What. A. Fucking. Asshole.
* * *
“How do you like the cake?” Liam asked me, as the silence stretched between us at the fancy restaurant that I learned he owned. It was just the two of us, the entire restaurant closed to the public so we could enjoy our wedding lunch. Quinn had left once we arrived, leaving the keys with Liam. My husband.
Jesus, Mary, and Joseph.
I got married today. At twenty-one. I burned down a house, robbed the head of the Irish mafia, robbed a casino, and got married. All in less than a month. It has been busy for sure.
I lifted my gaze to meet Liam’s dark blue eyes on me.
“It’s delicious.” It was true, the cake melted in my mouth. It was the most delicious dessert I had ever eaten. “It will probably go straight to my hips.”
His eyes traveled over me, like a warm caress on my skin. “I love your hips,” he drawled. “Gives me something to hold on to.”
Heat bloomed in my lower belly and I clenched my thighs. God, the words he uttered did things to me. And the way he watched me. His gaze burned like a lit match, consuming me until there’d be nothing left of me.
He had never said it, but I got a sense this man always demanded everything. He wouldn’t be satisfied with just fractions of me. He’d want it all. My every thought, every heartbeat, every breath. Every goddamn thing.
“I have to go back to the dorm,” I told him as I stabbed a fork into my cake. It would be easier if my reaction to him was purely physical and fleeting. I’d prefer that to this and the fluttering of my heart. Maybe I should have my chest checked, it could be a sign of a heart attack.Great, now I am a doctor and a criminal.“I have Wynter’s car and have to give it back,” I said, a bit too harshly, but it was aimed more at myself.
“Absolutely not,” Liam objected. “It’s our wedding night, and I’m looking forward to being balls deep in my wife.”
My cheeks burned and I snuck a glance around us, praying none of his staff heard him.
“Jesus, keep your voice down.”
My phone buzzed, for the hundredth time today. My group chat with the girls speculated about where both Wynter and I were all night.Interesting!Wynter spent the night out too.
And Garrett sent another few dozen threatening messages. I hoped he’d eventually get the memo and just move on. Wynter’s friend said Garrett’s insurance was already in process so he’d be fine.
“Go ahead and answer that,” Liam urged. “Tell the girls you’ll get back to the dorm tomorrow. And fetch them back to the city. I’ll have one of my men take the Jeep back to Yale today.”
“I don’t like this,” I muttered. “You're overtaking my life. You can’t tell me what to do. I’m a grown woman.”
“Thank God for that.” He grinned, his gaze turning soft and I had to remind myself to breathe.
It made him look so much younger. I inhaled deeply, his unique scent had quickly become intimately familiar.
He trailed his eyes down my body and his eyes darkened. Just like they did every time he wanted me. A gaze of bottomless blue ocean.Mesmerizing. The way he watched me with blazing desire in his blue gaze made me hotter than fire.
I rolled my eyes, hiding the impact he had on me. Just the way he looked at me overwhelmed all my senses.
“How am I supposed tofetchthem?” I breathed.
“I bought you a car,” he explained. “It’s my wedding present to you.”
My eyes widened in shock. He got me a wedding present? I opened my mouth, then closed it and opened it again.
“That’s not what I meant,” I explained. “I mean how do I convince them to come to your city house.” Then I realized how rude I was and quickly added, “Thank you for the wedding present, but that’s not necessary. I’ll buy my own car when it’s time.”
My Honda was a goner. Not worth saving that hunk of metal.
“No, you’ll take the car I got you or take one of mine in the garage.” God, he was really too much. “I’ll arrange for you three to receive a letter stating you have to vacate the dorm immediately. I’ll send a note to Juliette to use the city house.”
“How manipulative,” I noted snarky. Truthfully, I liked the way he took charge of seemingly every situation. But it scared me to show him how much I liked him taking care of me and then to lose it.
As a kid that grew up without parents, I loved protection and attention. I didn’t particularly like that quality in me, but it was so ingrained in me. My grandfather was the only family I ever had and who always put me above himself.