I honestly have no idea if Liam can cook, but I can’t cook worth a damn, nothing beyond mac and cheese and whatever comes out of a can. “We eat out a lot.”
Grandma’s eyes go wide. “Is that a euphemism?”
Oh. My. God. “Grandma!”
“Well, a man who doesn’t eat out often isn’t worth keeping, either.”
My cheeks are on fire. I’m scandalized. Truly. I open my mouth but can’t actually think of what to say.
“Oh, Mother, enough.” My mom waves her hand. “Don’t mind her, Maggie. She’s been reading those magazines, the trashy ones that talk about”—she leans in, raising her hand to shield her mouth from the rest of the table—“sex and whatnot. She thinks she’s some kind of guru now.”
“I know what I’m talking about.” She shifts closer to me. “So tell me, Maggie, darling, is he a keeper or not?”
I laugh, look toward Liam, but he’s consumed in a conversation with Teddy. I turn back to Grandma. “I’m not in the hot seat. You don’t get to know my secrets yet.”
She reaches over and pats my hand. “Oh dear, I’m just getting warmed up. By the time I’m through with you this weekend, I’m going to know all your secrets.” Her eyes sparkle mischievously.
I gulp, pick up my glass of wine, and down it completely. The servers come with a platter of things, and my mom clinks her glass.
“Seat change!”
Over the next hour, we make the rounds, and I manage to avoid the hot seat…so far, anyway. Not totally on purpose. It seems that everyone wants to get in that seat next to Grandma. Even Liam takes his turn. I have no idea what she asks him, but I swear he’s blushing by the time the next seat change comes along.
Now I’m sandwiched between Amelia and Charlotte, by design I’m sure.
“There’s a job open in our mail room at the office,” Charlotte says as she forks some of her cake into her mouth.
I haven’t actually seen her eat anything with sugar in years, so this fascinates me.
“Um, huh?” I look up at her with confusion. “Are you talking to me?”
She rolls her eyes. “Yes, you dolt.” Then she forks more cake. “God, this stuff is so good. You could get a job, start in the mail room, it’s quiet down there, and you’d be able to study.”
“Study for…?”
She finishes her cake and motions to mine. “You going to eat that?”
I shake my head and push my plate toward her. “I’m not taking my LSATs, Char.” I sigh. “Besides, I just had an interview that went really well. I’m pretty sure—”
“Oh God, Maggie,” Charlotte says. “When are you going to wake up, little sis? Your field is saturated with new graduates. You need to get something more practical in mind. With our connections”—she motions over to Amelia—“you would be employed even before you’ve finished law school.”
“The money—”
“So get another student loan.” Charlotte shrugs. “You’ll have it paid off in no time if you’re working with me.”
I shake my head. When will this conversation end?
“What were you two doing in the woods earlier?” Amelia hisses into my ear on my other side.
I shift a look at her. “Walking?”
She’s shaking her head, her eyes narrowed. “Liar. You were doing it!”
“Who was doing it?” Charlotte asks.
“Shh!” My cheeks are red. Liam catches my eye and smiles. He’s sitting next to my uncle Walt, Dad’s younger brother, and my cousin Shelly, Aunt Chrissy’s only daughter. I smile back. “We weren’t, so you don’t need to announce it to the whole table, Amelia!”
“If you weren’t doing it, you were going to.” She stabs her fork into her cake. “How could you even think about doing something like that out there? You could have been caught!”
“Wait, what?” Charlotte is leaning closer to us, trying to be in the conversation. “What’s going on?”
Amelia leans in as well so I’m stuck between them like a pack of sardines. “Maggie and Liam were about to have sex in the woods, on the trail, for everyone to see. Luckily, I stopped them just in time.”
“Oh my God. There was nothing to stop!” Okay, so our little make-out session was totally hot, and yeah, maybe if Amelia hadn’t come by when she did, we would have done it right there against a tree. I wouldn’t have been opposed. Liam is capital H hot. But my sisters don’t need to know that.
“Wait…Maggie did what?”
Amelia ignores her. “You would have disgraced Mom and Dad if you’d been caught.”
“Oh, give me a break. Disgraced? What is this, the seventeenth century? God, Amelia, lighten up. Even Grandma was taking about sex earlier.”
“Grandma is old and doesn’t know any better. You aren’t and do.”
“Grandma knows a whole lot more than you do.” I cross my arms and sit back. “And besides, no one was around and nothing actually happened.”
“But it almost did and someone could have seen!” Amelia hisses.
“Well, yeah. That’s part of the fun!” I throw my hands up, my voice a little louder than I mean it to be.
“There will be no more of that, little sister. We have an image to uphold, you know that. Think about how scandalized Mom would be. We’ll be meeting all kinds of new family members, and you don’t want to make a bad impression by seeming uncouth.” Amelia nods like she’s imparting valuable insight into the world and not just parroting what our mother always says. “Besides, this is Grandma’s big event, and you aren’t going to ruin it with your ‘fun.’”
“Sorry, am I hearing that right? Grandma doesn’t want me to have fun? Sounds like your idea of a great time.”
I push up out of my chair, tilt my head, and let my hat fall off. Liam looks over at me, his lips curling into a smile that’s all predator. We may not have decided on a “suitable” punishment, but I’m kinda hoping that spanking is still on the table.
Amelia catches his look and makes a weird noise in her throat. “Don’t do anything embarrassing. Please.”
I nod at him then move to Grandma’s end of the table and bend down to her ear. “Sorry to interrupt, but Liam has just given me the look…you know…the look, and we’re just going to slip out for bit, if that’s okay?”
Grandma pats the side of my face. “Of course, dear. You two go get it on. Don’t let me stop you.”
Chapter Eight
Maggie
Amelia’s judgmental concerns make me want to be wild, do something spontaneous, daring. But the place is packed with people, and my mind just keeps going to our room. Our room. Like mine and Liam’s. There are two room cards waiting for me at the front desk. For the first time, I have a significant other to give a room card to, and that makes me…giddy, happy, satisfied. It’s a little unnerving just how much I want this.
“You lost your hat.” Liam sidles up next to me, his hand on my waist, and the giddiness just amplifies.
I turn toward him, key card up and eyebrow cocked. “Wanna go check out our room?” Which I desperately want to mean sex. Sex with this gorgeous man, who revved me up right from our first kiss at the coffee chop and then amplified all that lust at my apartment. That kiss in the forest cranked me up so much that my body hasn’t stopped vibrating since.
His eyes widen, and a slow smile spreads on his lips. That dimple I love pops into place, and I melt all over the floor. “How much time do we have before the next event?” he asks.
“Probably enough to get into some trouble.” I’ve never been this bold with anyone before, but there’s something about Liam that makes it all feel safe, like there’s no way he’s going to ever reject me.
“You are Maggie, no?” An older gentlemen is standing at the front desk, a garment bag draped on his arm. He’s shorter than me, rounder, too, with stark white hair and a handlebar mustache tha
t looks like it takes more work to shape and curl than my own hair care routine. His eyebrows are pretty wild, too, bushy and expressive. He’s wearing a mustard yellow hat that has two brown feathers sticking out from one side and a pinstriped suit that looks straight out of some fifties gangster movie.
I turn fully and smile. Relatives will be coming in from all over the place. Just because I don’t recognize this one doesn’t mean much. Mom and Grandma sorted through all of Grandpa’s research and invited the remotest of extended family for the reunion. “I am! One of Rebecca and Fred’s daughters.”
“Ah, yes!” He reaches toward me, his hand out to shake. “I am your great uncle, Bernard.”
Grandpa’s brother who has been traveling the world for practically his whole life. He’d come to see Grandpa a week before he’d passed. Grandma said Uncle Bernard had snuck into their home in the middle of the night, had sat with Grandpa, whispering in the darkness for hours, and then had slipped out before the sun had fully risen. He didn’t attend the funeral, and I never got the chance to meet him, until now.
The moment our hands connect, he pulls me in for a hug, wrapping me up in his arms like we’ve known each other our whole lives. It’s warm and strong, and he pats me on the back a few times while laughing in my ear about how tall and sturdy I am. I take that as a compliment rather than getting all down on myself for not being waft thin. Liam doesn’t seem to care that I’ve got a few pounds to lose, and for the last few hours, neither have I. In fact, I haven’t felt self-conscious at all around Liam, probably because every time he looks at me, it’s like he wants to eat me alive, curves and all.
“You look like your grandma did when she was your age, you know?” He pulls back a little, his hands on my upper arms, eyes wrinkled and lips pulled into a kind smile. “I was so in love with her.” Then he covers his mouth for a moment and laughs loudly. “Well, that secret was not much of a secret. Even my brother knew as much.”
His cheeks are red, matching mine, I’m sure.
“I’m Liam Walsh.” Liam shifts his hand out to shake. “Maggie’s—”
“Beau!” Uncle Bernard shakes Liam’s hand vigorously. “Yes, yes, you are quite handsome, you know?”
Liam chuckles, and so do I. I’m not entirely sure Liam does know just how handsome he is. He’s striking, really, and as much as I know the look of him could come across as intimidating, especially when he turns those dark, penetrating eyes on you, there’s also something that draws you in. I saw it happen again and again each time he sat in a new place at the lunch game just now. Each person took him in, did a double take, then leaned closer and gave him their rapt attention. I know the feeling. I’ve been watching him drink his coffee and read his paper for the last four months, completely sucked in. Aunt Geri and Aunt Chrissy couldn’t keep their hands off of him, either. There’s just something about Liam that is captivating.
“Sir, I just need your signature here,” the desk clerk says.
“Ah, yes.” Uncle Bernard turns to take the pen. “I will see you two around, I suppose.”
“Grandma and the rest of the gang are in the banquet room over there.” I point behind me. “But you’ll find an agenda of all the events and times in your room.”
Uncle Bernard waves his hand. “Yes, yes, your mother did mention that.” He looks up and winks. “See you soon, my dear.” He nods at Liam. “And you, Mr. Handsome.”
I take Liam’s hand and lead him to the elevators.
“He was in love with your grandmother?” Liam laughs. “There’s a story there.”
I nod, turning to face him. “She’s always after everyone else’s secrets, but here she is with one of her own.” I wonder if I can get her to spill.
The doors open, and Liam looks around then pulls me into the elevator, hitting the close door button before anyone can follow us. I gasp as he gently pushes me back until he’s got me up against the wall. His lips are on my throat, kissing up and down, his hands on my hips, pulling me closer. I can feel the hard outline of his dick through our clothes, and it makes me squirm.
“What’s our room number?”
“Eight-forty,” I say breathlessly.
His hand is on my breast, kneading my flesh. My nipples seem to like that. A lot. I gulp when he pulls back enough to look at me. His eyes are dark, intense. No smile on his lips.
“I want to taste you, Maggie. I want to make you moan. You want that, too, don’t you?” He leans in and presses his forehead to mine. “God, I shouldn’t be doing this, but I just can’t stop touching you.”
I try to insist that yes, yes he should be doing this, but my throat is clogged with heat and lust. His hand goes to my jaw, angling so that he can kiss me. His tongue plunges into my mouth, darting around mine, stroking me until I can’t breathe. His lips open wider, forcing mine to as well, and I feel like I’m being swallowed whole.
I can’t catch my breath, and I don’t want to.
My hands are on his chest, fingers moving as his muscles flex. I rub his nipples, delighting in how hard they get from my touch. He moans. I love that he’s so into me. Like he really can’t stop himself from touching me.
I want to make him feel good, too. I want to hear that moan again. I focus on him, his body, his mouth, his fingers gripping my hip and caressing my breast, pulling at my clothes like he wants to rip them off of me.
The doors ding open, and luckily no one is waiting to get on because Liam suddenly picks me up and swings me over his shoulder. His hand is gripping my ass so hard that there’s no way I’m going to fall, not with his other hand locked against my legs as they are.
I laugh. This is exhilarating. This is dangerous. It makes me feel alive and free to do as I please. With Liam.
My breasts are pushed up to my chin, smothering me in a comical way. I try to keep myself somewhat upright, one hand at the curve of his ass the other holding his waist, but I can’t stop laughing.
He grunts and bounces me a little, jostling me so he can put the key card in the slot. The door makes a clicking noise, and then we’re inside. He doesn’t give me a chance to notice anything about the room except for the bed where he flips me back over his shoulder and throws me down. I bounce, the bed squeaks, and Liam twirls his finger at me.
“I want to see all of you,” he says. “Strip.”
…
Liam
Maybe I got a bit carried away in the elevator, but shit…Maggie turned on like this is everything. I’ve got to slow things down. As much as I want to act out every fantasy I’ve ever had about this girl, I have to remember this isn’t about going all the way; this is about making Maggie feel good, and that’s it. I can rub one out in the bathroom later, but right now I’m going to make sure that Maggie gets off with a bang.
I sweep the covers back and then off so there’s nothing for her to cover herself with. I want to see her…all of her…I’ve been stripping her in my thoughts for months, so there’s no way I’m going to blow this first look at her naked.
I slowly start to unbutton my shirt.
She’s propped herself on her elbows and is watching me. There’s a glint in her eyes, and she’s not quivering any more. I’m starting to think that she’s not as nervous as she is excited, and the things that realization does for my libido almost drop me to my knees.
Cool it, Doyle. Keep your head in the game. No sex.
I decide against taking off my shirt and kick my shoes off instead.
“Maggie…” I unbutton my sleeves and roll them up.
“Yeah?” Her eyes are glued to me, trailing over my chest, down my abs, to my crotch, scorching me with just a look. Fuck, how am I going to survive this? She licks her lips.
“Take your clothes off.”
She looks up at me, and her cheeks go red. “Oh,” she breathes. That blush of hers, it’s enticing but also deceiving. She’s smiling again, the kind of s
mile that says she’s taking orders only because she wants to take orders.
“Sweater off first,” I say.
She gives me a two-finger salute then shifts herself up a little and pulls her top over her head. Her bra is white, cotton, and barely contains her huge tits. I can see her rosy nipples peaking through the fabric. My cock pulses hard. I want to eat her up.
“Pants.”
She gives me a slow nod, shimmies out of her pants, flashing me a pair of those boy short panties with a…cat head smiling on her… “Pussy panties.” I smirk.
“I have a whole set, and I brought them all. A different kitty every day.” She laughs then chokes on it when I climb onto the bed and put my hand on her knee.
“On your back, sweetheart, and spread your legs.” I encourage her back, my hand on her hip to ease her up the bed so I can get on with her. She scoots up so her head is on a pillow, and I follow her there, pushing between her legs, licking my way up her stomach to latch onto her nipple through her bra. She arches up again, her hand snaking back to unclasp her bra, and suddenly her tits are free. Full and spilling past the gate of the cotton. I pull the material down and flick her nipples, one after the other, with my tongue, sucking hard, nipping gently, then sucking hard again. Her crotch is pressed to my cock, which is still encased in my pants, and it’s maddening. I want flesh on flesh, and she’s rolling her hips up, grinding herself against me in a way that is making me want to fuck her good and proper.
I slide my hand down into her panties and swirl my fingers between her folds. She’s so wet, so tight, as I ease two of my fingers inside of her. The panties have got to go. I strip them down her thighs and off her legs completely, tossing them away. And then she’s bare, spread wide and glistening. Her pussy lips are plump and pink. I bend down to run my tongue up her slit. Just as I suspected, she tastes as good as she looks. I lick up to the bud of her clit and suck it between my lips so hard that she bucks into me, arching her back, her tits jutting prettily. With one hand playing with her nipple and my fingers deep inside, I suck and stroke, flick and tug, lick and rub until she’s moaning and writhing and I know she’s close to coming in my mouth.
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