Fighting With Light (The Coldwell Brothers #2)

28. Aelia

28

Aelia

I’m grinning from ear to ear as we walk back to the villa. I had a blast learning to surf with Liam. My stomach rumbles and Liam glances at me.

“Hungry?” he asks.

“Yeah, we didn’t really eat lunch. We’ve been out on the water most of the day.”

“I lose track of time when I’m out there. It’s part of the reason I fell in love with the ocean,” Liam says. I study his profile for a moment, hesitating to ask him what’s on my mind.

“Does it make everything easier to bear?” I ask him.

He looks at me as we walk through the hot sand and grabs my hand, linking his fingers through mine, while he carries his surfboard in the other arm. “Yes, but…you do, too.”

I startle at that, not entirely sure what he means and afraid to ask. I nod and we get to the back patio. Cool air hits my face and I sigh. I was sweating hard just walking from the ocean to the villa.

I glance at my phone and Ben’s; there are no messages. I’ve been keeping up on sending check-in messages like Ben would, so my dad is none the wiser.

Liam comes in through the slider and pulls it shut. “Should we order dinner, or do you want to go out?” he asks.

“Honestly, I think hanging out here sounds really nice. I’m just not interested in the party scene lately.”

Liam smiles at me and takes a step, closing the distance between us. “I haven’t thought about it either.” He pauses and wiggles his eyebrows. “Do you like spending time with me, temporary girlfriend?” he asks .

I know he’s joking, but that word temporary hurt more than I think it should. Ignoring the pain, I shrug like it’s not a big deal.

“Well, it seems like maybe you were hoping for a little more. Huh?” He grins and reaches for me.

I push him back and he laughs, catching himself.

“I like where this is going,” he says.

I put my phone down and give him my full attention. He crowds me, pushing me back until I hit the wall. His arms cage me in, and he leans down as my chin automatically tips up.

“I just wanted to keep working on our Colombia project,” I tell him with a sly smile. He purses his lips and looks at his computer like that’s the only reason I wanted us to stay in.

His arms drop, and he takes a step back. “You’re right, that’s smart. We don’t have a lot of time. I can—”

I grab the waistband of his board shorts and tug him back. Liam catches himself and puts his arms where they were. With my finger still on the edge of his shorts, I drag it back and forth, gently brushing his warm skin.

“No one said we can’t do both, Tarzan,” I whisper.

His lips rip into a big, beautiful smile, and I can’t help but smile right back. Liam drops his arm and grabs my chin. “You are a tease, princess, but I enjoy being teased.”

I roll my eyes and try to keep in my laugh.

“Keep rolling your eyes, and I’m going to have to pull that crown off your head to teach you a lesson.”

“Oh? And what lesson might—” My stomach growls so hard it’s like someone held up a microphone to it, and it’s clearly audible.

Liam snorts and pecks me on the lips. “Sounds like I need to feed my girl.”

I groan and tilt my head up against the wall. “That was embarrassing.”

“No, it wasn’t. Why do you say that?”

“Well, I just…”

Liam grabs the menu. “No one said we can’t do both, princess,” he repeats.

“That’s just so romantic ,” I mutter.

“Gotta eat. What do you want?” he asks, holding the menu up. I tell him what I want and after he hangs up the room service phone, he says, “Do you want to shower first?”

“Yeah,” I sigh.

“Oh, were you…did you…” Liam says, stuttering for words.

I smile and shake my head. “No, I mean, unless you want to…”

He laughs sarcastically. “We are just so good at this,” he says, gesturing between us.

“No, I’m good at this. You’re just really awkward.” I grin. “But while you’re trying to figure that out, I’m going to get a shower, so at least I smell good before dinner gets here.”

“Well, if you don’t hurry, I’m going to have to really join you then,” he says. “You get five minutes princess, or I’m getting in that shower, but it won’t have anything to do with getting clean.”

I smile and head towards the bathroom, then look at him over my shoulder. “I thought you didn’t back down from challenges?” I taunt.

He grins mischievously and takes a step toward me. Then, as if I’m not meant to get some, his phone rings. Liam tilts his head back, groaning. “Sorry, babe, I’ve gotta get that.” I nod and make my way into the bathroom. Now I’m just hot and bothered, but mostly bothered now, and he’s the only one that can solve my problem.

When I’m done, I step out of the bathroom wrapped in my towel and find Liam still on the phone.

I fish out some lightweight athletic shorts and a crop top sports bra. Liam has spun around listening to someone talk on the phone with his eyebrows slightly squished together as he watches me carefully. I take my moment to mess with him more and drop my towel to the floor. His eyes immediately widen, and his jaw ticks. I grab my shorts and slide them over my legs, snapping the elastic.

Then I reach forward for a sports bra, and there is no sexy way to put on a sports bra. They’re cuter nowadays, but you have to get it over your head and it into place. I shimmy myself into it and turn around to find Liam still watching me .

I take slow steps towards him and his legs widen as I run my hand through my hair, continuing my little show while his other hand opens, palm up, as if he’s ready to hold me.

“Mhm, yeah, that’s fine. I can do that,” he says. The person on the other side keeps talking.

I climb into his lap, and he groans, then remembers himself and coughs to cover it up. “What? Oh yeah, the plan is Cali, and then we can—”

I grin and move my hand over his chiseled chest and down his stomach to his waistband.

“Yeah,” he rasps, looking at my hand and where it sits.

I slip my fingers past his shorts and I swear he stops breathing for a moment.

“Sure, no problem,” he whooshes out.

Leaning forward, keeping my fingers where they are, I kiss his ocean skin on the corner of his jaw. “I’m not sure I want to do that interview. I don’t want to jinx myself,” Liam hurries out, and I slide my fingers lower. “Mhm,” he grunts.

I know I’m getting to him, and I love it.

“Hey, I’m—” I shake my head.

“Finish the call,” I whisper.

He shoots daggers from his eyes, and I push my hand all the way past his shorts, and his head tilts back in a silent groan.

“Yeah, okay, that sounds cool. I’m—I’m glad to hear the sponsors are happy about Portugal. It was a tough surf since we got rescheduled so much.”

I graze my fingers over him and his whole body is stretched tight like he could snap at any second.

“Yeah, I’m looking forward to it. I did something a little different, and I think it’s made all the difference,” he says.

My hand stalls, his eyes lock onto mine, and my smile drops. I have never felt wanted the way I do with Liam. It’s not just for sex, though it’s great. No, he simply wanted me there to watch him surf because he values my presence.

“Okay, I’ll talk to you later. Bye,” he says, tapping his phone before dropping it on the desk next to him .

“Are you going to finish what you started?” He grins, looking down at my hand in his board shorts.

“I—”

He cuts me off by carrying me to the bed and drops me on the edge. He sets his knee next to my hip while my legs hang off the side.

“You’re playing a dangerous game, princess.” He grins and nips my lip, slipping his hand under the hem of my shorts.

I glance down at my basic, olive green athletic shorts. The hem is a little fluttery to make it look like a skirt—that’s the only cute thing about them.

“Easy access.” He grins and slips his fingers over me.

I gasp and he takes my mouth.

“That really wasn’t why I put them on,” I mutter against his lips.

He chuckles darkly. “Really? Because I’m pretty sure you wear things just to mess with me.”

The corner of my mouth tips up and I can’t say I don’t because I do wear things to mess with him. Just add it to the list of games we play with each other.

I sigh and lean my head back. He kisses down my neck to the dip in my throat. “Okay, fine. I do wear things to mess with you, but this time, I just grabbed a pair of shorts.” I feel his smile against my skin and then he lifts up to look me in the eye.

“I guess you just got lucky this time.” He grins.

My tongue traces my lower lip and Liam catches the movement. “No, but you’re about to.” I grin and lift up to bite him. He growls and leans forward to kiss me, and I dodge him at the last second. Liam gives me a frustrated look and I can’t help but smile. I love messing with him.

He leans in again and I angle my head to the side, licking the column of his throat. He visibly shudders above me as I grab his chin, bringing his hazel eyes to mine. Liam watches me lean up to kiss him.

A moan pops from him as our mouths open, tasting and exploring each other. It’s different every time. Liam not only can kiss like it’s his job, but every time we do, it feels like he is saying words that he can’t speak. So I tell him my own message that I can barely say to myself. I tell him he is everything I never thought I would have. He is the man I would be proud to call mine if ever given the chance.

Liam’s arm buckles a little. I press on his shoulder and we switch places. He lays back on top of the partially made bed and I wiggle into his side so we’re facing each other.

His hand comes to my cheek and rubs his thumb over the bone. It’s overwhelming to feel seen the way he looks at me and I’m not sure what to do with it. Though I’m not sure I have to do anything with it, maybe I just need to take it and hold it close to my heart, so I’ll have it forever.

Of all things I’m reckless with, including my own life, I have never been this reckless with my heart.

I have kept it safe and locked up tight, protected with thick walls. The world that I was born into doesn’t tolerate weakness from anyone, period. I think it’s what broke my mom. I know who my father is, and I’m promised to another who is probably just like him, but I refuse to let him get to my heart.

But with Liam, I can already feel myself handing him a key that I thought I had thrown away a long time ago.

He kisses me again with a hesitant softness, and as soon as his tongue brushes mine, it turns fierce, as if he wants to brand himself on me. To leave no room for any other man to occupy my mind. Well, he’s in luck because no one else has.

Liam Coldwell is consuming every fiber of my being, and for once in my life, I’m not scared of the consequences. Our time may come to an end, but I know my heart would be safe with him when I leave it. I’d rather he have it than someone try to take it from me.

He slides his arm under my ribs and pulls me as close as he can while still ravishing my mouth and I feel the acute pressure of my walls crumbling.

The bell to the villa rings, and he pulls away, groaning. “I thought that was supposed to take longer,” he mumbles and kisses my cheek before leaping off the bed and going to the front door. My heart thunders in my chest with a fluid thump. I lay there for a moment with my fingers pressed to my lips while I stare at the white ceiling .

He pushes the cart next to the little table in the room, and I watch him set up our table. I’m glad he’s doing it inside because I don’t want to sweat through my clothes. The waiter brought a white tablecloth that I assume Liam asked for and he sets some candles on top of it. Next, he sets our plates and forks in the proper place settings. The kitchen wrapped our food tight, keeping it warm, and he sets it on the top shelf of the cart to access it. Once he seems satisfied with the set up, he looks at me.

“I wanted to take a shower,” he says and glances at the food.

“Go take a shower, then. You stink anyway.” I grin.

“I must not stink that bad because you literally licked me.” I burst into laughter and bury my face in the sheets. Sue me, I licked him. I can’t help myself.

The bed dips and he pulls my face from the linens. “Don’t worry, princess, I liked it. But I’m curious what else that tongue can do,” he says with a grin.

I act offended and push his chest. “Go take a shower, or you will never find out.” He grins and hops off the bed and into the bathroom.

“I’ll be quick!” he yells and closes the door. I sit up and glance at the computer that went to sleep a while ago. I’m determined to find the Marín lab where they cook the cocaine, but this is a needle in a haystack situation. I know the odds are against me, but I feel like that’s when I have the chance to shine. Plus, it is one of the few options we have right now to find out more about the Colombian outfit.

The bathroom door opens and steam wafts out of it, making the air feel sticky. “See, I was quick,” Liam says. With his towel wrapped around his waist, he goes to the closet where he kicked his bag. He glances over his shoulder and wiggles his finger. “You can look, but you can’t touch,” he says with a sly grin on his face.

I giggle and give him my full attention. “Oh, you want a show? I’ll give you a show, princess.” He grins and grabs each end of his towel, and with his back to me, he opens it towards the wall, but all I can see is his towel-covered butt as he wiggles behind the towel.

He looks over his shoulder and winks. I giggle and wait to see what else he’s going to do. He drops one corner of the towel, exposing his backside, and drags it up over his shoulder. I clap and cheer as if this is one of the male reviews in Vegas. Then he turns around, facing me fully but keeping his towel in front of him. He walks over to me and grabs my hand to drag it over his abs then he halts. “Ah, ah, no touching.”

I frown, and he chuckles, tapping my nose. “So needy, princess,” he quips.

I send him a look, and he does something silly with his hips before ending the show and pecking my lips. “Dinner is getting cold, we will have to finish this later.”

Groaning, I throw myself back onto the bed while he puts clothes on, realizing I had forgotten about dinner entirely.

“You are such a tease,” I say into the ceiling. His hand wraps around my ankle and pulls me to the edge of the bed before bringing me to my feet.

“Takes one to know one, baby,” he says. I smile and kiss him before we sit down. He pulls my chair out for me before sitting across. “I want to take you out on another date, you know,” he says and unwraps a couple of the plates. I stare at him in shock, simultaneously hating that he’s trying and loving that he is. It’s a sucky feeling, and it makes my heart hurt.

I chew a bite of my beef and sigh. “You need to focus on the competition,” I tell him, wishing I was saying yes instead.

“I know but…yeah, I know,” he says and goes quiet. I try to focus on today, not tomorrow or what happens when the end comes. I take what we have for today and enjoy it.

“I want to keep looking,” I tell him.

“In the mountains?” he asks. I dip my chin. “Okay, I’ll get logged back into the satellite. You can look while I search through flight manifests out of Medellín.”

“Sounds like a plan,” I mutter.

“This is a funny way of telling me you’re enjoying this date,” he says, grinning.

I can’t help the snort that comes out of my mouth and reach for his hand.

“What is a good date without a little recon and hacking?” I say .

He laughs and squeezes my hand. “I don’t have the slightest clue. Most of my dates consist of no actual date at all,” he says.

My smile drops for a second, realizing what he’s referencing, and he seems to catch onto that, but that’s not what got me. I don’t care about the other women before me. For now I just let myself believe I am the only woman now and forever. Sometimes we have to let ourselves have that little piece of happiness, even if it’s made up because the future doesn’t hold any.

“Aelia, I—”

“No, no, it’s not what you think. I just…I’m surprised you never really did dates.”

He shrugs and wipes his mouth before dropping his cloth napkin on the table. “Not like this,” he says, gesturing between us. Now, that makes me smile. The corners of his eyes squint and I love that he hasn’t done this with anyone else. The selfish part of me doesn’t want him to try with another woman in the future, either. Just me. Only me. I realize that’s insane, but it’s the truth, and that truth is heavier than any of the others I have to carry.

Liam gets me set up with the satellite, then pulls his tablet out and pulls up another screen. We work for hours, but Liam isn’t finding anything, and I’m finding camps or more trees, which makes me think they are very good at hiding or they aren’t actually out there.

I move square by square over the image of dense mountain forest, hoping to see a smoke stack or maybe a dirt road, but nothing. Eventually, my eyes close and then I feel arms around me. Arms I’ve never felt safer in, carrying me to bed.