Page 36 of Liam (The Valeur Billionaires #4)

“The sound quality is amazing.” My mind races with thoughts of waveforms and acoustics.

“The way they’ve positioned the speakers—it’s a perfect balance between constructive and destructive interference.

It’s genius how they’ve optimized the sound field to minimize phase cancellation, allowing the harmonics to—” I stop, realizing I’m rambling.

I glance up, half expecting him to be bored, but Liam’s watching me with a look that makes my stomach flip. There’s amusement in his eyes, but something deeper, too, something that sends a slow heat through my veins. He doesn’t interrupt, just listens .

“Sorry,” I say, my cheeks warming. “I’m doing it again, aren’t I?”

His lips quirk into a smile, and he steps closer, his breath warm against my skin. “Never apologize for being brilliant.” He reaches for me, pulling me into his arms. “Now, how about we put those acoustics to the test with a dance?”

I stiffen. “I don’t know…”

“Nonsense,” Liam whispers, his hands sliding down to my waist, sending sparks of heat wherever he touches. “It’s just physics, right? Momentum, rhythm. You know all about that.”

His hands guide mine to his neck, our breath mingling as the music pulses around us. I hesitate for a beat, then give in, letting him pull me closer. The moment his fingers lace through mine, I relax into his embrace, my body melting against his.

The music surrounds us, a slow, intoxicating rhythm. His hand moves to the small of my back, warm and sure, guiding me with a quiet confidence that makes it impossible to resist. As we sway together, I lose myself in the sensation of his body pressed against mine, his breath grazing my ear.

He spins me, and a breathy laugh escapes my lips, surprise and thrill lighting up my senses. When he pulls me back, his voice dips low against my ear, sending a shiver down my spine. “Told you, you’re a natural.”

His fingers trail lower down my spine, grazing over the sensitive skin of my waist. A shiver runs through me, the heat pooling low, and my heart beats so loud I wonder if he can hear it.

His body is rock solid against mine, and I feel him growing harder, his arousal pressing into me with every subtle movement.

The music fades into the background, and the only thing that matters is the way he holds me, the way we move together, our bodies perfectly in sync. By the time the last chord of the song plays, I’m breathless, aroused, and my body hums with need.

When the show ends, we stumble out of the venue, the cool night air hitting my flushed skin. My shirt, now adorned with the band’s signatures, feels like a prized possession. The music still thrums through my veins, mingling with the adrenaline of the private concert and the heat of Liam’s gaze.

I glance at him, my breath catching in my throat. His hair is slightly mussed, his eyes bright with excitement, and there’s a slight sheen of sweat on his neck that makes me want to... I shake my head, trying to clear it.

“That was...” I start, then pause, searching for words adequate enough to describe the experience. “Incredible doesn’t even begin to cover it,” I say, my voice husky and breathless. “It was like observing a supernova up close. Brilliant, intense, and utterly unforgettable.”

“The night’s still young, Dr. James,” he says, guiding me toward the car. “And I have a few more surprises up my sleeve.”

As we slide into the back seat, Liam nods to the driver. “Marcus, to our next destination, please.”

“So, where are we headed now?” I ask, curiosity getting the better of me.

Liam’s lips curl into that mischievous smile. “Patience, Dr. James. Haven’t you heard that anticipation enhances the experience?”

I snort. “I’m pretty sure that’s not a scientifically proven fact. ”

“Well then, I guess we’ll just have to conduct our own experiments, won’t we?”

The city lights blur past us as Marcus navigates the streets with professional efficiency. I steal glances at Liam, admiring his profile in the passing streetlights.

Before I can plan a witty response to his last comment, we’re pulling into a deserted parking lot. At least, it seems deserted at first glance. As Marcus opens the door for us and we step out, lights flicker to life, and I realize it’s anything but empty.

A dozen food trucks, their colorful exteriors gleaming, line the lot in a perfect semi-circle. The air fills with a tantalizing blend of aromas—spicy, sweet, savory—each more enticing than the last.

“Welcome to your own private food truck tour,” Liam announces with a flourish. “I’ve arranged for the best trucks in the city to stay open late, just for us.”

My stomach growls. “This is amazing. Are we going to try everything?”

Liam produces a small notebook and pen from his pocket. “I thought we could approach this scientifically. Rate each dish on various factors—taste, texture, presentation. By the end of the night, we’ll have empirical data on the best food truck in the city.”

I feel a rush of affection for this man who not only accepts my quirks but embraces them. “Mr. Valeur, I believe you’re speaking my language.”

We spend the next two hours indulging in everything from gourmet tacos to artisanal ice cream, our laughter echoing in the twilight. I jot down notes between bites, each observation sparking a lively debate between us .

“You’re missing the key point,” I argue, leaning closer, waving a fry for emphasis. “The sauce-to-meat ratio has to account for the porosity of the bun. If the bun’s too absorbent, it throws everything off.”

Liam’s eyes gleam with amusement, his gaze flicking from my lips back to my eyes. “Oh? And what’s the exact formula for determining bun absorption, Dr. James?”

“You’re mocking me,” I say, narrowing my eyes.

Liam leans in closer. “Never. I’m just in awe of your thoroughness when it comes to food.”

My pulse skips as his low-spoken words hang in the air between us. I glance at the fry in my hand and press it against his chest, smushing the salty mess right into his shirt.

His jaw drops. “Oh, you’re asking for it now.”

Before I can react, he grabs a handful of fries and launches them at me, sending me shrieking as I dodge behind a nearby table. “Liam, no!”

“Oh, it’s on, James,” he growls, chasing me around the parking lot, both of us laughing like kids. We hurl bits of food at each other, his shirt smeared with condiments, the air between us electric.

By the time we collapse against his car, breathless and sticky, we’re a total mess. My hair is tangled, my clothes stained with sauce, and Liam is wiping a smear of ice cream off his chin, grinning like a madman.

“I can’t believe you dumped an entire container of coleslaw on me,” I gasp, leaning against him, still laughing.

Liam leans in, his fingers brushing a strand of hair from my face. “All’s fair in love and food fights.” His thumb grazes my cheek, wiping away a smudge of sauce. The space between us is charged, the playful banter shifting into something deeper, something hotter.

His eyes darken, and for a moment, everything else falls away—the mess, the food, the world. It’s just him, his lips hovering so close to mine, the warmth of his body pressed against me.

I wipe another streak of ice cream from his cheek. “Can you make everyone disappear?” I ask, half teasing, half serious, my voice dropping to a whisper.

Liam smirks. “I’m good, but I’m not a magician, Dr. James.”

I sigh, but then there’s that familiar spark in his eyes, the one that always means trouble. He wraps my hand in his and pulls me toward one of the food trucks parked nearby.

“But I have an idea,” he adds.

Liam slips a wad of cash into the hand of the man working inside. “Take a break,” he says. The guy looks at us both, then shrugs, pocketing the money and stepping outside, leaving us alone in the dim, cramped truck.

The moment the door closes, it’s like a switch flips. Liam’s hands are on me, rough and insistent, pushing me back against the counter. I’m breathless as he crashes his lips into mine, every pent-up bit of tension exploding between us.

My fingers tangle in his hair, pulling him closer, and his hands roam down my sides, gripping my hips, pulling me flush against him.

I can barely think, barely breathe, as he presses me harder against the wall of the truck, his lips moving down my neck, his stubble scraping against my skin in the most delicious way.

I moan, my body aching for him, and he groans in response, his breath hot against my collarbone. His hands slide under my shirt, fingers splayed across my bare skin.

“God, Liam,” I gasp, my head spinning as he nips at my earlobe, his voice low in my ear. “Not a magician, huh?” I whisper against his lips.

He grins, breathless. “Not magic. Just chemistry.”

Liam’s hands move fast, pushing down my jeans, his fingers brushing against my skin, sending shivers of anticipation racing through me. I gasp as he opens his jeans, the sound of the zipper echoing in the small space.

And then he’s inside me—fast, unrestrained, all raw, pent-up need.

There’s no prelude, no hesitation, just a fierce, consuming rhythm.

I wrap my legs around his waist, pulling him in closer, feeling the press of his body against every inch of mine.

Each thrust is a rush of heat leaving me breathless, every nerve ignited as we move together, lost in the intensity.

The truck groans beneath us, rocking with the rhythm we’ve created. My nails dig into his shoulders, anchoring me as I arch into him, surrendering to the pulse of our bodies. His breath, ragged and desperate, mingles with mine, filling the small space with our urgency.

“Aleria,” he rasps, his voice rough, thick with need. His eyes lock onto mine, and in that gaze, it’s the same wild hunger that courses through me.

The trailer rattles with each thrust, the thin metal walls groaning under the force of our bodies colliding. The sound of our need fills the small, shadowed space—heavy breaths, stifled gasps, the raw slap of skin on skin.

“Look at you,” he grinds out, his voice dark and rough, fingers digging into my hips as he pulls me closer. “So damn ready for me. Couldn’t wait, could you? ”

A shiver tears through me, my legs locking tight around him, pulling him deeper until there’s nothing between us, just fire and want. “You’re one to talk,” I manage, my voice shaking as he drives into me harder, relentless, demanding everything.

His hand slides to the back of my neck, gripping me there, his words hot against my ear. “You want it rough, don’t you? I can feel it with every inch I give you.”

“Yes,” I gasp, barely able to breathe as he moves faster, deeper, the wall behind me vibrating with each brutal thrust. “Don’t… Don’t stop. I need you to take me, all of me.”

He growls low, the sound vibrating between us as he answers with another fierce thrust, each movement rougher, more primal, sending us both spiraling, lost in the raw, animal heat that drowns out everything else.

It’s wild and chaotic, like we’re chasing something neither of us can name, but both of us need.

I cling to him, my nails raking across his back as I try to hold on. It’s too intense, too overwhelming. My body trembles beneath him, every nerve on fire.

I’m losing myself in him, in this moment—my senses blurring into a hot, dizzying rush of pleasure and need. There’s no rhythm anymore, just his body moving inside me with reckless abandon, and the way he feels, the way he fills me, is everything and too much all at once.

“Liam—” I gasp, but I can’t finish the thought, can’t form any coherent words.

There’s only him, his body colliding with mine and the raw, burning sensation tearing through me.

My legs tighten around him, drawing him closer as if I could pull him deeper—as if I could tether us both to something real in the middle of this storm .

His hand finds my hair, tangling in it, pulling my head back so I’m forced to meet his gaze. His eyes are wild, dark with hunger, and for a second, time suspends—just him and me, caught in the violent crash of everything we’ve been holding back.

The pressure builds fast, coiling tight inside me, threatening to snap, and I’m teetering on the brink like I might shatter into a million pieces, and I want to. I want to fall apart in his arms, to let the chaos take over, to let this wild, uncontrollable force sweep me away.

The tension snaps, a tidal wave of pleasure crashing through me, raw and relentless, taking every ounce of restraint I had left.

My nails dig into his shoulders, desperate, needy, as I ride the wave, lost to the chaos, to the wild, uncontrollable force that sweeps me away, leaving me breathless, undone, and clinging to him like he’s the only thing holding me together.

He follows me over the edge, body tensing, a growl tearing from his throat as he’s pulled under, caught in the same storm until we’re both left gasping, spent, wrapped up in each other with the world blurred around us.