Page 48 of The Focal Point

“Something is up,” he murmured, wiggling his eyebrows suggestively, and I had to laugh, the strange moment forgotten.

Chapter 19

Liam

––––––––

IT DIDN’T ESCAPE MY notice that my hand was always searching for Bailey’s when I was around her. Or searching for some way to create contact between us, whether it was my hand around hers, a hand on her back or arm, or just a brush as we passed, ate, or watched a movie.

This moment was no different as I released Bailey from my arms and threaded my fingers through hers. I had only one destination in mind, the feeling of her kiss, a buzz on my lips that grew and traveled through the rest of me as the evening progressed. And I was determined to do something about it as soon as we reached the bedroom—I couldn’t seem to get her through the house and up the stairs fast enough.

The only thing that threatened to dampen the mood was my memory of Bailey’s joke. I thought I had recovered nicely, but now guilt shadowed the desire. Guilt I was trying hard to ignore. I truly was going to tell Bailey about the houses. It just never seemed to be the right time.

I knew it would be a difficult conversation, although I hoped we could laugh about it and move on. But I hadn’t wanted to ruin the mood after the party tonight—Bailey had been glowing with happiness, something I hadn’t seen when we had first met. How could I ruin that with a difficult conversation? It had been the same every time I had tried to tell her why I had bought the houses or that I had bought them in the first place. I didn’t want to kill her happiness.

I couldn’t admit I was scared to tell her and knew I had taken it too far. I couldn’t accept that I was afraid to lose her, like I hadn’t been afraid of losing someone since my mother had gotten sick. Because Bailey had very quickly become a fixture in my life, as though she had always been there, always belonged there.

Whether it was a simple hug or snuggled up to me on the couch or in bed, she just fit in my arms and in my life.

I ran a billion-dollar tech firm and had dealt with some of the most difficult investors, business owners, and clients, and it had barely fazed me. But the idea of coming clean to Bailey had me panicked and hiding my head under the proverbial sheets, unable to take the necessary steps to remedy the situation.

It wasn’t like me at all. I always faced things head-on because it was easier that way. But the idea of losing Bailey was too frighting and kept me frozen in this limbo.

All the thoughts running through my head, mixing with the guilt, had lessened my eagerness to get Bailey in my bed by the time we had reached the second-floor landing. I had to tell her—this was it. This was the moment. Even if it ruined the evening, I had to tell Bailey the truth. I owed her that, even if it meant I lost her.

As my foot hit the floor, I turned, opening my mouth to spill the truth. But suddenly Bailey’s mouth was on mine, her arms wrapped around my neck and pulling me into her. Her kisses were demanding, her tongue sweeping mine. My lust roared back to life, the way she felt in my arms blotting out every thought and feeling except for her.

I would tell her as soon as we had finished.

But right then, my body had other plans, and it was controlling all my actions.

Bailey’s mouth moved desperately, her entire body pressed against mine so that I could feel her nipples through the thin fabric of her gown and her bra.

“I can’t get enough of you,” she murmured into my mouth, her hands working frantically at my suit jacket and then the buttons of my shirt until they were on the floor.

“I know the feeling,” I panted, desire taking up the space in my chest where breath should have been and squeezing tightly.

The fingers of one hand fisted in the gauzy fabric of her dress and hiked it up so that it was around her waist. As if she had been waiting for the moment, Bailey pushed off the ground and wrapped her legs around my hips, her center grinding against my raging erection.

With one arm around her hip, I groaned and pressed her back against the wall, kissing her desperately from her mouth to her neck and shoulder and back again.

“I need you in me,” Bailey gasped as I suckled and nipped at the place her shoulder met her neck. The words sent the fire in me roaring ever higher.

“And I’m desperate to sink myself into you.” I whispered the words against her skin and was rewarded with Bailey’s convulsive shiver.

“If you keep doing that, we won’t make it to the bedroom.” My growl only elicited a giggle.

“I’m okay with that. I’ve never had sex in the hallway before.”

“Oh, I plan to have you in every room in this house. But tonight, I want you in my bed.” I had managed to move us both down the hallway to my room and deposited Bailey on the bed. I wanted to be gentler, but I was too far gone to regulate myself.

Bailey didn’t seem to mind, anyway. She lay back, her dark hair pooling around her, her dress hiked around her hips, revealing lacy, barely-there underwear. But her smile and the look in her eyes, both inviting and full of lust, drew in a sharp breath from me.

Kneeling on the bed, I took a moment to take in the view, then leaned over Bailey and started kissing up her legs. She moaned, the sound heating my blood, and gasped as I kissed up the inside of her thighs.

“More,” she breathed. “Don’t stop.”

“Don’t intend to.” My words vibrated against the warm skin before I drew back, replacing my kisses with a finger. Gooseflesh sprang up under my touch as I dragged the pad up her thigh and over her underwear, which was sopping wet.