38

Liliana

I opened the door when he was getting out of his car and waited. He didn’t bring dessert or look at me with sad puppy-dog eyes, either. He looked a little angry, if anything.

“Talk to me, Liliana. Tell me what’s happened,” he said, before he even reached me.

As soon as he’d stepped through the door, he turned, waiting for me to answer.

I went into the living room to sit on the couch with Alistair following close behind. When I sat, he sat next to me, his thigh against mine.

And despite the way I’d felt all day, like I should end things before I got in any deeper, I wanted to feel his arms around me again.

Alistair Ashford was just dangerous to be around. I lost all my common sense the minute he got near me.

“I just think it’s for the best if we keep things professional going forward.” I couldn’t even look him in the eyes when I said it.

Alistair put his fingers under my chin and lifted my face, so I’d look at him.

“Bullshit, Liliana,” he said.

“I’m serious.”

“Where’s this coming from? I can’t believe the night we had, and that becoming this. Especially after you did such a fantastic job wowing Veronica and Reginald.” Alistair’s eyes darkened, and he let out a huff of breath. “Wait, is that what this is about? Veronica?”

“No. I mean yes, sort of. I just can’t—”

Alistair nodded. “She was flirting. Openly flirting. I was trying to be friendly, and if it seemed like I was flirting back—Liliana, it really was unintentional.”

“Maybe so. But—”

“We only discussed business, Liliana. I didn’t flirt or make come-ons or imply that I would give in to any of hers. Just. Business.” He took my hand and squeezed it. “Until I told her all about you, of course.”

“What?” Alistair had told her about us?

“She asked if I was single. I turned her down, and when she asked why, I told her about the only woman I wanted to be with. Then we kept talking business.” Alistair kissed my palm. “I swear to you, that was all that happened.”

“You told her about me?”

I was suddenly nervous that Veronica finding out about us would somehow cost me my job.

“I didn’t mention your name.” He moved closer and put his arm around my back. “But I told her enough that she knew I was taken.”

“Alistair . . .” It was harder to talk with my throat tightening up at what he’d said. I cleared my throat. “You’re not.”

“Not what?” he said, leaning closer.

“Not taken.” I almost choked on the words as I said them.

“You really meant that?” he asked quietly. He looked at me with hurt in his eyes.

“Alistair, we should just keep our relationship professional. It’s for the best. Probably for both of us,” I said quietly.

“It’s not. It’s a terrible idea.” He stared intently, as if he was trying to figure out what I was thinking.

“Bethany saw you, Alistair. Coming to my room.”

His brows furrowed. “What did she say?”

“It was just mostly empty threats about Alex or Charity finding out,” I said with a sigh. “But she’s right, Alistair. I shouldn’t be messing around with a client.”

“It can’t be just that, Liliana. I don’t think it’s that big of a big deal.”

“It is to me, Alistair! You might get a pat on the back and be called a stud, but it’s different for me. I won’t be taken seriously at work after a scandal involving a client.”

He let a deep sigh and raked his fingers through his hair.

“I’m dropping the agency once we sign the deal with Avalon,” Alistair said quietly.

“What? You can’t do that. You’ll need the agency once the deal goes through.”

I couldn’t believe he’d make the decision so lightly.

“Not really. Avalon already has a team of experts so I’m sure we will be leVeronicaging their resources for the most part. The agency really won’t be a part of the process from then anyway.”

He did have a point. Most of the agency’s work was done already. And Avalon did seem to have an impressive marketing team already in place.

“Besides,” Alistair continued. “The Avalon presentation wasn’t even a part of the contract initially, so it’s really a bonus for the agency to work on a high-profile pitch. Alex already knows the agency’s reputation will grow from it. He would be happy with that even if we end the contract now. It’s a win for everyone.”

“So, problem solved. You don’t have to worry about being involved with a client anymore,” Alistair said, pulling me close. “I’m going to talk to Alex next week. And you killed the presentation, so this would be the perfect way to wrap up the account.”

I looked down and let out a sigh. I still wasn’t sure if that was a good idea, and I still had my doubts about making our relationship work.

Sensing my hesitation, he gently tipped my chin up with his fingers to look into my eyes.

“What is it?” He asked. “What is this really about?”

“I just don’t know if this is going to work, Alistair.” I shook my head.

Alistair huffed in frustration.

“Just tell me one thing, Liliana,” he asked, his expression serious. “Do you want this? Do you want us?”

More than anything.

“What is it that you’re afraid of?” He asked, searching my face, when I didn’t answer.

I swallowed and bit my lip, unsure if I was ready for this conversation. He waited patiently, watching me while I gathered the courage to be honest with him.

“Falling in love with you,” I replied softly.

“I would never do anything to hurt you. You can trust me, you know that.”

Men have said those words to me before. And they’ve broken them every single time.

“I’m not sure that I do,” I replied.

He flinched back like he couldn’t believe I’d doubt him. He released me as I stood up. I needed some distance between us to get through this conversation.

“You’ve always been there for me, Alistair, I know that,” I replied. “And you’re too good to be true. Aside from all the damn women that can’t seem to keep their hands off you. They’re are not helping.”

Alistair closed his eyes and sighed.

I forged on. “And I feel like I’m constantly waiting for the other shoe to drop. I barely managed to get over you before, and all those feelings are coming back like we’ve never been apart. I’m afraid of us not working out. I’m afraid I’ll let you back in my heart and it’ll be the biggest mistake I’ll make. Because I feel so much for you. My heart couldn’t take it if we ended like every other relationship in my past.”

He just sat there looking down at his hands, not saying anything.

Finally, he asked. “Are you done?”

His face was void of any emotion.

I nodded, suddenly feeling nervous at the lack of his response.

“Have a seat because I have a lot to say.” He gestured to the spot next to him.

I slowly sat back down next to him. Then he stared intently at me under a slash of furrowed brows.

“I don’t dance around discussions, so I’m going to just give it to you straight.”

I swallowed. Alistair had never directed such intensity toward me. This was new.

“Let me make it real clear for you because I don’t want there to be any misunderstandings or you have any doubt about us. About me. I’ve always been honest with you, and I always will be. I give you my word.”

He sighed, his face softening a little.

“I know you’ve been burned in the past. Julian hurt you. Your past boyfriends have hurt you. You’ve been disappointed too many times. I get it. But what I’m not ok with is you thinking I have anything other than good intentions. That actually pisses me off that you’d think that. I’ve been nothing but sincere and honest with you.” He paused, and then continued. “Aside from the ring, but that was a misunderstanding.”

I opened my mouth to say something, but he held up a finger. I snapped my mouth closed.

“I’m not Julian, or any other man you’ve been with. You have my heart. You have me. And I want you. Only you. You’re it for me, baby. You always have been.”

I have his heart. I didn’t need to hear anything else.

“And before you get all freaked out, no, this is not some sort of proposal. Not yet anyway. This is me just telling you I’m all in. I have zero doubts. Zero. And if you ever have any doubts creeping up, you come straight to me and tell me. Because I have absolutely no problem repeating this to you until you get it.”

He brushed his thumb along my jaw. “Are we clear?”

I stared and blinked at him, taken back by how forward and honest he was. No man had ever given it to me so straight.

It felt a little like I was scolded, but I’d be a liar if I said I didn’t like it.

Alistair stared back at me intently, waiting. “We good?”

He raised his eyebrows at me when I didn’t answer.

“Mm hmm,” I replied.

What else could I say? I believed him.

“Good.” He gave me a sharp nod.

We sat next to each other in silence for a moment as I processed everything he’d just said. I believed everything he’d said. Yes, there was still a chance that we might not work out. But at least I knew where he stood, and what he wanted. I didn’t have to guess at his feelings for me and wonder if he was serious about us.

“Actually, I take that back. The honesty part,” Alistair said, breaking the silence.

“What? What is it?” I asked, suddenly a little nervous. Maybe this was the other shoe I was waiting for to drop.

He looked at me tentatively, his hand rubbing the back of his neck.

“I knew you were back in town,” he said. “About three months ago. I went to see your grandpa and he told me you moved back.”

“Grandpa told me Julian had been coming to see him.” I thought back to my conversation with Grandpa. No, he’d said ex-boyfriend, not Julian. Could he have meant Alistair? “He meant you, didn’t he?”

Alistair nodded. “I don’t think Julian has been back to see him since Grandpa passed.”

“You’ve come to see him all these years,” I said softly.

“Grandpa would have wanted that too. And I always liked James. I promised you I’d keep an eye on him, didn’t I?”

“Besides, it didn’t hurt that he liked to talk about you.” he added. “And I knew you were working at Donague.”

"So… you came to Donague for me?” I asked, letting it sink in.

“We were looking at several agencies, Donague being one of our top choices, and when James told me you were working there, it was a no brainer which one to go with. The real reason I hired them is because you worked there.”

I glanced up at him with wide eyes. I could hardly believe that had never occurred to me.

“I wanted to tell you earlier, but there was never a good time,” Alistair said. “I wasn’t sure how you’d feel about it. Especially when I found out you were with Austin.”

He then paused, pressing his lips together. “Liliana, I know it may take some time for you to realize it, but I meant every word of what I said.”

“I know. But you’re right, it’ll take me some time for me to get there,” I admitted. “But I want to.”

He nodded and kissed me softly.

“Alistair?”

“Yeah, baby.”

“Everything you said. It was really hot. Can you say it to me again now?”

He burst out into laughter, grabbing me and pulling me to him. “Come here, I’ll whisper it in your ear while I make love to you.”

I giggled as he nuzzled my neck. Then he lifted me and threw me over his shoulder, heading for the bedroom as I squealed.

And just like that, everything was better.

Alistair threw me on the bed and crawled over me. He kissed me, hard and deep, cupping my neck.

I still felt a slight ache between my legs from our long lovemaking sessions at the hotel. That ache intensified as he kissed down my throat, breathing softly against my newly damp skin as he went.

“I don’t want anybody but you,” he murmured against my neck.

He Hardly unbuttoned my blouse as he kissed down my shoulder. I was helpless to do much more than sigh in pleasure as he kissed my collarbone and cupped my breast, teasing my nipple between his fingers.

Then he unbuttoned my skirt and hooked his fingers inside the waistband at each hip to drag it down and off.

He sucked my nipple while he thumbed the other and ground the hard mound in his jeans against me. Then he kissed down my body, nuzzling my stomach, my hip, my inner thigh.

“I’m going to make you feel so good, Liliana,” he said, glancing up at me. “Make you believe that you’re the only one for me.”

His head dipped, and his warm, wet tongue slid inside my folds. I gasped, my back arching instinctively to press myself forward against his tongue. He flicked my clit with the pointed tip, then he lapped against me like he was devouring me.

Alistair moaned, and the deep, rough sound vibrated into me from his mouth. I whimpered in pleasure, then I cried out when he pushed two fingers deep inside me.

“Alistair,” I groaned, my fingers sinking into his short hair. I rocked my hips and spread myself as wide as possible, my orgasm already building. He pleasured me as enthusiastically as he had the very first time. Back then, we knew we had one night together. But this time, his lips and tongue held the promise of so much more. Like he was just getting warmed up.

I believed him when he said he hadn’t meant to flirt. He’d been so sincere and so insistent that this wasn’t just a fling. I still felt like I might get my heart pounded in the end, but at that moment, with his tongue swirling around my clit, it seemed like a distant, unimportant worry.

Alistair sucked again and tore an orgasm from me with a sound I didn’t know I could make. My back snapped into an arch as the second wave of pleasure hit. I shouted his name again, my fingers tightening in his hair.

“Need you now,” he growled, rising up and pulling his shirt off so fast and hard I thought he was going to rip it. He didn’t take the time to pull his jeans and underwear off. He shoved them all down to his knees and slid up to lay atop me. He pressed his cock against me and pushed my leg up to spread me open.

“God, I need you, Liliana,” he gasped as he pushed inside me.

My orgasm wasn’t completely finished yet. When he filled me, the contact sent another jolt of pleasure through me. Alistair shouted at the sudden squeeze around him. Then he growled and started rocking into me with abandon, fucking me hard and fast.

Feeling him so desperate to have me only made me wetter. I was sure I was going to come again before he got there.

When Alistair kissed me, his mouth demanding mine submit to the kiss, I felt him swell inside me. His steel-hard cock rubbed all the sensitive places that could bring me pleasure. And when he looked down at me, hungry and almost feral, my whole body shuddered.

I came again, and this time, Alistair came with me.

“Yes!” he shouted, snapping his hips and fucking deep into me. “Liliana. Fuck.”

The veins in his neck stood out as the pleasure rippled through him. When he wasn’t kissing me, I watched the tattoo on his chest. I touched it, pleased to be able to. Then I clenched around his cock as the pleasure rolled through me again.

“Nobody but you, Liliana,” he said into another kiss. “Just you.”

Despite all my worries and fears last night and all day, it was so easy to believe him when he said it that way. I wanted to believe it.

He kissed my ear and whispered, “Only you, baby.”