Begin Again novel Chapter 29

Eden watched the older woman dash down the hall and vanish from view, painfully aware of the thick tension swirling in the room, occasionally drowned out by the sounds of office chatter, phones going off and the keyboards rattling away.

She figured she should leave as well while things were still a bit civil between Liam and her, especially if she wanted their future chat about Aiden to happen.

But, one glance from him, as if he could read her thoughts and see deep into her soul, fixed her in her chair.

He reached for the tray of refreshments Eden had forgotten until now and took one of the brightly decorated styrofoam cups, with a Rise Coffee Shop logo stamped to its side, and the word 'macchiato' scrolled in pretty, feminine-like handwriting on the white lid.

They had outlets nationwide, mostly in shopping malls, but Eden remembered seeing one in the food court, on the first floor, when she played with the interactive map.

She's a sucker for their chai lattes and would kill for one right now, or anything warm really.

Liam returned to the window wall, his back pressed against the pane and sipped his coffee. It was probably cold now. Still, he seemed to enjoy it because the hard shadow on his face was momentarily gone as he closed his eyes, appreciating the rich dark taste of the stained espresso.

Eden stared longingly at the two remaining cups on the tray, but she didn't dare reach for one. Not when Liam kept shooting daggers at her with his eyes.

"I don't know why you are so angry with me," she said when it became clear if anyone had to get the conversation going, it would have to be her.

Liam laughed. But the chilling sound, rumbling deep from within his chest, terrified her. And so did the glint in his eyes.

"You fucking treated me like a one night stand!"

"I could say the same for you!" She shot back as she quickly gathered up her things and tried to dash from the room. She'd taken just about all she could of his shitty attitude. She was insane to think she could work at Anderson Logistics. Now that her curiosity about him has been satisfied, and her school girl illusions shattered, Eden was done.

But, in a heartbeat, Liam had her in his arms, and before she knew what hit her, his lips were everywhere, on her mouth, on her jaw, in her neck, while his hands feverishly ran up all over her body, pressing her curves to him as he held her close.

Their first kiss in two years was everything a first kiss shouldn't be. Sad. Angry. Bewildered.

Liam's tongue in her mouth was as devastating as his touch. He tasted bitter, like the rich dark beans of his coffee, and sweet like caramel; two things she didn't know she craved until now.

He didn't have to shout and scream and yell to show her his heart. She felt all of his emotions, wrapped in this single moment, as they clung to each other in a desperate embrace.

He reminded her of a bittersweet memory, a moment in time; fleeting, fragile, and forever out of grasp.

"Two years," he growled on her lips, running his hands through her hair as she nestled into him, drowning in his caresses. "This is all I've wanted for two years."

It was all Eden's wanted too. Maybe that's why she'd applied for the job at Anderson Logistics even when she knew she shouldn't because he's now happily married and he didn't need any complications in his life.

"Why did you leave me, Princess?" He asked, tugging at her mouth, gently nipping her lower lip.

Good grief, Eden thought, curling her toes, where did he learn to kiss like this, and how did he know she'd like it?

"Why?" He paused in her neck, leaving a scorching trail of butterfly kisses on her skin. His warm breath, mixed with his intoxicating scent— a perfect blend of his ridiculously expensive woody cologne, a faint whiff of his manly sweat and minty soap— sent a swirling ache between her thighs.

Eden was as terrified out of her head as she felt safe in his arms because she knew, if he wanted her, if he asked, she wouldn't have the strength to refuse him.

"Tell me, Princess, why did you run away from me?" Liam demanded, kissing her harder, almost as if he was punishing her.

"We both knew it was one a time thing." She said at last, her breathing hard and erratic, like the whirlwind of emotions relentlessly thrashing her heart.

She desperately wanted to take her words back when she saw the light in his eyes die out.

Liam released her from his grasp and pushed her away, almost angrily.

"You are right," he said, the passion burning hot in his eyes just seconds ago, gone. "It was a one-time thing."