Chapter 11
Chapter Eleven
E lisabetta
Oh, my gosh! What am I doing? That’s the only thought running through my head as I hurriedly put my clothes back on.
Liam’s gone to the living room to get himself some water, and I am literally trembling from the moment we just had. The look in his eyes when I’d orgasmed almost made me spread my legs and beg him to take me because he was right; I did come a little bit. But I was so far away from the orgasm I really wanted that it wasn’t funny. Only he could fulfill that itch.
I’ve never masturbated in front of a man before. Yet, I realize that it was the biggest aphrodisiac that I’ve ever had in my life. It was way better than champagne and oysters. Fuck! I wanted him, and he knew it, but the fact of the matter was he wanted me, too, maybe even more than I wanted him. I’d seen the shake in his hand. I smile to myself as I run my fingers through my hair. He wanted me badly.
I frown as I think about the phone call that he got. Who the fuck is Lucinda? I know I shouldn’t care. I mean, he is my boss, and we haven’t even gone on a date, so he doesn’t owe me anything, but I’m pissed as hell. She’s obviously important enough to him to take the call while I was playing with myself, which in itself is a travesty. So rude!
I lick my lips. I’m dressed, but I’m not ready to go out and see him again. I know I should feel slightly embarrassed, but I don’t. I’m proud of my body, and I’m at peace with my sexuality. I’m a sexual woman, and I don’t care who knows it. I’m not ashamed of the fact that I like to receive pleasure more than I like to give. In fact, sometimes I really like to give, and if Liam were a nicer guy, I would have been on my knees sucking him off already. Because even though I teased him and called his wiener "little Mr. Gallagher” it looked big as hell in his pants, and I really wanted some eye-to-eye contact. I giggle to myself as I stand there. I’m totally out of my element.
I’m about to walk out into the living room and tell him that we should get back to the office when my phone starts ringing. I’m going to ignore it unless it’s Skye. But then, I see it’s my dad. He rarely calls me. I don’t really want to speak to him now because I don’t want to have to explain where I am, but for some reason, I find myself answering the phone.
“Hey, Dad. What’s going on?”
“Darling, I am so glad to hear your voice.”
“Is everything okay?” I say immediately. For one, my dad has never been glad to hear the sound of my voice before, and two, he sounds stressed. My dad never sounds stressed.
“I’m okay,” he says. “It’s just been a bit of a crazy time for me right now. I didn’t hear from you about the engagement ball, so…”
“What engagement ball, Dad?”
“Your engagement ball.”
“Umm…what are you talking about? You said it was going to be a party for me to come out and meet a bunch of eligible bachelors and possibly meet someone I want to marry. Not that it was going to be celebrating an engagement. I haven’t even met this man yet.”
My father sighs. “Things are a little different here, Elisabetta. You know that.”
“I don’t know anything. What are you talking about? What is different? What is going on?”
“I just want to know when you’re going to be in town and how many of your friends are going to come because…”
“Because what, Dad?”
“Look, things are a bit challenging right now. The economy is shit, and I’ve made a couple of bad deals and…”
I lick my lips nervously. “What’s going on, Dad?”
“This engagement is to help save the family business,” he says. “I didn’t want to have to say this because I love you, but there is no option to not come, Elisabetta.”
“What? Dad, what’s going on?”
“You will be getting married to one of the bachelors at the ball. I need the influx of cash in the business and…” He sighs. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to…”
“Dad! What is going on? I don’t understand. You can’t seriously think you’re going to marry me off! I’ve been an independent woman for my entire life. You haven’t even…”
“I’m sorry, child. I’m sorry.” He sighs deeply. “Please forgive me. Forgive me for everything.”
“What have you done, Dad?”
“Nothing. Just…just ignore me right now. How are you, darling? What are you doing? How is Skye and your friends and…”
“I’m fine, actually. I told you I got a job, right?”
“A job?” His voice is high-pitched now.
“Yeah. I’m working as an assistant for…”
“You are? At the law firm with that?—?”
“Sorry, what, Dad?”
“Nothing. Nothing. I just was distracted by something. You’re working as an assistant? What are you talking about?”He talks rapidly and I hope he’s not too upset.
“Remember Skye was working for that law firm? I think I told you about it.”
“Yes, what was it? Parker, Specter, and Chase? Something like that?”
“Yeah, something like that. How did you remember?” I frown slightly. My dad never really pays attention when I speak to him.
“Oh, I’ve just heard of them somehow. I think it came up in a recent conversation with someone I spoke to. Never mind, never mind. So, are you working for one of the partners, or are you working for someone else?”
“Uh, I’m not working for one of the partners. I’m working for one of their clients. A businessman…”
“Oh, that would be great. Can you understand his English accent?”
“Uh, yes, why wouldn’t I be able to understand it? It’s just a regular accent.”
“True, true. And you’re enjoying the job?”
“I mean, I wouldn’t say I’m enjoying it. He’s a bit of a jackass, but…you don’t care that I got a job working as an assistant? I mean…”
“No, why would I? You’re trying to find your way in the world and all that. So, I should go now. Uh, please let me know when you can come over.”
“Dad, you’re scaring me.”
“I didn’t mean to scare you. It’s just been a really long week, and I must be really tired with the time change. I’ll speak to you later.”
He hangs up, and I frown as I stare at the phone.
“What the fuck was that?” I mutter under my breath.
I’m still standing there, dazed and confused, when a couple of minutes later, Liam walks into the room.
“Hey, is everything okay?” He looks at me, a nervous smile on his face. “I hope that you didn’t get upset that I…”
“I’m not upset abour anything to do with you, Liam. When are you going to get that through your thick skull?” I know I’m sharper than I should be, but it’s because I’m confused and annoyed by the conversation with my dad. Is he broke? It’s all I can think about, and what does he mean it’s an engagement party?
“You look completely distracted,” Liam says, stepping forward. “Please tell me you don’t regret what happened earlier. I mean, I can pretend I didn’t see…”
“I don’t care.” I stare into his eyes. “I don’t care if you fucking go to bed tonight and masturbate thinking about my pink pussy. You can do whatever you want.” I lick my lips.
“I’m not embarrassed. I enjoy touching myself. I enjoyed making myself come, and I enjoyed watching you watch me because I’m a woman that loves pleasure. Do you understand what that means?”
He nods slowly for a couple of seconds. There’s a shocked expression on his face.
“I know this is cliché, but you really are different from every other woman I’ve ever met in my life.”
“I’m sure I am,” I say, grinning at him. “That’s something I’ve heard many times, and usually, it’s not been well-intentioned.”
“Well, I’m telling you that I’m very well-intentioned when I say that. I like that you’re different. I like that you own your sexuality. And, you’re right, tonight, the first thing I’m going to do when I get under the sheets is pull my hard cock out of my boxer shorts and close my eyes and think about your jiggling titties and your glistening pussy. And I’m going to picture myself thrusting into you deep and hard. Yeah,” he groans, “I can already picture myself ejaculating, thinking about it hitting you on your flat stomach.” He licks his lips. “You like that?”
“I can’t say that particularly turns me on,” I say, shaking my head as I lie. My panties are growing wet again.
“Anyway, shall we head out? I’m sure there’s other work we have to do.”
“Okay. I guess when you’re done, you’re done, huh?”
“I guess so,” I say. “So, what are we doing this afternoon?”
“Other than teasing each other mercilessly?” He grins.
“Other than that,” I say, nodding.
“Well, I thought we could look over some other documents and resorts and maybe start coming up with a game plan for the ideal travel destinations for singles between the ages of twenty-one and fifty-nine.”
“That’s a pretty wide group,” I say.
“Well, I want to attract many people with money.” He grins. “You know what I mean?”
“I guess so.” I nod slightly. “I just want to say that I’m very grateful that you’re including me in this project. I know it’s not why you hired me, but…”
“I want to take advantage of all your skills,” he says. “It seems to me that you’re a woman of discerning taste, so I think you can help me create the number-one travel resort in the world.”
“I’d like to think that I could. Will I get a bonus if I do?”
“Of course,” he says. “Multiple bonuses if you want.”
I stare at him for a couple of seconds, and I can see from his glittering eyes that ‘multiple bonuses' mean something very different in his eyes.
“I’ll take the cash, thank you,” I say.
He bursts out laughing, and we head to the door.
“Ready? Or would you like something to drink?”
“I’m good to go,” I say, nodding, “but thank you.”
“You’re welcome.”
We exit his apartment and head to the elevator. He presses the button and stares at me.
“So, I heard you on the phone. Is everything okay?”
“It’s fine. I just had a call.”
“I gather you had a call because you were on the phone. I’m smart enough to logically deduce that.”
“I’m glad you’re smart about something,” I say.
He chuckles as the elevator door opens, and we step inside.
“So, who was it?” he asks as he presses G to take us to the ground floor. He moves closer to me so that his shoulder is rubbing against me.
I look up at him and shake my head. “You’re very nosy.”
“Well, you wanted me to take my call while I was still in the room with you, so I figure I can ask you.”
“It was someone who wanted to talk to me.”
“A boyfriend?” He stares down at me, so I can tell he’s genuinely curious.
“I’ve already told you I don’t have a boyfriend.”
“A man that wants to be your boyfriend?”
“No such man exists.”
“I bet you many, many men would love to be your man.”
“Maybe they want to take me to bed like you, but I don’t think they want to be my man, per se.”
“I think you’d be surprised, Elisabetta Franco,” he says, licking his lips.
He grabs my face suddenly and pulls it up to his. I swallow hard as he leans down and kisses me.
“This is payback,” he says. He kisses me hard and fast, and I moan as I melt against him. His tongue slips into my mouth, and he pushes me back against the wall. His hands run down the side of my shirt, and I feel his fingers creeping up on my back, rubbing gently. I run my fingers down his back and moan as he continues to kiss me. I’m breathing heavily now. And when the elevator dings to alert us that we’ve made our stop, I know that I’m ready to escape him. I’m conflicted about how intense and passionate he makes me feel.
“Now that’s what a good kiss feels like,” he says as we exit the elevator.
“Are you trying to say that my kiss wasn’t good?”
“It was okay,” he says, “but I wanted you to feel ravished. Do you feel ravished?” he asks, grinning at me.
I nod slowly. My heart is still racing. I can still feel the imprint of his lips against mine. His tongue in mine. I can still taste him.
I walk toward the exit with him, not saying anything.
“Cat got your tongue?”
“I think that’s my line,” I say smartly to him.
“True, but remember, the cat doesn’t have my tongue; my tongue wants to be in your cat.”
“Liam!” I say, blushing as I see two older ladies staring at us. They’re in the lobby, and I’m pretty sure they heard what he said.
“What?” He grins at me. “Am I too vulgar for you?”
“I mean, you’re way vulgar for a British man,” I say. “I thought you all were polite and sensible and didn’t say dirty words.”
“Who lied to you?” He bursts out laughing, running his fingers through his hair. “We can be some of the crudest, rudest men you’ve ever met.”
“I guess that is true,” I say.
I freeze suddenly as we step outside. “Hold on a minute.”
“Yes.”
I blink as I stare at him. “You are British.”
“I know that, but thank you for reminding me.”
“No, you’re British, right? You’re English.”
“I am.”
“And you are a client of an American law firm, a big law firm.”
“Yes.”
“But, you’re not a partner there?”
“No.”
“And you’re not an associate.”
“No, I’m not,” he says. “What did you just figure that out?”
“No,” I say, blinking, staring at him. My heart is racing now, but it’s not because I’m turned on. I think back to my conversation with my father. He made a comment to me. What was the comment? Oh, yes, I remember now. My dad said, " Can you understand his English accent?” but I didn’t tell him that Liam was English.
I lick my lips nervously and stare at Liam. “Just something my dad said.”
“Your dad?” He freezes for a second, and I wonder what he’s thinking.
“Yeah, my dad called me when I was in your bedroom just to see how I was doing.”
“Oh, okay. And how is he?”
“He’s fine,” I lie. “Everything’s good.”
I bite down on my lower lip and look away from him. Why did my dad really call me? Why is my dad making me get engaged? How did he know that Liam is English?
I look back over at Liam, and I see that he’s staring at me. There’s a discerning look on his face, like he’s trying to read my mind. I stare back at him.
“What’s on your mind? What are you thinking about?”
He blinks at me for a couple of seconds and shrugs.
“You,” he says. “I’m thinking about how I would like to take you to a nice dinner. Would you like that?”
“Really? Is that what you were really thinking about?”
He chuckles. “Oh, I think you know what I was really thinking about. It begins with a P and ends with a Y.”
I roll my eyes, and he just laughs.