DESIRE (3 page)
Authors: Kailin Gow
Chapter 2
My afternoon chores were done by way of sheer habit, my mind completely flowing to a few hours ahead when I would be with Liam in a way I had never been before. As I folded the last of the laundry, I thought of what I would wear. Should it be something simple and innocent, or should I go for something more revealing, provocative and sexy?
The answer fell into my hands in the way of a flowing and feminine lavender blouse I had recently bought. Lightly translucent, it offered peeps and peeks here and there without being too revealing. With my nice grey slacks that were just snug enough around the hips, Liam would be dazzled.
With a pile of clothes in one hand and the cherished blouse on a hanger in the other hand, I hurried to my room to put everything away then raced back to the kitchen to prepare dinner for my mom.
She worked so hard and I knew she deserved a special dinner every night. Tonight would not be anything too fancy or time consuming. My mind and heart just were not in it. So a quick and easy spaghetti and tomato sauce were in order.
While the sauce heated then bubbled, I concentrated on my homework, or at least tried to. Images of Liam, his muscular and strong torso bared for me to see, to touch. I’d seen him in his swimming trunks many times, but this would be an entirely different scenario. His chest would be bared exclusively for me and in a context worlds apart from the beach or pool.
The sentences on the page before me blurred as I imagine feeling his hands all over me, touching me in places I’d never been touched. As customary to Arcadian law, we were to wait until we were at least of age before couples can be together. We had waited so long, and now I was to be of age.
“Kama, Mama’s home.”
My face must have flushed beet red. Just to be thinking of Liam in such a way and have my mom walk in… it felt like an intrusion.
“How was your day, sweetie?”
“Great. Perfect.” I smiled and gathered my books. “Sarah helped me pass out my invitations and everyone is eager to come. Well, all except two.”
“That’s a surprise. Who on earth would refuse you? You're to be a woman of great standing. Marrying the future Governor of Arcadia is nothing to snub your nose at.”
“Well, either they were not impressed with that or they don’t believe it’ll be part of my Life’s Plan.”
“Either way, Honey.” She came up to me and grabbed my cheeks the way she so often did when she had a lesson to transmit. “Don’t be in too much of a rush to marry that future governor of yours. Regardless of how good and great a man Liam may be, take the time to discover who you are before you become Mrs. Governor. Marriage is hard, serious and complicated sometimes. It’s not all wine and roses.”
“Is that why you never married my father?”
She released my cheeks and turned to stir the tomato sauce. “I should’ve seen that coming.”
Seeing the sadness cross her face, I regretted the question I’d slipped out before I could catch it. “I understand if you don’t want to talk about it.”
“No,” she said, her eyes still on the sauce.
I could have sworn I saw tears welling up in her eyes and hated myself for bringing up such a painful topic.
“I know it’s always bothered you, not knowing who your father was. When you were little I didn’t think it mattered. So long as I was there, you’d be fine, but I realize now how much you’ve missed his presence. I wish things could have been different.” She turned to me, sad, but with a hint of joy as she reminisced. “We loved each other so much, desperately, but it was forbidden for us to marry. Being from the two extremities of society, it was frowned upon.”
I wanted so desperately to know more about my father. Over the years I’d wanted to ask about him, but the mere mention of him was enough to set a grim line to her lips, much as it had now, so I never pressed for more. I didn’t even know what he looked like, what his name was. It had always been a mystery to me.
The doorbell rang, slicing into the tension that had quickly become unbearable. I hated seeing her like this, but I also hated how thoughts of my father left me feeling so empty. A huge part of my life was missing and, while I never let on, it did affect me.
“The tomato sauce is ready. All I have to do is drop the spaghetti in the pot of boiling water and you're set, Mom.”
“I’m set? And where are you off to? Who’s that at the door?”
Vigilant, attentive and always needing to know what I was up to, she was a cool and understanding mother. I knew she wanted what was best for me, partly why she had brought me to Arcadia to begin with.
The perfect little town that produced perfect little people who lived out their perfect little lives.
“It’s Liam, Mom,” I called over my shoulder as I headed to the front door. My hand was slightly shaky as it turned the knob to open the door.
“Hey, Kama,” Liam whispered, his voice husky. “Ready?”
“Yeah, come in. I’ll just go get my purse.”
I left him at the door just as my mother arrived to greet him.
“Liam, how nice to see you.”
“You’re looking as lovely as ever, Miss Johnson.”
“Forever the sweet charmer, just like your father. And how is Pim?”
“Busy, but that’s the way he likes things. Working makes him happy.”
“I’ve noticed. I haven’t seen him in a while, but I should soon at one of the next meetings.”
“I’m ready,” I chimed as I glided down the stairs and grabbed Liam’s arm. “I won’t be back late, Mom. We’ll study a bit, look over the last minute details for my birthday party, and Liam will have me home at a respectable hour.”
“Promise,” Liam added.
“I’m not at all worried,” Mom said as she waved us away. “If there’s anyone I trust my daughter with, it’s you. Plus it’s just a matter of months, perhaps after graduation that we would be planning a wedding.”
I rushed to her to kiss her cheek and hurried out, eager to get my evening with Liam started. Like the true gentleman he was, he opened the car door and closed it behind me. I loved the smell of his new car, a masculine, sleek and racy black Porsche, elegant and sleek. The rich leather interior wrapped around me like a warm blanket and the lingering scent of Liam’s cologne thrilled my senses.
“We’re going to have to keep our eyes on them,” Liam said the moment he got into his seat.
“Who?”
“Our parents.” He started the car and drove off. “Don’t you think it’s going to be a bit weird once we’re married? Your mom and my dad are kinda going to be family.”
“Yeah, and they’ll be seeing each other all the time. Your father can barely keep his hands off her now, he’ll go nuts. They’re not even dating, but he’s definitely been trying to make the moves on her. It’s cute watching them together.”
“I can certainly understand why. Your mother is a knock out. You don’t have to look far to see where you get your looks. You’ve both got that blond hair with that unusual highlight of violet, mesmerizing hazel eyes and a soul that would make any man’s heart turn to jelly. Dad refers to your mother as the one who got away.”
“You're so cute.”
“I can’t wait for the day when we can be together always.” His voice had lost its cute edge and had turned hungry. “I don’t want to end up like my father, regretting never having married his true love. He loved my mother, yes, but he had always loved your mother since childhood.” He turned serious. “I hate watching you walk in the other direction after school. I hate that you're not there the moment I open my eyes. I’ve been waiting for years for us to officially be together. I don’t know if I can wait until the day we’re married.”
“I know you're a patient man, Liam.”
We came to a red light and he leaned in close once the car stopped. His eyes stared deep inside me, touching my heart and warming me all over. “I’m not that patient.”
I laughed and playfully slapped his chest, just as the car behind us honked his own impatience. “Drive on, loverboy.”
“You have no idea how impatient I’ve become, Kama. It’s like you're all I think about. Since turning 18, I’ve realized you’re the one thing I truly wanted in my Life’s Plan. And with your 18th birthday approaching… you have no idea what it does to me to know that the day is finally around the corner where we can finally get engaged and start a life together.” He leaned over, put his hand to my knee and kissed me, the passion strong and undeniable.
We swerved and he pulled away.
“Keep your hands on the wheel and your eyes on the road.” I had to laugh, keeping a cool head as he brought the car back under control. I’d never seen him this agitated.
After a few twists and turns through the calm and quiet streets of Arcadia we entered the Diamond District. The Governor’s Manor was the huge estate at the top of the hill, overlooking the city below.
Just as the car pulled up to the walled-in grounds, the heavy, wrought iron gate eased open and we entered. It was a magnificent home to behold. Elegant, with its columns, ornate trim, huge windows, and of course, the lavish and forever blooming gardens filled with begonias and roses, the home was also warm and welcoming.
The tree-lined drive ended in a loop just before the main entrance. He slid in behind the silver Mercedes and got out to open my door.
I felt like a princess and loved every moment of it. He had a great way of treating me, of making me feel important in his life, and I loved him all the more for it.
The moment we entered the mansion, the silence was deafening. No heels clicked along the marble floor of the main foyer, or the hardwood of the staircase. No orders were bellowed, or services beckoned.
“Where is everyone?”
Every time I’d been there the house had been a whirlwind of activity with maids keeping everything sparkling and shining, administrators and advisors roaming the halls with reports and statements, and Governor Seer’s entourage taking care of everything else that needed to be tended to. It was strange having the Governor’s mansion so silent.
“Father and his usual band of friends and cohorts had business to tend to in the Onyx District and I took it upon myself to give the staff a well-deserved night off.”
“Can you really do that?”
“Do you see anyone else here?” he said as he scooped me up and brought me in. “After all, if I want to spend some quality time with the love of my life, I have to make the proper arrangements.”
“I love it when you talk like a responsible adult.”
“Wait until I start to talk like your husband.” He nuzzled into the crook of my neck making me giggle. “I just can’t wait to be carrying you over the threshold with you as my bride.”
I felt the strength of his arms as he easily carried me up the stairs, each step bringing a kiss to my eyes, cheeks, temple and lips.
“I love you,” he said repeatedly.
He tapped his toe against his bedroom door and it swung open. Dark and somber, it lacked the fuss of a girl’s room and didn’t quite hold the trappings of a young adult. Neither lace trim nor tacky poster adorned the masculine room. For a young man, Liam had remarkable taste.
Set in tones that reflected his love of nature, I instantly felt safe and secure amidst the heavy oak furniture. And as he set me down on his huge bed, I knew I belonged. The room was rich and opulent with priceless paintings on the walls and pricy oriental rugs on the floor, yet it had all the warmth to make me feel at home.
“This is what will happen on our wedding night?” I asked.
“Pretty much.” He straightened up and removed his jacket. His white shirt was tight against the breadth of his chest.
I held my breath as he slowly unbuttoned every little button. The skin that was exposed one tantalizing inch at a time was smooth and tightly pulled over his muscular chest. My hands itched to touch him.
As he kicked off his shoes, his eyes stayed on me, making me tingle all over before he even touched me. “What’s more important is what’s going to happen now, right?”
He put his hands on the bed and leaned over me, his lips close to mine, close enough for me to feel his breath. “What is it you desire, Kama?”
He didn’t kiss me, but simply remain excruciatingly close. I wanted to lean up to capture his lips, my desire for him was so strong. “You,” I said in a voice laden with hunger and desire.
“Are you sure?” His eyes teased me.
“Yes.”
“Forever?”
“Forever I’m yours.”
His warm lips, sweet with masculinity and urgent with a desire for more, covered mine with more passion than ever before. My body reacted instantly to him, the need to get closer, feel his body against mine obliterating all other thoughts.
For that suspended moment in time, I had no other thought, not school, not my parents, not even my birthday. The mysterious man with the startling blue eyes and shock of black hair didn’t even enter my mind as the world existed only for Liam.
His hands worked over the fastening of my shirt, slowly revealing more and more of my skin. I should have felt embarrassed, but not a scrupulous thought came to me. My body had taken over, wanting what it wanted.
My skin heated under his touch, coming alive and needing more. When he pressed his body against mine, I knew this was where I wanted to be. His strength intoxicated me as his chest crushed my breasts. Since turning 18, he had grown more serious, more mature.
His hands and mouth worked to create a whirlwind of sensations that my body instinctively reacted to.
My Life’s Plan had to include him. The thought suddenly struck me hard and fast. The thought of living my life without him was unthinkable.
I ran my hands over his back and trailed my fingers over the muscles of his arms. How could I live without Liam and how he made me feel?
“I love you, Kama,” Liam said. “If your Life’s Plan does not include me, I don’t know what I’ll do…”