Page 30

The Bell Tolls

L

iam actually set an alarm for midnight on his phone. He did so at around 10:30, wanting to ensure he’d be the first person to wish Victoria a happy birthday. It was probably purposeless. He was confident that he and Avril had come to an arrangement. They were allies now, ready to work together toward completing a shared goal. Even if she wasn’t fully aware of his and Victoria’s deal, she was clever enough to have an idea or two. He wasn’t worried about her.

Instead, he was actually more worried about Anna. A polite “Happy Birthday, Victoria” from the attentive, considerate woman, and Liam would go to pieces. Literally. He was quite certain that he would literally break apart, collapsing into a pile of porcelain that had once been a human being.

And so, an hour later, knowing he was playing for keeps, he rigged the game.

“Want to go for a walk, Victoria?” he asked.

Her eyes, so cool yet so piercing, flicked up to him. She and Avril had ended up sitting in the hammock together, probably finally having that talk she’d wanted. Hopefully, things had gone well. Given that Avril’s lips curled knowingly as he stood there, he suspected they had.

“Just the two of us?”

Liam nodded.

“Will we be coming back?”

Liam glanced toward the other women on the deck, then met Victoria’s eyes. “Probably not.”

“All right.” Victoria shifted and climbed out of the hammock. “Good night, everyone. We’ll see you tomorrow.”

Three sets of eyes watched with open curiosity as they departed. There was no need to guess what topic would come up as soon as Liam and Victoria were beyond earshot.

Liam didn’t focus on that. Instead, he focused entirely on the tall, voluptuous, stunning woman he’d stolen away. He found her doing the same to him, her expression tinged with an emotion that was challenging to read—but what else was new?

“Are we just going to wander,” she asked, “or do you have a destination in mind?”

“I’ve got a destination in mind. We’ll make it there soon.”

“Very well.”

His ultimate “destination” was already in sight, though he intended to walk by it.

Alone on the sand, they wandered by their bure, heading northward. He looked out to the sea, watching the waves lap in. It was a day of penultimates. His penultimate opportunity to walk along the beach, his penultimate chance to gaze at the glittering stars, his penultimate night sleeping beside Victoria. Here, at least. His hopes for the future stretched far longer than this beach.

So, he knew, did Victoria’s.

“Do you remember how long I said it’d been?” she asked quietly.

“Six years, right?” Liam said, knowing what she was asking. “During our game of poker on New Year’s Eve.”

“A long, long time.” She exhaled a long breath. “Now, I’m just minutes away from allowing you to break that streak.”

Despite himself, Liam couldn’t help but smile. “I’m excited to do so.”

“Oh, I know,” the voluptuous woman said, one corner of her mouth turning up. “I’m excited to let you end my drought. Still, I can’t help but… admire the chain of events that have led me—led us—to this point. They’re certainly unique.”

Liam nodded in agreement. “They’re pretty fantastical. Six months ago, no way I’d believe that I’d even just be here, walking next to you on a beach as beautiful as this one.”

“It’s certainly romantic,” Victoria said, casting her beautiful gaze toward the ocean and the stars. “Fiji has lived up to my hopes. Surpassed them, even.” She turned back to him. “And I haven’t even been fucked yet.”

“Minutes away,” Liam reminded her.

“And shortening,” Victoria whispered, eyes glowing with expectation.

But Liam didn’t need to wait for midnight to begin a few things. That was what he’d realized when the idea of this walk had come to him.

So, he moved in closer to her, and she let him. His arm went around her waist, and she turned into his embrace. Their lips met, and they stopped walking. Victoria swung her arms around his neck, pressing her breasts against his chest.

“I’m going to fuck you into a haze,” he said, absorbing the warmth found in her skin.

Victoria added more pressure to her hug. Her breasts compressed tightly against him. “I’ve been waiting all week.”

“That’s your fault,” he reminded her.

“The wait will have been worth it, I’m sure. For us both.”

“No more waiting,” Liam said. “Once we’re back in the States, I’m coming over to fuck you every weakened. When summer finally arrives, it’ll be far more often than that.”

Victoria breathed in, eyes glittering like aquamarines. “Is that a promise?”

“Consider it solemnly vowed. If I break my word, I’m not allowed to fuck you at Bellmore.”

“If that’s the case, you’d better not break your word.” Victoria kissed him, grip tight around his neck. “You filled my head with such promises about you, me, and my desk, and I’ll be as unforgiving as you assumed I was when we met if you don’t make good on them.”

Liam quaked with anticipation for an event still months away. He quaked because of one that was just minutes away, too. He just couldn’t wait. He needed—

His phone went off. Victoria glanced toward his pocket.

“And that is?”

“Happy Birthday, Victoria,” Liam whispered. “Now, come to bed with me.”

She did.