up at him. “You’re the best. This place is amazing.”
“You two been having quality girl time? I feel bad for taking you away from Aimee.”
“Aw, she’s fine. She’s happy for me.” But something in my eyes must have given me away because those dazzling green eyes looked concerned.
“She’s worried about you,” he asked. It wasn’t question.
I looked down at my shiny nails. “I think she’s just a little concerned about where this is all going.”
“That makes two,” he said in a low voice. I looked back up at him, not sure if I was ready to have this conversation. Thankfully, Aimee blundered in at that moment, all smiles, her nails a chic shade of mint green.
“Lord, I’m hungry! Who’s with me?” She looked from me to Liam. “Er, did I interrupt something?”
“Nah.” Liam extended took my hand and gently pulled me into his arms. “You guys feel like grabbing a slice? I know just the spot.”
* * *
Aimee and I’s eyes bugged as the hot baked potato pie was laid out in front of us. We both had a serious pizza weakness but we were used to the usual take-out fare. This fresh cooked pie covered in purple potatoes and lots of cheese looked and smelled crazy delicious.
“You really do know all the best places,” Aimee said, her eyes fixed on our meal.
“You haven’t brought us anywhere that didn’t have, like, the best thing I’ve ever tasted.”
Liam shrugged, laughing. “Yeah well I have a bit of an advantage living in a food mecca like New York. I like this place because it’s pretty chill. Good food, good prices, a bit of nature. It’s a deadly combo.”
I had to agree. I loved that there was a huge patio with potted plants and plenty of trees providing shade from the late afternoon sun. I loved Minnesota summers and was missing taking long walks with Lucky through the piney forest trails.
We tucked into the pie while Liam told us about his meeting with the music execs. He was worried because they’d seemed a bit non-committal about the full album. He wondered if their interest in the band was waning.
He soon waved off the topic and asked Aimee about her favorite bands. She started raving about her new love of ska punk but soon dissolved into blushes. Even she seemed to be falling under the spell of his casual charm and his piecing green eyes. I rolled my eyes, amused.
Thankfully Liam’s cell started to ring, which saved her from further embarrassment. His eyes went wide when he saw the call display.
“Sorry ladies, gotta take this,” he said, getting up from the table.
Being the nosy women we were, we pretended to eat while straining to hear the conversation. Liam didn’t say much though he did begin to look more and more excited.
Aimee and I exchanged glances. What was going on?
Liam hung up and sat back down, his face glowing with enthusiasm. “Ladies you are not going to believe this! That was one of the execs at the label. They said that the recording has to be put off.”
“What!” I exploded “Those jerks!”
He grinned widely. “Nah, it’s because we’re going to open for Black Dawn on their US tour this fall.”
Aimee and I stared at him for a couple of moments, gape-mouthed, before we stared screaming. I leapt into his arms and he gave me back a huge bear hug.
Liam’s cell rang again after a few minutes. “That’ll be the guys. I bet they’re gonna want to celebrate. You girls in?”
Boy, were we ever. We went home to change and then headed over to a club in the Alphabet District. Liam conveniently got us past security. It was 80’s night. The lights were already flashing and the crowd pumped and danced up a storm. The guys were in a corner drinking it up. Aimee and I decided to stick with water—we were always a bit nervous in new places. But that didn’t keep us from getting down on the dance floor until the wee hours.
There was plenty to celebrate. The news had come in that Spin Magazine would send a reporter to follow the band plus a major energy drink would be the tour sponsor. There seemed no doubt that Hazard 41 would soon become a household name just like Black Dawn.
Liam and I eventually found ourselves in a cozy corner. I sat on his lap and we exchanged sweet kisses. However, the euphoria of the last few hours was starting to wear off. I was really happy for Liam. A US tour would raise their profile like nothing else—the album could wait. But what would happen to us?
Liam caught my hand and began to kiss my fingers as the music pounded in the background. “You’re looking tired, sweetheart. You wanna head off?”
I did, but not without unloading what was on my mind first. I wasn’t sure if I’d feel brave enough later. “I gotta tell you something, though maybe it’s not as important now as it was.” I took a deep breath. “I’m enrolled in university in Minnesota this September.”
Liam looked taken back. “Wow. Why didn’t you tell me before?”
I concentrated on playing with his fingers as the bass thumped behind us. “I’m sorry, Liam. I just didn’t know how serious you were about me so I thought it wasn’t important.”
Liam exhaled sharply. I caught the worried look on his face and added hurriedly,
“Never mind. We’re here to celebrate not get all depressive.”
“Don’t worry about that. I want you to be honest with me,” Liam said quietly. He looked deep into my eyes while gently stroking my hair. “Maybe I should have said this before but you’re special to me and I want to see where this goes. Yeah maybe it’s going to be difficult, what with you in college and me traveling God knows where. But that doesn’t mean it’ll be impossible. Or maybe should I
ask whether that’s what you want?”
My heart almost overflowed with happiness at these sweet words. “Of course I’m serious,” I blurted out. “I’m crazy about you. Can’t you see? Ever since we met I’ve been drawn to you. Then I got to know you and I fell even deeper. So how can you ask me if I’m serious? I feel like it’s written all over me.”
Liam looked at me in astonishment. “Wow, you’d think I was drunk,” I mumbled, my face hot with embarrassment. “Maybe I should get out of here.”
“You’re not going anywhere,” Liam said, holding me fast. “Listen, I had no idea. I kind of assumed you wouldn’t want to get involved up with a complicated guy like me.”
“What?” I stammered. “I thought the problem was that you wouldn’t want anything with some average small-town chick.”
“Hey, you are anything but average,” Liam said firmly, kissing me again. “Clearly we haven’t been communicating. Well, here we are. What comes next?”
“Who knows?” I said, shaking my head. We held each other’s gaze for a moment. In the background the lights flashed, people screamed, bottles clinked but it barely registered—we were in our own private bubble.
“I guess we can’t know,” he said slowly. “When do you leave?”
“In two weeks,” I said reluctantly. “I have to go back to Minnesota, Liam. I already have my place, I promised Aimee…”
“Don’t worry,” he said, hushing me. “I’m proud of your decision to go to college. I wish I’d had the same opportunity and I wouldn’t want you not to have it.”
“Promise me one thing,” I said as we held each other tightly, our eyes locked together. “I want a whole day with you before I leave New York. I know you’re busy but I just want a day where we can we can pretend like we’re just two ordinary people on a date, not a rock star and a college chick with a really complicated future.”
“Anything,” he whispered. He kissed me deeply and for a moment I forgot everything else.
Chapter Seven
Liam ducked behind a display of endless flavors of jellybeans and came back with the largest sucker I’d ever seen. It looked about the size of my head and was a rainbow of swirly colors all melded together.