Page 123 of Begin Again, Part 1

"Well, she is a daytime soap star," Eden said, biting her nails. "Her schedule is hectic."

Liam reached up and kissed her knuckles, before dropping her hand on his lap. "That's a bad habit. Didn't your mom teach you not to bite your nails?"

"Eyes on the road, Mr Anderson!" Eden snatched her hand away.

Liam chuckled and returned his attention to the road as instructed. "Back to Lydia, what's the plan?"

"I'll see what I can do."

"That doesn't sound convincing," he said as they stopped at a red traffic light.

Something about ninety days was playing on the stereo. Liam thought the artist was P!nk. He could be wrong. But he knew the song because it was Holly's anthem for two years straight.

Eden exhaled and wriggled in her seat while she sang along. Liam was surprised she could even make out the words with the volume turned down so low. She was no songstress, but he loved her enthusiasm. He was happy to listen to her and watch her lose herself in the music, her mouth parted slightly, and her eyes tightly shut, the same way they were when she tried to fight her orgasm earlier.

Damn, Liam growled under his breath, remembering her exquisite taste on his lips and how tight she'd felt around his fingers when she came all over him, and his raw hunger for her. She'd never know the level of self-control it took him not to fuck her senseless right there—

The song ended. The traffic light turned green. And they were moving again, speeding towards her place. Eden carried on singing beside him, and Liam carried on thinking about fucking her. He could still smell her on his hands, just like he could still taste her in his mouth. His dick swelled up a little at the mere thought of her heady scent.

Eden sighed again. She'd reached the end of the song, and nothing on the radio seemed to grab her attention. The DJ had lost the plot with his playlist. Her eyes were on the darkness beyond her window again.

Liam stared at her briefly and asked, "what's wrong?"

"Nothing," she replied as they passed Forrest Creek's Residence Association sign welcoming them to the Arts Quarter.

It had been a while since Liam was here. Five months, to be exact. At Willow's last exhibition at Fugue. He wondered if Eden would like the painting and vase he was yet to give her, because green-lighting her office renovations had taken longer than he'd anticipated. But Gibby promised they'd be done tonight. She texted him when they left the penthouse, confirming everything was on track. The project team and the interior designers, still hard at work, were the reason he had to take Eden away from her office for the afternoon under the guise of a lunch engagement. He wanted everything to be perfect for her when she came to work tomorrow.

She wrung her hands on her lap anxiously, and fidgeted beside him the closer they got to her place. Liam glanced at her again, frowning at the tense way she held herself.

"You obviously have a lot on your mind. Do you want to tell me what's troubling you?" He pushed, bracing himself for what could turn into an argument of epic proportions because it didn't take much to set them off.

Eden remained tight-lipped. "Nothing's troubling me."

It was an obvious lie, and a quick glance at her told him he should choose his battles carefully. But the little devil on his shoulder wouldn't let it go. Not when there was a real chance he was responsible for her pensive mood. He didn't have to be Einstein to know that the faraway look in her eyes had a lot to do with their lovemaking earlier. Not for the first time since their encounter, Liam wondered if he'd made a mistake by rushing her into something she wasn't ready for.

"Eden," he began after a brief lull. "About earlier—"

She arched her eyebrows, her mouth stretching into a slow smile. "You mean when you pleased me, Mr Anderson?"

Liam chuckled, bumping the headrest lightly as he threw his head back, elated with her response. "So, you were pleased?"

"Are you fishing for another gold star?" she asked, her eyes shining with amusement. "I told you I only have enough for Aiden."

"Lucky kid, at least he gets rewarded for doing a good job."

"You'll get your reward." Eden smiled, her dimple spinning his world on its axis. "But all in due time, Mr Anderson."

Goodness, Liam sighed. He didn't think his heart would stay intact too long if she got any cuter. He was so tempted to lean over and kiss her mercilessly until she promised to move in with him or begged him to fuck her. He was okay with either, but the latter was the more favourable option at that moment. The things he would do to her—

No, Liam shook his head, banishing his X-rated thoughts. There was no need to whip himself into a frenzy when he wouldn't get any relief.

"I loved every moment," Eden said as they turned into her street, her eyes earnest behind her glasses. "Everything we did. I loved every moment of it."

Liam held her gaze, searching her face for a sign, a hint, or anything, to show him she meant every word and wasn't just saying stuff because she thought it was what he wanted to hear.

"I have no regrets," she added as she took his hand and squeezed it.

"Good." Liam tapped her nose lightly. "Because I don't have any regrets either."

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