Liam held out his hand to help Colby out of the car. She placed her fingertips in his. It was immediate. The current that ran through her arm was like an electrical current. Colby was sure that everyone around them could feel it.
Maybe Lila was on to something about just getting the sex out of their systems. The simple touch of his hands left her breathless. Colby had to get it together. She couldn’t let Liam know that he had this kind of an effect on her.
“You clean up well, Mr. Lockwood.” Colby managed to say it without any trace of betrayal in her voice.
Colby stepped out of the car, wearing a fitted black wrap dress with a plunging neckline. It displayed her shapely legs and smooth brown skin to perfection. Liam studied every inch of her as he took his time caressing her body with the heat of his gaze. “I’m damn lucky that you let a mere mortal like me stand in your presence.”
She smiled brilliantly. He meant every damn word.
It was the end of the workweek, so the hotel and restaurant were packed. Liam placed his hand at the base of her back and guided her inside. Colby might have been oblivious to all the male attention that she was receiving, but Liam wasn’t. Technically, this wasn’t even supposed to be a date. He’d only known her for a couple of days, but Liam felt possessive. He didn’t want anyone looking at her. “We better hurry up and get to our table before I have to hurt somebody.”
“What?” she asked.
“Let’s just say you are making one hell of an entrance,” Liam responded. As soon as he walked up to the restaurant, they were immediately shown to a semi-private area set up just for them.
“Did you have them do all of this?” Colby asked as she took her seat.
“Do what?” Liam feigned ignorance as he slid in next to her.
Colby caught a whiff of his cologne and momentarily lost her train of thought. “I-I’ve lived in this town my entire life. This restaurant does not typically have a setup like this.”
Liam shrugged. “I asked for privacy. The hotel was gracious enough to provide it.”
Colby lifted a brow. “If we’re just having dinner, why do we need privacy?”
He smiled coyly. Fortunately, Liam didn’t have to answer because a server appeared out of nowhere. He quickly took their drink order and left.
Liam couldn’t resist. His eyes bore into hers. “You’re beautiful.”
Colby blushed. “Thank you, but,” she hoped the server would hurry back with her wine, “I’m not so sure comments like that are very helpful.”
“Are we still pretending that we’re here to put a stop to our attraction?” Liam asked.
“We have to do something.”
“I haven’t been able to stop thinking about the taste of your lips since this afternoon.” Liam managed to inch a little closer. His tone was husky. “I bet the rest of you tastes even better.”
It was a godsend when the server arrived with their drinks. Her mouth was dry, but certain parts of her, not so much. Instead of picking up her glass and downing it, Colby held Liam’s gaze. “Are you always so bold?”
“Only when I see something I want.” He took a sip of his drink.
Calmly, Colby did the same, then slowly lowered her glass. “If we’re being honest, why is that exactly? You barely know me.”
“I know more than you think.”
“That’s right.” Knowing he’d had her investigated chilled the heat between them, but only slightly. “You do understand that I’m more than what you were able to gather in your report.”
Liam nodded slowly. “Then tell me what I don’t know.”
“Uh-un.” Colby shook her head. “I’m already at a disadvantage. You first. Who is Liam Lockwood?”
“So, we’re really going to talk?”
“That’s the purpose of our dinner, right?”
They were once again interrupted by another server, who came to take their dinner order. After she’d gone, they continued.
“Okay. Where were we?”
Colby rubbed her hands together, all sinister like. “You were about to tell me your deepest darkest secrets.”
He laughed easily. That was all it took for them to settle into an easy conversation. “I don’t have any real secrets. I’m an open book. The CEO of Lockwood Enterprises and I sit on thirty different Board of Directors for fortune 500 companies.”
Colby interrupted him. “C’mon, Liam. I can find that out from a simple Google search. I want to know about the man, not the CEO.”
He stared at her long and hard. “What do you want to know?”
“Everything.”
The way she said it made him believe that Colby was interested in him, not the billionaire, but the man. Her seemingly sincere curiosity allowed Liam to let down his guard, which he rarely did. “Seriously, there isn’t a lot to know. I work too much. I don’t have a lot of time for anything else.”
“So, no girlfriend?”
“No. Definitely, not.”
“Don’t make it sound so horrible.”
“I suck at relationships.”
“Well, we have that in common. At least, you have an excuse.”
“I find it hard to believe that you suck at anything,” Liam said.
“You’d be surprised. But this isn’t about me. It’s about you. Tell me more. Like, what are your parents like? When you are not working, what do you like to do? I get the impression it’s not racing.”
“Rapid-fire with the questions. Well, I love poker. Love it.” His face softened. “Both of my parents are gone. Killed in a plane crash.”
Colby placed her hand on top of his. “My god. I’m so sorry.”
“It was a several years ago.”
“So, it’s just you and Brian?” Her voice was soft.
“Yeah. We’re a small family.” Liam felt comforted by the gentle touch of her hand.
“I lost my mom to cancer a few years ago too, so I understand.”
“I’m sorry. It had to be tough for you.”
“Very. My mom was my everything. I mean, we were as different as night and day.” Colby reminisced. “I was a handful.”
“Really?” Liam said sarcastically. “I can’t believe that.”
“Ha ha. Funny. Seriously. My mom wanted a girlie girl, and I was anything but.”
Liam had to disagree. Colby was the sexiest mixture of woman and badass. He’d never dated anyone like her.
“How did you and Brian end up in East Moline, Illinois, and the proud new owners of Daughtry racing? I already know it’s not your thing.”
Liam had to tread carefully. “One day, Brian decided he wanted to own a team. Of course, I was completely against it.”
“Of course.” Colby couldn’t hold back her sarcasm.
“He’s a Lockwood, so once his mind is made up, there really is no stopping him. My job is to make sure he doesn’t lose his shirt.”
“Ah. Got it.” Colby nodded.
“Enough with questions about me. Your turn. Why are you single?”
“Ugh. I hate that question.” Colby took a deep breath. “I was in a long-term relationship that ended a few months ago.”
“Why?”
Colby took another sip of wine. “Mainly, we had different goals. I supported his, but he didn’t want to support mine.”
“He sounds like an idiot.”
“If I’m honest, we just weren’t right for each other. He had political aspirations and didn’t want a girlfriend who had oil underneath her fingernails.”
“You went to dinners at your firm with dirty nails?” he asked somewhat sarcastically.
“Ah. So, you know I was a former lobbyist.”
“I found that out today.”
“As an inside joke to myself, sometimes I would. I’d just polish right over them.”
“Hmm . . . that so?” Liam picked up one of Colby’s hands. They were very soft. He admired her neatly trimmed nails and brought her hand to his lips before planting a soft kiss on it. “Like I said, he’s an idiot.
”
It wasn’t until their server asked if they needed anything else before the restaurant closed that they realized they’d been talking for hours.
“It’s that late?” Colby asked.
Liam checked the time on his cell phone. “It’s almost midnight.”
Colby was reluctant. “I should go.”
Liam wasn’t ready for their night to end. “How about we finish our conversation in my suite over breakfast?” He smiled mischievously.
“Breakfast?”
The mischievous glint in his eyes was back. “I’m sure you’ll be starving by late morning.” Liam leaned in close. So close that he could feel the warmth of her breath tickle his upper lip.
Her head started to swim. She was tipsy, but not from alcohol. It was Liam. She could feel her body begin to tingle. Her words came out in a breathless whisper. “You presume an awful lot, Mr. Lockwood.”
Liam didn’t presume anything. He could see the want in her eyes. He felt the same way and knew it was time to stop dancing around their attraction. Liam dipped his head low and captured her lips in a kiss, sweet and gentle at first, but it quickly turned into something else. Colby’s quick intake of breath was enough for him to slide inside her mouth and taste her sweetness. He had been craving it since their first kiss. It had taken all of his control to wait this long for another.
Liam ran his fingers through her silky soft hair, wrapping it around his fisted hand and pulling her body close. He could feel her nipples harden through the thin dress she wore.
He greedily took all Colby gave as he thrust his tongue inside the warmth of her mouth in much of the same way he planned to take her body.
Liam had been in a semi-state of arousal since early afternoon, but now his cock could pulverize bricks.
They were devouring each other. Colby was a hot, needy mess. She wanted Liam.
“Excuse me, Mr. Lockwood? Did you and your guest need anything else?” They were so into each other that they didn’t hear the server when she returned.
They broke apart. Their breathing was heavy as they held each other’s gaze.
Liam didn’t respond. He couldn’t take his eyes off of the woman who had bewitched him so. Instead, he stood and held out his hand to her.
Colby placed her hand in his.
“My apologies,” he said to the blushing woman. “Please add the charges for this evening to my room.”
Colby rose from the table and allowed Liam to lead her to his suite.
Chapter 18
Liam kept Colby nestled close to his side as they walked to his suite arm in arm. He kept a tight hold on her as if he were afraid she would dissipate into thin air. Judging by the way Colby burrowed her body into his, as they kissed passionately, Liam didn’t have any reason to worry.
They ditched any false pretenses of what was about to happen next. Neither felt the need to play coy or engage in a tireless game of cat and mouse. Sometime during dinner, they both decided to give in to their physical desire. Subconsciously, the decision had most likely been made well before Colby arrived.
The warmth of her kisses seeped through Liam like a fine cognac with the same dizzying effects. His excitement was more than just physical. He couldn’t remember the last time he’d been with a woman, which stirred up more than just his body.
Colby had lost all sense of rational thought. Liam unnerved her. Without even trying, he seemed to convince her to throw all caution to the wind. Colby’s body responded to him as if it had a mind of its own. Every part of her wanted him. She felt like hot molten liquid, rendering her sexy black thong useless. It was drenched with her juices. All sense of time and place suddenly stopped. So much so that she had been completely oblivious to the few people still out and about.
The walk from the restaurant to Liam’s room took forever. Colby didn’t think they would ever get there. She couldn’t wait to feel the touch of his hands all over her.
Liam didn’t want to release Colby for even a second but had to disentangle himself to open the door. Once it was opened, Liam smiled mischievously as he reached for Colby and pulled her inside. The second they were in the privacy of his room, their passions intensified. His lips crashed down upon Colby’s in a hot, fiery, and demanding kiss. Liam’s tongue thrust inside her mouth as if he were trying to suck the love right out of her. She swirled her own tongue around his as they explored each other with loud and wet kissing sounds.
Colby felt the floor fall away from her feet. Liam lifted her like she weighed nothing and cradled her within his arms. Colby wrapped her long legs around his waist as her sex brushed up against the firmness of his stomach. “Mmm,” she moaned.
Liam responded with a deeper, lower moan. His pants tightened to a point where he was more than a little uncomfortable. His cock wanted to be free. It wanted to get inside her sweet body.
Colby’s body hummed with anticipation. She held on tightly as Liam carried her to what she assumed was the bedroom.
Breathing heavily, he tore his lips away from hers and deposited Colby on the bed. The room was dark save for the moonlight streaming through the windows. The soft glow from it surrounded her. His fingers itched to touch Colby. Was she even real? Liam felt like he was in a trance. Colby’s lips were swollen from his kisses, and her hair was wild. He hadn’t ever seen a woman more beautiful.
He had to force himself not to rush. Slowly, he unfastened the top button of his slacks but quickly dispensed with his jacket and shirt. “Undress for me.” His voice was raspy, and his eyes were hot with desire.
Daaayumm. Colby knew that Liam was in good shape, but his chest and washboard abs looked like a work of art. The cut and sinewy of his torso was so defined Colby could see damn near every muscle.
Her heart was beating so fast. She sucked her lower lip into her mouth to keep it from trembling and got up on her knees.
Her movements caused his breathing to change—it was uneven. She watched the rise and fall of his chest and took great pleasure in knowing he wanted her as much as she wanted him. It made her feel less nervous and powerful.
Colby was going to take her time. She moved painstakingly slow as she pulled the string of her wraparound dress. After untying it, she loosened the front so that Liam could see just a sliver of her brown skin.
Growing impatient, he swallowed hard. His voice was rough. “Care to move a little faster?”
She smiled coyly. “Do you want to do this?” Colby looked at Liam innocently, knowing that she was making him crazy.
“I have no problem tearing that damn thing off, so you better stop torturing me.”
“I’m only doing as you asked.” Instead of removing her dress completely, Colby slid the silky material down over one shoulder, allowing it to fall just low enough to expose her entire left breast.
Her nipple had hardened and was calling out for him to take it. Liam couldn’t wait another second.
One minute, Colby was teasing, and the next, her breast was being sucked into his hot, wet mouth. “Uh,” she gasped. Instinctively, Colby grabbed a handful of his hair in an effort to pull him closer as if it were possible.
It wasn’t.
Her eyes closed in ecstasy.
Liam was done playing. He wanted her too much to be patient.
Liam made love to her breast while expertly removing her dress. He was determined to get her naked as quickly as possible. Once it was off, he cupped Colby’s other breast, massaging it, alternating between gentle strokes and rougher ones. He rolled her nipple between his fingers and pinched it at the same time as he gently bit down on the other.
Colby arched her back, thrusting into his mouth while holding on to his shoulders for balance. Who was torturing whom?
He pulled his lips away, leaving her a hot needy mess. “Let me find out if your other breast tastes as good as this one.” He wasted no time finding out.
Colby never believed she could orgasm from a man enjoying the taste of her nipples, but with Liam, she thought she just migh
t.
Liam could smell her arousal. It was heady, and he needed to touch her. Liam moved his hands between Colby’s thighs and ran his thumb across the seam of her swollen sex. Her silky underwear was drenched . . . and in the way. Damn it. She’s still wearing those?
Colby felt a tug, and the next thing she knew, just like her dress, her pretty little thong was gone. This time when Liam touched her, his fingers were coated with her warm juices. He ran his thumb back and forth a few times, making sure to tease her clit.
Colby mewled like a kitten as he stroked her kitty-cat. She squeezed his shoulders when he dipped the same thumb into her opening. “You’re so wet,” he whispered before placing his mouth on the soft curve of her neck.
Liam added another digit and increased the speed at which he fucked her with his hands.
“Oh, my God.” Colby felt like she was on the verge of an orgasm. Liam could sense she was close. He pulled his fingers out and turned her around, forcing Colby to fall onto all fours.
She heard the ripping sound of a wrapper before feeling Liam take her in one hard thrust. “Liam!” Colby screamed.
He didn’t take her gently, not this time. He wanted her too much. Liam gripped her hips and began to move. He thrust hard and fast into her slit. She was so wet and tight—the perfect combination. Liam’s own eyes closed in pure bliss as Colby’s body gripped him in a hot embrace.
She hadn’t been stretched out this good in her life. Liam was hitting absolutely every single spot she didn’t even know existed. Her body was covered in a soft sheen of sweat. She screamed to the high heavens when he hit her g-spot. Colby’s arms were going to give out.
Liam grunted as he pounded hard into her body, and Colby took every single inch. She had the perfect ass, and he made sure to grab two handfuls as he took his pleasure. Liam would never be able to see her in the coveralls the same way again. He slid in and out of Colby, creating a slapping noise that only heightened the intensity of their passions.
Colby began to spasm and contract. When Liam felt it, he increased his speed, gripping her harder. His own release wasn’t too far away.
After several harder thrusts, Colby squeezed her eyes shut and allowed her orgasm to take over. Moments later, Liam growled so loud other hotel guests probably heard him. It took him a minute to catch his breath. He leaned over her body and kissed the back of her neck before pulling out.
Full Throttle Page 14
