Chapter 31
Raven was blindfolded as Liam led her. They were downstairs, but that could mean anywhere in the huge house. “C’mon, Liam, I don’t like surprises.”
“You love the end product, you love surprises,” Liam corrected. “Turn left.”
About to agree, her nose crinkled. “Uh, what’s that burnt odor?”
“Are you ready?”
“Yeah.” Raven clapped her hands together. He tugged at the string of the blindfold, and it floated to the floor. All she could say was “Oh …” as she looked at the kitchen table to see a chilled bottle of wine—the really good, expensive stuff that he’d harped about before—lit tapered candles, and burnt … Well, it looked like some type of noodle and black chunks of disgustingness.
“This is what you’re not going to eat. Remember you mentioned chicken Alfredo for dinner tonight.”
“Oh-kay, so why didn’t you just take me to Olive Garden?” She didn’t know whether to laugh or frown. Diamonds in her eyes, she was in love. Romantic times like this turned her brain into a warm, healthy serving of oatmeal. And, like the flake she was, she’d all but forgotten her plan to break his heart.
“I had to show you all the energy that I put into cooking.”
“I appreciate it, but I’m still hungry,” she replied in a melodramatic tone.
“Let me finish.” He put his finger over her plump lips. “I’m taking you to Sicily.”
“Aw, Liam! I’ve already been there,” she said as her bottom lip protruded, “that place off Canter Street has nothing on Olive Garden and the bread sticks, delish.”
“Sicily, Italy!” He laughed, shaking his head.
***
“That was gooood.” Raven patted her belly as her wedges clopped over the stone pathway, leaving a quaint family-style restaurant—a gem in a maze of meandering streets with tiny foreign cars and mopeds. Upon arrival, Liam had surprised her with breakfast on a private beach, followed by sightseeing. She’d photographed ancient structures with weathered stonework that would grace her graduate portfolio. A sea breeze with a hint of fragrant soaps from a specialty shop about two doors ahead chilled her bare shoulders and ruffled her maxi dress.
They strolled under a spray of stars and stopped next to a gathering on a street corner; spellbound by a crooner whose belly protruded between suspenders. She didn’t know what the brawny man sang, but his melodic-bass voice laced the perfect serenade.
Liam tossed a few Euros in a hat near the singer’s feet. He wrapped his arms around Raven from behind, brushing her hair over her shoulder and nuzzling her neck.
“How do you say, ‘I love you’ in Italian?” she whispered.
“Tu sei la miaragione di vitae perchésorridoogni giorno. Tu seitutto ciò che èperfettoper il futuro,” Liam said, in-between kissing and sucking.
“I don’t believe you.” She smirked at the mischievous grin on his face. “Oh, well, it’ll take me years to learn that so, I won’t be able to say I love you until I figure it out.”
He bit her neck, saying more words that frazzled her heart and made her body go weak. “You better stop, or we might not make it back.”
“Right here, right now is fine with me.”
Noticing hunger in his eyes, she hid a smile and ran toward the Delacroix Hotel; well, in what she thought to be the right direction. It was hard thinking with him keeping up behind her. She weaved through locals out for a night stroll. Before she could make a choice at an upcoming T in the road, Liam took her hand and guided her past old structures and a historical church she’d photographed earlier. Veering toward the U-shaped driveway at the Delacroix Hotel, they dodged a Bentley pulling in and glided in front of a valet boy attempting to drive off in a blue Alfa Romeo. Slowing in the lobby, they were blinded by tourists taking their pictures.
She waved as the gold elevator doors closed, and Liam whipped her around. He lifted her up against the wall with ease and jammed the red STOP button.
Before his greedy lips found hers, a protest escaped her lips. “Liam, wait …” When his mouth trailed down her neck, she started another round of “not yet” and “not here”. Trepidation of being seen through secret elevator cameras waned as his hand massaged her breast. Brain fuzzy, she heard the sound of cloth tearing, but didn’t know what had happened until she looked at her halter fabric in his hands.
“Do you want me to stop?” He demanded.
“No.” Please, don’t. She moaned, needing this greedy love.
Liam grabbed onto the hair at the nape of her neck, pulling downward. Raven’s chin jutted up in response, giving him all the access he need. He seized her pink, pillowed lips. Kissing the top one, then the bottom. His tongue dove into her mouth for a taste. Then grabbing her wrist, Liam turned Raven around. He sandwiched her against the wall and his searing cock. Raven’s back arched, legs planted wide, as he entered her from behind.
He gripped her hips to catch a good leverage and Raven slammed her ass back against him repeatedly. For every barbaric grunt he gave, Raven matched his with a moan. His hand reached around to her front, pawing at her breast as he continued to slam deep inside of her pussy.
“Fuck, Raven, I’m gonna cum.” He bit her neck. Raven didn’t stop meeting his thrusts, continuing to throw her ass back. Then fireworks burst forth in both their eyes as his cum squirted inside of her body.
His heartbeat vibrated through Raven’s back as Liam leaned against her. He bestowed the nape of her neck with soft kisses, the frenzy finally fading.
Raven shrugged into Liam’s blazer as he pushed the elevator back into drive. She picked up her dress from the floor; the stitching was beyond repair. “Will you ever quit ruining my clothes?”
“I have no intention to.”
***
The balcony’s sheer curtains danced to a gentle wind around light-blue textured walls. The sound of seagulls woke Raven. She turned over to see Liam’s side of the bed empty. Pushing back the feathery comforter, she sat up and grabbed her cell off the nightstand. Smiling, she listened to a vibrant voicemail from Estella and Royael. Excited about the fun that the two were having, she grabbed a cotton robe with the Delacroix insignia and put it on. Going into the living room of the suite, she said, “Royael won Grand Supreme at the pageant Estella took—”
Raven stopped mid-sentence, lips taut. Liam sat on a gold paisley chaise, speaking on his cell phone in a hushed tone. Something about his demeanor had her on alert-mode, and all she could think—or see—was the magazine that read “Playboy Settles.” Or had he?
Liam pressed the END button and slid it into his pocket. “Good morning, beautiful.”
“You didn’t even say goodbye.” She took in his every move as he stood and walked around the coffee table. When he reached over for a kiss, she turned her head. “Who was that?”
“Nobody important.”
“Don’t lie to me.” She sighed, feeling foolish for forgetting to ask about Camille. Woman’s intuition. An image of Camille’s long legs wrapped around him burned in her brain. Maybe he’d pulled that elevator stunt with her, too. Maybe he’d brought her to one of the Delacroix Hotels around the globe.
Maybe even this exact one.
“I said it was nobody that mattered, Raven.”
Since his tone held a note of finality, Raven swiveled on Italian marble and stalked to the bedroom. Just last week, Charlene and Damien took them all to dinner. During that time, her mother had given him the third degree. Liam answered like a pro, but Damien interjected, since Charlene had no filter. Maybe Liam was just that damn good with words? By the end of the evening, he’d fooled them all.
At the dresser, she pulled out her clothes—the ones that hadn’t been torn off. Great, I’m stuck in a foreign country—
“ReRe, look at me.” He yanked her around.
Raven whacked him with a pair of off-brand-skinny-jeans.
You’re keeping things from me, Liam!”
He snatched the jeans from her hands and tossed them on the bed. With his hands grasping her forearms, Liam forced her against his chest. “I am not keeping anything of importance from you, Re. I never would do that.”
“You were speaking to a woman,” Raven said. Her eyes glossed as they glared at each other.
His tone softened, and he rubbed her shoulders. “You’re right. But she’s not important. Remember the day in my office when you apologized for being …”
Raven chewed on her bottom lip.
“Re, you’re the one that said we’re not going to dwell on the past. She’s from my past.”
“I’m from your past, too. Remember?” She looked away from his pleading and didn’t want to make it easier for herself to become his little fuck toy.
“You’ve always been the best part of my past. The greatest part of the present. And you will always be my future, and that’s what I told you last night. I said you are my reason for living.” He pulled her into his arms. “Now, Re, will you let me love you?”
Teeth gnawing on her bottom lip, she glanced at the man who had her heart. Sighing, Raven decided she needed to believe in his love. It meant not thinking about the night he told her of his talk with Lucinda. Love covered up the fact that she was Roy Timmons’ daughter.