A Borrowed Life (Carly and Liam #1) (17 page)

“That’s not what I meant…”

“But it’s what you said!”

I walk away, forcing myself not to make a scene. Even though they are pretending to hear nothing, all my colleagues are attentive to the discussion. I try walking through the doors leading to the back of the restaurant, and Liam grabs my arm to make me turn around.

“Carly, wait. Don't think for one second that I consider you to be anything lower than me! I have too much respect for you to think that. Carly, you are more precious than anything I own! You asked me if I would leave everything to be with you. Yes, I would. It's only money, and I can live without it. But I can’t live without you. Believe me, I tried, and it was the worst two weeks of my life. Forgive me if I offended you, it really wasn't my intention.”

I look into his eyes. I want to cry, but also throw myself into his arms and kiss him. He couldn't have said anything more beautiful than that. I know what he’s saying is true because I suffered just as much as he did these last two weeks.

“I don't know if I could live in your world,” I answer.

“You're doing very well, believe me,” he retorts, leaning to whisper in my ear. “It’s giving me an urge to punish you.”

My whole body freezes at this threat.

“Is this a joke?” I want to make sure.

There's a sparkle in his eyes and I wonder if he really is joking. He glides his tongue over his lower lip while looking at me.

“I spent two whole weeks imagining all the ways I could make you come, and I don't think I can refrain myself any longer.”

“This is how you want to punish me?”

“Orgasm, after orgasm, after orgasm, until you beg me to stop.”

Oh, that I want! He leans toward me, his left hand sliding against my neck, and his mouth approaching my earlobe. He gently pulls on it with his teeth. I smile, closing my eyes and letting his tongue run over my neck.

“Mmmm, is that a threat or a promise?”

Without pronouncing a single word, he slams open the door to his left, pushing me inside the back room where the food is stored. I step backwards, swaying sensually. Liam stares at me like a predator would stare at his prey and walks towards me. I slowly remove my shirt and throw it on the ground.

Liam closes the gap between us and unhooks my bra while pushing me against a stack of flour bags, and fine, white powder blows around my body. He leans over my breast and kisses it softly, again and again. My hips roll towards him, encouraging him to undo my pants. He stares me straight in the eyes while he slides them down my legs, and ends kneeling before me.

“Come for me, beautiful,” he whispers, bringing his tongue closer to my private parts.

He licks slowly at first, inflicting more and more pressure until his whole mouth is pressed against me. I let out a long, liberating groan. He shakes his head, intensifying his movements so gently that they become pure torture. My pelvis undulates towards him as I beg him to finish.

“Please, Liam!” I plead, breathing heavily.

He accelerates, focusing on my most sensitive spot. My legs tense up, my back arches, and I let out a scream as I explode with pleasure. I know the room is completely soundproof, so I'm not afraid of being too loud.

Liam doesn't allow me to come back to reality quite yet as I feel his erection grow between my thighs. I moan again. A mild irritation protests against his presence inside me, but quickly gives way to the pleasure. He thrusts in and out, again and again. He's so hard! My sensitive skin can feel every inch of his member as well as every pulsating vein.

His head tilts backward in enjoyment. My body tenses up and my flesh tightens around his penis. He utters soft cries of appreciation without slowing his pace and I reach an orgasm again. While a warm liquid spreads between us, Liam stops for a short moment and looks me straight in the eyes, as if warning me that he isn’t done.

A new thrust confirms my thoughts and my moans are almost desperate. He pauses for a second, then rolls his pelvis again and continues a steady pace until I come again.

“Ah, Liam!” I scream while my enjoyment peaks again.

My body writhes and my heels push against the flour bags.

“Come on, gorgeous, one more time!”

“I can't.”

“Oh yes, you can!”

And he does it again. I wonder how long I can hold on, and how long can he? I didn't think I could, but I come again. My body rises abruptly, clenching Liam's. His arms wrap around me and hold me against him. I appreciate every push he gives me. I think back to those two whole weeks without seeing him and all those nights I’ve missed him. I’ve been wanting exactly this, and I suddenly feel satisfied.

My body is so limp and exhausted, that it's painful when it contracts again, but Liam is going slower this time. His moans accelerate and breathing intensifies, and I know he's coming, too. One sudden thrust, then a second, and a third, and he lets out a long exhale before pulling out.

There isn't much room next to me, but he still finds a way to lie down. I snuggle against his body, both of us drenched in sweat, and let my hand slide over his wet skin. He's so beautiful! And he's here, with me! His arm closes securely around me, as if he, too, is ecstatic about my presence.

We get dressed and walk out quietly from the back of the restaurant. As soon as we walk through the door leading to the street, a camera flashes on my right. Liam immediately intervenes between me and a woman trying to take my picture.

“Get lost!” he demands.

“Don't worry. I'll have the opportunity to take many others, since I now know she works here,” she says as she walks away.

Liam suddenly turns to me and I can't move. I'm literally mortified.

“Are you okay?”

“Who was that?”

“Paparazzi. She's been following me since last night.”

“Following you, like she's obsessed with you and will stick this photograph on a mirror? Or like this photo will end up on the front page of a gossip magazine tomorrow?”

He sighs and doesn’t dare answer, but he doesn’t need to. His look speaks for itself and my heart beats faster.

“Hey, don't worry. There will be pictures of us for a week or two, but after that it will be over and they'll move on.”

“No! No, I really can't take that chance. I'm sorry!” My voice is tearful and I know that even if it breaks my heart, I don't have a choice.

“What? What do you mean?”

“I can't, that's all! My picture can't be in these kinds of magazines, ever!”

“It's not as bad as you think.”

“Oh yes, it is. But you wouldn’t understand. I'm really sorry, Liam.”

I run away, without giving him the opportunity to demand an explanation. I keep running all the way to my apartment. I'm breathless, exhausted, and my lower abdomen hurts, but running makes me feel better.

Sean and Ethan are sitting in the living room, but I don't even look at them before locking myself in my room. I slam the door behind me and I start crying uncontrollably. I think back to that woman emerging from out of nowhere. I fear she will come back, take a clearer picture of me, and the wrong person will see it and recognize me. A knock sounds on my door.

“Leave me alone.”

“You got a letter in the mail,” Sean tells me.

“Who is it from?”

“I don't know, I didn't open it.”

I pull myself together and get up to take my mail.

“Thank you.”

“Are you okay?”

“Yes. I just want to be alone.”

“Alright. We're in the living room if you need us…”

“Thank you.”

I close the door and he walks away. The white envelope has my name written on it: no address, no stamp, and no sender. Someone must have dropped it off in person. I open it and discover a card with a simple note, typed on computer:

The agreement still stands
.

These words are simple, but effective. Mr. Lexington has no intention to let me go that easily. I almost dread how far he would go to make sure I obey his orders. I swallow and my body starts shaking. I'm scared and I don't know what to do to get out of this mess! I should have known that leaving a message on his answering machine this morning wouldn't be enough to get rid of him. I fall onto my bed to cry some more.

I wake up puffy faced the next morning. I cried all afternoon and worked all night, fearing this journalist would come back to take my picture, but nothing. Bailey was glad to find out I was going to continue working there because there were some employees whispering rumors behind my back. This morning, I'm afraid to look at the papers.

I leave my room to find Sean eating cereal.

“Hi. How are you?” I ask.

“Better than you it seems.”

“Mm! Do you have the newspaper?”

“Yeah,” he says, handing it to me.

I flip through the pages nervously and find nothing at all about me. A surge of relief rushes through me.

The week passes, but the pain doesn't get better. At the restaurant, things are much better for me and Liv. Cayden isn’t bothering us anymore and our jobs are no longer threatened, but the gossip girls haven't calmed down; they are aware of every new rumor. I actually learned from them that Liam had acquired the exclusive rights on the picture the journalist took of me. He also told the press that there was nothing between me and him, which has resulted in me not receiving any visits from any photographer or paparazzi.

It seems that my life will finally return to normal. Well, it will once I get rid of Richard Lexington. I think the best solution is to simply sit down and explain my situation to him. I haven't heard from him this week, so I hope that time has allowed him to calm down. Maybe he will just leave me alone when he sees journalists aren’t trying to interfere anymore?

The evening was long, like every Saturday night. The manager introduced a new uniform that no one really likes. We have the choice between a crew neck shirt with a picture of a steak on the belly, and ‘Want a Bite?’ printed above it on the right breast, or a V-neck shirt with a picture of a chocolate sundae and ‘I'm delicious’ written just above.

All have agreed that it’s going too far; we already have to deal with the customer's advances just walking through the bar in a regular uniform. Now it will literally be hell. We have a week to get used to it, then the employees who refuse to wear the uniform will be suspended. I walk along the boulevard when I receive a text message. I immediately recognize the number as Liam's:

Get to the restaurant on the corner of Fifth avenue immediately.

I only know the place by name, and I know it’s more than I could ever afford. I stand there just staring at his demanding words on my screen. He’s not proposing a date, but rather an appointment. I actually want to go; I want to know what he has to say and I want to see him.

This week has only been bearable because I worked a lot, but once I find myself alone with nothing to do, I miss him and can’t help thinking about him. I decide to go, but he will have to wait. I will first take a shower and get dressed properly.