Unplugged (Blue Phoenix, #3)(58)

“Okay, I’ll just watch then.” Liam rubs his lips together and I remain still. “What are you wearing tonight?”

“What do I wear to meet The Dylan Morgan?”

He makes a humph sound and pulls an unimpressed face at the carpet. “I don’t know, whatever you think would be suitable for The Liam Oliver, too.”

Is he jealous of Dylan? I cross to him and kiss his head. “You don’t seriously think…” My towel lands on the floor, tugged off by Liam, and he nips my stomach as he laughs at me. “You *!”

Liam covers his head as I smack him; but having achieved his aim, he finishes by hooking his leg under mine and tripping me onto him. “No, I don’t seriously think.”

I attempt to push myself up, hand on his hard chest but Liam grabs my arms and spins me over onto the bed. My wet hair splays across the thick duvet still crumpled from this morning.

Pinning my hands above my head, Liam’s gaze caresses my b-reasts, my nipples harden in anticipation of what’s coming next. “I want to know something,” he says.

I wriggle against his grip but he tightens his fingers around my arms. “What?”

“When you had pictures of me on your wall…” he begins.

I groan. “Will you ever let that go?”

Liam smirks. “Nope.” He nudges my legs apart with his knee, the rough denim against my thigh sending a shiver through. “As I was saying, when you had pictures of me on your wall, did you fantasise about me?”

“I told you I did, what’s with the ego stroking tonight, Liam?”

“What did you fantasise about?”

The more he talks of fantasies, the more aware I am of the strength and weight of the Liam Oliver I imagined in my head all those years ago; the one whose arousal becomes clearer by the minute as he presses against me. “I’ve told you that before too, and shown you…”

Releasing my hands, Liam winds one into my hair and brushes his mouth against mine. He slides his other hand between my legs, skimming a finger over my sex. “Did you touch yourself when you thought about me?”

Ohmygod. I don’t talk about things like that. Will he think the pink spreading across my cheeks is arousal at his skilful fingers? I close my eyes, not wanting to look back into his, knowing I’ll be lost to him if I see the other Liam there.

“I bet you did,” he says.

“Can we not do this now? I want to get ready for this evening.” I want the subject changed. “Liam.”

“Look at me and tell me the truth, then I’ll let you go. Did you?”

I open my eyes expecting teasing amusement but the arousal in his eyes matches the erection against my body. He’s not going to let me go whatever I say to him. “Yes. Will you let me go now?”

Liam’s eyes darken further and he sits back on his heels. “Show me.”

Taking advantage of the lack of Liam’s weight on me, I shuffle backwards. “Liam! No, you said…” I make to climb off the bed and Liam grabs me around the waist from behind, pulling me back toward him.

“Cerys, I didn’t say you could get dressed yet.” Liam closes his large palm around my breast, tightening his grip on my waist with the other arm. “You need to do what you’re told sometimes.”

“I’m not doing what you just asked,” I say, leaning away from him.

“Boring.” He runs his tongue along my back, scraping me with his rough chin. “Can I do it instead then?”

I huff; aware I won’t escape the strong arm around my waist anytime soon, especially when he’s in this mood. “You’re very bad at taking no for an answer, Liam.”

“So a definite no?” He releases his grip and I turn to him, running my fingernails across his chest.

“Later.”

Liam pouts. “Okay.” As I climb off the bed to get dressed, Liam smacks my backside hard. “But you’re in trouble later.”

With one last lingering gaze on my naked body, Liam disappears out of the room, leaving me amazed at my own self-control.

CHAPTER 25



CERYS



Following Liam’s impromptu visit, I'm running late. Aware of my hidden anxiety of an evening with Sky and Dylan, Liam decided on an informal poolside barbecue so at least getting ready won't take long. I pull a sarong style green dress over a black bikini and don’t bother with make-up.

My nerves about meeting Sky and Dylan are unfounded. Dylan, I already know from years ago, and he greets me without the pretension I expected. I haven’t seen him for many years and the shirtless Dylan in front of me has filled out a lot since then. He’s not bulky, but not as wiry as Liam. Dylan looks exactly as he does in the pictures, his striking blue eyes captivating, the height and presence of the man enough to turn any girl’s insides out. But not me, I was always Liam’s girl. Whatever Liam says, I swear there was an underlying element of insecurity in his behaviour an hour ago.

“Hi, again,” says Sky. “Excuse me if I don’t do the whole air kissing thing.”

“I wouldn’t know what to do if you did.”

Dressed in a short, blue summer dress with spaghetti straps, Sky sits at the edge of the pool; feet dipped in the warm water. Her blonde waves are pulled back into a ponytail, sunglasses on her head. Dylan sits on a lounger behind, absentmindedly stroking her neck. The Dylan I knew years ago had long hair; he looks strange with short curls barely touching his ears. There’s always been something remarkable about Dylan, even when he was younger. Apart from the face and body that consistently breaks girls’ hearts, he has a presence. Even if you don’t like him, there’s no way you could remain unaware of the aura surrounding Dylan. He exudes something inexplicable that has people doing what he wants without his needing to ask. I’m sure this isn’t all due to Dylan’s fame, I was aware of this years ago and was nervous of him.