We arrive at my building all too soon, and I don’t want this to end yet. I realize that Liam has changed his attitude towards me and that I should probably change mine too. You know, play nice. Figuring that I’m in this far, I may as well grant myself the power to do whatever I feel like doing in the moment. Liam had his driver come and collect us from the restaurant, the car was already waiting at the curb when we got outside. I can’t say how grateful I was given the arctic conditions that are still gracing London. The car ride was filled with unanswered questions and toxic electricity, and by the time we reached my flat I was about ready to mount his thick thighs and get myself off. I turn my body to face him, his eyes are twinkling with the mischief of an eighteen-year-old boy making me blush like an equally young girl. Grateful that we’re both on the same page, I throw all my eggs in one basket before asking him “Would you like to come up for a coffee?”.
I don’t want him to think I’m expecting sex. I’m not. Well maybe just a little bit, but I do want to get to know him. It can’t hurt to have another friend can it? Especially one I’m going to be working with. I’m all too aware of the silent gentleman in the front seat and flick my eyes to him quickly. Liam lets out a small laugh, but his face breaks out into a breath-taking smile. His strong jaw is highlighted by the soft glow of the street light, and his high cheekbones rise even higher when he smiles.
“I thought you’d never ask”
Relief washes over me as he jumps out of the car and rounds it to open my door. Okay, this is good. Coffee just coffee, I repeat the mantra to myself as we walk into my building before I grab my mail from Rick at reception.
“Thanks” I smile at him as he eyes up Liam questioningly. I decide to ignore it and walk over to wait for the lift. Rick’s worked here since before I moved in, he’s an older guy who looks like your typical uncle. Caring, friendly and too damn nosy for his own good.
Once we’re inside he doesn’t take his eyes off me. I squirm a little under his gaze, but I like it. My body reacts to his in ways I can’t explain, and I’m already tired of fighting them. Remnants of his kiss linger on my lips and I resist the urge to raise my fingers and feel them. I can’t tell if their as swollen as they feel but I want him to do it again. I haven’t had anyone look at me like this in years and the butterflies are a welcome change. My body is screaming to be fucked by this man, and I know if he asks me again I’ll say yes. I mentally scold myself for not going to dinner with him sooner, but hindsight is a wonderful thing isn’t it!
Once we’re inside, Liam takes his time observing his surroundings, seen as I didn’t give him much of a chance over the weekend. It seems to have that effect on people when they take in the view. During the summer when the Notting Hill festival is on, it can get quite hectic, but the atmosphere makes it worth it. I head into the kitchen to make us some coffee, draping my coat across the back of the stool before flicking the kettle on and sorting through my mail. An envelope with my address handwritten in a scribble on the front immediately catches my attention and my stomach drops.
“Everything okay?” Liam’s deep baritone voice shocks me, and I jump slightly.
“Didn’t mean to scare you” he says as I turn around and crumple up the letter I know is from my mother and throw it in the bin next to me.
“Yeah, sorry” I force a smile and turn to finish making our drinks. I follow Liam back into the living room where he heads over to the window.
“Great view, isn’t it?” I pass him his mug before blowing on mine and taking a sip.
Liam tilts his own mug to his lips before turning and looking at me. His eyes rake over my body for the hundredth time tonight.
“I’m definitely not complaining” I roll my eyes as I feel my cheeks flush and my stomach does a little dance. I turn to take a seat on my sectional and switch the end table lamp on, letting the room glow in its low light. Letting my eyes wander to the window, the twinkling city lights dancing like small wild fires across the city are starting to turn festive. Christmas isn’t far away, streets are now lined with festive colors and ornaments; huge trees are popping up everywhere. Red, Greens, Golds and Silvers are adorning the city in a new comforting glow, and I would love it if I had any family to celebrate with. I wonder what Liam does for Christmas, I bet he goes home to his parents or something. I’ll be bombarding Becca and Jason’s Christmas as has been tradition for years now.
Liam comes to join me and sets his mug down on my coffee table. Turning his body towards me, he braces one leg on the sofa beside me and rest his arm cross the back. I turn to face him a little before he speaks.
“The first time we met, I had no idea what to expect of you. But I do know that now we’ve come this far, I’m not stopping” his features are darkly serious, and I swallow before thinking of something to say.
“What do you mean?”
“I think you know what I mean but given our current working situation I think we need to clear a few things up” he clasps his hands between his knees, like he would in a business meeting.
I roll my bottom lip between my teeth before nodding for him to continue. I know deep down that I shouldn’t get involved with him, but the attraction to him is something I can’t bring myself to ignore.
“I know you’ll remain professional in our working life, and I assume you know the same about me. I know you hate being out of control of certain situations, but if we’re going to do this then you will have to relinquish some of that”
I furrow my brow as his words sink in, realizing that he’s figured me out just as much as I have him. We both need control, we both like knowing that we can determine what happens next. But what happens when you put two people like that together? I’m past caring at this point, I want to find out.
“Okay” I say quietly, as the light behind Liam’s eyes dances with anticipation.
I may be confused that he’s still here, and that he still kissed me like his life depended on it, but I’ll be damned if it doesn’t please me. I place my mug on the table next to his, eager for his next words. I don’t even know if I want a choice with Liam. A fleeting thought crosses my mind that it’s possible he is feeling the same, but rather than fighting it and denying himself he’s going with it. Like he keeps telling me to. Like Becca keeps telling me to. As if he senses that I’m not going to say anymore, he leans in as I hear myself inhale. I don’t feel like I’m breathing as my nose is drowned in his spicy scent and my body temperature cranks up a notch as he gets closer. My gaze diverts from his eyes to his lips and back again, before he closes the distance between us. I didn’t expect his lips to still feel as soft as they look, but they brush against mine too gently, giving me another sample of him. I’ve had one too many of his kisses and I know deep down that he’s only giving them to me to pacify my need, but I’m past that point, I desperately crave more of him. Pushing a little harder against me as if he senses my need, my body relaxes into him, trusting him to make that ache go away.
We aren’t in public anymore, and the thrumming between my legs isn’t going to stop itself. I kiss him back, giving him a taste of me, as his tongue pushes through my lips and brushes with mine. Heat travels all over me, making my hairs stand on edge as he brings his hand up to hold my face to deepen our kiss. Our tongues tangle together, his unique taste invading my senses. My hands travel up his arms, over his toned biceps before coming to a rest on his broad shoulders. A small moan escapes me, and Liam pulls back just enough to rest his forehead against mine.
“I don’t want this to go any further than you want it to, once I start I won’t be able to stop” he breathes across my already sensitive skin.
I shiver under his words as they seep into my skin, I can let go, I can let loose. I need this, I need him. I’ve never known a man to be so kind, gentle, caring, and still have the ability to make me fear him slightly. My subconscious is screaming at me to get away from him, that he will only, inevitably hurt me. But the words that my mouth speaks, reveal a hidden confidence that I thought I had long lost.
“It’s fine” I gasp before grabbing the fabric of his jacket in my fists and closing the distance between us again.