Adjusting the Deal (The Vault Book 1) Read online

  As soon as I open my eyes, my jaw drops and I rush inside, touching the stacks of paper, pencils, fabric, the sewing machine, and every bridal magazine possible. The fabrics are rich and smooth. Everything’s new and untouched. There are two mannequins to the side and a massive balcony. From where I’m standing, behind my station, I can see the backyard and gardens.

  I’m taking it all in, and I envision a fashion line—one of my very own making. Everything I’ve dreamed of is slowly coming true.

  I want to create gowns, evening wear, and lingerie. When I think about weddings, and that big day for women, I think about elegance, beauty, seduction, and passion. A woman’s wedding day is one she’ll cherish for the rest of her life.

  Now that he’s given me this amazing gift, a sudden spark of desire ignites me. I press a hand to my thumping heart, longing to please him, to show him that I will earn this confidence he seems to have in me. I’ll prove to him that I can be that woman, damn it. I close my fist over my chest and smile. Yes, I will establish myself as a worthy business woman, as a worthy partner, and as someone he can depend on. Everything, going forward, is thanks to him. To Liam.

  I whirl around and face him. I can’t stop grinning. In fact, I’m grinning so much it’s hurting my cheeks. And I know the smile has to be reaching my eyes because they’re stinging with tears. Then I run. I just run like hell. I run to him and leap up without slowing my speed. I throw my arms around his neck and nuzzle myself to him, clinging on for dear life.

  “Do you like it?”

  “I love it.” I squirm free and slide down his hard body until I get my feet back on the floor. His hands tighten on my lips; I move in a little closer. “You’re amazing, Liam. This is a dream come true. I can’t believe you’re doing this for me.”

  “I told you, sweetheart. Whatever you want, whatever you need, I’ll do it for you.”

  What he says touches me. My heart surges out of my chest, and I want him to take me out of this room and into his. I’m ready to become his.

  I’m ready to give all of me to him. Only him.

  “Take me, Liam. Take me to where my body wants to be.” I slowly run my fingers down his chest and stop when they hit his belt. “Can you teach me how to make it feel good for you? I want to pleasure you and show you how much you mean to me.”

  His breath hitches and those caramel colored eyes I love so much darken. I can feel my pussy get wetter. My body craves him, and I can tell he feels the same. I lean in closer, get up on my toes, and run my tongue up his neck and nibble on his ear.

  “Teach me.”

  Chapter Fourteen

  Liam

  “Are you sure?”

  “I am.” She takes my hand and pulls me to the bedroom…our bedroom.

  When we walk in, she guides me to our bed, sits down, places her hands on my waist, and looks up at me with her innocence. Her everything. Inside her eyes, I can see straight into her heart and soul. This is what she wants. And this is what I’ll give her.

  “You feel like a fairytale,” she whispers, and stands up, pressing her cheek against my chest.

  “Only I’m not your knight in shining armor.”

  “But you are,” she explains, and pulls me tighter against her. “I didn’t know what I was missing, where my dreams would lead me, until you. You’re standing here, offering me the world, and here I am, offering you me.”

  “And that means the world to me, sweet Chelsea.”

  Our lips meet and I deepen the kiss. Our tongues touch, and it’s taking everything in me to hold back. I grip her around the waist, lift her, set her on the bed, and gently hover over her. I slide my hand down her soft body, rip off her lace thong, and toss it to the side. She wraps her legs around my waist, reaches below her hip, and pulls my shorts halfway down my thighs. I can’t stop kissing her, tasting the sweetness of her eager mouth. I yank her dress over her head, hating the time it takes to break the seal of our lips. I tangle my fingers in her hair and hold her head down against the mattress, devouring her while I kick out of my damn shorts and boxers. She groans and her wet tongue vibrates against mine. I’ve got a raging hard-on, but I need to get her out of this fucking bra first and feel a soft breast in my hand. I wedge my hips between her legs; she screams into my mouth and writhes against my dick. I pull back and groan, already sending the first waves of heat trying to take hold in my balls. “Shh. Baby, no. Patience. Just let me…” I reach behind her and snap open the bra. “There. Now we’re getting somewhere.”

  “Liam, please.” She’s breathing fast and shallow. Her glassy eyes are pleading, infused with young passion. “I ache. I need you. Please don’t stop.”

  She unwraps her legs from me and spreads them wider as she guides my mouth to her small, aroused nipple. I lave it with my tongue, and feel her tremble with each suck. She kisses down my neck while I switch to her other nipple, showing it the same attention. I kiss her down her body to her bare cunt and see her juices dripping with need. Need for me.

  “You’re so wet. Let me clean you up.”

  My cock pulses with desire as I slide my tongue through her wet folds and drink her sweet juice. I look up and see the excitement in her eyes. She’s writhing under me, and I continue eating and drinking and then I move back up her body.

  “I don’t want you coming in my mouth. When you come, it’ll be all over my cock.”

  “God, yes,” she moans.

  Unable to stand it any longer, I slowly slide my cock into her tight cunt and she winces.

  “I’ll go slow, sweetheart. It’ll hurt your first time, but I promise the more we do this, the less pain you’ll feel.”

  “I trust you.” She pants and swallows twice. “Keep going.”

  “Are you sure?”

  She smiles and nods. “Yes,” she whispers. “Very.”

  The sensations of her tightness are overwhelming. If I’m not careful, I’ll blow my load too early, and I can’t have that happening. Her virgin walls take me, and I try my hardest to continue being gentle while I stretch her.

  “We’ll do this all the time. My smell will always be on you. Wherever you go, people will smell me and know you’re mine. They’ll know I take care of what’s mine and that I’ve marked you. No one will ever get to taste you, feel you, or love you. Only me.”

  “I’m yours. All of me,” she says in a breathy voice with her eyes steady on mine.

  Once I’m fully inside her, I pause and take in all her warmth and tightness. Our lips meet and I pump in and out. Her nails claw my back, and I welcome the pain she’s inflicting on me.

  This is addicting. She’s addicting. It’s consuming me.

  “Does it feel okay?” she asks.

  “Yes.”

  “Then why aren’t you moving?”

  “I’m selfish and I want to take my time with you to savor this moment. I want all of you, even your thoughts, everything you have is mine and I’ll take good care of it.”

  She screams when I pull back and push back in hard. Her body continues to pulsate, and I can hear her desperate and needy moans. They fill the room and push me until I’m picking up speed. Her passionate cries turn to screams and her back arches off the bed.

  “Liam. Oh, I’m about to come. I’m about to come.”

  “Do it, sweetheart. Come all over my cock.”

  I groan at the tightness. She lets out the longest, loudest scream, and we both shake from the intense orgasm. With her beneath me, I forget everything. I forget where I am. I forget all the shit with her parents and work. All that matters is my love for Chelsea and protecting her. Showing her pleasure and pushing her to the brink of satisfaction.

  The spurts of my seed fill her, and I instantly remember I’m not wearing a condom. But I can’t even think about that right now. This insane pleasure is driving me wild, and when I carefully remove myself, I lean back and see drops oozing out of her raw pussy. The idea of her carrying my baby brings me happiness. Happiness I didn’t realize I wanted until now.


  Chapter Fifteen

  Chelsea

  After my shower, I’m dressed in yoga pants and a tank top, and I head downstairs to find Blake and Liam in the kitchen. They’re drinking beer and talking about sports. I open the refrigerator to get a bottle of water when Blake’s voice gets my attention.

  “So, big brother here won’t tell me much about you.”

  I shut the door and hitch myself onto the counter. I swing my legs and toss the water bottle back and forth between my hands. “What do you want to know?”

  “Everything.” He laughs. “Liam normally doesn’t do relationships, and I’ve not known one woman who has gotten his full attention like you do.”

  I shrug. “Sometimes, things happen for a reason, and that something is what we’ve been waiting for.” I look over at Liam and he gives me a wink. I blow him a kiss. “But we just happened.”

  “Bullshit.” He laughs again. “I call bullshit, but play your games. Hey! Are any of your friends single?”

  “Maybe. Why?”

  “I’m a single man and you have a single friend. I think that speaks for itself.”

  “We’ll see.” I get off the counter and head toward the living room to text Allison.

  Me: Look up Blake Donovan.

  Me: You’re welcome.

  A few minutes pass and Allison hasn’t responded. I’m mindlessly going through Facebook when she texts me back.

  Allison: I can’t find him. Snap a picture or something!

  Me: I’ll try. Hold please.

  When I get up and back to the kitchen, I hear voices from outside and stop when I see Liam has both his brothers over so I decide maybe another time I’ll have to try and get a picture of Blake for Allison.

  Me: I’ll have to try again another time. But, trust me, he’s hot and single.

  Allison: Well, well. Thanks for giving me a head’s up, girl!

  Me: Anything for my best friend.

  Allison: Lunch soon?

  Me: Please.

  Allison: K.

  I put my phone away and head upstairs to read. When I’m under the covers, his scent fills me. Every moment we share together stays with me. I can feel us getting closer. Much closer now that he has my virginity. Our connection is off the charts, and I get that we’re still new and we’re learning about each other. Sometimes, when you know, you simply know. Love doesn’t have a time requirement. The saying “love at first sight” is true on every level. A person can’t fight their feelings for someone else. Our hearts decide who we belong to and who we love. My heart chooses Liam, and my heart will always choose Liam. I know this isn’t because of what he can give me, or the pleasures he introduces to my body. No. It’s a spark. A connection I can’t explain. It’s more. So much more. Falling for Liam is the last thing I expected. My attraction to him is off the charts and my body’s reaction grows more intense and harder to fight.

  If Blake wasn’t in the kitchen, I probably would’ve laid on the counter naked and begged for Liam’s cock to take me away.

  My cheeks warm with heat from that admission, and I hold back a smile.

  A few hours pass before he comes to the room and gets ready for bed. When he climbs in, something I’ve been meaning to ask occurs to me.

  “What’s wrong?” he asks.

  “Nothing. Nothing at all. Although, I’m wondering something, and I hate to bring it up, but you know how people can get.”

  “You know you can ask me anything.”

  “Okay. So, why didn’t you have a girlfriend?”

  He laughs and props up on his arm, looking at me with amusement. He takes my hand and presses it against his lips before answering my question. “There’s no real answer. I already told you my life is about my work and making money. I’ve been with lots of women, and no one captured me the way you do. I don’t know what else you want me to say. But regardless, I know that you’re the one I want, and the one who is making it possible for me to be happy. I hope that satisfies your question.”

  “It does.” I lean down and kiss him. “Thank you.”

  “You’re welcome.”

  We’re quiet for a few more minutes before I put down my Kindle and straddle Liam’s lap.

  “Is my girl in need?”

  Chapter Sixteen

  Liam

  My mouth’s watering at the sight of her creamy thighs, and I can see her erect nipples through her thin top. She isn’t wearing panties under those shorts. Her pussy’s near my face, and I can smell the sweetness of her arousal.

  I flip her on her back and tug down her shorts while she takes off her top. She spreads her thighs, showing me her pretty pink pussy again, and it’s wet, waiting for my mouth and cock.

  “I’ll never get enough of this.”

  “Me either,” she whispers.

  I’m unable to pull my eyes away. As I yank down my sweatpants and let my cock spring free, I grip her thighs with both hands, dragging her up to my mouth while her ass hangs. Just thinking about her ass and her virginal, puckered hole makes my dick so hard it’s pulsating.

  My mouth descends, and the sweet flavor of her pussy touches my tongue, making me go wild with need. The primal animal inside me escapes and I ravish her. Sucking, licking, and enjoying her tastes. All of her. I moan, and before she’s ready to come, I pull my mouth away and quickly slide into her cunt, pumping my dick in and out.

  “Liam!” she screams, and I fuck her harder.

  The next morning, I meet Blake and Jared for breakfast at a local diner. I hate leaving Chelsea. Waking up next to her with her in my arms, and feeling her warmth, makes my cock hard and ready to explode. Whenever I’m in the same room she is, the need for her reaches an all-time, obsessive level, and I can’t get enough of her.

  When I walk inside the diner, I see my brothers at a table and join them. I slide into the booth and Jared hands me a menu. I put it down because I already know what I want.

  “Since you have someone new, maybe you should try something new,” Blake suggests.

  “What are you hinting at?”

  “Come on, man, since you’re not going to come out and say it, then I will. It’s been a while since Sadie, and you’ve been with plenty of women. Then all of a sudden, you meet Chelsea, and now you’re dating her. What gives?”

  “There’s nothing to tell or explain.”

  “Have you fucked her?” Jared asks.

  I choke on my coffee, wipe down the counter, and clear my throat. “Yes. That doesn’t matter.” As soon as I answer, I imagine Chelsea, and I can hear her moans in my head. I’m pressing my tongue against her wet folds and fingering her hot center while she grips my hair and rides my face. I’m screwed, and I welcome it. Fully welcome it.

  “Holy shit,” both of them say at the same time.

  “You’re in fucking love,” Blake says aloud. “Please tell me everything with Sadie is over and you’re done with her.”

  “Soon. Don’t worry. I’ve got everything under control.”

  I’m not hung up on her, nor do I want anything more. I have to be careful when it comes to Sadie, and I must protect Chelsea. There’re too many fucked-up what-ifs, and I don’t want to put her at risk. I don’t want her to face anything without me.

  Hours later at the office, I’m on a phone conference and my phone vibrates on the table. I pick it up and see it’s Chelsea.

  Chelsea: Thinking about you.

  Me: You’re always on my mind. What are you doing?

  Chelsea: Nothing really. Just got done swimming and currently tanning. I made up some more designs. I can’t wait to show you.

  Me: I can’t wait to see them. You’re so talented, sweetheart. I hope you know that.

  Chelsea: Gosh you’re perfect.

  Me: Only for you. Always for you.

  Chapter Seventeen

  Chelsea

  My time with Liam has been extremely satisfying and mind blowing. He satisfies my deepest fantasies and pushes my boundaries. If it’s too much then he backs of
f and holds me, telling me how much I mean to him. Last night flashes in my head and I hide my goofy smile with my hand.

  “I’m falling in love with you,” he whispers against my neck. “I want you to stay with me forever.”

  I turn to my side and kiss his forehead, bringing my lips to touch his. I whisper back, “I’m falling in love you too, and I think forever can be arranged.”

  He loves me and I love him. With my whole heart. The past month has been everything I can ever wish for. Next week we’re flying to New York City to meet with the top fashion leaders, and I have so many designs to show them. Everything is coming together even better than I imagined it could.

  “We’re here.” I look up and Jack opens his door. He walks around to mine and helps me out. I study my childhood home, press down on my yellow dress, and adjust my white cardigan.

  I turn to Jack. “I’m nervous.”

  “Don’t be.”

  I called my mom last week and she cried when she answered. And I soon started crying as well. We talked and I told her everything. It was weird, but my mom’s my best friend. Even though I’m adult, I still wanted her advice so we talked. When my dad got on the phone, I held back my anger about what he did regarding the business, the bad deals, and my inheritance, but I listened to him. After about an hour on the phone, I hung up and fully understood their position and what they needed to do.

  “Come on, Chelsea. I’ll walk you to the door, and then I’ll wait for you in the car.”

  “Thanks, Jack.”

  I rise onto my toes and kiss his scruffy cheek. Jack is turning into one of my best friends. He’s protective and supportive, and he loves me and Liam. Both of us trust him, and we know he’ll do anything for us.

  We walk the stony path, and I step on the porch. Before I can knock on the door, it opens and my parents engulf me with hugs.

  “We missed you so much,” my dad says, holding me tighter in his arms.

  “I missed you too,” I mutter.

  My dad walks my mom and me into the house and we sit down on the couches in the living room. It doesn’t feel weird being here like I thought it would. It’s actually nice. I think the time away helped me calm down because when I look at them, I don’t feel the anger from before. I feel love and know that my parents are trying. No matter what, they’re still my parents. Their decision and actions aren’t ideal. Even though my inheritance is gone, they don’t owe Liam anything, and he’s still giving my dad his shares of the investments. Liam could’ve walked away and said fuck it to them. The fact that he’s taking care of them—and me—makes everything better. I trust him and know he’ll always put me first.