by Coralie Moss
Fire and desire warmed the room. The top sheet, tangled around their feet, got kicked to the floor, and the bottom sheet exposed more of the mattress with each thrust. Anna thought to unlock her arms, take hold of some semblance of control, until she couldn’t. Until she wouldn’t.
“Kiss me.” She lifted her head from the pillow so she could speak directly to his lips, pour her words down his throat. “Kiss me while I come.”
Her orgasm anchored itself at the base of Liam’s cock and spread through her body in concentric ripples from her belly, to her knees and elbows, to her toes and fingertips. She was still pulsing when his release arrived with the roar of a long-lost love spotting the other half of their heart across a crowded station.
She took his sounds and swallowed, drinking him in until her cells were sated.
“That was worth the wait.” Liam’s head slid to one side. “Let me amend that,” he whispered. “You were worth the wait.”
The last of the wood crackled, the flames glowing orange and yellow behind the glass-fronted woodstove. True to his word, Liam fed her. Pancakes with blueberries, dripping with butter and real maple syrup. Lying wrapped in his arms and the thick quilt, Anna was replete. Deeply, completely satisfied and close to falling asleep.
“Anna.” Liam was drawing lazy, loopy lines along her forearm.
“Hmm.”
“I’d like to work on a project together.”
“What kind of project?” she asked.
He shifted their bodies so they both faced the fire. “Maybe more of what we started today. On the boat.”
“I’ve never heard of a business that purposefully sabotages boats,” she said. He bit her neck. She giggled and tried to twist away. “Or one that encourages sex on boats.”
“I was thinking of sticking with the boat theme. Interiors. Custom work. I know zilch about boats, but being on that…what did you call it, a sinner?”
Anna guffawed. “Well, you and I tried to make it a sinner, but it’s called a seiner because it used to carry massive nets for fishing. But I think I like sinner better.” She snuggled her naked butt against his naked groin. “You’re rolling your eyes at me, aren’t you?”
“I don’t roll my eyes. But if you keep this up, I might have to start in self-defense. But seriously, Anna, what do you think? Want to come visit me in Rhinebeck and see my workshop?”
Sexed, fed, and rested. In her current state, she would consider saying yes to any number of things Liam might propose. “When?”
“Next weekend. I’m flying back on Wednesday. You could come out on Friday, see my shop, meet the clients who bought the seiner, maybe meet any family in town. And we can fly back to Vancouver together, on Sunday.”
She’d recently embarked on a short trip that involved taking a plane to another country to see a man. That trip had its share of ups and a couple of big downs. Maybe she should think about it overnight.
“That’s in four days,” she noted, batting at the lone voice of reason urging to wait until the morning.
“I know.”
She paused. And dove in. “Sure.”
Chapter Eighteen
Friday morning found Anna at the airport, courtesy of the familiar six-twenty ferry and Elaine’s weekly supply run into Vancouver. The cross-country flight to Newark had her in premium economy, enough of a bump up to feel she’d treated herself to something special. That and the gorgeous boots she splurged on with Elaine’s enthusiastic support. The height of the heels required some practice, along with the cultivation of an attitude not altogether familiar.
Dominate. That was it. She had to dominate those boots.
She had to dominate the déjà vu of settling into a plane seat, giddy with anticipation. It occurred to her the next time she flew east, it might be to see her grandchild. What if future flights to see Gary Jr. and Suki and the baby included popping down from Toronto to Manhattan to see Liam?
The last time she’d indulged in the Vancouver to New York fantasy, Daniel had waited for her on the arrival side. She shook her head and closed the small oval shade to the glare of the rising sun.
Stop right there, Granger. Different man, different set of expectations.
When she deplaned in Albany, New York, after her cross-country flight to Newark, she felt great. Nervous but great. And she dominated the walk from the landing gate to the welcome area, in her head-to-toe, dark charcoal ensemble, her boot-matching bag slung over one shoulder.
Seeing the appreciation and desire on Liam’s face as she moved toward him almost tripped her up. She had to stop, take a breath in through her nose, and let it out slowly.
The look he gave her was so different from the look on Daniel’s face when her former boyfriend finally found her on the beach. Liam looked happy to see her, not conflicted, and best of all, not at all disappointed.
He wrapped one arm around her waist and tightened his grip. “I know it’s only been a week, but I missed you.”
Liam lifted her up and in for a kiss. The ambient noise of people coming and going, of gate announcements and luggage being rolled, pushed and tossed, faded away. His lips, firm, warm, and tasty, offered sanctuary and promised sensuality. The toes inside her new boots tingled, her ass longed to be freed of the confines of her fitted skirt, and her breasts ached for equal attention from his mouth.
“I missed you, too,” she admitted. Dazed and a little breathless, she clung to his arm when he set her back on her feet and took the handle of her rolling carry-on.
“How’s your appetite?”
“I’m too nervous to be hungry. Are we still meeting your uncle for dinner?”
“Yes, but that’s hours away. Plenty of time for you to see my workshop.” They walked to his car, his arm still wrapped possessively around her back. “Or have a nap, whatever you’d like.”
Liam popped the trunk and stashed her suitcase.
“Are we far from Rhinebeck?” she asked, buckling herself into the passenger’s seat.
“About an hour. Any news from the island?”
“No news. I’ve been working on the seiner project. How is everything with your clients?”
“Nothing that’s not solvable with a little diplomacy and some quarter sawn oak.” He glanced at her sideways then focused on merging into the flow of traffic. “I think I can fly back with you on Sunday. It’s hard being away from the island, and I’ve only got another three weeks left to my lease. And my sabbatical.” He reached for Anna’s hand, sliding his fingers between hers and holding tight. “And being your favorite neighbor. Are you warm enough?”
“Actually, it’s colder here than I thought it was going to be.” And drearier, she added to herself, catching sight of the bare-armed trees as they sped by, dusk turning the sky a dark bluish-gray.
Talk of Liam’s impending change of address momentarily dampened her buoyant mood. Before he’d left for New York on this unplanned trip, they hadn’t said much to each other about feelings or plans, other than what was in the immediacy of each moment. His welcoming kiss at the airport was a potent reminder of how good she felt when she was in his arms.
The sky was in full night mode when they pulled up to the old stone building housing Liam’s furniture-making workshop and living quarters. Solar lights lined the curving walkway to the front door. A sharpness to the air hinted the impending arrival of snow.
“Ready for your tour?” he asked. “We’ve got about an hour and a half before we’re meeting my uncle at a bistro in town.”
“I’d love to see everything. And maybe grab a quick shower?”
“Right this way.” Liam pushed open the oversized front door. The building’s stone exterior was mirrored inside the entranceway, with blocks of rough-hewn granite lining three walls. The floorboards were old, wide, and aged to a whiskey-colored richness.
He set her bags on the floor, reached for her jacket, and hung it on one of the hammered iron hooks lining a section of the wall then tossed his keys onto a simple table.
“Did you make this?” Anna asked, running her hand over the silky, smooth surface of the wood, marveling at the detailed joints as she pulled open the center drawer.
“I did. It’s bird’s eye maple, one of my favorites. Milled the wood myself.”
“It’s beautiful.” The warmth and coloring of his home’s interior matched what she’d seen of the Liam she’d come to know. It was reassuring to feel the consistency.
“Let me show you the rest of the house.”
He took her hand, interlacing their fingers, and led her up the stairs, pausing at the landing. “The kitchen, living room, and guest room are on this floor.” He gestured with the hand holding hers. “We’re going up one more.”
The third floor was closed off by a door almost as large as the one at the front of the house. Anna waited as he grabbed the handle and slid the door to the side. To the right, another door, already open, led to a stunning bathroom, complete with raw rock walls, thick looped wool rugs, and a walk-in shower.
“I could spend the weekend in here,” she remarked, unable to dampen the awe in her voice.
“Only if I can scrub your back and feed you. You can sleep over here.”
To the left of the landing, his bedroom was equally as simple, elegant, and like so much of his house, oversized without feeling overwhelming. A floating king-sized bed, hanging from industrial strength cables, dominated the center of the room. Two tall wardrobes, a long bench, and a fireplace with sitting area kept the rest of the room uncluttered.
Anna gasped and pointed to the bed. “Is this another one of your designs?”
“All of it,” he said, grinning. He took her by the waist and guided her toward the bed. “Want to give it a spin?”
She fell back, arms spread and giggling, and lifted one leg, wiggling her leather-clad foot in his direction. “Think you can get these off?”
Liam took his time obliging her request. A thick rug muffled the sound of the boots hitting the floor. He slid his hands between her leg and her skirt and peeled off each thigh-high stocking, adding them to the pile on the floor. “Can I get you anything before we, uh, take that nap?”
“I’m thirsty,” she said. “Water?”
“Be right back.”
Anna roused herself and went to the bathroom, steadying herself by the sink as Liam’s steps faded. Walking into his home was the physical equivalent of opening the centerfold of a design magazine, every room a showpiece of craftsmanship, masculinity, and warmth. She loved it. Being surrounded by objects he designed and wood he shaped felt like being in his embrace.
So why was she feeling so damn nervous? She ran water into the sink, filled her cupped hands, and lowered her face.
Introducing Liam to her daughter had come so easily, but then again, they had been in her territory—cooking in her kitchen, which had often been a group activity for her family. She knew next to nothing about Liam’s uncle or the rest of his family. He hadn’t mentioned anyone outside of his immediate circle. But it’s not like the two of them were in their twenties, talking about marriage, their whole lives ahead them. Meeting someone’s family at this stage in her life had a different feel to it.
She opened the bathroom door. Liam stood by one of the windows, his back to her, hands in his pockets, two glasses of water on the table by the bed. Anna tiptoed across the wide maple floorboards in her bare feet and circled his waist with her arms. Resting her head between his shoulder blades, she listened for his breath.
This was how they had started, their bodies in proximity, learning to synchronize their breathing until it felt like they were sharing lungs. It was a simple start, one that had led them to experience exquisite, intimate pleasures.
“Thank you for coming out on short notice.” Liam’s voice was quiet.
The leafless branches of a giant maple tree created a pattern of black lace against a sky growing darker by the minute. It was as quiet here as their side-by-side island cottages, minus the sound of the ocean.
“Want to lie down?” he asked.
“Yes.”
He rotated in her embrace, signaled his desire to carry her. Anna lifted her heels as he bent his knees and picked her up. Locking his arms under her butt, he nuzzled her neck to her earlobe and across her jaw until he found her lips.
She’d been waiting for this moment of their reunion, the getting-to-the-bed moment. He bent his knees and lowered her to the mattress. Anna pulled him with her, needing his kisses, needing the reassuring affirmation of his mouth on hers as she fumbled with her clothes, peeling away enough material to expose her thong.
He swept the small triangle of fabric to the side and ran the pad of his thumb over her labia. “We don’t have time for foreplay.”
“This entire day has been foreplay. I couldn’t wait to get here.” Anna nudged his hand away and finished stripping off her sliver of an undergarment. She spread her knees wide, her fingers playing where the echo of Liam’s thumb continued to burn. “I need you.”
He shed his pants and made his way up the bed to Anna until she could wrap her legs behind his thighs and offer a more explicit and undeniably clear invitation to enter.
“I can’t believe we have dinner plans in thirty minutes,” he groaned, entering her in one stroke.
“Think of this as an appetizer,” she murmured, scraping her teeth along the edge of his jaw.
Her hips needed no further encouragement to find a rhythm to match his thrusts. She reached between their bodies and alternated circling her clit with squeezing the base of his erection. Her orgasm built fast.
She capped the record-breaking encounter with laughter. “Oh, my God. I couldn’t hold that back.”
Liam pinned her to the bed, forehead to forehead, forcing himself to take long, steadying breaths in and out through his nose. “We have to go.”
“Nooo…” Anna wanted to remain right where she was, impaled and half-dressed, and stay the course toward a matching orgasm for him.
“How about we try this again later?” He withdrew slowly, his gaze fixed on Anna’s.
“Promise?” she asked, digging her heels into the backs of his thighs.
“Promise.”
“Okay. I’m going to rinse off.”
“Why?” he asked, sliding to the foot of the bed and standing, his eyes heavy-lidded, his erection proud and undiminished. “You smell sexy as fuck.”
Anna pressed her thighs together and groaned. Her ability to walk the straight line to the bathroom was compromised by the intensity of her orgasm’s contractions. She’d have to crawl or hitch a ride.
“Liam, I can’t meet your uncle smelling like we just had sex. I’ll be quick.” She shed the rest of her clothes on the wobbly walk to the shower, hoping the hot water would come up fast. All she needed was a quick wash under her arms and between her legs. She stayed an extra minute, letting the water beat on her upper back. Delicious.
Wrapping a generous towel around her torso, she returned to the bedroom, opened her suitcase, and withdrew fresh underwear. Liam was half dressed and texting.
“Just letting my uncle know we’re on our way.” He tucked his phone into his pocket before reaching into one of the wardrobes for a new shirt. He added a vest and buttoned it while Anna finished zipping up her boots. “Ready?”
He closed the front door behind them.
She coiled her scarf around her neck one more time. “Ready as I’ll ever be.”
A flutter like a flock of birds suddenly lifting off a branch rocked Anna’s body. Liam had parked the car and was making his way to her side to open the door. He wanted one of the most important people in his life to meet her.
Their seven o’clock dinner reservation meant the sky was completely dark except for street lamps and the inviting glow coming from restaurant windows. The bistro was no exception. Walking arm in arm to the front door, Anna caught sight of a long room with a bar running along one side and tables for two to four set up along the other. Wood and paper lamps hung above each tab
le. Her mouth watered at the aromas when the door opened and they entered the entrance alcove.
Liam spoke with the restaurant’s host, giving Anna a moment to survey the room. Half way down the row of tables, she saw a familiar figure. The fluttering in her body reached manic proportions, a warning to the flock to take off. Again. Now. Fast.
“Liam, I need to use the bathroom. I’ll meet you at the table.” She fled, hoping her legs would get her beyond the door to the closest stall, where she sat, fully clothed, elbows propped on her knees, forehead in her hands.
Liam’s uncle was Daniel Strauss.
No wonder her lover’s face seemed familiar. She could see it now, the way their brown eyes drooped slightly at the outer edges. Liam’s skin was darker and his hair lighter, but the resemblance was there. She’d been an idiot not to notice, especially once she saw Daniel in the flesh in Mexico. They shared more than physical traits and mannerisms. They worked in similar creative fields, making her former flame the mentor Liam spoke of with such affection.
There was no way she could walk into the restaurant, sit at the same table with Liam and Daniel, joke about the odds, and go on to engage in anything resembling a conversation. She opened the stall door, splashed water on her face, unrolled one of the terrycloth hand towels, and patted dry. She peeked out the bathroom door, stayed close to the wall, head down, and left the restaurant.
“I’m sick. At car. Plz come alone,” she texted Liam, hit send, and stepped into the covered entranceway of a woman’s boutique to wait.
Liam was shoving his arms into his jacket, wide-eyed with worry as he approached.
“Anna, what’s wrong?” He took her shoulders, lifted her chin, and peered at her face. All she could do was shake her head, wordless, and point to the car. He unlocked the passenger door, helped her get situated, and hustled to the other door. “Can you talk? No, don’t worry about it. We’ll be home in a few minutes. Tell me what happened later.”
Anna squeezed his hand and curled into herself as tight as she could. It wasn’t helping that the night was so cold. She could see her breath, and she couldn’t stop shaking, even after they’d entered the warm embrace of his house.
