Page 37 of Liam (The Valeur Billionaires #4)

Chapter Twenty-Three

ALERIA

L iam’s hand presses against the small of my back, guiding me toward the car. Marcus stands by the open car door, his face as neutral as a stone carving. My smirk falters. Marcus knows. He definitely knows.

I think the entire world just heard us.

I duck into the backseat, cheeks blazing.

The echoes of our little “adventure” in the food truck—our gasps and the rhythm of the creaking—play on a loop in my head.

I glance at Marcus’s reflection through the rearview mirror.

Bad idea. His eyebrow lifts just a fraction, and it’s all I need to confirm it. I bury my face in my hands.

Liam slides in beside me, cool as ever, like we didn’t just dismantle a food truck with our antics. He leans back, his hand finding mine. “Relax,” he whispers, amusement coloring his voice. “Marcus isn’t going to say anything. He’s a vault.”

“He’s a vault who heard everything,” I mutter, my eyes still hidden behind my hands.

Liam chuckles, low and smug. “Hey, if anything, we put on a masterclass. Should’ve charged him a ticket.”

I peek at Liam through my fingers. “Please tell me you’re kidding.”

He winks. “Nope. Best show in town.”

I groan, but a laugh bubbles up despite my effort to hold it back. “You’re terrible.”

“And yet, here you are.” He grins, leaning in close. “That’s gotta count for something.”

I glance at the dashboard clock, trying to regain my composure. “Okay, it’s past midnight. Don’t you think we’ve had enough for one night?” I shift, aware of how dirty my clothes are. “And I could really use a shower and a change of clothes.”

His eyebrows shoot up in mock horror. “ Enough ? Aleria, this is just the beginning. You haven’t seen the grand finale yet.”

I raise an eyebrow. “Grand finale? What are we going to do next? Break into a Taco Bell?”

He reaches under the seat with a sly grin, producing a duffle bag like some kind of magician. “No need for that. And I’ve got you covered.” He shakes the bag with a flourish. “Fresh clothes, courtesy of your ever-prepared boyfriend.”

I narrow my eyes at him. “You planned for this?”

“I plan for everything.”

I settle back in my seat as the city lights blur outside the window, a swirl of neon and shadow. I must have dozed off after that because before I know it, the car slows, and Liam nudges me awake .

“Wake up. You’re gonna want to see this.”

I rub my eyes and sit up, blinking at the sight in front of me. A massive, glowing amusement park stretches out before us, the rides illuminated by twinkling lights standing tall against the night sky.

“Liam…” I trail off, my jaw hitting the floor. “You rented an entire amusement park?”

He shrugs, a cocky smile tugging at his lips. “Well, I couldn’t have you screaming your head off with the public watching, could I?”

I shoot him a look. “ I don’t scream.”

“Oh, you will,” he teases, leaning in, his voice dropping to a whisper. “Logan said the Ferris wheel ride might, uh... inspire certain reactions.”

I raise an eyebrow, intrigued but not ready to let him win. “Logan recommended the Ferris wheel, huh? Did he also recommend the ridiculous smirk you’re wearing?”

Liam laughs. “Oh, no. The smirk’s all me. But the Ferris wheel? That was a very specific suggestion from Logan. Something about the top being the perfect spot for an unforgettable moment.”

I roll my eyes, pretending to be unimpressed, but the excitement bubbling up inside me betrays me.

“Let’s start with something easy.” Liam pulls me toward the game booths. The park glows around us, neon lights casting everything in shades of candy-colored pink and blue.

I laugh as he stops in front of the classic strength game—the one with the hammer and the bell at the top.

“You can’t be serious,” I say, eyeing the oversized hammer leaning against the game .

“Dead serious,” he says, winking at me. “How else am I supposed to impress you?”

I arch an eyebrow. “You’re going to impress me by showing off your biceps?”

“Not just my biceps,” he says, flexing one arm in an exaggerated pose. “My technique .”

“Your technique?” I laugh, crossing my arms. “Please, enlighten me.”

“It’s all about the way you handle the hammer, babe,” Liam says, leaning in, his voice dropping to that low, suggestive tone he knows drives me wild. “Firm grip, good stance. And you’ve got to put your hips into it.”

I swallow hard, the double meaning of his words hanging thick in the air between us. “Oh, really?” I manage, my voice not as steady as I’d like it to be.

“Mmhmm.” He rolls his shoulders, loosening up, then turns toward the game with a look of sheer determination.

“You have to be strong.” His hands slide down the length of the hammer, his fingers tightening.

“Precise.” His muscles ripple as he lifts it in one smooth motion, adjusting his stance like he’s about to give another masterclass.

I watch, my eyes drawn to the way his arms flex, veins standing out as he swings the hammer high, then slams it down with a grunt. The sound reverberates through the night air, the bell at the top ringing loud and clear.

I clap. “Alright, I’ll admit it—you’ve got skills.”

Liam spins the hammer, setting it down with a cocky swagger. “Told you. Hips, Aleria. It’s all in the hips.”

I raise an eyebrow as we step away and snort a laugh. “Well, your hips seemed pretty effective back there. ”

He steps closer. “Are we still talking about the game?”

“I’m not sure you were ever talking about the game,” I quip, crossing my arms. “Anything else you want to show me?”

“I’m a man of many talents,” Liam murmurs, his lips brushing my ear. “Care for a private demonstration?”

“Depends. Is this going to be another lecture on the biomechanics of your hips?”

Liam chuckles. “Only if you’re ready for an advanced course. Maybe I’ll throw in some oral skills?” he says, his voice dropping to a velvety purr.

Heat coils in my belly, but I keep my composure, rolling my eyes. “I think I’ve already experienced your oral techniques.”

“Ah, but practice makes perfect,” he tuts, eyes twinkling. “Though I suppose I’ll have to keep my other skills under wraps. For now.”

I press against him, tilting my chin up so our lips are a breath apart. “Maybe you should put your money where your mouth is, Valeur.”

“Oh, I intend to,” he says, his hands sliding to my waist. “You ain’t seen nothing yet, sweetheart.”

I laugh and shake my head.

“Think you can handle another challenge?” I ask, setting my eyes on a nearby booth.

Liam grins, pulling me against him. “I eat challenges for breakfast. And occasionally as a midnight snack.”

I nod toward the nearby shooting gallery, where plastic ducks bob tauntingly. “Let’s see if your aim is as impressive as your other attributes.”

Liam leans closer, his breath hot against my skin. “My aim’s flawless. Just ask yourself. Didn’t I hit the target earlier? Twice, if I remember right.” His eyes gleam with that playful wickedness that makes my knees weak.

“Oh, that’s so vulgar,” I groan, laughing as I pull him toward the booth. “Okay. If you win this, I might let you show me what else those hips of yours can do.”

His grin turns sharp, his gaze darkening with intent. “You better prepare for the encore, then.”

We spend the next few hours racing from ride to ride. I insist on explaining the forces at work on each one. Liam listens with rapt attention as I ramble about g-forces and centripetal acceleration.

As we stumble off the Tilt-A-Whirl, both dizzy and laughing, Liam pulls me close. “You know,” he murmurs, “your enthusiasm is incredibly sexy.”

“Even when I’m going on about angular velocity?”

“Uh-huh,” he says. “So, are you ready for the part where I hear you scream?”

I smirk. “ I don’t scream.”

He leans in, his lips brushing against my ear. “Oh, you will. I promise .”

The sharp buzz of Liam’s phone cuts through our playful banter.

His hand darts to his pocket, fishing out the device.

As his eyes scan the screen, I watch the transformation happen in real-time.

The mischievous glint in his eyes dims, his jaw tightens, and the smile slips from his face, replaced by a taut line.

“What is it?” I ask, my smile fading as I catch the subtle shift in his demeanor.

“It’s nothing,” Liam replies, his voice clipped. His thumb hovers over the screen, hesitating before he shoves the phone back into his pocket. The muscles in his shoulders bunch under his shirt.

“Liam,” I press, taking a small step closer. My fingers twitch, wanting to reach out but unsure if I should. “What’s going on?”

He shakes his head, a forced smile stretching across his face. It doesn’t reach his eyes, which dart around the empty amusement park as if searching for unseen observers. “It’s nothing. Just...work stuff.”

“Work stuff?” I echo, folding my arms across my chest. The chill of the night air seems more pronounced. “If it’s work stuff, why do you look like you’ve just calculated the exact moment of the universe’s heat death?”

Liam’s gaze snaps back to me, surprise flickering across his features before he schools his expression. “Aleria, please. Just drop it.”

I step closer, close enough to see the muscle in his jaw tighten, the pulse beating rapidly in his neck. My heart races in sync with the tension between us. “No,” I say, my voice steady even as emotion knots in my chest. “I’m not going to just drop it.”

He stands rigid, the space between us charged, his eyes darting away as if searching for an escape. But I press on, my hand brushing lightly against his arm, grounding him in the moment. I won’t let it be college all over again.

“If this is going to happen, if we’re going to happen, you can’t keep deflecting. You can’t keep hiding behind ‘it’s nothing’ when it’s written all over your face that it’s everything.”

His sigh escapes like a weight too heavy to bear, his shoulders sagging under the invisible load.

He drags a hand through his hair, the movement sharp, frustrated.

For a moment, his usual confident exterior crumbles, and I catch a glimpse of the weariness underneath, the cracks he’s tried so hard to hide.

The vulnerability hits me hard, tugging at something deep inside.

“Fine,” he says. “You're right. But not here. Let's head back to your place. I'll explain everything there.”