Page 102 of Outback Secrets

Henri grinned. ‘That’s the best news I’ve heard all night. Maybe we should send Stella a thank you note.’

‘Good idea,’ Liam agreed as he took one predatory step towards her. ‘But, right now, I have other priorities.’

‘Oh?’ Henri’s stomach flip-flopped at the heat in his gaze. ‘Like what?’

‘Like this,’ he said as he bent and plucked her out of the chair.

Her arms closed around his neck. ‘And this,’ she whispered, before pressing her mouth against his.

Their lips locked, Liam started towards the door but instead of walking through it, he slammed it shut with his foot. The sound reverberated through her body, making everything between her legs tingle in anticipation.

Seconds later, they were back at his desk.

It wasn’t quite like the movies where some dashing hero sweeps everything off in one fell swoop. Not that Liam wasn’t dashing, but he sat her carefully down on the edge of the desk and pushed his computer aside equally as carefully before he stepped back between her legs. Henri had no complaints. She appreciated his respect for his property. It showed a maturity that had been missing in most of the men she’d slept with.

To show said appreciation, she reached for the hem of his shirt and ripped it right over his head. He returned the favour, taking her tee and then her bra in much the same manner.

She said something indecipherable even to her own ears as she touched his hot, bare skin, her fingers skating down the ripples of his muscles. Liam pushed her back against the desk and smiled down at her, before dipping his head and sucking one nipple into his mouth, just the way she liked it. Henri briefly wondered if maybe his desk was so damn neat because he was in the habit of doing this with other women, but then another—more pressing—thought struck.

‘Have you got condoms down here?’

‘Shit.’ He lifted his head. ‘They’re upstairs.’

As infuriating as this news was—she wanted him right here, right now—it was also strangely comforting. If Liam made a habit of taking women on his desk, surely he’d be better prepared.

‘Then, let’s make getting up there a priority,’ she told him.

He plucked her T-shirt off the floor and yanked it over her head. She’d barely finished threading her arms through the holes before he’d scooped her up again.

They started towards the door and Henri reached out to turn the knob. ‘Did I hear that guy say he was Stella’s brother?’

‘Ah huh.’ Liam started for the stairs, Sheila padding behind them. Poor dog—neither of them had even spared at thought for her when they’d been getting hot and heavy in the office.

‘I wonder what the story is there? I didn’t even know she had a brother.’

‘They’re estranged,’ he explained, a tiny bead of sweat appearing on his forehead as he began the climb up to his apartment. ‘At least, she’s estranged with her parents—they disowned her when she decided to go ahead and have Heidi—and as he was quite young when that happened, they made it impossible for Stella to keep in touch with him as well.’

‘Wow. I can’t believe Mum never told me any of this.’

They reached the landing and Liam marched towards his door at the other end of the corridor.

‘I don’t think it’s common knowledge,’ he said.

‘How do you know?’

‘I’m a publican. People talk. They tell me things. I listen. It’s my job. Wanna get the key out of my pocket?’

‘Is that just an excuse to get me into your pants?’ she teased, her hand already sliding in.

‘Would it be a problem if it was?’

She pushed the key into the lock. ‘Truth is, you don’t actually need an excuse.’

‘Glad to hear it,’ he said, as he shoved open the door and carried her inside.

Sheila stalked past them towards the bed she only slept on when she was sulking or in trouble.

‘I think she’s pissed off with us.’