Page 36 of Pleasure Island
“I might have a drink later on,” Millie said, smiling at me as she took a sip of water. “But you enjoy, darling.”
* * *
Enjoy,darling…
Famous last words, I thought with a snicker as Liam walked along with me toward the bungalow where we were staying.We. It almost made it sound like we were heretogether.
Another thing to snicker about.
I realized I was probably just the slightest bit over the tipsy line and deliberately quelled my giggles.
From the corner of my eye, I could see Liam doing the security guard head swivel, checking out our surroundings. He didn’t even glance at me.
I’d never hadanyguy seem so completely unaware of me.
A question hovered on my lips, but before I could untangle my tongue to ask, I stumbled over the pathway.
Liam steadied me, coming to a halt as he looked down at my face. The pathway was lit by sconces at regular intervals, but the lighting was warm and low, not really enough to make out anything as I peered up at him. “You’re always so quiet.”
As usual, silence was his response. He let me go but kept a hand on the small of my back as we started along the path.
I didn’t want to let the subject go. “Do you know how quiet you are, Liam?”
“I talk when there’s something to say,” he responded evenly.
I rolled my eyes and tipped my head back to look up at the moonlit sky. “What’s the fun in that? I mean, do youonlytalk when you have something to say?”
“There doesn’t seem to be much reason to talk at any other time.”
I thought there might have been a smile in his voice, but when I craned my head to look over at him, his face was blank.
“We’re here,” he said, coming to a halt in front of our bungalow. He went to swipe the keycard, but before he could, I stopped him, stepping between him and the door.
I placed my hands on his chest.
I was dimly aware that the alcohol was making me a little less inhibited, but I’d be lying to myself if I didn’t admit that I’d be curious about him…this. Under my hands, his chest was a hard, firm wall, and I thought about sliding my hands down, then dipping underneath the crisp white polo shirt he wore.
Tilting my head back, I stared up at him.
He was watching me, eyes opaque in the dim light.
“I’m curious about something, Liam,” I said, keeping my voice low.
He closed his hands around my wrists, tugging them down.
I pouted for a second, but then satisfied myself by leaning up against him. The world didn’t seem quite so spinny that way, something I approved of.
“You know what I’m curious about?” I asked when he stayed quiet.
“From what I can tell, you’re curious about almost everything, Mila. We should get you inside,” he said, easing away.
I followed him, loathe to lose the warm, solid heat of him. “I don’t want to go inside yet. You know what I want?”
His lashes drifted down low over his pale eyes, then he met mine again, shaking his head. “I have no idea what you want.”
“I want you to kiss me.” Twisting my wrists, I broke free of his light grip and once more placed my hands on his chest. “Will you do that, Liam? Will you kiss me?”
His face went rigid, a muscle bunching in his cheek.
