A Borrowed Life (Carly and Liam #1) (18 page)

I get out of the bus and my heart beats out of my chest with each step I take towards the restaurant. I'm more nervous than I was on our first date, and it’s probably because I know who I am meeting, and that I should literally expect anything to happen. I focus on my pace as the wind blows the skirt of my little blue dress, and the gentle breeze whips my hair on my shoulders.

I’ve never been in this area of the city, so I follow the directions I found on the internet. I walk along a street lined with street lamps that light up when it gets dark enough. The lights of the surrounding buildings illuminate my way.

I finally come face to face to the huge glass tower that houses Le Citadin, one of the most famous open air restaurants in the city. I walk up to the hostess stand, and the man behind the counter stands arrogantly in front of me. His tie alone is worth more than anything I'm wearing, so he has probably made the assumption that I can't afford to eat here. It’s obviously what he’s thinking, and I look down to my worn square heels, my forty-dollar dress and the heart pendant chain that I bought for less than ten dollars.

I suddenly feel very small, like an impostor.

“What name is your reservation under?”

I pull myself together and answer, “Walker.”

He raises a skeptical eyebrow and looks at the list.

“I have no reservation under that name. And you are…?”

“Scott.”

Before the man can even answer, another man with white hair, a black suit and perfectly polished shoes comes up behind me.

“Miss Scott?” he politely addresses me.

“Yes?”

“Follow me, please.”

He proceeds toward the elevators. I briefly turn to the man at the reception desk who is now very quiet. I hesitate to follow this stranger, although he doesn't really seem threatening. I wonder why there is no reservation under Liam's name. Maybe it was just last minute? I get into the elevator that opens in front of me. Large mirrors surround us, and before the doors close, the man presses the button for floor thirty-one; the highest floor. I swallow while we go up and I look up at the sky, wondering what awaits me up there, as if I was hoping to see through the walls.

When the doors open, I find myself on the roof of the building. The breeze pushes my hair back and molds my dress to my body. That's when I see Liam standing in front of me, breathtaking in his tuxedo, next to a table for two set with a tablecloth and lanterns, and surrounded by trees and flower boxes. It gives us just enough intimacy without hiding the beautiful view of the city and the river shimmering in brilliance below.

“I'm glad you came,” he says.

I smile and approach him, extremely happy to see him. As I get closer, his energy reaches me and warms me. He extends a hand to me and takes me by the glass fence surrounding the small private gallery on the edge of the roof.

“This is incredible!” I breathe, marveling at the view.

“I thought a lot about what you told me, you know.”

I turn to him. His gaze is very serious, filled with a nervousness I didn't know he was capable of having. I almost feel like I'm holding his life in my hands.

“You don't want to be in the gossip magazines or in the newspapers, and I understand that. I hate it, too. But I don't intend to give up on this so easily. I want you, Carly, and no matter what it takes, I want to make it work.”

“This isn't…”

“Carly, I'm trying to prove to you tonight that despite what you may think, my whole life isn't in the newspapers. In fact, I'm a very private person, and it is possible for us to have a perfectly normal relationship.”

I look around me. I see other tables a bit further, all empty. I can easily imagine the place being very popular. He must have paid a high price to have it reserved for him alone.

“You call
this
normal?” I point out.

He chuckles.

His smirk is mysterious and I wonder what he's thinking right now.

“I just want to show you that my life is not that bad. In fact, it's you who's creating the money a barrier between us.”

This observation strikes me hard and I frown. He's right. I'm the first to say that money doesn't matter, and yet I'm the only one that sees a difference between our two worlds. He has always treated me as an equal.

We face the city and sit at our table on a cushioned, crescent-shaped sofa and a server moves towards us.

“Would you like some wine, Mr. Walker?” the server proposes.

“The same as usual.”

The server leaves and I take a deep breath.

“Do you come here often?”

I ask because the waiter seemed to know him and his tastes.

“It’s a great place for business dinners.”

“I see.”

Suddenly, he puts a hand on my thigh and slowly lifts up my skirt. My whole body responds and I realize I'll never be able to resist this man!

“I know a good way to make you relax if you stay this tense,” he whispers in my ear.

My thighs strongly press against one another as I struggle against the urge to let him do as he wishes.

“This isn't a good idea.”

“You wouldn't be here if you really believed that.”

“I guess not,” I reply, trying to hide my smile.

He smiles back and I relax as the atmosphere finally lightens between us. His fingers slide gently on my skin that awakens under his touch. Every hair on my body stands as he comes close to my highly sensitive area. The wind refreshes my skin and my dress drifts high onto my thighs. Fortunately, the white tablecloth hides us.

“Let me remind you why you can't be without me.”

He pushes his hand between my legs. My body tenses as his fingers push aside my panties, and the cold on my most private parts is as shocking as effective. Since I'm getting hungry for this contact, his finger gently tickles my thigh and moves further away toward my knee.

I let out a long breath to calm down. I try not to let anything show, and I smile when his hand comes back to my vagina. His middle finger slowly slides along my vulva to press on my clitoris and all feelings leave my legs. My eyelids close and my lips part to blow out a soft breath. He draws small circles around my clit and my body melts.

“Pull yourself together,” he says as he sees the server coming back.

I straighten my back and show the most sober smile possible. Liam slowly inserts his finger in me, and I need all my strength to not let my face betray me and to stop my body from quivering. Liam is amused by my reaction, moving his finger so discreetly that no one would guess what he’s doing right now.

“Have you decided?”

“Um… I, um…”

I struggle to express myself. Liam's middle finger turns slowly inside me and I can't focus on a single word. In fact, I haven't even looked at the menu.

“Do you want me to order for you, my love,” he mocks.

I turn to him threateningly, but I nod.

“We will have the braised beef with sautéed mushrooms, no vinegar in the sauce. Cooked medium well for Madame and the same for me, and with garden vegetables instead of mushrooms.”

“Perfect, sir.”

I didn't know he noticed I wasn’t a fan of vinegar? And he remembered how I like my meat cooked? If he was trying to impress me, he succeeded! The server leaves. Liam's index finger pushes in me, joining his middle one that slowly rotates in delicious torture. His two fingers start caressing me in and out. I grab the table as discreetly as possible and my back straightens as I try to control the reaction of my body. Liam shows a broad smile that I have a strong desire to kiss.

He presses the palm of his hand against my clitoris, gently massaging my swollen flesh. I can hardly contain myself in front of the employees passing near by. I resist the temptation to let my hips roll on his fingers, and that irresistible tension in my arms that wants to literally pull his hair. My legs want to spread wider to give him more access to please me.

Liam's left arm closes around my waist to snuggle me against him. He buries his face in the crook of my shoulder. A shiver goes up my body and into my neck, and he presses a gentle kiss on it. My desperate gaze rests on him, begging for him to end it. He glances around and notices the servers have all left.

Suddenly, his left hand closes strongly around my neck as if he had captured me as his prey. He leans me in the crook of his elbow to kiss me passionately, accelerating the pace of his fingers that stimulate my crotch. My hips convulse, my hands cling to his neck and my legs part. I can't hold in my cry, and my eyes close naturally.

“Open your eyes, Carly. I want you to look at me.”

A hot flash suddenly rushes over me. I obey and plunge my gaze in his, and it’s as if his eyes see into my soul. I abandon all resistance and a hot liquid pours on his fingers. He slows down, letting me gather my thoughts before removing his hand. His lips approach mine, but then he inserts his finger into his mouth.

“Delicious!” he breathes.

Heat flushes my entire body. This simple act is so sexy! He tasted me, all that is most intimate about me and loved it. Liam presses his lips to mine and kisses me tenderly. I slide my hands against his neck to hold his face against mine. He gently sits me back up when the server comes back with supper.

“It looks good!” I say, studying the plate set in front of me.

We eat and talk about many things. The atmosphere is light and pleasant. New York's lights are beautiful, and I snuggle in his arms to watch them since I have no desire to leave.

I push open the door of my apartment.

“Sean? Are you here?”

“In the living room!”

I find him and let myself fall beside him on the couch.”

“You're home late?”

“Something came up.”

“Something?”

I let out a nervous chuckle. That's when I notice the smell of popcorn.

“What movie were you watching?”

“Don't change the subject. What happened?”

“Liam Walker.”

“Ah!

“He wants us to officially be a couple.”

Sean straightens his head, turning to me, with a worried and skeptical look.

“It's not a good idea, huh?” I ask.

“Look Carly, it was a great story on this cruise, but I think like your brothe
r
it should stop there before it gets ugly. I did some research on him, you know. He's a player. He's known to bring women into bed and then drop them after he's done with them. I think in your case, the stakes are too high.”

“He promised that journalists won't be involved.”

The alarm of the microwave sounds and I hear the door open.

“It's too risky,” confirms my brother coming out of the kitchen.

“What are you doing here?” I ask, not expecting to see him tonight.

“Had a fight with Torrie.”

“So you aren’t going home tonight?”

“Sean told me I could crash on your couch.”

“You're acting like a child!”

“We were talking about you. I really don't want you to see this guy again.”

“What, you think you're my father now?”

“No, but I know one that you would hate to see again!”

“Don't order me around!”

“That’s not the point, Carly! The guy is rich and powerful, that’s true. He's also famous. You'll find yourself in newspapers, gossip blogs and magazines; it's inevitable, and you can't take that risk. Yes, okay, he may have the power to shut down all the newspapers in the city if he wants, but what guarantees you that he will? What guarantees you that once he's done with you, you'll still have his protection?”

I look down, thinking. My brother has a gift for being a real pain in the ass when he wants, especially when he's right. Am I ready to put my life on the line, hoping that Liam will protect me even if we stop seeing each other? Because that's what would happen if I trust him.

“You know, I was just asking for your opinion.”

“You're asking the wrong person then,” my brother mocks me, taking a handful of popcorn in his mouth. “You should have called Liv for this.”