“Damn it, Avery. Why didn’t you say that to begin with? Get out of here. Go get your man and bring him back happy! Make sure he’s happy!”
“Thanks, Tim. I knew you’d understand.”
“Happy, Avery. Happy!” he shouted as I walked out of his office.
I climbed in the back of Oliver’s limo.
“Well, what did he say?” Oliver asked.
“He said no until I told him it was Liam. Then he told me to go and make sure he’s happy.”
Oliver laughed. “I figured as much.”
Scott dropped Oliver off at Wyatt Enterprises first. Before Oliver climbed out of the limo, he took hold of my hand and gave it a gentle squeeze. “Good luck. Liam is going to be so happy to see you.”
“Thank you, Oliver. I hope so.”
****
My flight was delayed, and by time I got into LAX, it was already six o’clock. As I was exiting the airport, I noticed a man holding up a sign with my name on it.
“Excuse me, I’m Avery Lewis.”
“Good evening, Miss Lewis. My name is Chip and I’ll be driving you to Malibu.”
“Nice to meet you, Chip, but I didn’t order a car service.”
“Mr. Wyatt did, ma’am.”
“Oh. That was very nice of him. How long until we get to Malibu?”
“About an hour,” he replied as he took my bag from me.
I inhaled sharply as Chip pulled up to the beach house that Liam was staying at. This was it. Moment of truth. My stomach was knotted something awful and I was breaking out into a sweat as I walked to the front door. I rang the doorbell and nervously waited. What was I going to say? Was I going to start crying? God, I hoped not. I rang the doorbell again. No answer. Taking my bag with me, I walked around to the back of the house and gasped when I saw the beauty of it. The view was one of the most beautiful views I’d ever seen. I noticed down on the beach two chairs planted in the sand with a square table sitting in between. I decided to go and sit down and wait for Liam to get back. The sun was just about to set as I sat there and watched it over the blue ocean water. The waves were crashing into the shore as a light breeze swept over my face. This was what peaceful was. It had gotten dark and the moon had made his appearance in the night sky surrounded by stars. I looked at my phone. It was ten o’clock. It didn’t feel like I’d been sitting here for three hours. I was lost in my thoughts for most of the time. Another hour passed and it was eleven o’clock. What if he wasn’t coming home? Random thoughts started to invade my mind. What if he brought a girl back with him? Shit.
As I was playing out the worst scenarios in my head, I heard a voice in the distance.
“Excuse me, but this is private property.”
My heart practically stopped at the sound of his voice and my stomach, which had finally relaxed during the peacefulness of ocean gazing, knotted up again, but this time, twice as hard. I stood up from the chair and turned around.
“Even for me?”
There was silence for a moment. “Avery? Is that you?” he asked as he started to walk towards me.
“Hi, Liam,” I nervously spoke.
He sprinted down the steps from the patio and down to the beach where I was standing. When he reached a few feet in front of me, he stopped. I suddenly became nervous that he was mad I was here.
“What are you doing here?”
“I—” I looked down as the words wouldn’t escape my lips.
He took a few steps closer to me and softly placed his hand on my cheek.
“I’m so happy you’re here. I’ve missed you so much.”
Hearing him say those words gave me the courage to pour my heart out to him. “I’ve missed you too and I’m so sorry.” A tear fell from my eye. “I’m sorry for everything I said to you back in New York. I’m sorry that I pushed you away.”
He grabbed me and pulled me into him, holding me tight against his chest. “It’s okay, baby. I understand why you did it,” he spoke as he kissed the top of my head. “I’m just so happy you’re here now.”
Feeling the warmth of his body and his strong arms wrapped around me made me feel whole. He made me feel like a whole person whenever he was around me, which I didn’t realize until after he was gone.
“I kept trying to call your cellphone, but it went straight to voicemail.”
“That’s because I have it turned off. How did you know where I was?”
“Oliver and Delilah told me. I went to your house yesterday and you weren’t there and I was worried when I couldn’t get ahold of you.”
His grip on me tightened. “God, I missed you so much.” He broke our embrace and softly brushed his lips against mine. His kiss awakened all my senses.
Our passionate kiss was never ending. I never wanted it to stop. Our tongues met with desire as our lips twisted in pleasure. He picked me up and carried me into the house, our lips never parting. When we reached the bedroom, he set me down and took down the straps of my sun dress, letting it fall to the ground. His hands roamed up and down my sides and over my abdomen before reaching back and unhooking my bra. To be touched by this amazing man was what I’d been craving and had missed.
Chapter 42
Liam
To touch her, to feel her, and to kiss her again was the happiest moment of my life. My fingers hooked into the side of her panties, pulling them down to the floor. As I knelt in front of her, my tongue softly slid up her inner thigh and to her wet lips. A moan escaped her as her fingers tangled through my hair. She sat down on the edge of the bed, spreading her legs wide and inviting me in. My mouth devoured her, licking up and down and side to side. My lips wrapped around her clit as I plunged a finger inside her, stimulating her G spot. She went crazy. Her breathing hitched and her moans became more vocal. With one hand inside her and my mouth sucking her clit, I moved my other hand up to her breast and massaged it while taking her hard nipple between my fingers. Her body explode as she threw her head back, and before I knew it, my fingers were soaked with her pleasure. She lay back on the bed as I quickly stripped out of my clothes and hovered over her. Brushing a strand of hair from her face, I looked into her beautiful blue eyes. She placed her hands on each side of my face.
“I love you, Liam.”
She took my breath away with those three words. Running the back of my hand along her cheek, I smiled. “I love you too, Avery.”
I thrust inside her and moaned as she swelled around my cock. Our lips met and our kiss deepened as I moved in and out of her. Her fingers dug into my back as she came for a second time. Her orgasm made mine more intense as I sped up the pace of my thrusting and moaned her name as I halted deep inside her and pushed out every last drop of come I had in me. Instead of collapsing on top of her, I didn’t move. All I wanted was to stare at how beautiful she was and tell her how much I loved her.
“You are so beautiful, Avery.”
“So are you,” she whispered as she ran her finger across my lips.
I pulled out of her and we climbed under the sheets. As I pulled her into me, she laid her head on my chest and snuggled against me as tightly as she could. This was where she belonged and I was never letting her go.
“Let’s get some sleep and we’ll talk in the morning,” I said as I kissed her head.
“Sounds good. I’m so tired.”
“I love you, Avery Lewis. Good night.”
“I love you, Liam Wyatt. Good night.”
****
The next morning, as much as I hated getting out of bed, I decided to make Avery breakfast. I softly kissed her back before climbing out of bed, and she stirred. I threw on a pair of sweatpants and headed to the kitchen, where I made scrambled eggs, bacon, toast, and fresh fruit cups, along with a pot of coffee.
“What’s that amazing smell?” She smiled as she walked in the kitchen wearing my t-shirt.
“I made breakfast for us.”
“Mhmm. I love breakfast.” She walked over and wrapped her arms around my neck, her lips pressing against mine.
br /> “Good, because it’s ready. Let’s eat on the patio. It’s a beautiful morning.”
I took the plates outside and set them on the table. Avery followed behind with our cups of coffee. Taking our seats, she stared out at the ocean.
“It’s so beautiful here.”
“Isn’t it? I love it.”
She looked at me and smiled as she bit into a piece of bacon. “You have an amazing brother. I want you to know that.”
I chuckled. “Thank you. He is pretty amazing, isn’t he?”
“Please don’t tell him I told you this, but he stopped by my place last week and we had a long talk. He told me about how he used to be about relationships and women and about Sophie.”
“Really?” I asked in shock.
“Yeah. He told about what happened with his girlfriend back when he was eighteen and how he put closure on his past so he could move forward with Delilah. I went and had dinner with John.”
“So are the two of you okay now?”
“No. Not really. I don’t think things will ever be okay with him and I’m fine with that. I just needed some answers.”
“Did you get them?”
“Yes, and talking to him made me realize things about my past relationships. I also went back to Danbury a couple of days ago and talked to Claudia and Lisa. Liam, I want us to start over if that’s okay.”
“Come here.” I held out my arms to her and she sat down on my lap, wrapping her arms around my neck. “Today marks a new day and a new start for us. I would be honored if you would accept my request to be my girlfriend.” I smiled.
“Nothing would give me more pleasure than to be your girlfriend.” She smiled back as she pressed her lips against mine.
“Are you sure about that?” I asked as I ran my hand up her thigh until it reached her panties.
“You’re bad, Mr. Wyatt.” She took my bottom lip between her teeth.
“I can’t help myself when you’re around. You bring out the bad in me.”
Moving the fabric of her panties to the side, I dipped a finger inside her. She gasped as we kissed and I took her inside where we made love on the couch in the living room.
****
Avery
“How did you manage to get Tim to let you have time off from work?” Liam asked from the bathroom as I was putting in my earrings.
“Well, he told me flat out no until I told him about you and how I was coming here to tell you that I loved you. After hearing that, he practically pushed me out of his office.”
Liam chuckled. My phone rang and as I looked down at it. I noticed Tim was calling.
“Speak of the devil.” I laughed.
Liam walked out from the bathroom looking sexy as ever with a towel wrapped around his waist.
“Hello,” I answered.
“Avery, it’s Tim. How are you? How’s Liam doing?”
“Liam and I are doing great, Tim. Thanks for asking.”
“Excellent. That’s what I wanted to hear. Hey, any idea when you’ll be returning back to work?”
I looked at Liam and whispered, “He wants to know when I’ll be coming back to work.”
Liam walked over and took the phone from me. I almost busted out into laughter.
“Tim, it’s Liam. Listen, Avery will be coming back to work when I’m ready to let her come back. Okay?”
“Hey, Liam. Of course. Tell her to take her time. You two have fun over there in California.”
“Thank you, Tim. We’ll be in touch soon.”
He ended the call and handed my phone back to me.
“Why didn’t you tell him that we’re flying back to New York tomorrow?” I laughed.
“He didn’t need to know. Plus, I like playing with him.”
I gave him a kiss and we headed to Luke’s bar so I could meet his friends.
“Your friends are so fun.” I laid my head on his shoulder as we sat holding hands on the beach under the moonlight.
“They’re pretty cool.” He kissed the top of my head.
“I wish we didn’t have to leave tomorrow. It’s so beautiful here.”
“We’ll come back here in a couple of months when the weather in New York starts to get cold and snowy.”
“I like that idea, but only if you promise to keep me warm on those cold and snowy days.”
“You don’t have to worry about that. I’ll be keeping you warm in more ways than one.”
I lifted my head and our lips met, falling into a passionate kiss.
“We better get inside. I need to fuck you a couple of times before we go to bed.” Liam smiled as he ran his thumb across my lips.
I quickly stood up. “I think I’m too tired for sex.” I smiled as I ran up to the house.
Liam ran behind me and grabbed me, swung me around, and carried me into the house. “I better never hear those words come out of your mouth again. There’s no such thing.” He winked.
And just like that, I melted in his arms. I was happy. For the first time in my life, I had found true love and the most perfect man in the world. A man that would change my life forever, and for once, I wasn’t scared of what the future held.
Chapter 43
Liam
When we arrived back in New York, Avery and I were more in love than ever. We spent every night together, alternating between her place and mine. Our separate lives were quickly becoming one.
“Oops,” she said as she walked by me and hit me with the paintbrush roller, catching the back of my neck with paint.
“Why, you! Get back here!” I yelled as she ran down the stairs and through the house, giggling.
Little did she know that I pressed my hand in the paint before chasing her. I caught her and wrapped one arm around her waist while pressing my hand against her face, leaving my handprint of paint on her. She looked at me in shock as her jaw dropped, not believing that I would do such a thing. She took two of her fingers and pressed them in the wet paint on her face, then dragged them down mine.
“Now what do we do?” I asked. “We’re covered in paint.”
“I guess we’ll have to take a shower and wash it off each other.” She smiled as she kissed me.
“I like the way you think.” I picked her up, and as I was carrying her upstairs, she pressed her fingers in the wet paint on the back of my neck and pressed each finger against my face, making small circles of paint across it. “You’re lucky I love you, woman.”
“I know. I’m the luckiest girl alive.” She smiled.
****
Avery
Oliver had decided to drop the case against Laurel as long as she paid for all damages, which sent her right into bankruptcy. Oliver said that was good enough for him. Liam, on the other hand, wanted nothing more than for her to go to prison. As for Bart Cummings and his inspector, they both lost their licenses and were made to pay a huge fine.
I met Liam for lunch, and as we were walking down the street, hand in hand, I saw John and a woman approaching us.
“Hello, Avery.” He smiled as he looked at my and Liam’s hands.
“Hello, John. You know Liam Wyatt.”
“Of course. Nice to see you out of a conference room.”
Liam gave him a nod.
“Avery, this is Emily Withers. A friend of mine.”
I couldn’t help but notice the glare she gave him.
“Emily, this is my daughter, Avery.”
“It’s nice to finally meet you, Avery. John has told me so much about you.”
“Is that so?” I asked as I lightly shook her hand.
“The four of us should get together for dinner one night.” John smirked.
“Oh, that would be so much fun.” Emily smiled as she hooked her arm around John’s.
“Maybe one night. Well, we have to get going. I need to get back to the office.”
“The offer still stands, Avery,” John spoke with seriousness.
“And the answer is still no, John. Have a good day,” I said as Liam and I wa
lked away.
“We’re never having dinner with them, are we?” he asked.
“Hell no.” I shot him a look.
“I didn’t think so. I was just making sure.” He winked.
****
I arrived at Liam’s house an hour early before his housewarming party started. As I walked through the door, Ana was coming from the kitchen.
“Hi, Ana. Do you know where Liam is?”
“He’s upstairs, Avery.” She smiled.
“Thanks and, by the way, it smells amazing in here!”
I went up to Liam’s room and found him standing in his closet with a towel wrapped around his waist and his hair dripping wet. Shit, I was going to have an orgasm just looking at him.
“You’re worse than a girl.” I smiled as I walked into his closet and gave him a kiss.
“What do you mean?” He chuckled.
“You’re standing in here trying to decide what to wear. I see you looking over all your shirts.”
“Okay, smarty pants, pick out an outfit for me.”
“Okay. I will.”
I walked over to where all his casual pants hung neatly in a row and took a black pair off the hanger. Then I walked over to the other side where a shelf held his neatly folded sweaters, pulling a beige-colored one out and handing it to him.
“There you go. Outfit complete.” I smiled.
“Nice choice.” He kissed my lips and walked out of the closet, me following behind.
“Is that all I get?”
He turned around and looked at me. “What do you mean?” He laughed.
“I think you owe me some great sex for picking that out for you.”
The corners of his mouth curved upwards as he removed his towel and threw it on the floor.
“Is this what you want?” he asked as he pointed to his rapidly rising cock.
“Mhmm.” I stood there with my arms crossed and a smile displayed across my face.
“Then take that dress off along with your panties and bra and stand up against that wall over there.”
“Who says I’m wearing any panties?” I smirked.
“Avery, you are so bad.”
“Only for you.” I took off my dress, revealing the fact that I wasn’t lying about not wearing any panties and I took off my bra. Liam stood there as his eyes raked over my naked body.