by M. S. Parker
Millie joined us on the path, beaming at me and I focused on her. “Yes, I was just telling…” What was her name? It came to me in a blink. The blond had called her Michelle. “I was just telling Michelle where they could find some food up at the lodge.”
“I’m heading that way myself,” Millie announced. “I’ll walk the two of you there. We can chat about the wedding.”
I took a half-step toward them. Millie gave me a telling look, then glanced at Liam.
Her message was clear.
That didn’t mean I planned on doing whatever she wanted.
Liam and I were done.
He’d made that pretty clear by his silence over the past three weeks.
As Millie turned to lead the engaged couple off, I darted a look at Liam.
He had that intent look on his face.
Huffing out a breath, I turned on my heel and headed in the opposite direction of the lodge. My personal bungalow was in this direction although I wasn’t consciously heading there.
I just needed to move.
To walk.
To do something.
Liam fell into step next to me. “Can we talk?”
I wanted to tell him no.
But I gave a stiff shrug.
“I wasn’t expecting to see you here,” he said softly.
“Same goes.” I didn’t look at him.
“I…well, it’s a weekday. I figured you’d be in the city, working,” he said. He sounded as stiff and as awkward as I felt.
I remained quiet, but Liam didn’t seem too interested in doing that for once. He kept talking.
“Jake…the guy you just met…he’s my cousin.”
I processed this and figured out just why Millie had agreed to help this rush-along wedding. Liam had asked her.
I didn’t say anything though, just kept on walking.
He lapsed into silence.
I reached the bend in the path and turned to face him. “Why do you want to talk to me?” I asked bluntly.
“For starters…” He blew out a breath, his gaze straying from my face. But only for a second. He looked back at me before he spoke again. “I need to apologize for how I acted that last day.”
I swallowed but said nothing.
“I’m sorry,” he said quietly. “I was an asshole. I was just…hell. I was humiliated, okay? It’s not something I handle very well, and I didn’t handle it well that day at all.” He took a hesitant step toward me. “I’m sorry. I just…after what happened and knowing I’d lose my job, I didn’t deal with it well.”
The sincerity in his voice got me quicker than anything else could have. I rolled my eyes and made a point of not looking at him although I was starved for the sight of him.
A strained silence stretched out between us. Normally, silences didn’t unnerve me, but this one did. Desperate to break it, I asked, “Did you lose your job?”
“Yeah.”
That pissed me off. There was only one way he could have lost his job, and that was if my father had complained to the company. I certainly hadn’t said anything that would have cost him his job.
“I’ll call them,” I said stiffly. “I’m sure it had something to do with my father. I’ll get them to give you your job back.”
“No.”
The calm, steady tone of his voice had me looking back at him.
Liam shook his head. A dull flush settled across his cheeks, but he met my eyes levelly. “I did something I knew was wrong,” he told me. “Sleeping with a client isn’t just unprofessional, it can be dangerous. I know nothing ever happened, but if there was a threat to you and I was distracted because I was with you…” He stopped and shook his head, his mouth in a flat line. “I fucked up. I deserved to lose my job.”
We stared at each other, and I realized I had a decision to make.
I could either accept Liam’s apology, and we could see what happened next.
Or…I could just walk away.
Slowly, I took a step toward him. “I’m not a client now.”
Twenty-Nine
Liam
I’m not a client now.
Her words – the meaning behind them – had blood rushing to my head, then draining away.
I closed the remaining distance between us and reached to cup her cheek, pushing my fingers into her hair.
Her head fell back, but I didn’t kiss her.
“Where’s your room?”
She made a vague motion off to the right, not looking away from me.
“Show me.”
“It’s the same place as before,” Mila told me, her breath hitching a little.
I took her hand, and we started to walk in silence.
The bungalow wasn’t far although it seemed to take ages to walk the short distance. Mila swiped her card and turned to me.
I backed her into the open doorway of the bungalow, then kicked the door closed behind me. I put the security latch in place before turning back to her.
She stood in the middle of the room, and I closed the distance between us.
Once more, I pushed a hand into her hair, the silken tresses sliding through my fingers. She angled her head back, her mouth parting. But whatever she might have been ready to say died as I covered her lips with mine.
Mila moaned into my mouth and pushed up onto her toes, pressing closer.
I curved an arm around her waist, pulling her so close, not even air separated us.
She reached for my shoulders, and I felt the press of her fingernails biting through my shirt.
I wanted to feel just her – no barriers.
Pulling back, I reached for the hem of her tank top, staring into her eyes as I slowly dragged it upward.
Dropping the shirt to the floor, I caught her hips and backed her up against the wall. She angled her head up to mine, licking her lips. I didn’t kiss her though. Putting my mouth on her neck, I sought out the sensitive area between her neck and shoulder, raking it with my teeth, then sucking a patch of skin into my mouth.
The sound of her moaning hit my ears and made my cock pulse.
There was nothing like the sound of her as I brought her pleasure. I hadn’t thought I’d get another chance like this, and I was damn well going to make the most of it.
Her tongue slid against mine, rubbing over it in a familiar dance that still somehow managed to be new. The taste of her, the taste that had haunted my dreams for the past few weeks, was once more mine to enjoy.
I cupped her hips in my hands, the feel of her soft, supple curves imprinted on my psyche.
The denim skirt was an annoyance though. It kept me from feeling her naked skin pressed to mine. Reaching for the button on the waistband, I popped it free, then dragged down the zipper.
She wiggled her hips, and the skirt fell away, leaving her clad in just a bra and panties.
She grabbed the hem of my shirt. “Now you,” she demanded.
I caught her wrists and dragged them over her head before taking her mouth again.
Her slim, soft form shuddered, and I felt the vibrations of it all the way to my toes.
The silk of her bra rasped against my hands as I cupped her breasts. Through the silk and lace, I could feel her nipples. They were stiff and puckered, pressing into the lingerie. Ducking my head, I caught one swollen peak in my mouth.
She whimpered as I traced the bud with my tongue, then tugged on it with my teeth.
Mila’s belly was soft against my cock, and I rocked my hips against her. She whimpered and tugged against the grip I had on her wrists.
I let her go, and she immediately shoved my shirt up, her hands seeking out skin, making me think she was as greedy for me as I was for her. It didn’t seem possible.
She raked her nails across my skin, and I hissed out a breath in reaction. My cock ached, and I boosted her up, settling the ridge of my dick into the notch between her thighs.
She responded by wrapping her legs around my hips and arching closer.
Through the khakis I wore, through her pa
nties, I could feel the heat of her.
I grabbed the panels of silk that stretched over her hips and jerked on her panties, fighting to get the material off. It tangled around her, the removal complicated by the fact that her legs were wrapped around me, and I wasn’t inclined to make her let go. I ended up shredding the silk with my hands, and once she was naked, I slid my hand between us and sought out the curls between her thighs.
Slick, wet heat greeted me.
Mila untwined her legs from my hips, setting her feet back on the floor. Once her feet were flat, she yanked at the button on my khakis. She had my pants and underwear out of the way in hardly no time, eager hands coming between us to wrap around my dick and cup my balls.
I leaned into her touch, heart thrumming in my ears.
Her fingers were cool, her palm soft. Little felt as good as this, but I wanted to feel her cunt wrapped around my dick.
Her mouth clung to mine, and I had to tear my head away so I could look down into her eyes. “Do you have a condom?” I demanded.
She gave me a lambent look, blinking as if confused before she nodded. “Bathroom.”
I boosted her up and carried her to the bed, laying her out flat. “Wait there,” I ordered. I came back after only seconds, shucking the rest of my clothes before joining her on the bed. She wrapped her arms around my neck, her mouth seeking out mine.
I kissed her once, hard and fast, then pushed up onto my knees and tore the condom wrapper open. Cool air taunted my flesh as I went to drag the rubber on. I didn’t want cool. I wanted hot and wet – I wanted her wrapped around me.
Once the rubber was in place, I pushed her legs wide and settled between them. Mila whimpered, arching up.
I felt the heat of her pussy press against me, and I gritted my teeth, resisting the urge to thrust into her, to fuck her until we were both blind to anything and everything else.
Her breasts pressed against me, soft and full, pillowing my chest as I reached between us.
She was already whimpering, her nails scoring my skin as I tucked the head of my cock against her entrance. Pressing inside her, I ground my teeth together as she wrapped around me, tight and wet and welcoming. I fed her half my cock before I started to withdraw, already mindless for more of her.
I thrust in again, and she arched up.
We came fully together, and I reared up onto my hands, staring down into her face.
Her eyes were wide, locked on mine.
“Mila…” Her lashes fluttered down, shielding her gaze from mine. “Look at me.”
I slowed my strokes until she did just that, her eyes once more locked on mine.
I’d missed this…missed her.
She tugged me down, lifting her lips to mine.
I pressed a hungry, desperate kiss to her mouth as she rocked up against me. I could feel the wet heat between her thighs slicking my balls as I rode her hard.
“More,” she demanded.
I rode her harder, catching her hands and stretching them high over her head. She twined her fingers with mine and sought my mouth, our tongues tangling and twisting together.
The need to come burned hot inside me. I fought it back, determined to feel her break beneath me first.
“Liam!”
She jerked against the hold I had on her wrists, and I let go, banding one arm around her while sliding my free hand between us and seeking out her clitoris.
She stiffened at the first stroke.
Cried out at the second.
By the third, I could feel her orgasm building, and she thrust up against me, her movements frenetic and urgent.
She came with a ragged cry that I swallowed down, greedy for more just like it.
My own orgasm built hard and fast after that, urged on by the press of her nails into my skin and the ragged rhythm of her hips as she moved under me.
I came hard, my cock jerking inside the snug grip of her pussy.
She curled her arms around me and hung on tight. We were both gasping for air as I sank down onto her, resting my head between her breasts.
Against my cheek, I could feel the ragged beat of her heart.
She shivered once, then curled her arm around my neck, her fingers teasing the hair at my nape.
“I missed you,” she said, her voice rough.
I caught her hand and dragged it to my lips. “I missed you too.”
There was probably more to be said, but right then, it seemed like we’d said enough. Rolling onto my side, I took her with me.
Mila curled into my body and reached for my hand, twining our fingers together.
It felt good.
It felt right.
Thirty
Mila
Liam rubbed his stubbled face against my cheek as we lay tangled on the bed.
We’d spent the past half hour or so just lying there, enjoying each other. He finally stretched against me, and I turned my head to meet his eyes. He cupped my cheeks, fingers splayed into my hair. “I missed you,” he said again.
“I missed you too.” Wiggling around, I turned to face him and rubbed my nose against his. “I absolutely never expected to see you here.”
“Same goes.” His eyes skimmed my face. “What are you doing here? Why aren’t you in New York?”
I gave him a lopsided smile. “I think it’s safe to say that I’m moving,” I told him. Then I went on to tell him about my grandmother’s offer of turning the island and resort over to me now.
“She’s always planned on leaving this place to me, but she’s decided she wants to retire and take it easy for a while.”
Liam stroked his thumb over my lip. “I’d imagine that running this place tends to get pretty hectic. She’s probably ready to slow down.”
“I don’t know how she’s done it all this time.” I rolled my eyes. “I’ve been here a few weeks, and I’m already exhausted. But…I love it.”
Liam was quiet for a long moment.
Finally, he spoke again, voice neutral. “So, you’re not coming back to New York?”
“I have to, for a little while. I’m wrapping up my practice there. I can’t leave my clients hanging, but once things there are settled…” I ended with a shrug.
“This is something you want to do then.”
I met his eyes and nodded. “I’d always planned on moving here eventually. I hadn’t planned on it happening so soon. But…” I shrugged. “I’m happy here.”
I could see the question in his eyes, although he didn’t voice it.
Where does that leave us?
There was an us. I didn’t think either of us would have argued that point just then. But with me living here and Liam living in New York…yeah, there was a question there.
Where did it leave us?
“I wasn’t planning on this,” I said softly, an idea taking form in my mind. “I mean, I know we haven’t really talked about how things are between us.”
“There is an us.”
The firm way he said that made me smile. “Oh, there’s most definitely an us. But this, me moving here, it changes things.”
He arched a brow, clearly listening.
“So…” I blew out a breath, reaching up to trace the lines of his face. Man, I’d missed that face. “What do you think about coming on here? I’ve already been warned we need to hire more security personnel.”
He blinked, surprise flickering across his features.
“Look, there’s no pressure,” I told him, summoning up a smile. “And I don’t need an answer right now. You’re here with the wedding, and you’ve got things to do. I’m still trying to get settled…but it’s an idea, right?”
He gave a slow nod.
“Will you think about it?”
He rolled me beneath him, settling between my thighs, pressed against me in a way that made it hard to think clearly. He took advantage of the fact, pressing his mouth to mine and kissing me thoroughly. “It’s an idea,” he said, echoing my earlier words. “And yes, I’ll think about it. That
’s all I can promise for now though.”
“This is perfect,” Michelle said, staring out over the water.
“We’ll have a bamboo arbor,” Millie said, pushing some photos into Michelle’s hands.
I stood at the side, mostly observing. Between Millie and the events planner, Paige, there wasn’t much I needed to do, but Millie most likely wouldn’t be around for the next wedding.
I needed to know this stuff.
But instead of thinking about bamboo arbors and a matching wedding aisle, or the flowers that were being rushed in for the event, I was thinking about Liam.
He stood next to Jake, and I had the feeling he was there mostly for manly support. Jake, to his credit, hadn’t so much as flicked an eyelash as Millie and Michelle went through the colors Michelle wanted to use, and he’d voiced his opinions on the simple wedding that was all but being thrown together.
Something told me that if Michelle would be happy with a justice of the peace ceremony, then Jake wouldn’t have minded a bit.
But she wanted a real wedding, and that was what he wanted for her.
As if sensing my attention, Liam flicked a look my way.
We’d spent all night last night together, but it still felt like it had been too long since he’d touched me. Going three weeks without him had made me certain of one thing – I didn’t like going without him. At all.
But it wasn’t like we could sneak off right now.
I bent over the desk.
Liam stood behind me.
His hands gripped my hips and held me steady, and I bit my lip to keep from moaning.
We were in one of the small conference rooms.
Down the hall, in less than five minutes, we were supposed to be meeting my grandmother, Jake, and Michelle for a status update on the wedding.
Liam and I had been walking together, after spotting the open door, I tugged him inside.
One teasing kiss had led to another which had led to me being bent over a table while Liam thrust into me from behind.
Pressing my flaming face to the table, I clung to the edge, forced up onto my toes by the impact of his next thrust.
