by Layla Hagen
His jaw clenched. His eyes were hard.
“No, of course not. Unless you count feeling inadequate every time he messages me.”
Liam cupped my cheek. “Moron. Forget him. Never buying his tacos again.”
I laughed, shrugging.
Still eyeing me intently, he moved to the floor, finishing the box. By the time he started the second one, I decided I was done resting and crouched next to him.
“I can do this myself, Tess. Rest for a bit.”
“No, no. I’m not a mean boss. I love doing things myself.”
“I know. One of the things I really like about you.”
My stomach somersaulted. “What else do you like about me?”
He leaned into me sideways, bringing his mouth to my ear. “I could tell you, but then we’ll never finish packing.”
“That’s how little faith you have in me?”
“No, in me. I’m hanging by a thread, Tess.”
I was caught up in his spell, unsure what to say.
He pulled back a little, looking me straight in the eyes. “Let’s make a deal. We finish packing, and then I’ll tell you everything in detail. And then I’ll claim those kisses. Every single one of them. What time do your sales associates leave?”
He spoke every word against my lips. I was barely hanging by a thread too.
“Ten o’clock,” I whispered.
“We’ll be done with the boxes by then.” He swallowed hard, looking at me for a few seconds before returning his focus to the task at hand. The next few hours flew by fast, and once ten o’clock passed and the girls left, I doubled my efforts. We only had a few boxes left.
Even though I was bone-tired and my wrists were aching again, I didn’t pause or even slow down.
“Someone’s in a hurry,” Liam whispered playfully.
“You gave me a good incentive.”
“The compliments or the kissing?” Once again, his mouth was so close that we were almost touching. My body was completely on edge.
“Not sure,” I teased just as I glued the red silk bow to the last box. “All done.”
I sat on my ass, legs curled at my side. Liam mirrored my stance. His eyes were pure fire, and I wasn’t sure I could navigate this tension between us anymore.
“So...you were saying something about me asking questions?” I whispered.
“Anything you want.”
“Elaborate on the things you like about me.”
He cupped my cheek. The touch set me on fire.
“How about I first claim all those kisses I want?” he asked.
“You mean those I owe you?”
“No. Those you owe, plus all the extra ones I want.”
Holy hell! I was drunk on this man.
I nodded, leaning in until our lips brushed. The second his mouth was on mine, I couldn’t even breathe. Emotions rolled into me, and I couldn’t tell one from the other. I was consumed by the way his lips felt on my mouth and then the side of my neck. One of his hands went to my waist, the other down my thigh. He feathered his fingers at the hem of my dress where fabric met skin.
Pleasure shot right between my thighs. I whimpered, pulling him closer by the collar. My position wasn’t the most comfortable, so I stumbled onto my knees, straddling him rather clumsily. I pressed my knee into his thighs before parting my legs a little wider. His lips curled into a smile while he was kissing me. I punched his shoulder lightly. His smile widened at the same time he slipped his hands under my dress. He moved them upward in slow motion until I was trembling in his arms.
Liam was going to rock my world tonight.
Chapter Fourteen
Liam
I fucking loved kissing this woman, and I planned to take my time. I liked exploring her, knowing there was no timer on this.
She was mine.
This was better than anything I imagined, and I imagined Tess like this quite a lot. Her body was exquisite. Those toned legs, the trim waist. I couldn’t decide what my kryptonite was: her breasts or that round, perky ass. I planned to explore both thoroughly before deciding. Her brown-and-blonde hair was falling around her shoulders, and I didn’t hesitate to wrap my hand in it, feeling it silky and smooth between my fingers.
I only stopped kissing her long enough to take off her dress. I threw it to one side, drinking in her slim silhouette and that pearly white skin.
She was seductive with a hint of vulnerability. I wanted to get to the bottom of that. To learn what made her feel that way and change it.
I couldn’t believe I was lucky enough to be here with her. But first, I needed to get her somewhere more comfortable. I spotted a couch near the changing rooms.
I pulled back, interrupting the kiss. She jutted out her lower lip and was so damn adorable that I nearly captured her mouth again.
“Up we go, beautiful.”
Gripping her ass with both hands, I lifted her off me and then rose to my feet, pulling her up along with me.
I stepped behind her, kissing the back of her neck before tilting her head to one side. I turned rock-hard as I moved my mouth down the side of her neck, then tipped my pelvis forward, pressing my erection against her ass. Tess gasped, rocking right back into me.
“See what you do to me?” I murmured. “You’re not even touching me, and I’m losing my mind for you.”
She laughed softly before bringing a hand between us and squeezing my erection over my jeans. My vision blurred. I groaned, moving back and forth. She attempted to turn around, but I gripped her hips, stopping her. I quickly discarded my jeans, then the rest of my clothes. I didn’t want anything between us. Once I was naked, I kissed down her back, lowering myself until my face was right in front of her gorgeous ass. She was wearing black panties that only covered the upper part of her backside.
I kissed one cheek and then the other before turning her around and looking up at her. I skimmed my thumbs up her inner thighs, right until I reached the hem of her panties. Her skin was pebbled with goose bumps. She sucked in a breath. The muscles in her stomach contracted. I liked seeing her like this, barely able to breathe from anticipation. Looking her straight in the eyes, I stroked my thumb over the fabric. Her knees wobbled as she gripped my shoulders with both hands. I wasn’t just rock-hard now. It was painful.
I grabbed my cock, squeezing, looking for some relief. I found none. I needed her to touch me, but later. Now, it was all about her.
I tugged at the waistband of her panties, pulling them down, then patted the edge of the armchair, directing her, “Put your foot up here.”
She did just that, opening herself up to me. I kissed up her inner thigh, slowing down as I neared the apex. I smiled when she threaded her fingers through my hair.
I pressed the flat of my tongue against her clit. At the same time, I strummed my fingers against her opening. Tess moaned, tugging harder at my hair. Her soft flesh was drenched. She was ready for me already, but I wanted to bring her even closer to the edge.
I wanted to sensitize her so much that when I entered her, she’d barely be able to breathe from the pleasure. I wanted her to get lost in me, but with every touch, I was the one losing myself in her.
I was becoming addicted to her scent, her soft skin, and her reactions to me.
“Liam,” she murmured, rolling her hips.
I wanted to make her come with my mouth, but I wanted to kiss her too badly. I needed to feel closer to her. I kissed up her body, stopping right at the edge of her bra. I took it off in a single move and pulled back a few inches. The sight of her naked breasts was enough to drive every instinct in me crazy.
I drew my fingers on the pink skin around her nipples, then traced the same path with my tongue. Tess moaned right before I pulled her to me and captured her mouth. I trailed my fingers down her abdomen, past her navel, until I reached her clit. I coaxed her tongue with mine while moving my fingers in circles around her clit. My erection pulsed, and every inch of my body was on edge. She was inching closer to her climax
, her muscles contracting under my touch. The kiss turned more urgent. She was desperately chasing her release.
Then she exploded beautifully, rocking against my hand. She cried out my name, throwing her head back and holding my shoulders tight. There was no sight more extraordinary than Tess overwhelmed by her climax. Her cheeks were flushed, and her legs were shaking slightly. I was holding her firmly with both hands, kissing her neck while she rode out the wave of pleasure. Every instinct in me wanted to claim this woman. When she rocked back and forth from her heel to her toes and then back to her heel, I gave in to that urge.
I needed to be inside her, to completely own her pleasure and thoughts. Hooking my hands under her ass, I lifted her up. She wrapped her legs around me, trapping the tip of my cock between her pussy and my pelvis. I groaned at the shot of desire that rippled through me.
I carried her to the couch between the changing rooms and lowered her onto it.
She glanced at the jacket I draped on the armrest, licking her lips.
“Tell me you have a condom in here.” She patted the jacket.
“Yes, I do.”
I took the wallet out, holding the condom between two fingers and ripping the package with my teeth. Tess gripped my erection with one hand and held out the other for the condom. I nearly lost my mind when she slowly rolled the condom over my cock. Then I lowered myself between her spread thighs. I smiled when she clenched them, trapping me there.
“Not letting you go,” she muttered with a sated smile.
I entered her all the way to the hilt, grunting at how unbelievably good she felt. Tess cried out, her inner muscles pulsing around me, the small aftershocks from the last orgasm. I wanted to intensify her pleasure while I chased my own. I drove in and out of her relentlessly, watching between our bodies. She felt so impossibly good, as if she’d been made for me. Desire rippled through me again, this time in waves. My muscles were burning, but I wasn’t ready to succumb to an orgasm yet.
I slowed the pace, smiling against Tess’s mouth when she rolled her hips faster, trying to make up for the change in my rhythm, and then I pulled out abruptly. Her little pout was so damn delicious that I almost lost my resolve.
“Turn around,” I whispered in her ear.
Eyes wide and still pouting, she complied with my order.
“When you’re so close you can’t take it anymore, I want you to touch yourself, okay?”
She gasped a little, nodding again. I parted her thighs wider, sliding in hungrily.
“Fuuuuuck!” I gasped. How could this feel even better than before? A burning sensation coiled through me. Every muscle strummed tight. I was walking on thin ice here.
I was learning her body with every touch, memorizing what made her moan or cry out. She had a sweet spot between her shoulder blades and on the back of her neck.
She cried out, moving one hand to her pussy, just like I told her to. It was such a turn-on how she followed every instruction. She gasped in the pillow, calling out my name the very next second, and I was a goner. I started to come even before her inner muscles tightened around me; just the sound of my name from her mouth pushed me over the edge. I pushed in and out of her, every time deeper, then harder, until we both surrendered to our climaxes.
When we were both spent, I lay on top of her, holding my weight mostly on my knees. I caressed the side of her breasts with my fingers as I kissed the back of her neck. Her skin was flushed, her hair a bit sweaty at the nape. Damn, she was a fine sight, sprawled like this, sated and happy.
I moved to one side before lowering myself to the floor.
Tess pouted. “Why did you go so far away?”
“I can see you better.”
“But I can’t fondle you like this.” She rolled over, and I only realized what she was up to when she fell on top of me. We both burst out laughing while she moved into a more comfortable position, half straddling me.
“My clumsy girl.”
She grinned. I couldn’t stop looking at her, taking in every detail.
“Why are you smiling?” she asked.
“Before, I was wondering if your boobs or ass was my kryptonite.”
“And what’s the verdict? Wait, hold that thought. I’ll bring some wet wipes.”
She went to the back room, returning after a moment, and we cleaned off quickly before lying down on the couch.
“So...what was that about your verdict?”
“Don’t have one yet. Need to explore you some more before I make up my mind.”
“Well, then, I’ll tempt you with both, and you can tell me which one’s the straw that breaks the camel’s back.”
Grinning, she turned on her stomach completely, exposing her delicious bottom. I palmed her right ass cheek before moving to the left one.
“You have the most gorgeous ass.”
She wiggled it right under my hand. Goose bumps broke out all over her body.
“Okay, I believe this was enough ass appreciation. Time to give the girls some attention so they don’t feel neglected.”
She rolled on her back, bringing those gorgeous breasts right in front of me. I leaned right in, sucking a nipple into my mouth. She moaned in surprise, and her back arched off the floor.
I pulled back, looking her straight in the eyes.
“I still can’t decide,” I said as seriously as possible. “I think I’ll need several rounds of this.”
“That’s all right with me. Do I need to be naked or dressed?”
“Naked, of course.”
“Hmmm...just wait until you see me in some of my smoking-hot lingerie. You’ll change your mind.”
A sound escaped my throat as I imagined Tess stripping for me. Hell, I’d be a happy man if she just modeled lingerie for me.
“Oh, that was a growl. How damn sexy. I can’t wait to see what you do when I actually wear it. I have a few perfect outfits in mind.” She tapped her temple, smiling sassily.
“Come here, you.” I leaned over her, kissing her long and deep, until I felt her smile against my mouth.
“It’s code red,” she taunted.
“What’s that?”
“Skye and I have a code. Green means period lingerie. Yellow is normal lingerie. And red is super sexy.”
“It’s all you wear, isn’t it?”
She chuckled. “Umm, no. What I had on today was code yellow.” She looked at me and quirked a brow. “Don’t give me that look. I wanted to wear red for our first time, but how was I supposed to know you were going to seduce me so shamelessly today?”
“Our morning meeting didn’t clue you in? Or the texts today?”
She wiggled against the floor, drawing her fingers down my abs.
“Well, yes...but then I thought I’d have to cancel tonight. But it was so romantic, how you just showed up here and swept me off my feet.” She sighed. “Oh, and speaking of our emails and texts, we need some rules.” Her expression was serious, but I could tell she was fighting a smile.
“Oh, really?”
“Yeah, maybe a heat code or something. If we go by the one I use for lingerie...we need to keep all our emails code yellow.”
“Or what?”
“Or we’ll both get distracted and be unproductive.”
“Small price to pay. Every fucking message made my day.”
“Still, rules are good.” Her tone held a hint of a challenge. She was teasing me.
In response, I pulled her under me. Her eyes widened as my lips nearly touched hers.
“I know that. I live by strict rules. But with you, I just want to break all of them.”
She grinned widely, shimmying her hips under me. “So, Mr. Harrington, did you claim all those kisses you were after?”
“Not by a long shot. But that’s what the rest of the night is for.”
Chapter Fifteen
Liam
The next morning, I felt like a college freshman. I’d gone to sleep at two o’clock in the morning after dropping Tess off at her apart
ment.
She looked just as exhausted as I felt, and we exchanged conspiratorial smiles as we left the room after the first general meeting about our new partnership.
It had been a productive one, where we set our immediate goals. We were going to start with radio ads right away. Tess and Skye would give us a list of their requirements for the new online shop, which we’d then send to the website-building companies we used in the past.
Dexter and Becca were also going to assess their Facebook and Google ads. We decided that I would be Soho Lingerie’s official mentor, since I’d been in contact with them the most.
And right now came my favorite part. Tess was going to show me the location of the space they wanted to lease for their second shop.
“Okay, everyone, great job,” I told the team, Tess, and Skye once we were all back on the interns’ floor. “We all have our tasks, so let’s get the ball rolling.”
Everyone was going to think I was just being a hardass, as usual, but instead, I just wanted to get out of here with Tess.
Everyone except Skye, who was looking between me and Tess with a smile. The three of us left the brownstone together.
Skye shook my hand. “Liam, I’m sorry I can’t come with you to see the space, but I’m sure Tess will be great company.”
“Yes, she will.”
Skye was looking at Tess with a huge smile, then whispered something in her ear as she kissed her cheek before getting in the Uber she ordered.
“So, what was that about?” I asked once it was just the two of us.
“Yeah...this morning my sister asked for a rundown of every little detail from last night. I promised I’ll update her today.”
“You say that like it’s normal.” I didn’t discuss my personal life even with David and Becca, and they were my best friends.
Tess burst out laughing. “It is. We have a no-secrets policy in my family. I’m the chief enforcer,” she said proudly.
“I learn something new about you all the time.”
A black Mercedes slowed down in front of us. It was our Uber. I opened the car door for Tess. She wiggled her eyebrows at me as she lowered herself inside. “I love that you’re always opening doors and such. I’ve only ever seen it in old movies.”
