30. Liam

30

LIAM

I stayed and watched Val. He was kind to each person he served. He looked at them and talked to them like they were real people, not something less than him. He joked with the other servers and generally seemed to be enjoying himself. He didn’t look at all like the cold killer I’d gotten to know or the crazed possessive man who’d fucked me to the point of collapse.

A priest who looked to be in his early sixties was making his rounds, speaking to the people who’d come in for a meal. When he approached my table, I braced myself for words of judgment, but his bright smile put me at ease.

“May I?” He gestured toward the chair across from me.

“Sure, Father.”

He held out his hand. “I’m Nick.”

“I’m Liam. Nice to meet you.”

“Is this your first time having dinner here?”

I nodded. “Yes, Father.”

“No need for formalities. I like everyone to feel comfortable.”

I had no doubt people felt comfortable here. Father Nick and all the volunteers seemed genuinely kind. “Thank you for dinner.”

“I just coordinate it; we couldn’t do this without all the volunteers. Speaking of which, I saw you talking with Valentino.”

I braced myself for what would come next. “Are you going to warn me to stay away from him?”

Nick shook his head. “I was going to say I was glad you found a friend.”

Oh, that was not what I was expecting. “We’re not exactly friends.”

He laughed. “I’m sure it’s a lot more complicated than that. It usually is with Val, but despite what he might tell you or what you might think, there’s a lot more to him than the side you’ve likely seen.”

“I guess his being here told me that.”

Father Nick glanced toward Val. “He does a lot to help out here. I know he’s not what most people imagine when they think of a church volunteer, but don’t dismiss him out of hand.”

I was too stunned to respond. This man was a priest, and I didn’t think for a moment he didn’t know who Val really was or that he was ignorant about what the Marchesi family did. He could hardly live in this part of town and not know, and yet he was telling me Val and I should be friends. “You don’t act like any other priest I’ve met.”

“Maybe that’s why I like Valentino; we’re neither one what you expect. You’re welcome here anytime you know. I’d love to see you at Mass.”

“That’s more what I expected you to say.”

Father Nick grinned. “Ah yes, another young man cynical about the Church—not that I blame you—but if you need someone to talk to, or anything else, stop by. I’m usually here.”

“Thank you, Father.”

He pushed back his chair and stood. “I hope to see you again.”

When he left me alone, I marveled at how he’d known exactly how long to talk to form the start of a friendship, but not long enough to make me feel awkward. I wondered how long he’d known Val.

I looked at Val again. There were only a few people making their way into the church now. He’d be done soon. Was I going to wait for him? It wasn’t like I could avoid him for long, not with a debt hanging over my head and him the one responsible for collecting it.

I watched him until he stepped out of line and removed his apron—I never expected to see him looking so domestic. He hugged Father Nick and the woman who’d been working beside him.

When he reached my table, he held out his hand. “Come with me.”

I let him pull me to my feet. When we reached his car, I wondered why I hadn’t noticed it in the parking lot, it was the only flashy sports car there. He opened the door for me, and I climbed in. Heat rushed to my cheeks when I remembered what had happened the last time I’d been in a car with him. It had nearly shattered me. The way Val had looked at me, touched me, convinced me he truly cared. I’d almost forgotten why I could never truly have him. This time it would be best if all we did was talk.

He got in and started the engine. It was too hot to sit in the car without some air blowing on us. When he put it in gear, I looked at him. “Where are we going?”

“I’m taking you home.”

“I thought we were going to talk. I thought maybe….” He just wanted to make sure I got home safely. That was nice, but not what I wanted. “We could just talk here in the car. It’s a bit nicer than the place I’m having to call home right now.”

Val laid a hand on my thigh. “Not the storage unit. Home. My home.”

I shook my head. “We can’t. It’s too dangerous. Even what we’ve been doing at the club could get you in trouble. It already has.”

“I’m taking you home with me because that’s where you belong.”

I should’ve argued. I should’ve demanded he take me to the storage unit, but I didn’t. I sat right there while he drove, looking at the beautiful colors of the sunset as we made the trip across the city.

After a few minutes, Val reached over and took my hand in his. I loved the feel of his warm skin and the way his hand was so much bigger than mine. He stroked my palm with his thumb, comforting me. I wanted to let my head drop back and close my eyes. Somehow, I knew that if I were with him, being held by him, I’d sleep better than I had since the accident.

Val pulled into the underground garage of an apartment building that was way fancier than any place I ever imagined living. He keyed into the elevator, and we rode up to the top floor. When he opened the door and we stepped inside, I sucked in my breath. The view of the city from the floor-to-ceiling windows in his living room was stunning. The apartment was modern, but not cold or sterile. It was filled with warm colors and a mishmash of antique furniture. It fit Val somehow, even though I wasn’t expecting it any more than I had the apron or the friendship with Father Nick.

I walked toward the window as I heard Val slide the lock in place, then he began to move toward me. I was looking out at the city, but I was aware of every step he took. He reached for my arm and turned me to face him. I shivered as he brushed my hair from my face and tapped my cheek.

“This isn’t about what you owe me. This is about what you want,” he said. “What do you want right now?”

My heartbeat echoed in my ears. The world seemed to have shrunk down to me and Val and the space we took up. Nothing else mattered. Only the two of us were real.

“I want you.” I knew I could be honest then, even if this was just one night, one chance to be with him with nothing else between us.

“I don’t know how to be gentle,” he said. “It’s not in my nature.”

I shook my head. “I don’t need that. I like the way you possess me.”

“Good.”

“I want it to be like it was in the car. I want you to kiss me. I want everything.”

“Then that’s what you’re going to get.” He brought his other hand to my face and lowered his lips. When he kissed me, it was the most magical feeling in the world. He slid his tongue along the seam of my lips, and I opened for him. He was gentle at first, despite saying he couldn’t be. He kissed me like I was fragile. It was even more mind-blowing than the kisses he’d given me in his car.

He explored my mouth with his tongue and things grew heated quickly. I looped my arms around his neck and slid my hands into his hair, holding him against me. He worked his tongue in and out of my mouth, fucking me with it. I arched into him, rubbing my cock along his, wishing we were naked.

I whimpered when he pulled back, even though my breath was ragged, and I knew I wouldn’t have been able to let the kiss last much longer.

“Take off your clothes for me,” Val said as he took a few steps back. “Because you want to, not because it’s an audition.”

I glanced out the window. “People can see in.”

He shrugged. “They can see you, but they can’t have you. You’re safe here with me.”

I began to strip, stretching things out just for him. I didn’t dance, but I kept my movements slow and graceful. Val’s eyes darkened as he watched me. His hand went to his cock. He pressed his palm against it, moving it up and down. When I was completely naked, I took a step toward him, but he shook his head.

“I want to look at you. I want to take my time with this and fully enjoy every moment and every inch of you.”

“I want that too. I never get to do that with you. I’m too busy taking your orders.” He smiled like I’d hoped he would.

“Then why don’t you undress me?”

I licked my lips and let my gaze run up and down the length of him. “I like that idea.”

I slipped my hands under his T-shirt and pushed it up, encouraging him to lift his arms so I could pull it over his head.

I let my hands run over his chest, exploring him, brushing my thumbs across his dusky nipples, feeling them harden, sliding my hands over his abs and down to his waistband. I undid his belt, popped the button on his pants, and slowly slid the zipper down. As I pushed his pants over his ass, I cupped his cheeks, loving the feel of the tight muscles.

When he stepped out of his pants, he was only wearing a pair of dark blue boxer briefs. His cock pushed against them, and the thick bulge made me want to get on my knees and taste him.

“Whatever you’re thinking, do it,” he said.

I looked up at him as I lowered myself to the floor, and I held his gaze as I tugged on the waistband of his boxer briefs and pulled them down, slowly revealing his cock. I ran my tongue along the underside, then lapped up the precum pooled in his slit.

“That’s it, baby. Don’t stop.”

I groaned as I swallowed his cock down.