Chapter 39: Tides of Desire
636 Words
Allie followed Liam out of the airport, her steps mirroring his but her heart lagging far behind.
She had expected...something—relief, joy, a spark of connection. Instead, Liam’s demeanor was calm, almost indifferent. It was like he had anticipated her presence, and not even her sudden return seemed to stir him.
But Allie couldn’t help noticing one thing. His strides were longer, more determined.
Was he just eager to get home?
Liam’s sleek black car was already waiting outside. Without a word, he approached the driver.
“Hand me the keys, John,” Liam instructed firmly. “You can grab a cab back.”
John hesitated for a moment but obeyed, stepping out of the car and handing over the keys.
Liam slid into the driver’s seat without another word. Allie, biting back the confusion bubbling inside her, reached for the back door.
“Sit in the front,” Liam said, his voice steady but brooking no argument.
Allie paused, then sighed, muttering under her breath, “What difference does it make?” She closed the back door and moved to the passenger side.
Inside, the car smelled faintly of pine and leather, a scent uniquely tied to Liam. She clicked her seatbelt into place but noticed that Liam hadn’t started the engine.
Instead, he was staring at her.
His gaze was deep and unwavering, as though he were trying to uncover every secret she’d ever buried. Allie shifted uneasily under the intensity.
“Why are you looking at me like that?” she asked, attempting to break the silence. “Is there something on my face?”
“Yes,” Liam said gravely, his voice dropping an octave. “Come closer. I’ll wipe it off for you.”
Her brow furrowed, but she leaned forward obediently.
Before she could register what was happening, Liam closed the space between them. His lips claimed hers in a kiss
that was both commanding and unrelenting.
The world outside the car melted away. The rush of people, the chaos of the parking lot—none of it mattered.
Liam’s hand slid against her cheek, his touch igniting sparks she didn’t know she could still feel.
Allie gasped, pulling back slightly. “Liam, we’re in the middle of a parking lot!”
The corners of his lips curved into a teasing smile. “Relax. The windows are tinted.”
Her cheeks flamed, and she lightly swatted his hand away as it ventured too far. “We should go home first…please?”
Liam exhaled slowly, his eyes burning with a restrained intensity. “You always know how to test me, Allie,” he murmured, his voice a mix of frustration and fondness.
He placed a final, lingering kiss on her lips before starting the car. “Fine. But you owe me.”
As the car sped down the road toward his villa, Allie found herself smiling despite her flustered state. The tension and drama that had consumed her at school suddenly felt trivial.
When they reached the villa, she barely had time to react before Liam scooped her into his arms.
“Liam!” she yelped, instinctively wrapping her arms around his neck. “Put me down!”
“Not a chance,” he said, his voice laced with playful authority.
The kisses returned, more fervent this time, as he carried her inside. From the hallway to the staircase, and finally into the bedroom, Liam’s every movement was deliberate and consuming.
He lowered her onto the bed, his lips brushing against her ear as he whispered, “Did you miss me?”
“Yes,” Allie admitted breathlessly.
“Do you love me?”
Her heart raced as she whispered back, “I do.”
His hand rested gently on her cheek, and for a moment, his intense facade softened.
- Writer
