A Borrowed Life (Carly and Liam #1) (26 page)

“Mom!” Liam interrupts.

“I'll be happy to try it,” the journalist concludes. “And maybe I could submit a review to my editor?”

I smile politely as I know her intentions are good, but I wish I could tell her not to do that.

“That would be nice,” I reply politely.

“You've inherited it on the death of your parents?” Aubelia wonders.

“No. I just work there. I… I'm a waitress.”

“What!” she outrages, her tone suddenly strict. “Liam, is this a joke?”

I notice the satisfied expression on Desiree's face. She knew exactly what she was doing and where this would lead. Liam's mother would have found out eventually, but after she learned to like me would have probably been a better time, and certainly not in front of a journalist!

“Can I have a word with you!” Aubelia orders her son.

Liam walks away with his mother.

Feeling the tension rising, the journalist walks away, leaving only me and Desiree.

“I suppose you're happy?” I tell her.

“Very. Look around. You’re no match here, and you're not good enough for Liam.”

“Keep telling yourself that. It's me he brought tonight, not you. And it's me he'll go home with and who will sleep by his side tonight. I'm the one he chose.”

“For now. After all, I only have to look at you to know that he hasn’t taken you into his room yet.”

I frown. I know what room she's talking about, but I can't quite see the connection.

“That's what I thought,” she confirms from my silence. “There's a part of Liam that you don't know and he'll never show you. I know it. I saw him at his best and at his worst, and he showed me the dark side he's hiding from you. I know who he really is and I can give him what you never will. He doesn't think he needs it now, but believe me, it'll come. And when that happens, it's me he'll come back to.”

I gulp knowing she's telling the truth, and it hurts. I don't get into it with her, I simply leave. I don't want to see anyone, so I sneak inside and find myself in a corridor that leads to an administration office. All of a sudden a door closes behind me and I turn, startled. A man in his forties stands in front of me with shaved hair, a stern look, and his lips pointing down.

“Who are you?”

“Your father isn't very happy to see you here today,” he replies.

My heart is pounding. He works for Richard? I'm alone in a corridor where no one can hear me scream and nobody even knows I'm here. This really wasn't my brightest idea!

“What do you want?”

He walks toward me and I panic, so I turn to run away. As I rush to the door, his hand grips my arm. He violently pulls me towards him and I scream.

“Let go of me!”

The man is thrown against the wall to my right. I jump back and turn around, surprised to see Liam standing there, furiously pinning my attacker against the wall behind him. His glare alone could kill the man.

“Tell Mr. Lexington if he has some score to settle with Miss Scott, it's with me he'll have to deal with! Do I make myself clear?”

The man gives a brief nod, wisely preferring to avoid the confrontation. Attacking a defenseless young woman is much easier than taking on an opponent twice his size. He walks out without wasting more time, leaving Liam and me alone.

“Are you okay?”

I nod. “Thank you.”

“Now are you gonna tell me what's going on?”

“What about you?”

“What are you talking about?”

“Apparently I'm not the only one keeping secrets.”

He sighs, pinching the bridge of his nose.

“What did Desiree say?”

“She told me about a room where you took her. A room where you'd never take me.”

“And she's damn right.”

“Why won't you?”

“Because! Carly,” he finally says, “I don't want you to know that side of me, can you understand that?”

“No. No, I can't understand that. Because I want to know everything about you. I take you fully, with your faults as much as your good qualities, just as you do for me.”

“Fine. The day you really let me into your life, I will let you in mine. But right now, I feel like I’m only gravitating around you.”

“I'm sorry,” I breathe. These words hurt me more than I could have imagined. I don't see what more I can do!

Liam advances slowly towards me, wrapping his hands around my waist.

“Let me help you. I can, and I want to.”

If I tell him what's going on with my father, he will show me his secret room, but I wonder if I want to take that risk. I'm beginning to wonder if I really want to know what he's hiding in that room, but it makes me sick just thinking that he shared something with Desiree that he doesn't want to share with me.

“Hey!” he whispers, his fingers sliding along the sides of my face. “Don't think that I love you less because of that, it's just the opposite. Carly, if I were to lose you, I couldn't stand it. I've never had this fear with any other woman.”

He leans in to kiss me tenderly, and his tongue caresses mine.

“Let me show you what you do to me,” he says, taking my hand and putting it on his erected penis. “What you mean to me,” he finishes.

His palms slide down to my hips and my buttocks, down to the back of my thighs. He presses his pelvis against mine before lifting my dress with delicious caresses. He inserts his hand between my legs, delicately rubbing the back of his fingers over my private parts. I let out a sigh of pleasure that sends my head backwards. His index and middle fingers gently massage the most sensitive place of my anatomy.

My legs are shaking. My breathing intensifies and my lower abdomen contracts as a wetness quickly spreads onto his hand. His fingers then push inside me and I groan, begging for more. I need it so much!

“You want me, beautiful?”

“Yes!”

“Tell me how much?”

“Too much!”

“What would you do to get me?”

“Anything!”

“Really, anything?”

One nod answers his question. Yes, I would do anything for this man. At this point he wins, and I see the triumph in his eyes; the feeling of power it gives him. It excites him so much! The center of his eyes seriously darken and a dangerous spark shows on his face.

He presses me against the wall to my right, lifting me so I can wrap my legs around his pelvis. I cling to his neck, kissing it again, and again, and again. He unbuttons his pants with one hand to free his erection that's already pushing against me. He pushes inside of me, beginning his gentle back and forth movements.

The sensations are multiplying and my body is hungry for more. He accelerates the pace, and I groan against the crook of his neck, letting my breath caress his sensitive skin. His grip tightens on my back as his own enjoyment reaches its peak. Feeling him desiring me so much is such a turn on. Suddenly, all of my muscles relax as a liquid releases between my thighs. I continue my orgasm as he continues ravaging me.

All my limbs soften and contract again. My already swollen and sensitive flesh becomes more stimulated and an explosion boils in my body. My heels dig into his thighs while his merciless blows leave me no chance. My fingers clench on his shoulders and my back arches abruptly. I let out a scream that became impossible to hold in.

Liam brutally grabs my neck with a strong, aggressive hand and a moan growls in his throat. A new spasm seizes my body and I burst all around him. He looks me straight in the eye when he comes with one more thrust of his pelvis. He closes his eyes and breathes out, overcome with the peace that takes over after such a moment of pure happiness. An orgasm only I can give him. I see now that he never felt like this with another woman; he needs me as much as I need him.

As he catches his breath, he puts me down on the floor to straighten my dress over my trembling thighs.

“Are you gonna be okay?” he worries.

I smile letting out a giggle and nod. I feel much better now, actually. All my tension was relieved and all my fears have evaporated. As long as I'm with him, I will be safe and happy.

“Maybe you should fix your hair,” he suggests mockingly.

I turn to a mirror nearby. Indeed, many strands would betray our act if I were to go out like this. I do my best to put everything back in place, but I'm no professional hairdresser.

I'm more than happy when we get in the back of his car later that night. My feet are killing me, so I remove my heels and I huddle in Liam's arms, curling my legs up on the seat. His arms wrap around my shoulders and his fingers caress my hair. His heart beats against my ear, lulling me to sleep quietly.

I go down the stairs leading to the ground floor wearing only a white shirt that belongs to Liam and nothing else. He is already sitting in the kitchen with a cup of coffee in one hand and the newspaper in the other. He looks up and smiles when he sees me coming. His gaze is both tender and affectionate, and his eyes shine upon observing my outfit.

“Good morning, my love. Did you sleep well?”

I pull the bench next to him so I can lean my head against his shoulder. Immediately, his arm wraps around my body and I snuggle against him. His hand picks my face up to make me look at him and then kisses me. I feel myself melt into his arms while our lips intertwine. His hand slowly lets me fall backward as his tongue tangles with mine. My fingers slide down his shirt and I feel his strong and firm body.

His fingers gently push my hair behind my ear, mingling into the smooth and silky strands. A thrill seizes me when a rumbling sounds in his throat as he buries his face in the crook of my shoulder and holds me against him with one hand on my back and the other behind my head. He sits me on my bench, but I want more.

I stretch up to kiss him harder, almost straddling his lap. He suddenly lifts me up and sits me on the table in front of him. The look on his face is almost threatening and promises incredible pleasure. His index finger gently raises the cotton fabric on my thighs, focusing on my private parts. I weaken at the intrusion into my privacy and swallow, anticipating what he is going to do to me. He looks at me again, smiling.

“No underwear, I love it!”

My lips part to let out a breath of desire. Already, a wetness spreads between my legs and my breathing quickens. His hand comes between my knees to gently open them and reveal even more to him. With both hands, he pushes the shirt behind my hips and his mouth releases a sigh of appreciation. His fingers close on my ass to pull me towards him and then he leans to press a kiss on the inside of my thigh.

I groan silently, throwing my head backwards. His lips mockingly brush my knee, going back to my intimacy that he lovingly kisses. A soft moan escapes from my mouth and I close my eyes. Heat immediately rushes through my body and my hips are electrified. His tongue begins a delightful ride on my clitoris, and I surrender to the sensation, waving my pelvis toward him.

His palm slides under my shirt, caressing the skin of my belly to gently push me against the table. I drop onto my elbows, and then onto my back. He grabs my legs to spread them further so he can penetrate his tongue deeper into me. His thumb slides further down until it stimulates my clitoris in small circles. I feel it swell while my insides contract. Liam accelerates the pace, literally devouring my sex as if his life depended on it and I cry out. My fingers firmly grip the edges of the table and my legs stretch as my pelvis shudders in satisfaction. I'm out of breath, unable to utter a single word, and incapable of the slightest movement.

He moans with pleasure as I pour myself around him. My breath suddenly comes back and a mix of feelings shivers throughout my body. In one sudden move, he stands on his legs to kiss me and leaves a saline flavor on my lips, but I don't care. I kiss him back.

I push myself on my elbows to force him to sit back on his chair, determined to return the favor. I'm carried away by a surge of gratitude for the orgasm he just gave me and I forcefully grab his belt buckle. He raises his hands above his shoulders as if surrendering to me, and looks at me with a pleasantly surprised expression on his face. Even I don't recognize this dominant confidence taking over me.

I lower his pants and let myself fall to my knees. My tongue trails around his throbbing cock as my hand grasps the base of his shaft. I slowly swallow it while massaging it with my tongue and the roof of my mouth. He lets out a breath of pure happiness and his fingers tangle in my hair.

I slide my mouth down the length of his erection again and again. His back arches, as if trying to push his cock deeper into my mouth. His thighs tremble, but I don't stop or slow down. I look up to him to savor the expression of pure pleasure on his face, enjoying my every move. His eyes are closed and lips are parted, and quiet moans of ecstasy are escaping in each of his breaths. His chest releases and expands more and more quickly with each of his inhalations.

His penis hardens in my mouth and his legs seem about to give way. He lets out one cry, then another. My tongue caresses his shaft as I go up to the tip, letting my saliva create a suction. I suck on the head of his penis and his fingers firmly grab my hair, taking me by surprise. He soon relaxes and removes his hand from my head as if he regretted this impulsive gesture.

I accelerate the pace and his breathing intensifies even more. His moans roar throughout his body as a warm and salty spray gushes into my mouth. I slow down, licking the slightest trace of it on his penis. His right palm gently pushes under my chin and I get up. Liam looks at me straight in the eye with a boundless gratitude that reminds me why I love to please him so much.

His hands tenderly embrace my face and he leans in to kiss me with a softness that always amazes me.

“Why did you stop?” I ask, referring to his impulsive action.

“What are you talking about?”

“You grabbed my hair and then you stopped. Why?”

He frowns and his eyes darken. His features are frozen in an expression of both surprise and confusion, and I believe I detect a glimmer of hope and joy in his eyes.

“Did you like it?”

I shrug.

“I'm just curious why you stopped.”

He breathes out while nodding.

“Don't worry,” he says, pulling himself together. “I won’t hurt you.”

“But you didn't hurt me.”

He takes a deep breath and exhales slowly.

“And I will never.”

The firmness of his tone almost makes me think he is reassuring himself; as if he was angry at himself for getting carried away. He kisses my forehead as he buttons his pants.

“I have a meeting this morning, I really have to go. Is it okay if Javen takes you back home?”

“Yes. No problem.”

“Okay. See you later, baby. I love you.”

“I love you, too.”

He kisses me again before leaving. I stand there alone in the middle of the room, puzzled by his attitude. I lift my gaze to the upper floor. From where I am, I can see the door; the one that leads to this room he refuses to show me. I wonder what he’s hiding in there? I'm almost afraid of the answer. This is just a hunch, but… No, that’s ridiculous. He's so delicate and tender, I could never believe he would do that kind of stuff…

But what if? I can't help but thinking of what would happen if I were to discover that he is engaging in sadomasochistic practices, because that is what I am thinking after getting bits of information here and there. If that were the case, would I stay? Could I accept that? I continue to stare at the door, imagining him dressed in leather with a dangerous look on his face and a whip in his hand, threatening to snap it on my naked body tied up and kneeled before him. I swallow and my heart races. Why does that thought sound both scary and so arousing at the same time?

I think back to what he once told me;
don’t play with me Carly, you don't know what I'm capable of
. He had my wrists pinned strongly between his fingers, leaving me breathless and eager for a more intense feeling. Then, he had suddenly stopped himself. When I told him I liked it, he said,
don’t say that. You don't know what you mean
.

I take a deep breath as his words roll around in my head. My throat tightens and I can no longer breathe. What if Liam was hiding this dark of a secret?

“Do you want breakfast, Miss Scott?” a female voice asks, making me jump.

I spin around short of breath.

“Forgive me, I didn't mean to scare you.”

A woman in her late fifties stands in the kitchen doorway, wiping her hands on her apron. She’s a little plump, her hair is slowly turning gray, and she has big hazel eyes and a warm smile,

“Um…No. No, I'm not very hungry. Thank you,” I respond as I pull myself together.

“Very well. If you need anything, please let me know.”

“Okay. Thank you.”

The woman goes back to the kitchen, and I bring my attention back to that door. Liam, what are you hiding from me? I have to know! I look around to make sure no one can see me, and then I go upstairs. I walk toward the handle and stare at it, hesitating to open it. My trembling hand reaches for the tip of gold metal. I probably shouldn't do this. Liam trusts me, and he wouldn't like to find out I looked where he didn’t want me to. I close my fingers into a fist and move away from the door as guilt rushes over me.

But can I really trust him? Can I afford to fall in love with a man who could hurt me so much? I’ve seen the women who do this kind of thing, those they call their ‘submissive’. They are a shadow; a puppet in the hands of a man who is control freak. This is in no way a healthy relationship and certainly not what I want. I refuse to play that role. Oh well, I need to know now before it's too late.

I put my hand on the handle and turn it before I can change my mind, but it won't turn. It's locked. I start breathing again. I'm almost grateful it is. It prevents me from doing something stupid.

“Can I help you, miss?”

I turn around startled to see Javen down the stairs, barely walking through the front door. I was so absorbed in my thoughts that I didn't hear anything.

“No,” I reply in a hushed voice.

I hope he didn’t see anything.

“Mr. Walker told me to take you home when you're ready.”

“Yes, I…umm… I have to change. Give me a few minutes.”

“Take your time. I'll wait for you outside.”

“Okay. Thank you.”

I rush into the bedroom where I fall flat on the bed. I must look like a red tomato right now. I’m wearing so little and facing a man I barely know who's old enough to be my father! And he surprises me at a door that I'm not supposed to open… Kill me now!

Suddenly, my cell phone rings and I freeze. My heart is pounding. What if it’s Liam? Javen must have told him what I was doing and surely he’s angry at me. I don't want to answer. I don't even want to see if it's really him who's calling. The ringing stops. I sigh. The relief is brief because only a few seconds later, it rings again. He's really furious. I take my courage in both hands and pick up my phone in my purse.

Ethan’s name flashes on the screen. My whole body relaxes, and I release the breath I was holding.

“Hello,” I answer.

“Can you tell me what the hell this means?”

“What?”

“Didn't you see the paper this morning?”

“No?”

Shit! I know immediately what he’s talking about. The newspaper? I thought the picture that the journalist took would be in gossip magazines that only women read? Not the newspaper. I rush downstairs as if my life depended on it, which is probably the case.

“Okay, I have it,” I tell my brother while picking up the paper on the kitchen table.

It's still opened on the page Liam was reading before I joined him; the one of us taken at his brother’s wedding. This is the photo taken by the journalist. It was copied from their blog, where it was tweeted more than a thousand times according to the information in the article. I can't breathe. I had no idea it would go this far. I thought it would just be one picture in a corner of a page, and a week later nobody would talk about it anymore.

“Do you see it?” Ethan asks on the other end of the line.

“Yes,” I reply with an instantly dry throat.

“Carly, come home immediately. We need to talk.”

“I'm not a child, Ethan. You can't tell me what to do.”

“Carly, I'm not kidding! Shit, I’m the one who will have to give up everything again to start over elsewhere and make sure that you're safe because you don't follow rules! They were pretty clear!”

“Shut up!”

I hate it when my brother throws it in my face that he had to abandon his studies and his dreams to disappear with me and protect me. I never asked him to, and frankly, I'd almost preferred that he wouldn't have so I would have a clear conscience. Then I wouldn't have to live my life with the feeling of being indebted to him or a burden for him.

“Don't talk to me like that, Carly!”

“No, you don't talk to me like that! You don't want to give up everything, fine! Me neither! And I'm sick of running away! You know what? This picture? I let her take it and I knew what I was doing. I don't have to hide because I never did anything wrong, and I don't have to pay for it for the rest of my life!”

“Have you lost your mind or what? I'll come and pick you up.”

“Don't bother!

I hang up with a rumble of exasperation. I go back to change and join Javen in the underground parking structure. I’m happy that he is here to take me home. I am still fearful of seeing my father's face or my former guardian coming out of nowhere.

I walk into my apartment fearing my brother's wrath, but he's not there.

“Hey!” Sean greets me from his computer.