A Borrowed Life (Carly and Liam #1) (6 page)

He's so beautiful! And tonight, he's with me. It's me he wants; me, and not the others. Seconds later, his arms trap me against the edge of the pool. His piercing eyes seem to warn me, but mine beg him to kiss me. His hand grabs my waist and a surge of desire immediately takes over me. I let myself fall against his chest as he leans in to kiss me.

I hear his breath, growling against my mouth and it excites me. The fingers of his right hand mingle with my wet hair, grabbing a handful to gently pull my head back. He presses his lips even more savagely against mine and pushes his tongue deeper into my mouth. His body pins me against the cement. I'm his prisoner, but I have no desire to run away.

Unexpectedly, he tears his mouth from mine and steps back with a confused frown and tortured look on his face. His breathing is erratic, and I stand there, panting, not understanding. I expect him to say something, anything! He gets out of the pool, picks up his shoes and leaves. Just like that. What a jerk!

I need a moment to pull myself together. I try to understand what came over him, but I see no explanation. I don't think I did anything wrong, did I? I get out of the water, lost in my thoughts and a million scenarios run through my mind.

My dress sticks against my legs, painfully reminding me of my humiliation. I wrap a towel around my shoulders before sitting down for a minute, just staring at the ground. I pass my hand over my face as if to ease the building tension. My fingers brush my lips and I close my eyes at the memory of Liam's mouth against mine. The feeling is still so present and I wish I could tear it away from my skin, but at the same time, I want it to stay.

The sun rises, but I have no desire to leave my bed.

“Carly? What happened?” Liv questions as she gets out of the bathroom.

I look up to her, my eyes timidly looking over the comforter. She holds my soaked and crumpled dress from last night in her hands.

“I don't want to talk about it,” I say, holding back tears.

She drops the dress on the dresser.

“Are you sure?”

I nod.

“I didn't hear you come in last night.”

“It was late.”

“Should I worry that your dress is ruined?”

“Unless you're becoming my mother, no.”

“Oh!” she exclaims. “Well aren’t we grumpy this morning!”

Her tone is rude when she talks to me. She jumps up and stands in the doorway of the room.

“I'm going to get breakfast. Are you coming, or are you going to stay and sulk?”

“I’ll sulk.”

She sighs loudly.

“Whatever you want!”

She walks out and lets the door slam behind her. Liv can have a very bad temper. I upset her, and she'll probably need a few hours before agreeing to talk to me again after snapping at her like I did. I sigh. Oh well, I don't really feel like talking right now, anyway.

I pull the blanket over my head and decide to go back to sleep. Just a few minutes later, the door of the room opens and I hear my friend's sandals clatter on the floor. Intense discomfort fills the room and I hate it. I don't like being in a fight with her. I gently raise my eyes from under the quilt to see her studying me sadly.

She sighs and approaches me. She pulls the blanket to slide under the sheets and holds me in her arms.

“Look, I don't know if it's him or someone else who upset you, but no matter who it is or what they did, you're not gonna let them ruin your vacation? Right?”

I shake my head.

“No. I'll get up… Before the end of the day.”

She sighs, knocking her head against the wall.

“Come on! I'm starving.”

“Didn't you just get breakfast?”

She twists her lips as if the words she was about to speak were painful.

“It’s not funny at all if you're not there. You're my strength and I need you to face all those sharks.”

I pull my head out of the sheets to stare at her for a moment.

“What are you talking about?”

Liv looks up to heaven before shyly looking down to answer me.

“They're intimidating.”

“You’re the most confident woman I know.”

“Not true. I may look like it, but it’s all show here. I’m always the center of attention at the restaurant, in bars, around our neighborhood, or in a club, and I'm used to it. But here, we're talking about an entirely different league and
all
of these girls are like me, but even more vicious. I can pretend, but alone…”

She stops for a moment and I understand what she means. I sit up.

“Are you coming to breakfast with me?”

“Only if you promise not to ask any questions about last night.”

“Promise.”

I sigh, stretching my legs out of the bed. I get ready and we leave to get breakfast. The routine has settled so easily, and I know it will be difficult to go back to my old habits once we’re be back home. I already notice the employees less, unlike at the beginning when I could only see them, their work, their patience and politeness. I was seeing myself in their place, because normally it's me who has to carry the trays to customers, and who has to endure tempers while keeping a good attitude.

Liv and I lounge at the pool, and a young couple settles next to us. The woman talks about their next vacation in the Hamptons, when a server offers her a cocktail.

“Can you let me enjoy the tropics before talking to me about the snow and cold,” her boyfriend snaps.

“I want us to talk about it.” She turns to the employee, handing her still full glass back to him. “This isn’t cold enough.”

Liv and I exchange a smile, thinking of the number of times someone made that kind of remark to us. At that moment, a beautiful blond Adonis appears above our heads, and Liv slips into the arms of the man who took her to dinner last night.

“Hello beautiful! What are you doing this evening?” he asks.

She turns to me, letting him know that she wouldn't abandon me two nights in a row. He raises his eyes to me and I immediately feel uncomfortable.

“Would you like to come, too?” he suggests.

“Oh, um, no. It's fine, don't worry about me. Go ahead, Liv, have fun.”

“No, I insist,” he answers. “It won't be a date, I reassure you. There will be other friends of mine, too.”

I turn to Liv who doesn’t dare get involved, but I see in her face that she really wants to go, and she won't go without me. I just hope it doesn't turn into some kind of blind date.

“Okay. I'll go.”

I smile, hiding my disappointment. I planned to rest tonight. This whole series of activities is exhausting and with all of yesterday's emotions, I would have eaten dinner in bed and then fallen asleep.

We spend a part of the afternoon to get ready for dinner. I put on a magnificent fitted silver dress with short sleeves and V-neck. I put my hair in a bun, leaving a few chosen locks hanging loose.

We enter the Stardust and immediately butterflies invade my stomach. All the guests on board appear to be here tonight for the show. I've heard that a very famous musician is part of the trip and agreed to do a performance. The word quickly spread.

We sit at Ian's table with his friends, who don’t pay any attention to us. A simple glance at her reveals that Liv feels just as small as I do right now. That's when my eyes meet Liam’s and I freeze. His alluring blue eyes cross the room and go straight to my heart in the span of a second, and suddenly it’s only he and I in the whole place. He smiles as if remembering last night’s kiss. He doesn't give me the impression that he found it unpleasant at all, but what made him run away so suddenly?

A beautiful blonde wearing a lilac colored dress leans over his shoulder and diverts his attention away from me. She has perfectly smooth, short hair falling over her bare shoulders, and I conclude she’s probably the reason. He's with her, and judging by the way they talk and look at each other, they've known each other for a long time. I should have known he wasn’t single. He must have been scared to get caught. No, that doesn't make sense. Why would he risk being seen with me in the Stardust if that was the case?

A warm, appeasing voice echoes through the speakers. I turn to the stage and immediately recognize Josh Groban singing his song “Broken Vows”. I love him! So he was the famous musician?

The performance as well as the dinner end within an hour. It's past nine when people start leaving, and Liv and Ian go back to his room while I take a walk on the deck. I can't see the stars from here, and I can't hear people drinking and dancing on the floor above me. I pass through the large doors leading to the rear and I approach the railing to watch the trail of white bubbles the ship leaves behind. I see nothing on the horizon and the dim light of the moon hardly pierces the clouds.

I end up at the Seabourn Spa; a very popular spot during the day, but always deserted in the evening. The room forms a large bubble with a dozen beach chairs, a spa, and a swimming pool for five to six people max. At the other end of the ship, there is a small party, but there is not a soul here. Those who don't celebrate, sleep. The water of the pool is cool and the glass shell that decorates the bottom is so inviting!

I look at my dress. I don't want to ruin it, and I have no desire to return to my room to get my swimsuit. But since there's no one around, a wild idea crosses my mind. I'm aware that I’m only wearing small black lace underwear Liv forced me to buy, but the thought of being almost naked in a place where anyone could surprise me is very exciting. Why not? I'm alone and I promised myself I would enjoy this trip and not hold back.

I let my dress slip down my legs and slowly enter the water. I look at the moon for a minute and begin to relax. I let my legs gently come back to the surface and allow my body to float. My ears sink in the water and I can't hear anything besides the movement of waves. I pleasantly drift. The look of one man comes back to my mind: his smile, his eyes, his lips. I picture his hands on my hips, wrapping around my waist. My lower-abdomen contracts as I imagine his mouth between my thighs.

I imagine him coming through the door and sitting down in one of the beach chairs. He just watches me, and wants me, struggling to contain himself while he imagines himself inside me. A quivering sensation radiates in my belly and I abruptly come out of my thoughts. That wasn't in my head. I really was feeling his look on me.

I sit up and open my eyes, and I find myself facing him. He's there, standing in front of me with his hands in the pockets of his black trousers and his jacket pulled back by his wrists. He's impeccable. So handsome! So well-dressed! While I'm almost naked. Surprisingly, I don't want to get dressed; the desire I see in his face pleases me very much.

I'm unable to utter a single word. What is he doing here? Did he follow me, or is this just a coincidence?

He crouches on the edge of the pool, his smile growing as his eyes devour me. I walk to the stairs and get out of the pool with all the grace I'm capable of showing. Water streams down my body and my almost transparent underwear sticks to my skin. Liam gets up and erotically caresses my body with his eyes, starting at my feet and moving up to my thighs and waist, stopping at my breast and finishing at my smile. He lets out a long exhale, delighting in the show with remarkable self-control.

His tongue gently wets his bottom lip before he pinches it between his teeth.

“Hello, Miss Scott. How are you?”

I try to hide my smile. He’s capable of so much control, but tempting him and knowing he could pounce on me at any minute gives me a sense of power; it makes me feel like a goddess of seduction.

“It's a little cold.”

I head to the hot tub, amazed at myself. Who would have thought I’d be good at this? I'll have to remember to thank Liv.

As I slip into the hot water, I see his expression reflected in the glass wall to my right. He pulls himself together, closing his mouth, and his eyes become almost dangerous. The bubbles erupt all around me and I turn my head to Liam who is pressing the power button near the doors.

He removes his jacket and takes a step forward. He joins me in the whirlpool only wearing his black boxer briefs. His body is absolutely divine and I need all my strength to keep a neutral expression and an acceptable distance between us. His eyes seem drawn to my breast and I try to stay calm.

“You stood me up yesterday,” I remind him.

He takes a deep breath.

“Sorry about that.”

“That's it?”

“Yes. It'll have to be enough.”

I sit against the wall, pretending not to accept his apology while in reality, I couldn't care less about it right now. The attraction between us is so strong that nothing else matters. He chuckles and runs a hand through his hair, leaving it messy by the gesture. I cling to that phrase Liv told me while we were shopping; a man who wants you will be at your feet until he gets you. I'm testing her theory right now and I hope she’s right.

Liam advances slowly, a devastating expression on his face. The distance between us closes, and a fine mist emanating from the water creeps between our bodies, letting me feel the moisture of his skin against mine. He pushes my hair behind my shoulder with the back of his fingers, grazing my temple along the way.

“You are so sweet and so innocent,” he desperately breathes.

What does he mean, exactly?

“You know nothing of me,” I remind him.

“And you know nothing of me.”

“What I know is what I want now.”

“And you want me, Carly?”

My lower abdomen contracts at the way he pronounces these words and the way he says my name. Yes, I want him. I want him so bad, dammit! His lips curl into a delicious smirk that I'm dying to kiss, to bite. He slowly leans in towards me, his breath hot against my mouth. His eyelids gently close.

“Just for one night?”

“Just for one night,” I confirm.

I lie. I know that after tonight, I'll still want him and I'll want more, but I also know that it won't be possible. He'll probably find another woman for another night, and I will be returning to my life within a week.

“You're a very bad liar,” he replies, pulling himself together.

I don't know what to say.
Sorry, I'm not from the same world as you and the two of us would never work out, but I want you right here, right now
. I can't really see him playing the role of a boy toy for me, and I don't want to tell him I'm not really rich. I have the look and I’ve acquired the attitude in a week, and that's all he needs to know about me.

“You can't become attached to me,” he says.

“Why?”