“What are your parents’ names?” Dad asks him. “Maybe we know them.”
Liam tenses. “Colleen and … Don.”
“Hmm,” Dad says. “Can’t say that I do.”
I don’t like where this is going. I pick up the menu. “What’s good here?”
As my parents go over the entrées and tell me what they like, Liam squeezes my knee. I put my hand under the table and give his a pat. He traps mine and holds it.
“The broiled scallops sound good,” I say. I turn to Liam. “What about you?”
“I’m going for the sirloin.”
“Ah, a fellow carnivore,” Dad says. “A boy after my own heart.”
Mom scolds him. “Liam’s hardly a boy. What are you, twenty-five?”
“Twenty-four, ma’am.”
I raise my brows at him. I don’t think I’ve ever heard him be so formal. I can tell he has no idea what to say or how to act. I feel bad for agreeing to this.
“Pish, stop with the ma’am,” Mom says. “Call me Ann.”
After the waitress takes our order, Dad quizzes me about the books I’m illustrating. Then he turns to Liam. Here we go.
“Ella tells us you’re in a rock band.”
“Yes, sir. I play guitar.”
Sir? I give him a sideways glance. He mouths, “What?”
“And this band is the reason my daughter followed you to Florida? What’s it called, Reckless something or other?”
“Daddy, you promised.”
“I’m just making conversation, pumpkin.”
“She didn’t follow me,” Liam says. “She came because I invited her. We weren’t, um, together or anything. But she inspired me.”
“Liam writes music for Reckless Alibi. Not the lyrics but the melodies.”
Dad’s eyebrows shoot up. “A composer?”
Liam nods.
“Impressive,” Dad says.
I squeeze Liam’s hand.
Dad tops off his glass of wine. “Where do you see yourself in the long term, Liam?”
“Still with Reckless Alibi.”
“Kind of a pipe dream, don’t you think? Wanting to be in a rock band in your thirties and forties? What kind of life can that be? Do you expect your wife to support you?”
“Daddy,” I warn.
“It’s okay,” Liam says to me. He looks my dad straight in the eye. “The average record sells just over 11,000 copies. The average record from an indie label, like ours, sells less than 2,000. Reckless Alibi’s first album has sold more than 50,000 copies in under a year. We’ve got two others and are about to cut our fourth. My bank account is fat, and I don’t expect that to change anytime soon. We’re only at the beginning of being famous. So I plan to be in a rock band until the day I die.” He glances at me to see my surprise. Then he turns back to my dad. “Sir.”
Dad stares him down. There is a lot of tension in the air. Finally, his palm meets the table. “Okay, I stand corrected.”
I let out a breath of relief. I think I see the hint of a smirk on Liam’s face. God, it’s so sexy the way he just handled my dad.
The rest of dinner is fairly benign. Dad asks Liam a lot of questions about the music industry. It’s almost as if he envies him. Mom listens to them and smiles at me. She nods her approval at me. I can tell she’s smitten with him.
Dessert comes, and with it, the question that makes Liam crush my hand like he’s drowning and I’m his life preserver.
“What kind of work does your father do?” Mom asks.
“Liam’s parents aren’t with us anymore. Can we please talk about something else?”
“Oh, I’m sorry,” Mom says to him. “We’re no stranger to loss. I’m sure Ella told you about her twin sister.”
“Mom, that is not not talking about it.”
Liam clears his throat. “Did Ella tell you she created the cover for our next album?”
“She did indeed,” Dad says. “Now that I know how successful you are, I’m even more impressed with her.”
The check comes. Liam reaches for it. “I’d like to get this.”
“Son, I don’t care how fat your bank account is,” Dad says. “We invited you. We tortured you with our questions. We’re paying for the meal.”
“Thank you.”
On our way out, Dad and Liam walk ahead. Mom pulls me close. “You said he was handsome, but I didn’t expect this. Well done, sweetie. I approve.”
“Good. So no more talk about Corey?”
“No.”
I hug my parents at the door. Mom hugs Liam. He looks completely awkward when he pats her on the back. I try not to laugh.
Dad extends his hand. “Liam, it’s been a pleasure. You two don’t be strangers now.”
Liam shakes. “Nice to meet you too, sir, and we won’t.”
They walk away.
Liam rolls up his sleeves and loosens his collar. I don’t think he means for it to be sexy but it totally is. He’s just happy to be done with the third degree.
I slump against the side of the building. “I am so sorry for subjecting you to that.”
His gaze sweeps over me. “Just how sorry are we talking?”
I question him with my eyes.
“I’m only saying, if you think you owe me something, I’m willing to collect.”
My insides tingle. “Let’s go back to my place so I can pay up.”
He takes my hand and leads me away. I love the feeling of his hand holding mine. I glance around. Does anyone recognize him? How long will it be before he can’t stroll down the street without girls chasing him?
“You really stood up to my dad when he was grilling you.”
“Is that not how guys talk to the fathers of the daughters they’re dating?”
I smile. “So we’re dating?”
He doesn’t answer, but he tightens his fingers around mine.
“It was sexy,” I say.
He stops and looks at me sideways. “The way I talked to your father?”
“Corey agreed with everything he said. He was such a kiss-ass.”
“And you don’t want that?”
“No. I want you.”
For a second, I think I see fear in his eyes. Then something changes. Our gazes lock. I wish he could know what I’m thinking. If he did, though, he’d probably run away. Because I love every part of him, the damaged and the good. I want to be with him every day and sleep next to him at night. Love him the way he deserves to be loved.
He runs a finger across my cheek and pulls my bottom lip from between my teeth. “I want you, too.”
Chapter Forty-three
Liam
We’re alone as we ride up in the elevator. I stand behind her and pull her close. I gently wrap a hand around her neck and maneuver her head to the side so I can kiss her along the top of her shoulder. She shudders and presses into me as I work my lips toward her ear. I make sure she can feel my erection through my slacks.
The elevator doors open. Ella tugs me down the hall. The way she wants me is amazing. Other women have wanted me, but only for sex. After they had me and knew how messed up I was, they didn’t want me again. The way Ella wants me is different. She wants my heart. My soul. And I’ll be damned if I don’t want to give it to her.
As soon as we’re inside her apartment, she kicks off her shoes, leads me to the couch, pushes me down, and straddles me. She looks at me with such heat, reverence, and intensity, I almost can’t breathe.
She pulls off my shirt. Her hands feel exquisite as they explore my chest. I’m hungry for her to do more, but I can tell she’s hesitant. “Lower,” I say.
She’s surprised. “Are you sure?”
“Lower,” I growl.
Her eyebrows shoot up. “Who’s being bossy now?”
“God, woman. Just do it.”
I lean my head back and close my eyes.
“Not unless you look at me,” she says.
She’s always been right about that. I have to watch so I know it’s her to
uching me. She runs a hand down my stomach. I draw in a quick breath, and she withdraws. I take her hand and put it back on me.
She caresses my lower abs and runs a finger under the waistband of my pants, teasing me with her light touch. She grazes the head of my cock and pulls back. “I’m sorry.”
I stand up with her in my arms. “I don’t want you be sorry, El. I want you to fucking touch me.” I set her next to me and strip off the rest of my clothes. “I want you to touch me like I’m a normal guy, not some freak.”
Her gaze runs up and down my body. The way she strokes her neck as she peruses me makes my cock stand at full attention. “You’ve never been a freak, Liam.”
“That’s not what everyone else says.”
She skims her hands down my arms. “I’m not everyone else. Now sit.”
I do what she asks, then watch as she undresses in front of me. Her blouse falls to the floor, followed by her pants. Only small scraps of pink fabric remain. She moves between my legs. “You do the rest.”
I unclasp her bra. Her breasts are right in front of my face, so I take one in my mouth. She moans. I reach around and knead the soft globes of her ass as I lick her nipples.
I rip off her panties to find her soaking wet. When I slip a finger inside her, she says my name. It’s one sexy, sultry, throaty word. One I want to hear her say every day for the rest of my goddamn life.
She climbs onto my lap and rubs her clit on my dick. Ho-o-ly fuck. I could slip inside her so easily, but I can’t.
“You have to touch me,” I say. “I won’t do this with you unless you touch me.”
She scoots back onto my thighs, looks down at my hard, slick cock and then back up at me. She’s nervous. I’m fucking terrified.
I put her hand on me. Like before, my hand is on top of hers, and I leave it there when she starts to move. But then I take a deep breath and pull my hand away. She stops moving when I tense. I swallow and nod.
Then my whole goddamn world changes.
Her hand moves up and down my shaft. I cup her breasts. We gaze at each other. Her eyes half close, and her teeth capture her bottom lip as the motion of her hand quickens.
I’ve never been so scared yet deliriously happy at the same time. She’s touching me. And I’m letting her.
I’m watching in fascination as she gives me the first real handy a woman has ever given me. When I feel thoughts of Don start to creep into my mind, I push them aside. Ella is nothing like him. Her hands are soft and gentle. And more importantly, I invited her to do this. I’m the one in control.
“God, Liam, you feel so good.”
My insides burn as she tells me how she likes doing this to me. Her voice pushes me over the edge, and I grunt as I come amazingly, gloriously, and unabashedly.
Holy shit. I sit, stunned at the incredible way I feel after she flew solo. The sick bastard was right about one thing, it is better when someone else does it. But it has to be the right someone. Not some pervert pedophile.
I shake my head—tossing him out of my thoughts. Because after what she just did for me, there’s only one thing in this world I want to do.
We switch positions so she’s on the couch and I’m kneeling before her. I get my shirt off the floor and wipe the come off her chest, then I stick a finger inside her and lower my head between her legs. “You have no idea how long I’ve dreamed of doing this to you.”
Her head falls back as soon as my tongue touches her clit. She grips my hair and holds me close, and I realize I don’t even mind it. Because the smell of her, the taste, is beyond anything I’ve ever experienced. She’s all woman. And right now—she’s fucking mine. As if there’s any chance I’d stop. Every other time I’ve done this, it was for my pleasure, not theirs. Her mouth is open, and her eyes are closed. I’ve never given two shits how I made a woman feel. I’d give anything to make her feel like this every second of every day.
I push two fingers inside her and find the spot that drives her wild. She says my name again. I suck on her clit, lashing it with my tongue, grazing it with my stubble. She bucks into my face and tenses every muscle, then has the most spectacular orgasm.
Her pussy is pink and swollen. I get hard again looking at it. I want to be inside her so bad. I want it more than a gold record. More than any amount of money.
I pull her closer to the edge of the couch. She knows what I’m doing. She reaches between us and runs her hand along my erection. This time I don’t flinch. I don’t tense. I don’t do anything but enjoy the feel of her hand on me. I inch closer and she guides me inside her.
She’s warm and slick and tight. “God, Ella.”
A tear rolls from her eye. I wipe it away. I kiss her as I make love to her. Hell, I almost cry myself. I’m making love to a woman. Not fucking, making love. It’s the most intimate thing that’s ever happened to me. And suddenly I feel free.
I pull away from her lips, needing to see her face as I pump in and out of her. “Liam, I …” She pauses, and I panic. Maybe she doesn’t want this after all. But she grabs my ass and holds me inside. “I love you.”
Something inside me shifts. Nobody has said those words to me since I was little. Even my mother rarely said them. This woman—this angel—loves me? How can that be?
I realize she’s holding my ass. And I’m letting her. I’ve never allowed anyone to touch me there, but she is. And I’m not stopping or running away. I’m not even moving her hands.
And she loves me.
I start to move in her again. I frame her face with my hands and kiss her. I can’t say the words. I’m not sure I even know what love is. But I can kiss her. Will she know there are things I want to say but can’t?
She wraps her legs around me. The noises coming from her throat make my balls tighten. I thrust one last time and shout as I come inside her.
I collapse on her. “Shit, I couldn’t wait for you. I’m sorry.”
“It wouldn’t have mattered,” she says into my hair. “I’ve never come twice.”
I sit up and look at her, surprised. “Never?”
She shakes her head.
“You realize you’ve issued a challenge, right?”
She gazes at me sweetly. “So you’re not running away?”
“After that? Are you kidding? El, I never thought … I just … No, I’m not running away.”
I sit on the couch next to her and cross my feet on the coffee table, going over in my mind what just happened. It’s unbelievable.
“I’m on the pill, in case you were wondering.”
“I know. I’ve seen them in your bathroom. I’ve never gone without a condom. At least I don’t think I have. There may have been one or two drunken nights where I blacked out and didn’t know what happened. Shit, we should have used one. I’ll get tested.”
“We’ll both get tested. I’ve gone without them myself.” She thumbs to her bedroom. “Do you want to stay over?”
“If I do, I can’t promise I won’t take you up on your challenge.”
The edges of her mouth turn up. “I was kind of counting on it.”
I stand, pick her up, and carry her to the bathroom.
While she turns on the shower, I see her toothbrush on the counter and remember something Crew said to me not long ago. I pick it up and squirt toothpaste on it before sticking it in my mouth.
Ella sees me. “I can get you your own if you want.”
I smile because, like Crew, I don’t want my own. If she only knew what a monumental moment this was. If only I could find the words to tell her.
Thirty minutes later, the lights are off, and we’re doing one of my favorite things—lying in bed, gazing at each other.
“So you’re good?” she asks. “We’re good?”
“Yeah.”
“I got carried away. I blindsided you. I shouldn’t have said it.”
I rise on an elbow. “Are you saying you didn’t mean it?”
“I meant it. I mean it. But I shouldn’t have said it. It’s too soon
.”
“There’s a timetable for this sort of thing?”
She snorts. “No.”
I brush her hair back. “I want you to always be honest with me.”
“The same goes for you.”
I roll her on her back and pin her to the bed. “I honestly want to give you two more orgasms.”
She shimmies beneath me.
“I want you to touch me everywhere, El.”
When I lean down to kiss her, I can feel her smile.
I pull away and stare into her eyes. “As long as we’re sharing, there is something I want to tell you. This. You. Us. It’s making me feel something I’ve never felt before.”
“What?”
I lean down so our lips almost touch. “Happy.”
Chapter Forty-four
Ella
Strolling down the sidewalk to meet Liam for lunch, I can’t help my smile. He said he’s happy. Hearing that delighted me more than hearing him say I love you would have. He’s happy. I didn’t scare him off. He spent the night. He met and exceeded the challenge.
Last night may have possibly been the best night of my entire life.
I’m approaching IRL when I see the one person I didn’t want to run into. She gets a sour look on her face and stomps over. “You’re here for Liam, I presume.”
“Hi, Ronni. We’re meeting for lunch.”
She looks me over. I dressed for the occasion, but you’d think she was staring at a pauper. “You’re doing more harm than good, you know.”
For a second, I think she’s talking about Liam’s past. But then I realize there is no way he would have told someone like Ronni about it. “I don’t think Liam sees it that way.”
“You being around him all the time ruins their image, especially given the unfortunate circumstance of you both having the same last name.”
“We could be brother and sister,” I say with a smirk.
“Are you trying to make a joke? Because this isn’t a joking matter. This is business.”
“You say you’re worried about their image, but what you mean is you don’t want Liam having a girlfriend.”
Reckless Invitation (The Reckless Rockstar Series) Page 24