by T. C. Clark
Liam erupted in her, filling her with his seed. He pushed his cock deep to satisfy his primitive need. He wanted his scent all over this woman.
When he finally lifted his head, his heart melted. Irene was looking at him with such love in her eyes.
“Irene…” What did he say at this moment? How did he tell her that she was safe with him?
“Liam, I love you. But I have to ask, is that all you got?” she said saucily. The humor in her brown eyes was his undoing.
“Oh, that was just an appetizer. Don’t worry by the time tonight is over you’ll be satisfied enough for a lifetime.”
She laughed, and he stole the sound with his lips. Tonight was for loving, tomorrow they could iron out the details. Either way, Irene was his now, by her own choice, and Liam had no intention of letting her go.
* * *
“Irene, you still with me?”
“Always, but I’m too sore for much else, Liam.”
Liam’s cheeks darkened. “So you are finally full,” he joked.
“Never, honestly, I don’t think I’ll ever get enough of you.”
“I feel the same way, but I have to tell you something,”
And just like that, Irene was afraid. “This sounds serious.”
“It is. I got that job I told you about in Paris.”
“Oh, my God! That’s wonderful, Liam! This is your dream, I’m so happy for you.”
“I will have to live there on a semi-permanent basis, which means we will have to figure out how we can make that work. I’m not willing to give you up for this job. So we have to iron this out now.”
“Okay, I’ll just spend part of my time in Paris, and you can spend some of your time in New Orleans. Either way, we can figure this out.”
“It’s that simple. You aren’t afraid of the stress this could put on our relationship?”
“No, I love you, Liam. That is simple. I’m still afraid of the power you have over me, but I am committed to making us work. I love hard, Liam, and you’ve already shown me you will fight for us. I really don’t think we have anything to worry about, at least not between us.”
Liam kissed her, and she relaxed under his body. She would tell him about Sybil and her past soon enough. For now, Irene would focus on building their relationship.
Liam was hers and for once, that thought brought her happiness, and she refused to lose that feeling, even for a moment.
Eight
Your past is always there...
* * *
Two love-filled weeks later, a couple wandered the streets of Paris debating their future….
“Deshaun, are you sure you’re fine at the store?” Irene asked for the tenth time. She was currently in Paris with Liam looking at apartments.
“Auntie, please stop calling me. I’ve been managing your store for years now, and I got this. You’ve never taken time off before. Please stop stressing and enjoy your time in Paris.”
“I know, but I feel bad about leaving you there for so long on your own.”
“You have helped me so much through the years with everything. You even kept this job open for me when I bailed on you a few times. I owe you at least a few years of vacation at this point. Please stop worrying and have fun. If you are worried about moving to Paris, don’t be. I can handle the store, hell I want to be here. My boyfriend is here, my friends are here, and you pay me at least twice what I’m worth.”
“I’m not moving to Paris.” At least not yet, she still needed to tell Liam about her past.
“Auntie, please, have you seen you and Liam together? Trust me; you will be living at least some of the year in Paris. All I’m saying is that I have the store. So, for once, will you please focus on yourself?”
“Fine. Thank you, Deshaun. I will try to stop calling you so much.”
“Thank you, and kiss that sexy chef for me, too.”
Irene put her phone in her pocket and looked around the crowded street. She breathed deeply; this was all so new to her. She felt giddy, like a teenager meeting her crush for a date.
She shook her head as butterflies did somersaults in her belly. Ever since they’d said I love you, things had been different. They felt like a couple now and for a woman who’d been alone for a long time, it was quite an adjustment.
Irene smiled when she finally saw Liam walking her way. He had a meeting early today at the school, and she’d asked him to drop her at the Champs-Élysées.
She’d read about the famous shopping district and wanted a chance to walk around. Irene also needed time away from Liam to reflect on all of the changes happening in her life.
Liam didn’t doubt they would work and his confidence boosted hers. But as much as she wanted to let everything go and focus on them, she still felt like something bad was bound to happen.
Maybe it was because she’d lived in the shadows for so long or maybe it was because she didn’t believe she deserved to be this happy. She had no idea why she couldn’t shake this ominous feeling, but she would do her best to ignore it.
Irene shook her head and waved at Liam from across the road. The smile on his face doused her fears. God, how could she deserve this much happiness? Just seeing his face made her heart skip a beat.
Irene waited patiently as he made his way to her. She’d purchased several souvenirs for her friends and family. Walking through Paris and seeing so many new things reminded her of what she was like when she was younger.
She’d spent the last few years hiding away in New Orleans. The twenty-one-year-old version of her would be disappointed with her current lifestyle. It was time to move forward and live in the present.
Liam stopped in front of her. He placed his hands on her cheeks and took her lips. The kiss was devastating. Hell, all of his kisses were devastating—that’s how she’d ended up here.
He lifted his head when a Parisian man walked up and patted him on the back.
“Tu es chanceux (You are lucky),” the man said with a smile.
“Il sait (He knows),” Irene said back.
The man beamed at her and kept walking through the crowd.
“I didn’t know you spoke French,” Liam said as he took her heavy bags.
“Yeah, I learned French and Italian while I worked in Europe.”
“That’s good to know. We can practice together. Now, I want to take you to a restaurant that one of the other teachers at the school owns.”
“Of course you do. If we keep eating like this, I’m going to have to purchase new clothes.”
“So, we will purchase new clothes. Food is everything, Irene, and I’d love you no matter what size you were. I say this now, because I’ll never stop feeding you delicious things. ”
Her heart fluttered. “I love you, too,” she said softly.
Liam took every opportunity to say he loved her. It was as if since he’d figured out a name for what he was feeling, he couldn’t keep it in. She loved him even more for that.
Liam’s smile brightened. “Follow me.”
He led her to a very small café located at the back end of an alley. It was so quiet and there were no tourists walking around.
“Are you sure this is the place?”
“I’m sure. Colville said he opened it just for the locals. He doesn’t advertise it. The only way you can find out the location is by word of mouth. He doesn’t even have a business phone number listed. Trust me, this is going to be delicious.”
Liam opened the door and all of Irene’s doubts faded away. The smells and sounds of the busy café assailed her. Irene’s mouth watered when she saw a waiter bringing what had to be the most delicious-looking gourmet grilled cheese to a table.
“Okay, I’m a believer.”
They were seated by a shy French teenager who couldn’t look Liam directly in the eye. She took their order and scurried away.
Liam read through the menu. “Colville has done a good job with the menu; he has a good amount of variety on here.”
“How did your meeti
ng go?” Irene asked.
“It was a meet and greet with the other chefs. They want us to look at some of the other teachers’ lesson plans and start working on our own soon. It was weird though. Some of the chefs were angry about the ones they fired. They didn’t say much but I have a feeling I’m going to have to watch my back.”
“You can do this, Liam. It’s your dream; don’t let anyone stand in the way of it.” She knew what it was to live with regret and she didn’t want Liam to experience that.
“Oh, I know it and now I have you. So, if this doesn’t work out, I have another dream to focus on.”
Irene’s brown cheeks darkened. She opened her mouth to respond when their waiter walked back with a tray full of food. She’d let Liam order for her and she was more than satisfied with what she received.
The two plates had the most delicious-smelling tarts she’d ever seen. She leaned in to smell the aroma rising from them and smiled. This was going to be good.
“I still can’t believe I’m in Paris right now,” Irene said as she tasted her Roquefort and caramelized onion tart.
“Are you okay with this? I was talking to the other chefs and I’m going to have to be here longer than I thought.”
“Liam, you have to stop worrying. That’s my area. This is what you’ve been working towards; we will make this work.”
He smiled and leaned forward. She met him halfway and kissed his lips. She ignored the people staring at them. Irene couldn’t keep her hands off of him.
“Okay, then. We have a benefit to prepare for and I have a speech to write. Let’s eat this, head back to the hotel, get some rest, make some love, and then get to work.”
“Now, that sounds like a plan.”
* * *
They arrived at their hotel wearing silly grins and sporting full bellies. Liam couldn’t wait to get Irene back into bed. A person would think they would have cooled off by now, especially with how often he dragged her into the bedroom, but no. If anything, he wanted her more.
Irene’s guard was finally down. She no longer hid her thoughts from him. Liam understood the importance of cementing their bond now. He knew she was serious about trying to make this work. So, he needed to figure out the easiest way for them to be together.
Later, he planned on calling Deshaun to see about what he needed to make it work. His hand tightened on hers when they entered the lobby. Liam sighed at what he saw waiting for them; he didn’t have time for this.
“What are you doing here, Tatum?”
“Wow, that’s how you talk to your brother? Oh, Ansley is going to be disappointed in you.”
“Me and Irene have plans tonight. I don’t have time to entertain you, Tatum.”
“Liam! Please stop being rude to your brother.” Irene let go of Liam’s hand. He frowned as she walked over to his brother. “You’re here because of the benefit, aren’t you?”
“Yes, I am. Cole is on another case and Brodrick is staying back because of the new baby. I promised Ansley I would record the whole thing.”
“Okay, well, the benefit is tomorrow night. So we will check in with you tomorrow morning.”
“Liam!” Irene frowned at him. She was too soft-hearted.
“Not so fast, little brother. I just flew in on a red-eye and I’m not going to be ignored. Oh, and I need a place to stay,” Tatum said with a mischievous smile. Shit, Tatum wasn’t going to go away.
“Who do you think you are staying with?”
“Family, of course. You know Campbell’s stay with family if we are close by. Saves us a ton of money, Irene and after all Liam owes me. You know he once tried to sacrifice me to a dog to save his own life. He’s lucky I’m even talking to him.”
Irene grinned. “That makes sense.”
“You are a grown man and I’ve seen your bank statement. You can more than afford your own room.”
“Ahhh, I can. But I have to ask you, where is the fun in that? Anyway, all the good hotels are booked up around here because of your little benefit. I’m sure you can keep your hands to yourself for one night, Liam.”
“Of course, you can stay with us,” Irene said. She reached out and took his carry-on bag.
“Why, thank you, Irene. You see that’s why I like Americans; you guys are always so practical. ”
Irene smiled at him and Tatum followed them out of the lobby.
Liam scowled as they made their way to their room. This was not how he imagined their night would go.
“Just like old times, huh? Who would have thought we’d have a sleepover in our thirties?” Tatum asked as the elevator door opened.
“I hate you.”
Tatum laughed in his face and Liam resigned himself to his fate. There was no way Irene was going to let him kick Tatum out. At least, his brother could go over his speech as well.
When Tatum ran and jumped on their bed. He rolled his eyes and when Irene ran and joined him, he sighed.
This was going to be a long night. Irene laughed at something Tatum said, and Liam smiled at the joy on her face. He could handle damn near anything if she kept smiling like that.
He closed the door and walked over to the table. It was time for him to get to work.
* * *
Irene rechecked her appearance once more. She was so glad she’d gone shopping earlier. The dress she’d chosen fit her curves well. It was a modest yellow dress with quarter-length sleeves.
The girl working the counter was right; yellow suited her rich mocha skin. She wrapped her straightener up and put it away. She’d chosen to wear her hair down tonight. She knew Liam liked to run his fingers through it whenever they sat together.
Tiny gold flower earrings were the only jewelry she’d chosen. She’d wanted to keep the outfit as simple as possible. She didn’t understand why she was so nervous.
This was just a dinner, or at least that’s what she kept telling herself. Irene wasn’t a fan of big events like this, but Liam needed her support. No matter how many times he practiced his speech, she could tell he was still nervous.
Tonight, she couldn’t focus on her fears. This day was a culmination of Liam’s hard work and it clearly meant a lot to him.
It was time to put her game face on. She opened the door and jumped when she realized Liam and Tatum were standing right outside.
“Sorry, I didn’t think I would take this long to get ready.”
“Damn, Irene, you look good!” Tatum said. His shocked expression helped to boost her confidence. “I mean you’re always beautiful, obviously. But tonight you are going to turn some heads.”
“Thank you, Tatum. What do you think, Liam?”
“Baby, I can’t tell you what I’m thinking. It will make things weird for Tatum. But you look beautiful. So much so that I’m tempted to skip this stupid benefit to spend the night with you.”
“You’re just saying that because you don’t want anyone else to see her like this,” Tatum added.
“That’s not true. Irene belongs to me. I have no problem letting anyone else know that,” Liam said firmly.
Irene could feel an argument brewing and they didn’t have time for that. She grabbed their arms. “Didn’t they say we needed to leave early in order to beat the traffic?”
She pulled them to the door and got them out of the suite without too much arguing. The drive to the benefit was quick and soon enough they arrived.
Irene took a deep breath when Liam opened the door. She braced herself as camera flashes lit up the night.
Liam grabbed her arm and pulled her tight against his side. Tatum moved to her other side. She wondered if Liam had talked to him about how uncomfortable she was in big crowds.
When Tatum blocked her from the view of the cameras, she knew he had. After a few minutes of pictures, they entered the ballroom.
“This is beautiful,” Irene whispered as they walked onto the marble floor. The ballroom was the definition of elegance. Tables with white lace tablecloths were positioned in the center of the room.
The gold-encrusted chairs were covered with flowers and garland.
“This French school you’re teaching at is fancy, huh?” Tatum asked as he looked around the lavish space.
“I had no idea that it was going to be this crowded,” Liam said. He took a deep breath and Irene squeezed his hand.
“You’re going to do great,” she whispered. Luckily, the school had designated special tables for the new teachers and theirs was off to the side. It would give them a little time to catch their breath.
They walked over to the table and sat down. The room was buzzing with excited energy. Crowds of people moved from table to table talking passionately.
A man walked up with stars in his eyes. His gaze centered on Liam. Irene smiled; she’d seen this look before. He must be a fan. “Hi, my name is Chad Moore and I’m in the final semester of my certification. I wanted to introduce myself. I’ve been a fan of yours for years. You inspired me…”
Irene couldn’t hear anything else because her eyes locked with a woman across the room. Sybil Anderson, the former beauty queen and destroyer of all things, sat there with a malicious smile on her face.
How long had she watched them? Why was she here? Irene looked back at Liam. He was so happy right now; she couldn’t let Sybil do anything to ruin it.
Irene forced herself to breathe through the panic building in her chest. There were no such things as coincidences with someone like Sybil. She was here for a reason.
The woman hadn’t changed at all. She still had the face of a Barbie doll. Her sleek blonde hair was cut into a symmetrical bob. The hairstyle somehow gave her an elfin-like appearance.
If a person didn’t look too closely at her eyes, they would miss the malevolence there. Sybil waved at her and pointed to the bathroom. She wanted to talk.
Irene inhaled deeply; she needed to see what she wanted before she decided to make a scene. She stood up and did her best to still the shaking of her limbs.
