Chapter 40
Charity
Falling Like Stars – James Arthur
The only sound as we left the hotel venue was the click of my heels and the clip of Liam’s dress shoes on the gray marble floor.
It was as if word had gotten around to the staff about what had just happened, because they were silent, heads down going about their business, not even a low hum of chatter.
As the doors slid open for us, the cool night air hit us, the breeze ghosting over my bare arms and making me shiver.
“Here.” Liam let go of my hand and slipped off his tux jacket, the silk of the lining smooth against my skin. As he put it around my shoulders, he gave them a gentle squeeze.
I could practically feel the tension coming off him and lifted my hand to his, linking our fingers and looking up at him.
“You okay?”
Letting out a long, tired breath, he shook his head.
“No, I still want to kill him.” He gently moved me around to face him, his rough fingertips ghosting against my cheeks.
“Are you okay? Did he hurt you? Do you want to go to the police? Do you want me to go back in there and fucking punch him again?”
“Honey, I’m fine.” Running my fingers through his hair, my eyes latched onto his emerald jewels that seemed to be struggling between anger and despair. “He was drunk and tried to take advantage, but he didn’t get what he wanted.”
Liam’s inhale was ragged, as he pulled me closer, wrapping his arms tightly around my shoulders. “God if…” he whispered against my hair.
Inhaling his cologne, I moved my hands up his chest, pressing my palms against the solid warmth of him to ground myself. “Hey, he didn’t and if he had, he’d now be nursing his nuts.”
His chuckle was low and his whole body relaxed, sagging against me. “If I’d stayed in there much longer he wouldn’t have had any nuts left to nurse.”
We lapsed into silence for a few seconds, just holding on and thinking about what had just happened.
I’d always been independent, especially once I’d started my own business, but Liam being there for me had made me feel treasured.
It wasn’t that I condoned violence but to think he’d stepped up for me.
Wanted to protect me. It felt incredible.
But why was I surprised? He’d helped search for Faith when we were barely even on speaking terms.
The sound of a car engine humming drew my attention and when I looked over, I saw our limo was waiting.
“The concierge must have called him,” Liam explained. “We don’t have to go but I also don’t want to be anywhere near that bastard in there.” His breath smoked out in front of him in the cold air, his voice cracking.
“Let’s go home,” I whispered. “Get away from here.”
“I’m so sorry, this was your big night, and I ruined it.” Liam let out a frustrated growl, glancing back toward the hotel.
“I don’t care,” I told him. “He deserved what you did to him. As for the dinner, let’s face it, neither of us wanted to really be there and besides, Carla has it covered.”
Liam sighed and taking my hand led me to the limousine. As we stepped forward the driver got out and opened the door for us.
“Pleasant evening?” he asked.
Smiling, I gave him a quick nod, while Liam just grunted, “It was fine.”
The inside of the car was warm, the smell of leather and the hint of wine and whisky on our breaths as I cuddled up to Liam on the back seat. The aftermath of what happened didn’t bother me one bit, because in that moment all I cared about was me and the man who’d taken care of me more than once.
As I padded into the living room Liam looked at me and chuckled. “Loving the look.” He nodded at my pink fluffy slippers that I was wearing with my dress.
“Those shoes were killing me.” I handed him the mug of hot chocolate, noticing how tired he looked. “Do you want to stay here tonight?”
He held out his arm, inviting me to sit next to him. “Sounds good, Sunshine. Are you sure you don’t mind?”
“God no.” I leaned in for a kiss. “I’d love it if you did. We’ve both got tomorrow off work, so we can have a real lazy morning.” Raising an eyebrow, I lifted my legs and laid them across his thighs.
“That sounds absolutely perfect.” He frowned. “Where’s your hot chocolate?”
“I didn’t want one. Besides this dress is so damn tight I’m not sure I can fit anything else in without busting it at the seams.”
Liam let out a small puff of air through his lips before reaching to place his mug on the side table.
“That doesn’t seem fair.” His hand slid up my calf, over my knee and up my thigh under the silky fabric of my dress.
His rough finger pads created a heady mixture of pleasure and sting.
“How about we take the dress off and then you can eat or drink whatever you like.”
“Is that right?”
“Yeah, that’s right.” Liam’s hand moved further up my thigh.
I parted my legs, already feeling my panties getting wet, well panties was a little over exaggeration they were a triangle of lace and two strings.
“Woah,” he said, brows furrowed. “You lied to me.”
“I did?” I asked, perplexed.
“Told me you weren’t wearing panties.” His fingers brushed over the lace, right at my core, and I lifted my hips, desperate for more. “No problem, I’ll enjoy ripping them off just as much.”
“Liam,” I hissed, gripping his wrist, urging him on.
“Greedy girl.” He yanked me down the sofa so that my ass was up against his thigh. My dress crumpled around my waist as I bent my legs at the knees. “Greedy and wet.”
Taking one of the thin pieces of string, he ripped it away from the lace.
His eyes, so dark they were almost black, watching me silently beg as he threw my panties aside.
When his first finger went in, knuckle deep, I gasped, when the second pushed inside I flexed my foot against the hardness in his pants.
Liam lifted his hips, a soft moan coming from his lips as I pushed harder, curling my toes into the fabric of his pants.
His thumb moved to my clit, and I already started to feel the buildup and burn deep in the pit of my stomach.
His other hand came to my chest and pushed inside my dress, caressing my already rock hard nipple.
His eyes blazed in front of me, his touch gentle and fire all at the same time, sending me higher, making the beat of my heart faster.
Our breathing was in sync, both of us racing to catch the wave.
“I will kill him if he touches you again,” Liam whispered, his eyes fluttering shut as I pressed harder with my foot on his dick. “Then I’ll slice him into pieces and feed him to the damn fishes.”
“I don’t think he’d dare.” As he pinched my nipple a shiver rushed through me, and I pushed against his hand. “I need more, honey.”
When he pulled out, I groaned with disappointment, earning myself a low chuckle. Liam licked his finger, his gaze pinned to me, before dropping to the fly of his pants. He undid them and pushed them and his boxer briefs down around his thighs.
“Ride it, Sunshine,” he said, his voice deep and raw as his belt buckle clanked against the wooden floor. “Take what you want from me.”
Not needing any further encouragement, I lifted my hips. Grateful for the split in my dress, I hitched it up higher and placed my knees either side of Liam's thighs. As I lowered myself onto him, I relished the fullness, the pinch as he thrust up with his fingers gripping my ass.
My hips moved like waves lapping the shore, rolling in time with Liam's thrusts. He lifted his hands and took mine, linking our fingers together, gripping tight like he thought I might leave.
“Sunshine, I…” His words trailed off, and he kissed me, soft and gentle, the opposite to the way he was pushing into me with heat and power. “So … fucking … good.”
“The best,” I replied, “the absolute best.”
And it was. The best I’d ever had.
Resting my head on his shoulder I pushed against his thrust, feeling the swell build.
When Liam’s grip tightened on mine and his hips moved faster, I knew he was close, too.
He adjusted his position, and it hit exactly the right spot.
I exploded around him. Lightning shot up my spine and made its way around my body, shooting electricity to every part of me.
“Liam!”
Two more thrusts and he followed me, his body going stiff as he rooted himself as deep as he could. Like it wasn’t enough. And I understood it. I felt like I wanted to be inside his skin. Wanted to feel everything that he felt. Wanted every inch of him against me. Touching me.
Chests heaving, we watched one other come down from the high of it, and it felt like something shifted. Not just the ground, the universe or the planet, but us. We were different. Tonight, had changed everything.
“Liam,” I said, and his fingers whispered across my skin, drawing small circles as the scent of his cologne wrapped itself around me. “Thank you for taking care of me.”
“Always.” He swallowed, his touch hesitant. “I really, really, fucking like you, Charity. You know that, don’t you?”
Nodding, I brushed his hair from his face, tracing the curve of his cheek bone. “I know.”
“I think,” he wet his lips, “this could be something really special. It already feels like it is. Something that I haven’t wanted with anyone in a long time. Do you think?”
“I do. Something incredible, honey.”
He planted a soft kiss that held so much tenderness in it, tears pricked at the back of my eyes. A kiss of recognition that we were building something real and lasting.