Page 49 of Liam (The Valeur Billionaires #4)
She presses against me, her hand trailing over my chest, leaving a trail of heat in its wake. “Maybe that’s exactly what I’m aiming for.”
My gaze drops to her mouth, the urge to close the distance almost too much. “Keep tempting me like this,” I murmur, my voice a rough whisper, “and I might just forget we have an audience. ”
She grins, mischievous and bold. “Who says I mind being watched?”
I smirk, brushing my thumb over her hand before letting go. “And you’re more dangerous than I thought.”
She raises an eyebrow. “Dangerous?”
“For my sanity,” I murmur, leaning in just enough for her to catch the heat in my words.
Her lips curl into a smile, but before she can fire back, Cora’s voice cuts through the air.
“Are you two going to stay glued together all night, or can I grab my brother for a moment?”
Aleria laughs, stepping back with a roll of her eyes. “Saved by the wedding planner,” she quips, and with one last glance, she slips away.
I stand there for a moment, watching her go, before turning toward the edge of the garden where Cora directs me. The night air is cooler here, the buzz of the party fading into the background.
Logan and Lucas are tucked away near the bar, their silhouettes bathed in the soft glow of string lights overhead. Ava and Sloane stand not far away, talking with Dad and a few guests, and Ryder appears at Cora’s side, handing her a drink.
Logan has already loosened his tie and draped his jacket over the back of his chair, looking every bit like an exhausted, newly-minted husband. Lucas leans back in his seat, cradling a glass of whiskey, his expression unreadable—calm, but with that ever-present edge beneath.
I grab a drink from a passing server and make my way over, sinking into the chair beside Logan. “Looks like you’re surviving married life so far,” I say, raising my glass to him .
Logan chuckles, raking a hand through his hair. “Sloane’s already plotting our honeymoon. There’s hiking involved. Lots of it.”
Cora, who appears beside Lucas as if by magic, lets out an inelegant snort. “Oh, joy. Nothing says ‘romance’ like blisters and cliffs.” She takes a generous sip of her wine. “I’m officially done with nature’s obstacle courses.”
Lucas grins, nudging her. “Aw, come on, Sis. I like the idea. Where’s your sense of adventure?”
“It fell off a cliff,” Cora deadpans, “along with my dignity. I’m done.”
I chuckle, remembering the infamous hiking incident she told us about. “To be fair, you got a knight in shining armor out of it. Or should I say, a Ryder in muddy boots?”
Cora’s cheeks flush, but there’s a smile tugging at her lips.
As if on cue, we all turn to Logan, our voices blending in perfect, family-honed synchronization: “Stay away from hiking!”
Logan holds up his hands in surrender, laughing. “Alright, alright. I’ll suggest a nice, safe beach resort. Although,” he adds, “I hear the tide can be pretty treacherous...”
Cora groans, draining her glass. “That’s it. I’m confiscating your Indiana Jones collection.”
A comfortable quiet falls over us as we sit there, the distant murmur of the party blending with the night sounds. The four of us, together, just being siblings again. No boardrooms, no threats looming over our heads, just peace.
“Some night, huh?” Cora says, leaning against the railing with Ryder at her side.
We all nod, a comfortable silence falling over us.
Logan looks at each of us in turn, his expression more serious than before. “I wanted to say thank you. For everything.”
The unspoken hangs heavy in the air. Dad’s secret. The near-disaster with Elias.
I clear my throat, glancing at Logan. “We did what we had to. Keeping it quiet, protecting the family. It was the only way.”
Lucas nods, his grip tightening around his glass. “I’d do the same for Ava. We protect our own.”
A quiet ripple of agreement passes through us. Our eyes drift collectively to where our father now stands, chatting with a group of business partners. He looks relaxed, charming. The picture of a proud father at his son’s wedding. Only we know the weight he carries, the secret we all now share.
“Valeur for Valeur,” I say, the words a quiet vow echoed by Cora and Logan.
Cora’s eyes flash. “Valeur for Valeur. Always have, always will.”
We share a look, acknowledging the weight of our shared burden. We all break into grins. The tension dissipates, replaced by the warmth of family unity.
“Alright, enough of this emotional crap,” Lucas says, downing the rest of his whiskey with a grin. “Let’s get back before people think we’re plotting world domination or something.”
Cora rolls her eyes. “Oh please, world domination is so passé. We’re planning to colonize Mars. I hear the real estate market there is about to explode.”
Logan chuckles, shaking his head. “Right, because what this family needs is more property to manage. I can imagine the headlines. ‘Valeur Corp Expands to Red Planet, CEO Complains About Martian Building Codes.’”
Laughing, we rejoin the celebration. The music’s louder now, guests scattered across the dance floor, lost in the night's rhythm.
I scan the crowd until my eyes land on Aleria, standing off to the side, chatting with Ava. When she catches sight of me, her face lights up in that way that never fails to make my heart race.
The bouquet toss is a hilarious affair. Sloane’s throw goes wide, and there’s a mad scramble. Somehow, Aleria ends up with the flowers, looking as surprised as anyone.
“Well, well,” Cora teases, nudging me. “Looks like you’re next, Brother.”
I can’t help the smile that spreads across my face as I look at Aleria. She’s blushing, but there’s a sparkle in her eye that makes my heart race.
As the night winds down, Aleria and I find a quiet moment under the stars. We sway to the music, drifting from the tent, her head resting on my shoulder.
“So, Ms. Caught-the-Bouquet,” I tease, my lips close to her ear. “Any thoughts on the next Valeur wedding?”
Aleria pulls back, raising an eyebrow. There’s a mischievous glint in her eye that I’ve come to adore. “Why, Mr. Valeur, are you proposing?”
I laugh, pulling her closer, my thumb tracing lazy circles on her lower back. “Not yet, but...” I pause, my expression softening as I gaze into her eyes. “I can definitely see it in our future.”
Aleria’s breath catches, and her heart races against my chest. She rests her head on my shoulder again, her voice soft as she murmurs, “I can see it too.”
We sway beneath a canopy of twinkling lights, their soft glow mimicking the stars above. Aleria’s cheek rests against my chest, her warmth seeping through my suit. The cacophony of the wedding reception fades to a distant hum as if the world has narrowed to just this moment, just us.
Aleria’s fingers trace patterns on my back, each touch sending a shiver down my spine. I tighten my arms around her, reveling in the way she fits against me. I drop a kiss into her hair.
“Whatever comes next,” I whisper, “we’ll handle it together.” The words are as much a vow to her as they are a reminder to myself.
She tilts her head up, her eyes meeting mine. In their depths is a reflection of my own emotions—love, hope, and a spark of that mischievous humor I’ve come to adore. “With a side of Valeur drama, no doubt,” she quips, her lips quirking into a smile.
I smirk, shaking my head. “Wouldn’t be us without it, would it?”
Her laugh bubbles up, rich and genuine. It’s a sound that never fails to ease the tension in my shoulders, to remind me of what truly matters. As it fades, she nestles closer, her breath warm against my neck.
“You know,” she says, “I used to think the future was something to be calculated, predicted. But with you...” She pauses, “With you, it feels like an adventure. Unpredictable, maybe a little messy, but ours.”
For so long, I’ve approached life as a series of challenges to be overcome, battles to be won. But here, with Aleria in my arms, the future doesn’t loom as a threat. Instead, it beckons, full of possibility and promise.
I pull her close, pressing my forehead against hers, feeling the steady rhythm of her breath syncing with mine. “I think yo u’re the only adventure I ever needed,” I whisper, my voice thick with emotion. “And I’m all in.”
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