Chapter 8
Liam
“This place is so cool.” Eden peered outside of their booth, taking in the “spooky” décor of their corner of the bar. “I didn’t know this existed. How did you know about it?”
Liam happened to catch the holographic eyes of a picture that “followed” the gaze.
So did another guest, who laughed so hard that her tipsy friend had to help her stand up straight on the way to the women’s restroom down a long hallway.
“It belongs to someone I helped invest in way early on in my career,” he explained.
“As you can see, he was quite successful. This is his third bar, but the first one to have a haunted house theme.”
Their goth-clad server came by with their drinks: Liam had ordered a “Vampiric Ward,” which was a herbal concoction mixed with vodka and light-up ice cubes, and Eden sipped a “Bloody Daiquiri,” which came with half-crushed raspberries along the rim.
She plucked one off and nibbled at it while Liam described how investing in Connor Graff’s crazy pub visions had paid off enough that he could go on to invest in bigger things, eventually snowballing into his cozy little angel investor empire.
“So, an angel investor is someone who invests a lot?” Based on the twitch of her mouth and the cock of her brow, Eden was concerned that she sounded ditzy asking that.
“Kinda?” Liam motioned for them to swap drinks for two seconds so they could try out each other’s orders.
Rum. Just like we’re back in the Caribbean.
At least Eden had good taste in cocktails.
“An angel investor just means we’re an integral part of the process.
Sometimes that means we sweep in at the last minute to invest the last few million dollars necessary to get a project off the ground.
Sometimes we’re the whole reason the project even starts, and in exchange for the risk, we have an ownership stake.
These days, we mostly help startups from people with proven track records.
Or, you know, people we like. But we also do last-minute investing, too. ”
“We?”
“My partner Wyatt and I. He’s good at gauging the risk and funds, while I’m the one who brokers the deals. Don’t know if you’ve noticed, but I’m quite outgoing.”
“And charming.”
“Oh, you flatter me.”
They reclaimed their original drinks, although Liam kept a raspberry for himself. My ownership stake. He was paying for this date, after all.
This wasn’t their first stop of the night.
They originally met up for dinner at a cozy Italian hole-in-the-wall famous for its Sicilian cannoli.
Together, they shared one glass of white wine because Liam promised better, more fun drinks at their after-dinner stop, which was here.
Poe’s Place. Liam hated the name, but it had been successful.
And a life-sized replica of its namesake hung out on a ledge where it looked like he played a piano covered in candelabras.
People love Poe. Especially in Yankee country.
He knew Eden would be amused by this place.
Liam paid the hostess a generous tip to ensure they were in a quieter corner where they could sit in a rounded booth with comfortable padding and their own tiny chandelier that flickered with fake flames.
Eden was emboldened to remove her coat and hang it on a hook on the outside of the booth before snuggling close to Liam, who complimented her little black winter dress before they ordered their drinks.
Now that they were on a proper date, she was much more relaxed and open to his humorous affection for the world around him.
That included his mild flirtations with their server, whose cobweb manicure and white face paint he complimented with gusto, and quips about the haunted house music on the speakers and the goofy-ass names for things on the menu.
They shared a dessert called “Ghost Giblets,” which was really just pieces of white cake topped with white frosting and chocolate chips.
The point of a bar was to take their time chatting and cuddling, which Liam was determined to take full advantage of.
He knew she had been out with someone else the night before based on context cues and her outright refusal to deny it when asked.
A friendly competition for her affection.
Don’t mind if I do. Despite seeing someone else, it didn’t stop Eden from wrapping an arm around his and pushing her whole body in his direction while they chatted about what made them tick and what they were looking for in a potential relationship.
“…I travel a lot,” he said frankly, while their dessert plate was taken away and they ordered another round of drinks from their macabre server.
“Mostly to California and Texas, but it’s all for work.
Short meetings that are too private for Zoom.
My company doesn’t have traditional offices, so we rent meeting spaces around the country for when we have in-person to-dos, but mostly, it’s dinners and nightclubs.
The only space we properly own is a small private plane for putting around. ”
“So, you’re saying I could have a decent amount of time to myself.”
“Sounds like something a girl who likes to date around would wistfully say.”
She lightly smacked him on the shoulder. “We’re casual right now. Say, what happened with that girl you saw the other day? Did you get a second date?”
“Her? No way.” The last thing Liam wanted to think about right now was Benson, and that was who that question conjured.
For all he knew, Jana had gone home with him.
Wouldn’t be the first time he got the girl.
Liam was good at stealing them back, though.
But Jana didn’t seem worth it. “We didn’t really vibe. Not like I do with you.”
“You’re just saying that.”
“Sweetheart.” He slinked his arm along the back of the booth, looming over her as she giggled with a hand over her mouth.
“I’d never ‘just say’ such a thing. You and I have more chemistry than a makeup lab.
The only reason I haven’t taken you home yet is because I enjoy talking to you just as much. The night is young.”
“It’s ten!”
“See? It’s young.”
He knew he already had the deal sealed. Eden was loosened up and flirty – honestly, she was seductive in this long-sleeved getup with a plunging neckline and fuck-me pumps that must have been grateful there was no ice that week.
He had mentioned his place by the river was only a ten-minute drive away via rideshare, and she was amenable to checking out the view.
I wonder if she slept over at the other guy’s house last night.
Eden had mentioned something about getting home around noon and spending most of the afternoon doing some chores while showering and getting ready for their date in the evening.
Liam didn’t mind, and it wasn’t even because of his kink. Something was reassuring about a beautiful woman keeping her options open. When she ultimately chooses me, it’ll be extra sweet. Liam loved winning.
“Okay, okay,” she said with a curling hand against his chest, the two of them quite cozy one and a half drinks into the night. “Let’s play a little game. You tell me something about yourself, and I’ll tell you something about me. Something deep.”
“Mm, dealer’s choice what the question is?”
“Sure.”
“Fine. You first.”
“Me?” Eden’s forehead brushed against his chin, her silky dark hair holding the scent of flowers. Reminds me of a certain shower we took together. How far they had come in one week. “All right. When was your last super serious relationship?”
“Whoa. That’s cutting.”
“Hm? Too intense for an official first date?”
The image of the person in question in Liam’s life flashed before his eyes. “Intense in that it was kind of messy? Sure.”
“That bad?”
“Ah, well…” Liam didn’t want to come off as someone who couldn’t talk frankly about his exes.
He just shouldn’t… disparage them. “I’ve been in semi-serious relationships and long-term dating with women over the past few years, but nothing serious enough that we earnestly talked about the next stage.
The last person like that was… well, guess it was five years ago. ”
Eden tilted her head, waiting for him to continue.
“It was a hot and heavy relationship.” Liam tried not to blush.
Thinking of sex should not make me blush.
He was a grown and experienced man, wasn’t he?
He had done things that would get him arrested in some countries!
Never mind what happens in a certain place called La Mariposa.
Like that last weekend. He was pretty sure the orgy was illegal in some places.
Yet when he thought of his ex – the one deserving of the title ex – he was a bit shy.
“We weren’t together very long, but it felt like forever.
You know the feeling? Like you just click immediately and everything falls into place.
You see a future with them. There are people in your life who think you’re nuts because they don’t understand it, but when you’re with that person, you know it was meant to be.
Anyway, we were engaged within six months. ”
“Engaged!”
“Yup. And I blew it. I opened my big mouth and blew it up. But I guess it wasn’t going to work out anyway if wanting to open our relationship blew it up.”
“I see. So, you’re poly?”
“Ah… it’s complicated.”
“Well, I know you like watching dates like me get it on with other guys.”
The way she said it so casually nearly killed him. “It’s hot, okay?” Her laughter was a feminine balm on his nerves. Soon, he pulled her closer so he could lower his voice. “Guess I’m either into swinging or a closed circle of people. I need to be with someone okay with that over the long term.”
“And your fiancée didn’t agree?”
“I think I freaked them out. Even though this was a very well-known thing about me, and we weren’t exactly alone in the bedroom half the time.
” Liam sighed. God, those were good times.
He had done things he never thought he would do, but like he said…
with the right person… “Anyway. Only time I’ve ever been engaged.
” He decided to cut her off before she had the chance to ask follow-up questions.
“My turn. I get to ask you a very invasive question now.”
Did it work? Did she instantly forget whatever she was about to ask? “Cool. Hit me.”
He squeezed her shoulder, his mouth hovering over her ear while her hair tickled his nose. “Tell me your dirtiest, raunchiest fantasy.”
“Oh, my God!” Eden leaned into him, forcing Liam to tighten his grip on her arm before they both tumbled backward in the booth. “I knew you were going to ask something like that!”
“So, you have something ready?”
She looked away, defiant and petulant, exactly how he liked his women on dates. “I had all sorts of answers before a week ago. They sound so tame now.”
“We just need to keep adding more men until you run out of room.”
“Liam!”
“Not in the first month, of course. We’ll work up to that for our first anniversary. Rent out a hotel room in Vegas. I’ll advertise the train on Reddit.”
“I swear to God!”
He was kidding. Never Reddit. He wondered if Eden knew about the better sites for such debauchery. “Well, if we do keep dating for a year, I’ll make it my mission to help you make your dirtiest fantasies come true. I’ll try anything once as long as it doesn’t restrict airflow.”
“Anything?”
“To be fair, I’ve already tried most everything. It’s your turn now.”
She thought about it for a moment, her eyes rolling up and to the right as she rubbed a finger against her chin and tapped her foot beneath the table. Liam took the opportunity to nibble on her ear and make her giggle some more.
“You put some naughty ideas in my head last weekend.” Her hand curled around his thigh, coming dangerously close to his crotch. Yes, yes, I like that. Liam made sure she knew by the look on his face. “About other people watching.”
“This isn’t the appropriate place for some under-table action, Eden.”
“Oh, shush.” Her fingers dug through his jeans. “I’m talking about the window in your hotel room. You just put me on display like that.” Her teeth dragged a long, satisfying line along her bottom lip. “It was hot. Especially there. And in the cabana. Just out in the open like that.”
“I have got to take you to a club.”
“Yes, you do.”
“Put you in a fishbowl room and have my way with you in front of the two-way mirrors.”
“Sounds great.”
“Does it? Or is this what a couple of drinks does to Ms. Eden?”
“Well… the thoughts are there, Mr. Ashe. The booze just helps me voice them with unsung confidence.”
Between that and her death grip near his stiffening cock, Liam knew it was time to go – before he dragged her into the bathroom for a quickie nobody else asked for them to have. “Do you want to go back to my place? Right now?”
She shuddered with a delightful whistle between her teeth. “Yes.”
Before she could slide out of the booth and grab her coat, he tapped her cheek with his hand and made her look at him. “Answer one more question of mine, hm?”
Something about her demeanor faltered, but Eden quickly recovered. “What?”
“Last night. You went home with your date, didn’t you?”
“Liam…”
“Ah, ah.” His arm was in perfect position to cling her close to him. The only reason he didn’t kiss her was because the answers to his questions were more important. “This isn’t about me and what I like. I’m asking to get to know you.”
“What does that… I mean…” She was gorgeous when she was coy. “Yes. I went home with him.”
“I thought as much. I know your dirtiest fantasy, love.”
“You – you do?”
How wasn’t it so obvious to her? “I get off on sharing, and you get off on being a slut, huh?”
Her whole face dropped. “Rude,” she whispered.
“I’m…”
Her knuckles nearly stabbed him in the chest as they whacked against his turtleneck. “You’re not supposed to say it so blatantly, Liam. You’re supposed to dance around it!”
“Fucking hell, let’s go.” This time, he was the one attempting to scoot out of the booth as quickly as possible. “We’ve got really important things to do.”
She was right behind him. “Like figure out just how hot this makes us?”
Liam hunted down their server to pay the tab. The iron was hot. It was time to strike!