Falling for Him (21 page)
Liam drifted to one side, pulling her into his embrace. His heartbeat under her ear was erratic, his breathing shallow and quick, but they both slowed to a relaxed pace along with her own. Sleep tugged at her from the edges of consciousness, her satiation making her body feel liquid and lethargic.
“I love you, Olivia.”
She blinked, unsure she’d actually heard the words come from his mouth. Olivia looked up at him, seeking to see if she was hearing things.
“I love you,” he said again as he brought his thumb over her bottom lip.
Olivia was silent for a second, unsure of how to respond. She’d loved this man all her life and now he sought the admission. She was stunned mute.
He watched her intently, waiting for her response. “You don’t feel the same for me?”
“No.” His question shattered her; her brain didn’t want to work. “I mean yes. I do feel the same for you. I just never expected I’d hear you say those words.”
“Then let me tell you again. I love you, Olivia Anne Owens.”
Olivia smiled, warmed by his outburst. “And I love you, William Fitzgerald Palmer.”
“Ugh, you wound me with that name!”
She snuggled into his chest for a second, his body heat surrounding her in a cocoon. “You started it. Plus I owe you for all the ‘Babycakes’ you’ve thrown my direction.”
“Is this how it’s going to be forever? You pushing me every step of the way?”
Olivia rolled to her stomach, still at his side and lowered a kiss to his chest. “You wouldn’t want me any other way, would you?”
Liam laughed, the sound rich and warm. “No, I wouldn’t.” He gathered her back in his embrace and kissed her thoroughly. He paused a moment to replace the condom in a flash and slid inside her once again.
She’d never get enough of his touch. Or his love.
Chapter 20
“You’ve been good to me, when others doubted you. I just wanted to let you know how happy I am to have your friendship.
“I’m glad you found your happiness, Olivia.” He punctuated his statement with a hiccup, the effects of too much alcohol making his brain fuzzy.
“Are you all right, Bastian?”
No.
“Of course. I’m celebrating the holiday with a little scotch.”
“Promise me you’ll be careful. No drinking and driving, right?”
“You have my word.”
“Good. Be safe.” Bastian heard Liam’s deep rumblings from beside her and she stifled a giggle. A pain slashed his chest, hearing how happy she truly was. She deserved it. She truly did. “Merry Christmas, Bastian.”
“Merry Christmas.” Bastian punched the Off button and threw his phone on top of the piles of scattered papers on his desk.
Did he deserve happiness? It didn’t appear to be something in his grasp. What was within his grasp was a half-empty bottle of scotch. He poured himself another and gulped the fiery liquid down, allowing the vortex of depression to drag him down even further.
He’d had the taste of happiness and it had been false. He’d been ready to stand at the altar and promise his life to another, one he’d thought he’d loved with all his heart. She’d realized his lie just prior to the wedding and he’d perpetuated it, telling her he loved her and only her, but she’d left him standing before the reverend alone. The humiliation of it had been immense, but if he was honest with himself, he’d deserved it.
He hadn’t loved Ellie Henderson. He’d been in love with her twin sister, the one he couldn’t have. Ellie had been the closest he could come to the woman he really wanted and he was a bastard for having tried it.
“I’m sorry. I didn’t think anyone would be here today.” His PT tech, Emelia, stood in his doorway, looking much too delicious for his current state of mind. She was the last person he needed to see right now.
“Nor I. I was just getting caught up on some … stuff.” He lifted the bottle and poured himself another. “Want one?”
“No. I have some things to catch up on. I’ll leave you to … whatever you need to do.” She began backing out of the room, disappointment in her gaze.
“Wait!”
He’d wronged this woman, in so many ways. He took a deep breath, waiting for her to return. It took her a moment, but he saw her lovely violet eyes when she rounded the door once again.
“I’m sorry.”
Confusion filled her face. “Sorry for what?”
“Olivia said I was rude to you the other day at her appointment. I didn’t mean to be.” He drained his glass and poured a fresh one. “I can’t seem to get things right with females. I always do the wrong things … say the wrong things.” He chuckled at that one before looking back up to her. “You do great work here and I don’t want you to go. Do you forgive me?”
She watched him closely for a second as she chewed on her lips. He wanted to do the job for her, licking and nibbling those full, lush lips.
“I know what happened was hard. And seeing me isn’t easy for you. I love my job and don’t want to go. But I also don’t want you miserable every time you see my face.”
Bastian stared at her for a long moment, his stare taking her in from her head to her toes and back up again. “I’ve made too many mistakes that aren’t your fault.”
She pinned him with a confused look. He took another gulp of the amber liquid and poured the remnants of the bottle. “I made the biggest mistake of life in regards to you.”
He sucked down the last of the liquor and rose, wobbling on his feet. Emelia seemed frozen to the spot as she watched him amble closer. He stopped when he was mere inches from her.
He reached out and grasped her head, planting a kiss on her lips. She stiffened for a moment, but soon melted into him, her soft, curvaceous body close, making his body all too aware of how perfectly she fit against him.
Bastian swept his tongue into her mouth, tasting her sweet flavor, the sweet smell of her perfume and soap mingling in his nose. He wanted to devour her, even as the voice in the back of his mind screamed at him to stop. Drink had made it easier to ignore the voice, though and he couldn’t stop touching her, the long months of denial making him starving for her affections.
As he pulled back, he wobbled a bit. Bastian ran a hand over her hair and kissed her forehead. “I picked the wrong sister.”
The End
Publisher’s Note
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About Alexandra O’Hurley
Alexandra O’Hurley is a multi-published bestselling author of erotic romance that lands all over the genre map. Published since 2008, she has written in the Sci-Fi, Futuristic, Historical, Paranormal, Contemporary, and BDSM romance categories.
She was born in Maryland, but was raised all over Hampton Roads, Virginia. A single mom to one great kiddo, she loves to paint, dance, ski into bushes, date frogs, and ride vicious roller coasters with her daughter.
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