Bad Romeo Christmas: A Starcrossed Anthology (Starcrossed #4)(28)

"Lots of things. Disagreeing with me. Disobeying me. Being thousands of miles away where I can't touch you. Being so beautiful you make my chest ache. Looking at me how you're looking at me now, when you know damn well it's going to make me hard as a rock. The usual."

"I see. And the point of writing it all down is ...?"

"So I know exactly how much I need to punish you when we're finally together."

"Am I going to enjoy this punishment?"

"If I allow you to, yes. So watch your damn step, or I'll make your life miserable. No orgasms for you!"

I smile and hug my pillow. God, he's sexy when he pretends to be angry. Why on earth do I find that so hot?

"Well, if it helps," I say, "I'm sorry I fell asleep. You know how dozy I get when I drink. I actually nodded off in the cab on the way back from the party. If Josh hadn't been there to help carry me inside, our lovely Russian driver who smelled like vodka and cabbage would probably still be circling Hollywood boulevard, earning a huge fare."

"Wait a second, back up. Josh is there?"

"Yeah, didn't I tell you that last night?"

"No. You muttered something about how the show was amazing, and you raised eight million dollars for the charity, which is incredible by the way. Then you got all flirty and ordered me to strip. Too bad it wasn't much of a show, considering I was only wearing boxers, but still, you seemed to enjoy it."

"Oh, yes. I really did." Liam getting naked is pretty much my favorite thing on the planet, half asleep or not.

"I thought Josh was in Australia with Angel."

"He was, but he came back to help me out."

Liam smiles. "Seriously? That's great. I felt bad that you were handling everything by yourself, but knowing Josh took some of the load makes me feel less like a useless, abandoning bastard. Is he heading back to New York with you?"

"Yeah. His mom has guilted him into coming home until the new year."

"Well, if he needs his space from Ma and Pa Kane, he can always stay at our place. I'd feel better knowing there's someone taking care it when you leave." He pauses. "Speaking of leaving ..." He leans forward. "Four days, Liss. Four eternally long days until we're together."

"Can't you at least give me a hint at where we're going?"

"Okay, one clue. Bring your bathing suit."

I pull my knees up to my chest. "Seriously? There's a blizzard in New York right now, and even here in L.A. it's freaking cold."

He raises an eyebrow. "Then I guess you can cross L.A. and New York off the list of possible destinations, can't you?"

Damn him and his ability to keep a secret.

"So, it's going to be hot where we're going?"

"In more ways than one. On a related note, I also want you to bring an entire suitcase of lingerie. The sexier, the better."

I laugh. "Sure. I'll get right on that."

He leans forward and lowers his voice. "I'm not joking, Elissa. Go shopping. Use the credit card I gave you. Spare no expense. I want a whole selection to choose from."

"Liam—" I sigh. "I have no idea about that stuff. I've never worn anything but simple black and white underwear."

"I know. And as unbelievably hot as that is, I want to see you in something different. Feel free to be creative. I want you to torture me with your sexiness." His gaze drops down to where the shadow of my nipples can be seen through the white collared shirt I wore to bed. "Well, more than you already do, anyway. You look better in my shirt than I ever did."

"I respectfully disagree, but I do like that it smells like you."

"I'm glad that you're comfortable wearing an eight-hundred-dollar shirt to bed." He swallows and lets out a tight breath. "But, Christ, I wish I was there to tear it off you."

I sit up and make a show of undoing the top button. "Why tear it? I'll happily remove it if you ask nicely."

He sits up and licks his lips. "Hell yes. Take it off. Now."

"But, you didn't say please." I toy with the second button.

"Elissa ..." His voice is low with warning. "Unless you want another entry on the naughty list, I'd strongly suggest you remove that shirt, ASAFP."

I give him my most teasing smile as I undo the final button. Then I crawl up onto my knees and make sure I'm in prime position in front of the camera before holding the shirt open and giving him an unobstructed view of my breasts.

He groans as he curls his fingers into the sheet in front of him. "Maybe I should rethink the whole lingerie plan. If this is how you affect me in a man's shirt and plain white panties, the sight of you in something designed to drive men out of their minds might actually kill me. My cock has never been harder."

"Quid pro quo, Mr. Quinn," I say, my voice betraying how much his arousal thrills me. "Let's see the proof."

With a smug look, he adjusts the angle of his camera and pulls down the sheet to show me exactly how naked and hard he is.

Oh. Wow.

Good God, his dick is glorious. Thick and long, it curves in a perfect arc pointing up to his abs. Even though I love seeing my effect on him, I also feel sorry for him. His erection looks so tight and swollen, it must be painful. That doesn't prevent my body from going from zero to I need to have him inside me now in less than two seconds.