Casting a glance at her and her kiss-swollen lips, he was quite sure he would struggle to contain the beast within. He pulled out onto the street and turned on the car’s defroster to defog the window as they sped into town.

  Chapter 11

  Olivia sat at the intimate table in the low-lit romantic space, feeling as if every eye in the restaurant was on her. She pulled at the collar of the dress, trying to cover the exposed swell of her breasts. Her lips still stung from his heated kisses and her body was a tuning fork, vibrating all over, needing his hands to calm her. She was shocked by her reaction to him. She was even more shocked by his apparent response to her, which only made it even more confusing when he’d pulled away from her.

  She’d been a willing, wanton participant in what had happened between them and she’d wanted more. His hands on her had felt amazing, obliterating the horrid past experience she’d had and the embarrassment and shame she’d felt that night so long ago. In his arms, she’d been reborn, the fire within threatening to engulf her and burn her to a crisp.

  Once he drew away from her, a tide of self-consciousness had submerged her, making her wonder if it hadn’t been her partner who had ruined the evening, but perhaps it had been her. Her mind told her if Liam had enjoyed their embrace, he wouldn’t have pulled away from it.

  She hadn’t wanted to listen to her demons. Once she’d seen how affected he was, she realized the doubt in her mind was foolish. His hands had shaken on the steering wheel as he’d taken them to the restaurant. His pants had shown an obvious tenting that made her realize how intoxicating his lust had been. He had felt exactly what she had, but had controlled his desires. To know she’d had that effect on him had made a smile come to her lips. Olivia had the power to make him want and that was a heady thought.

  She still trembled slightly from their exchange. Her panties were wet with desire, and her body had been fully prepared to take it to the next level.

  Liam now sat across from her, and his long, large body made her feel cramped once again. He took up so much space, but she was beginning to enjoy it. He quietly ordered from the wine list as she tuned out, watching how graceful he seemed. As she sat there restless, he was now calm and collected. Her agitated state made it feel as if all eyes were on her, the feeling of being on display unsettling. Liam’s words came back to haunt her. If she hid in the shadows, that’s where she would always be.

  Did she really want to stand out? Maybe there was a small part of her looking for acceptance from the world around her. As an artist, she would hope her work was well received and loved by readers. It was so much easier to hide behind a book or a computer screen, secretively seeking that recognition via words on a page. She’d always said she didn’t need society, yet if she wanted to find success, she supposed eventually she’d have to come out of her shell and be more social.

  She sat up in her chair, ignoring the ache in her back. She glanced around the room, observing the faces of those who looked her way. She didn’t ignore their stares, but challenged them with a smile. They returned her smile, some with a nod. That hadn’t been so difficult.

  Liam handed her a menu as he opened his own. “What are you hungry for tonight?”

  You. I’m hungry for you. The words were on her lips as she opened the leather-bound menu, and she glanced dizzily over the pages, not really reading anything before her. Her gaze drifted as she realized a woman approached the table. Olivia took in a breath as she neared, her nerves getting the better of her.

  “Liam, dear, I’m sorry to interrupt your dinner, but I was quite certain this was Olivia Owens and I had to stop by to say hello.”

  The woman looked somewhat familiar, but she couldn’t place her. The sensation of being under the microscope intensified, and she felt like squirming under the observation, but she forced her shoulders higher. “Yes, you’re quite correct.”

  “I thought so.” The older woman held out her hand to Olivia. “I’m Julia York. I’ve been a friend of your mother’s for years. We’ve done some of the charity events together at the club. I think you helped us a few years ago with a fund-raiser.”

  Olivia sighed in relief, the woman’s face seemingly familiar. “Yes, Mrs. York, I remember you.”

  “Well, you’ve grown into a beautiful young woman from the teenager I remember. I’m so happy to see you out and enjoying yourself.” The woman smiled at them both. “Make sure you tell your mother I said hello.”

  “Of course.” She felt tongue-tied, unsure how to respond. At the last second, she added, “Thank you for stopping to say hello.”

  “You’re quite welcome, dear. I hope to run into you again soon.” Turning to Liam, Julia patted him on the shoulder. “And tell your parents hello as well.”

  Liam nodded and sat back, his arms crossed over his chest, inspecting Olivia.

  She hated to be stared at. “What?”

  “Was that hard?”

  Olivia bit her tongue, her initial response wanted to hiss out with malice, but she reined it in. He was being way too arrogant. “No, it wasn’t hard.”

  “You should see yourself sitting there, shoulders tall, with a smile on your face. That’s what drew her to you in the first place.”

  She sighed. Liam had to ruin the magical moment they were sharing to play nursemaid. “Okay, Mom.”

  “Sorry. I didn’t mean to sound like a nag. I’m just proving my point. When you open up and smile, you attract attention. You’re a beautiful woman, and you don’t give yourself enough credit.”

  Olivia’s first instinct was to bristle at his comments, usually finding it easier to sulk away versus facing any compliment. The praise felt too good to ruin with her normal fierce behavior. Her walls were lowered a bit, and she hadn’t suffered a hit. Perhaps he had a point.

  She felt freed. Her eyes had been opened and she saw herself in a new light. She was tired of being the sullen girl, brooding in a corner, hiding away from life. Her disability hadn’t caused all this, she had. And now she had to fix it herself. No surgery was going to change her self-image. It might open the doors for her to do more, but there were many doors she’d closed on herself.

  The surgery was Liam’s keys to redemption, but hers was within herself. Olivia couldn’t rely on Liam’s prodding, either. She was truly on her own in this and she needed to let go of the voices and self-loathing if she wanted to find her way. She already felt better letting her defenses down a smidgeon. It would be slow, steady work, but she knew she could make it.

  She smiled as she ate her dinner, laughing at Liam’s jokes, loving his wit and charm. She soaked up his warmth and his knowing glances. They toasted one another, the wine going straight to her head. Olivia smiled when he admitted a secret obsession for her favorite author and laughed when he suggested they go on a road trip to discover themselves, traveling across America on a couple of motorcycles.

  Tonight, she felt like a different person. She felt beautiful and charming. Suddenly, she realized how simple it was to ease into this role. This was the woman she’d always been inside. Letting her out made Olivia stronger.

  * * * *

  Liam hadn’t enjoyed himself this much on a date in … well, in forever. Olivia had opened up to him over dinner, discussing her favorites and challenging him about his. They’d talked all night about what they wanted in life and their secret wishes. She had never been more beautiful than she was that night. Somewhere during their evening, he realized he was falling head over heels.

  As the waiters began to close down the dining room, he become conscious that they’d talked all night and the restaurant was completely empty. He’d been so focused on her and their conversation, he hadn’t even seen everyone leave, or note the fact they were completely alone. In his mind, they’d been alone all night long. Her company was the only one he’d wanted.

  “I suppose we should leave. It looks like they’re nearly ready to boot us out.” Liam collected his credit card from the sleeve on the table and reached in to add more cash to the tip, knowing they’d monopolized the table most of the night.

  Olivia lifted her head and looked around the empty restaurant, apparently as shocked as he was they were alone. “Where did everyone go?”

  He chuckled, a smile coming to his lips. “Let’s go.”

  She rose from her seat as he gathered their coats at the door. Olivia turned and let him help her with hers and he then navigated her outside to the brisk evening.

  Once outside, Liam turned to her, his breath coming in little puffs of air. “I’ve had a wonderful night, but I suppose it’s too late to do much else. Seems I’ll be escorting you home.”

  “I’m not ready for tonight to end.” A smile formed on Olivia’s face, the full moon’s light casting over her features.

  Liam sucked in a breath, knowing she wasn’t implying what he thought she was. “I don’t want it to end, either. I’ve had an incredible time, but the only places open at this point would be bars and clubs. If you want, we can try to find one that isn’t too wild and maybe we can have a chat or a dance.”

  Olivia stared at him for a moment in silence.

  “I’ve never seen your place.”

  His place? Was she serious? Fire bloomed in his gut and began to spread through his body as the implications of what she was suggesting raged in his mind. He was more than ready but also knew he had to handle her carefully. He didn’t want the walls that were crumbling around her to go back up. His fists clenched as he controlled the need to touch her, caress her face, and draw her into his embrace. “Are you sure that’s where you want to go?”

  “Yes, I think so.” Her smile faltered for a second as she seemed to reconsider her bold charge, but it came back quickly. “No, I know so.”

  Liam’s mind reeled for a moment. He’d had no plans in pushing her further tonight, even though his body was already straining to be with her. He’d considered the fact she could be a virgin and that alone had made him reel himself in, but now, with her tempting him, he wasn’t quite sure. Perhaps there was a saucy vixen hiding under the disguise of a wallflower. Perhaps not. He was walking a tightrope at the moment and he wasn’t sure he’d win either way he stepped.

  They had plenty of time to get to know one another and after his earlier break of control, he’d already decided to slow down the pace. Yet, if she wanted to take control, why shouldn’t he let her? He smiled and drew her close, his lips pressing down on hers. “I would love to show you my place, but there’s no rush.”

  “You only live once. What’re we waiting for?”

  Chapter 12

  Olivia followed Liam into his condo, fear settling low in her belly. What had she thought, asking him to take her home with him? The implications of what she’d suggested were coming crashing over her. It was one thing to step into the part of social butterfly and attempt to flirt with her long-time crush, and a whole other thing to actually fulfill the promise of her actions. He would now expect her to play the wanton, just as she’d done in the car, but he’d drawn that out of her. She didn’t know what to do next; her experience was too limited.

  Her only sexual encounter had been a bungled, nearly forced act that had left her feeling embarrassed and ashamed. She’d felt those emotions her entire life, and she was sick of them.

  Liam had made her forget all that when his hands had been on her in the car. She’d reacted in ways she hadn’t expected herself to and she wanted him to erase the bad memories with his hands and his kisses.

  Liam flipped on a light and took her coat. She shivered as he hung it up in the hall. She wasn’t cold. Her nerves were getting the better of her.

  “Can I get you a nightcap?”

  “S-sure.” Olivia had once snuck a sip of her father’s brandy when she was younger and hated the taste. She’d never had another drop, but it seemed the social thing to do. There were so many rules she’d avoided learning over the years and now she was at a loss. She had a few years of experience to catch up on.

  Liam handed her a short tumbler of amber liquid and she eyed it. Olivia watched as he drained his own glass and smiled at her. She hesitantly brought hers to her lips and downed the liquor, sighing at the warm burn that slid through her. And then she burst into a round of coughing that brought Liam closer. He rubbed her back and took the glass from her hand.

  “Not a drinker, hmm?”

  “That’s my first real glass of the hard stuff.”

  “Your first?” His deep rumble flowed over her much like the liquor had, all rich and full of fire. She jumped as his hand caressed her cheek, but she calmed immediately, loving the feel of his hands on her. “Is there another first I need to know about?”

  Olivia looked up into his face, unsure of exactly what he meant before the realization hit her. Embarrassment heated her face as she looked away while answering him. “No, I’m not a virgin.”

  “You aren’t?” A note of surprise made the last word rise in tone.

  “I’m not completely naïve. I’ve had sex.”

  “Once? Twice?”

  Was she that transparent? “Once.”

  “And did you like it?”

  She considered his question and what her response would be. If she told him the truth, would he think her a cold fish and give up? She wasn’t the type to lie. There was no point in it. “To be honest, no.”

  He looked deeply into her eyes and continued to stroke her face and neck, his finger occasionally drifting over her bottom lip, making her want to bite him. Was she insane?

  “After seeing the kind of passion you have, I can’t imagine it was your fault you didn’t enjoy it, but his.”

  “His? Why do you assume that?”

  “You responded in the car with me earlier, so I assume it only gets better from there. He must not have been man enough to make you fly over the edge.”

  His soft, seductive words were weaving a web around her to the point she could barely think. All she could do was feel, entranced by his gentle touches and his piercing stare. His ice-blue eyes pinned her to the spot, seeming so much deeper blue this close, framed by his dark lashes and brows. He had ensorcelled her, driving her to do things she’d not normally do or say. It was the only explanation for what came out of her mouth next.

  “Are you man enough?”

  His smile spread across his face, his gleaming-white teeth reminding her of the Cheshire cat. “I’m more than man enough and I plan to prove it.”

  Liam captured her lips in a marauding kiss, plundering her mouth, delving his tongue deep. She lifted her arms around his head, pulling him in closer to drink from her, tasting it all, leaving no room to even breathe. He slid his hands to her bottom, drawing her close. Olivia could feel the outline of his hard cock pressing against her abdomen and she felt tremors roil through her pussy in response to the touch.

  She’d never wanted a man with this kind of ferocity before. It was frightening, the amount of lust that speared through her, but it was equally exciting. She felt alive, in a way she’d never felt before. Her whole body shook with need.

  Liam spread his fingers across her waist and pulled her closer as he broke the kiss. After he sighed, he watched her intently for a moment before lowering his head, pressing his brow to hers and closed his eyes. “Olivia, I can’t explain how much I want you right now … I don’t want to rush you into anything you aren’t ready to handle.”

  “I’m ready. You can’t back down now.”

  He looked at her longingly for a moment. “I just want you to be sure. I don’t want to back down.”

  Liam was giving her an out, allowing her to choose. Her last time hadn’t been much of a choice. She’d been pressured to say yes. Giving her the reins was proof Liam was the right man for the job.

  “Then don’t back down.”

  He took her hand in his and led her down a darkened hallway to his room, pushing the door open slightly. Light pooled from an en suite bathroom and illuminated the space. He paused at the door, letting her glance at his big bed and be reminded of why they were there.

  “Last chance.”

  “Show me what it’s supposed to be.”

  Liam lowered his head, kissing her softly in response. She squealed as he lifted her off the floor and into his arms, carrying her to his bed before lowering her onto the soft mattress. His hands moved quickly, removing his sports coat and tie, along with his downy-white shirt as she watched and kicked off her heels.

  His chest was etched steel, ripples of muscles under the softest skin she’d ever touched. She drew circles around his belly button, loving the feel of him tensing below her. He stood beside the bed, her on her knees at the edge, allowing her fingers to slowly roam over him, learning him as she went.

  She loved that he was in no hurry, giving her the time to grow comfortable with his bare chest. When she lowered her head to press a kiss to his collarbone, she felt his finger begin to gather the material at the edge of her dress and pull it up over her hips. She stiffened, unsure he would like what he saw under it.

  It wasn’t her excessive curves she worried about him seeing. The dress wasn’t the only thing the fussy store clerk had talked her into. Underneath, she wore frilly, black lace bra and panties, along with matching thigh-high stockings. When she’d first put them on, she’d felt foolish, but the clerk had been right. It had made her feel sexier, even if there had been no one else to see what was there. Now she was glad she’d donned them and Liam wouldn’t see her normal cotton panties. The lingerie added to her mystique.

  Tonight she barely felt like herself and she liked it.

  Liam deliberately pulled the dress up and over her head, making her move to the tempo he created. Once it was clear, she heard his soft intake of breath. She held hers, wondering what was going through his mind. Was she too much woman, would her curves push him away?

  “You’re breathtaking.”

  She released the breath she’d held as his words rolled over her. “Breathtaking?”