Page 48 of Rejected Heart (The Westwoods #5)

LIAM

Energized.

Revived.

I couldn’t remember ever feeling so motivated in my life.

All week long, I’d been like a machine when it came to everything I did.

Despite the substantially higher number of issues in the amusement park than usual, work was a breeze.

And when my day was over, I didn’t mosey back to the hotel to shower and feel miserable while carelessly flipping through the channels on the television.

I felt such a renewed sense of determination and inspiration. Like there wasn’t anything I couldn’t do.

In just one week, I felt like a new man.

And tonight, I couldn’t wait to spend some time with Layla. It was Friday evening, and I’d just left work. I’d come back to my hotel suite to get showered and dressed before I was going to head out to pick her up.

We’d talked to one another throughout the week, and I’d stopped over to see her on Tuesday.

But beyond that, we hadn’t gotten together.

Things were especially busy at the park, and Layla had a lot on her plate with running her mom’s store and getting her to and from her physical therapy appointments.

Though I would have preferred to spend time with her every day, I wasn’t upset about what we did have.

Layla and I spoke to each other every night before bed, and it was easily the best part of my day.

It seemed like a lifetime ago when I’d crawl into bed, wondering if I could even remember the sound of her voice.

I’d just gotten out of the shower and wrapped the towel around my waist when a knock came at the door. Since I had plans with Layla, I hadn’t ordered any room service tonight.

And that meant it could only be one of my siblings at the door. I loved them all dearly, but I was in no mood to be distracted tonight. I was ready to get my girl and finally spend some time with her.

Wearing nothing but a towel, I walked to the door, looked out the peephole, and found I was wrong. It wasn’t Wyatt, Cooper, Tate, Ivy, or Jules. It wasn’t Rhea, Skye, Ava, or Marco, either. Neither my parents nor my grandparents were stopping by for a visit.

A smile formed on my face as I quickly unlocked the door and yanked it open. Staring back at me were those gorgeous amber eyes and a bright smile. The dress she was wearing had all the blood in my body rushing to one spot .

Layla’s gaze drifted down my torso and back again. “Am I interrupting?”

I laughed, reaching for her wrist and tugging her into the room so I could kiss her. “What are you doing here? I just got out of the shower. I was going to get dressed and come to pick you up for dinner.”

“I wanted to surprise you and celebrate.”

My brows shot up. “Celebrate? What are we celebrating?”

“Well, you’re a Westwood, so I know your family will find just about any excuse to celebrate.

I figured I could try that out on my own with you.

There are a few things to celebrate, but the most important is this.

” She lifted her opposite hand between us, and that’s when I noticed she was holding a duffle bag.

My eyes darted between the bag and her face. “And what’s that?”

Layla sent a mischievous smile my way, lowered the bag, and leaned toward me. “It’s my overnight bag.”

“What?”

She licked her lips, took one step toward me, and pressed her palm against my bare chest. “My mom and Carmen have conspired with one another. They’re having what they’re calling a girls’ night, where Carmen intends to spend the night at my mom’s house with her.

But it was all so they could shove me out the door and tell me not to come back until tomorrow.

I let them think it was unreasonable, but secretly, I’m so excited. You get me to yourself all night.”

For years, I’d been wishing to have this, to be able to fall asleep with Layla in my arms. It was like all my dreams were coming true.

My lips twitched. “Oh, that sounds like something worth celebrating. What did you have in mind to commemorate the occasion?”

With a gleam in her eyes, she dropped her bag right where she stood and urged me back several steps. “Well, I thought I’d have to do more work, but it seems like I’ve got perfect timing.”

Layla pressed her lips against my chest as her fingers curled around the edge of the towel and yanked it off. As it fell to the floor, she kissed her way down my body until she was on her knees in front of me.

She curled her fingers around my length, brought her mouth so close I could feel her warm breath against the tip, and looked up at me. “Does it feel like a party yet?”

I didn’t have the chance to respond before she parted her lips and took me inside that beautiful mouth.

There was nothing I wanted more than to watch as Layla worked her magic, but the warmth and wetness of her mouth around me didn’t make it easy.

So, I gave myself some grace and enjoyed it both ways.

At that moment, my head dropped back, my eyes closing, as I let out a groan and drove my fingers into the softness of her hair. Layla hummed as her mouth moved over me, sucking in every inch she could. My grip on her hair tightened and a guttural moan escaped as I hit the back of her throat.

Tipping my chin forward, I opened my eyes and watched .

Those lips.

That tongue.

There was nothing better.

Like she could feel my gaze on her, Layla directed that sultry stare up my body to meet mine. She took me in as deeply as she could and hummed again, the vibration forcing another groan from my chest.

Layla pulled back to focus her effort on the tip as her hand stroked along the base.

Watching the focus and determination she had, seeing the enthusiasm, it was difficult not to get too riled up.

I had to fight every urge to feed that hint of greediness I saw in her and keep my hips still.

Layla was so eager, though, she didn’t make things easy.

Just when I thought I’d lose the battle, hold her head in place, and thrust my hips forward, Layla took me in deep again. It was like she knew precisely what I needed, exactly when I needed it.

My hold on her soft locks didn’t relent as she continued to work her mouth over me.

The warmth. The suction. The moans. And the visuals.

If I didn’t stop her, I wasn’t going to last to be able to see her through.

Layla had been given substantial time to kick off the celebration and get things going, but she was disappointed when I pulled my hips back.

“Hey, I wasn’t finished.”

I reached down for her, urging her to her feet. “You are for now.”

My mouth captured hers, and I kissed her while leading us toward the bed. When we made it there, and I’d gotten her on her back, I began kissing my way down her body. She tried to fight the budding desire and panted, “But I was… supposed to be… celebrating with you.”

I smiled against the exposed skin on her chest. “I’m a Westwood, Layla. I think I know a thing or two about celebrating.”

Drifting lower, my teeth grazed the material of her dress over her nipple.

“Yes,” she breathed, her hips bucking. “But I wanted to make you feel good.”

My hands journeyed down her sides, toward her hips, and ultimately, her thighs. They slid beneath the hem of her dress and back up her legs. In between pressing kisses against her body, I assured her, “You did make me feel good. Trust me, you did. I want to return the favor.”

“But there’s more,” she shared.

I stopped moving and lifted my head. “More?”

“More good news to celebrate.”

My brows shot up. “What is it?”

Her chest was rising and falling rapidly, that desperate need still coursing through her. “I called Frankie. I told her I’m moving back here.”

“And?”

Layla smiled. “And she couldn’t be happier for me. She’ll miss me, and she demanded I make regular visits back to Manhattan, but she’s so happy for me. She can’t wait to finally meet you.”

“Finally?”

She offered a shrug in response. “I told her about you a long time ago.”

My eyes locked on Layla’s, and I held her stare, unmoving, for several beats. Layla had left all those years ago, but it was obvious her heart had been here the whole time. Obviously, I hadn’t known it at the time, but it was clear to me now.

And she was doing it. She was doing everything to prove to me that she was all in this time, that she wanted to build her life here with me.

A slow smile spread across my face. “There’s little I love more than having your mouth on me like you just did, but I don’t think there’s anything that tops this. You just made my night, Layla, so I think it’s my turn to make you feel good.”

Her eyes danced with happiness, and I gave myself a moment to appreciate the sight of them. But I didn’t allow myself to linger too long. I had work to do.

So, I hiked up Layla’s dress and got down to it.

And following an extended celebration in the hotel suite, I took Layla out for dinner and some dancing.

We had a great time together. It was the happiest I could remember feeling in such a long time.

But absolutely nothing compared to being able to take her back to my suite later that night, where I made love to her again before being able to fall asleep with her wrapped up in my arms.

FOUR MONTHS LATER

“Go out ahead of me and wait. I’ve got to grab something first.”

I kissed Layla’s mouth, allowing my lips to linger a bit before I released her. After smiling seductively at me, she turned and walked out of the ballroom.

For a few moments, I was rooted to the spot as I watched her move through the crowd toward the exit.

Anyone looking at me wouldn’t know it, but my heart was racing.

From a young age, it always beat faster whenever she was around.

And now, months after we’d reconciled and were working toward rebuilding something even better between us, I was glad to know that she still had the power to leave me feeling that flutter in my chest.

Once she slipped out of the ballroom, I turned and made my way over to the dessert display.