Page 73 of Liam

“My, my,” Aleria purrs, her voice a seductive whisper. “Sure you can handle it?”

“Oh, I intend to do more than just handle it,” I promise, my tone dark with desire. “I plan to savor every inch of you.”

Her sharp intake of breath is music to my ears. “Liam. You can’t say things like that when I can’t do anything about it.”

I chuckle, low and promising. “Just giving you something to look forward to, Dr. James.”

“Tease,” she accuses, then clears her throat. “There’s something else I need to tell you. Mia found out about us.”

That jerks me from my teasing. “What? How?”

“She saw my texts,” Aleria admits. “But don’t worry, I made her swear she wouldn’t tell anyone.”

“Well, I suppose that’s one less person we have to surprise at the party. As long as she keeps it under wraps until then.”

“Oh, she will,” Aleria assures me, her voice warm. “She’s actually thrilled about it. Says we’re ‘adorkably hot’ together.”

“Adorkably hot, huh?” I grin. “I can live with that. Especially the hot part.”

Aleria laughs. “I’m curious. If I showed up with someone else—just to tease you—what would you do?”

The possessiveness flares up again, strong and immediate. “I’d drag you into a dark corner, pin you against the wall, and remind you why you’re mine.”

Her breath hitches, and when she speaks again, her voice is a seductive whisper. “That’s quite a plan, Mr. Valeur. And if I decide to be a very, very bad girl?”

“I wouldn’t just pin you against the wall, Aleria,” I growl into the phone. “I’d bend you over, right there in that dark corner, your body on full display for me. I’d start slow, sliding my hands up your thighs, teasing you with every inch until I could feel how wet you are for me.”

A soft sound escapes her, but she’s silent, letting me continue.

“I’d slip my fingers inside you,” I say, my voice roughening as the image of her writhing under my touch takes hold. “But not all at once. No, I’d take my time, driving you insane as I stretched you, opening you up for me, watching how desperate you’d become.”

Aleria’s breathing is shaky now, her restraint beginning to slip. “And then?”

“And then,” I continue, my voice low and thick, “I’d drop to my knees behind you. Spread you open with my hands and tease you with my tongue, licking you until you can’t stand it. I’d suck on that perfect spot, right where you love it, taking my time until you’re trembling, your legs about to give out.”

Her sharp intake of breath only pushes me further. “You’d beg for more,” I murmur. “And I wouldn’t stop. Not until you were soaking wet, your body shaking from how many times I’ve made you come.”

“And after?” she whispers, her voice breathless with anticipation.

“After, I’d pull you up, turn you around, and slide myselfinside you, watching your face the entire time. I’d take you hard and slow, feeling you tighten around me, knowing you’re mine. And I wouldn’t stop until you scream my name for everyone to hear.”

Her laughter is breathless. “Mmm, promises, promises... But you’re going to have to back them up, Liam.”

“Don’t worry,” I growl, voice low. “I’ll make sure you feel every single one of them.”

She hums, her voice dripping with heat. “I look forward to it.”

“Prepare yourself, Dr. James.”

“Oh, I will,” she purrs. “Sweet dreams, Mr. Valeur.”

As I hang up, a grin stretches across my face. I sit back in my chair, exhausted but satisfied with how things are unfolding. The party, going public with Aleria, the end of our professional complications—all within reach.

Ready to call it a night, I close my laptop, and my phone buzzes with a new message. I open it with a grin which dies on my face as I read the text from an unknown number.

Unknown

Hope she’s worth the risk, Valeur. Be a shame if anything happened to her because of your family’s sins.