Fifteen

Ariana
I am back home, infront of my apartment. To tell the truth, I don’t even want to go inside. I have enjoyed myself too much while I was with Liam, and now I don’t think I am ready to face my reality. I understand he has work to
do I don’t want to stick to him, though he offered to stay with me and give his work to his staff. I don’t feel comfortable coming between him and his work, besides, I also have a job to take care of.
Liam stands behind me as I fetch my key and open my apartment. Home sweet home. I mutter to myself and open the door.
“Your place looks to be more ghostly than mine,” Liam says from behind me.
“It sure is. It has been like this ever since Liza moved out to live with Mark,” I say.
“Your roommate?” he inquires.
“Former roommate. Yes. She’s my friend,” I respond.
“Friend, huh? I have some very unpleasant knowledge about your friends,” he says, folding his hands infront of his chest and studying me like I am a child.
“She’s not like that,” I try to defend her but he raises an eyebrow at me.
“Is she one of them?” he asks me.
“What do you mean?” I inquire, frowning in confusion.
“Was she one of those girls you call your friends that abandoned you in the hotel when you were too drunk to remember your name?” he inquires. I want to laugh but he looks too damn serious.
“It wasn’t their fault. I am an adult. We went together to have fun. It was not there job to babysit me,” I say.
“Whatever! They are your friends. They should have at least figured out a way for you to go back home before disappearing into thin air,” he says, and throws his hands dramatically in the air. I can’t stop the giggles that escape me. All of a sudden, Liam is angry and complaining about what happened to me a week ago. He is so protective, I understand but this is too much.
“Why are you laughing? This is. serious situation. Something bad might have happened to you,” he scolds calmly. Damn he is serious.
“Look, nothing bad happened to me. My friends apologized and everything is okay. Besides, I have nothing to regret. Because of that, I got a chance to meet you and you have given me one hell fun of a weekend I will never forget, Liam. I believe there was a good reason as to why all that happened,” I say, trying to reason with him and make him realize that this is the best thing that has ever happened to me.
He visibly relaxes and approaches me. He holds my hand in his and looks down at them. His hands are big, no doubt they could do such magical things to my body. My cheeks heat up at the thought. I never knew I could be so dirty minded, thinking about his hands doing dirty things to my body. It’s all his fault. I have been with him last night and he has already ruined me. I like it.
“You are biting your lip and your cheeks are pink. What are you thinking about?” he asks, startling me from my reverie. I gaze into his eyes and find he shakes his head.
“Aria, I brought you back here so that you can rest and prepare yourself for work tomorrow, but if you keep looking at me like that, this is going to end up being hard for the both of us,” he says, breathing out a frustrated sigh.
“How?” I ask, silly me! He looks up my ceiling as if looking for inspiration, or something sensible to tell me.
“I want you, here now, especially with the way you are looking at me with those eyes that scream “fuck me” It is so hard to resist,” he speaks, slowly but his voice is clear on every word I gulp loudly and my eyes open wide. How does he know? I thought my needy greedy thoughts were secured in my head.
“Then take me,” I offer myself without thinking, because, well, what’s there to think about?
“I will with pleasure, but not tonight,” he responds, his voice breathless and husky. He closes his eyes, as if trying to think, or restrain himself… I don’t know.
“Why not?” I ask.
“Aria!” he scolds. I huff, disappointed.
“Why not? Your hotel is not very far, you will get there anyway. What’s the rush?” I ask him, making a bold move that surprises me too. I want him. I don’t care if I have to ask for it.
“Miss Manroe, I am very aware of that and I am not rushing for any reason,” he replies through clenched teeth.
“Then what’s holding you back?” I inquire.
“Nothing. I thought I was doing this for both of our sakes but this is hopeless,” he replies. A bright victorious smile creeps on my face. He strolls slowly toward me. Confident, sexy, eyes blazing, and my heart begins to pound. My blood’s pumping around my body. Desire, thick and hot, pools in my belly. He stands in front of me, staring down into my eyes. He’s so freaking hot.
He grabs my waist and pins me flat onto the wall. I giggle as he pins my hands above my head and kiss my neck. He lips trail up my chin, seeking my lips until they meet his, and the feeling is exquisitive. He kisses me hard, possessive, claiming my mouth like it was made for him. He tastes so good, I had almost forgotten the feeling of his lips on mine. I moan into his mouth as his hands snake down my back and grab my behind. I move my hand into his hair, pulling my head back so he can angle his tongue deeper into my mouth. His tongue meets mine, dancing in their own rhythm.
“Hmm…” I moan, tilting my head so as to kiss him better.
He pulls away from the kiss, his eyes bore through mine. He is breathless, and so am I. I can feel his heat generating from his body. It’s searing me. I want to be wrapped in it. Bathed in it.
“I should have just taken you to my hotel. I don’t have any condoms with me here and I want you to be safe,” he says. I try to steady my breath but but I am too aroused. Obviously, I don’t have any condoms in my apartment. I am not even on some kind of protection. I try to remain composed as the surge of disappointment shoots through me, but it is so damned hard!
Liam carefully places me onto the floor so that I can stand on my feet. My feet are still weak due to all the heat, but Liam keeps holding me.
“Maybe next time, I promise,” he murmurs against my lips and gives me one last kiss. I nod along as he releases me and walks to the door.
“Good night, Ariana,” he says, giving me a small smile.
“Good night, Liam,” I mumble, I don’t want him to go. He walks out the door and closes it.
The silence in the apartment is deafening. I can’t believe I have lived in it for a year. Now, I don’t even know what to do with myself. I have work tomorrow, yes, but I don’t know how the night is going to end. I have almost forgotten about my life after being with Mr. Carter. He is rich and charming and sexy, he can make a girl dream. I feel like I am in a dream. I hope I get to meet him soon. A promise has been made but not all promises are fulfilled, right?
The thought of not seeing him again hurts but he is a wealthy and busy man. He probably has other better interests to occupy himself with other than a poor waitress who does nothing but take from him. I am not after his money. I really like him, because he is Liam and he makes me dream…
Who knew I could meet such a guy who could make me dream? I didn’t.
A knock on the door makes me snap out of my wayward thoughts. Liam? Could he back? Perhaps he has brought the condoms. I open the door, blood pumping excitedly in my veins.
“Hey, Ari!” Julie beams at me when I open the door. I nearly slam the door in her face because of the disappointment. God! I am such a dreamer!
“Julie? What are you doing here?” I ask, frowning both with confusion and disappointment.
“Don’t mind me. Who is the dude?” she inquires enthusiastically.
“What dude?” I inquire, pretending not to no anything about what she is talking about.
“The hunk that just walked out your door. Was that his car parked outside?” she asks. I take in a deep breath, thinking between lying and telling the truth. Julie is my friend and I don’t like keeping secrets from her or any of my friends. I grab her hand and pull her into the apartment. She looks at me with expectant eyes, ready to listen.
“Spill the beans,” she says, folding her hands infront of her chest like this is some kind of serious interrogation. I mentally roll my eyes and close the door.
“Why is there supposed to be something to tell you? He could be a stranger,” I begin, beating around the bush, not ready to confess. She gives me that ‘are you kidding me’ look and slumps into my couch
“But he isn’t a stranger, is he?” she asks.
“First of all, you looked very disappointed to see me at your door. We’re you expecting someone else or perhaps the same hunk to come back?” she inquires, eyebrows raised at me.
“Second of all, you have never brought a guy into your apartment, I know that very well. He looks very handsome too, and money screams on his look. Do you think there is nothing suspicious about that?” she asks.
“Fine! I will confess!” I sigh, throwing my hands up in surrender.
“I thought you would. I want to hear every nitty gritty of the story. Don’t skip anything,” she says.
“His name is Liam and we just met. Actually we met last Friday, the night we went out to celebrate the last day of college,” I begin the narration.
“Wait minute! Could he, by any chance, be the same guy that let you sleep in his suite when you were dead drunk?” she inquires.
“Yes, he is the one,” I respond with a nod. Her jaw literally drops.
“Oh. My. God! So he came after you?” she exclaims, astounded. I am very well aware of the fact that Julie asually overreacts to small matters and makes out a hell big of a deal out of them so I want to be careful selecting the words I tell her.
“It’s not like that. It’s just that we happened to meet again at Taste’s Home,” I reply.
“And you believe it’s a coincidence?” she asks.
“I don’t know. I don’t think he was coming after me. Anyway, we happened to meet again and he took me out for dinner on Friday,” I reply.
“Ooh… Dinner! Where to?” she coos.
“I don’t know. I was too nervous to mind the name, but it was a fancy hotel. We ate, talked and he drove me home,” I say.
“Just that? Nothing more?” she squeals in disbelief.
“Yes. He called me out for a date yesterday and we had lunch, then he took me to his home,” I tell her.
“Oh my god, Ari! He is so serious! Jeez! He seems to be so romantic,” she exclaims.
“He is. He made love to me,” I utter out the last ones, shyly and cover my face.
“Oh, Aria! You finally did it! So you decided to give him your V card to him? He must be so special to you. You like him, don’t you?”
“I don’t know. We just met and we know, literally nothing about each other, but I kinda like him. I don’t know if he likes me, but he is really a nice guy,” I reply.
“And rich,” she adds.
“Well, he is but that’s not why I am attracted to him,” I say.
“You could say that. I am glad you have finally moved on, Ari. You deserve to be happy. And that Liam better watch out for me in case he plans to do something to hurt you,” she warns.
“He wouldn’t do anything like that. It’s not like we are in a relationship or something. I am not that reckless with my feelings, either,” I say.
“Go, girl! Do whatever makes you happy,” she cheers me on.
“Thanks, Julie. By the way, what had brought here?” I ask.
“Don’t mind me. I just came to check on you. Anyway, I have found more interesting news here,” she says with a shrug. I shake my head at how unbelievable she is, but anyway, she remembers to check on me.