I leaned back with a sigh, letting the warm water soothe away my tension. Van came in, set a thick towel by the sink, bent over and pressed a kiss to my forehead, then turned to leave.
“Stay,” I asked.
He settled beside the tub, entwining his fingers with mine. “Okay, Livvy?”
“Yes. Considering the day it’s been, more than okay. I don’t understand how you did all you did and…” My voice trailed off.
He chuckled. “My parents helped. A friend helped, and we loaded Mouse’s bed, bookcase, and other stuff in about ten minutes. My mom did the rest—the rug and drapes, and she and Dad set it up. The dresser was in the other room. None of it was a lot of work, so relax.”
“Did you-did you talk to Bentley or Jordan?” I asked.
He studied me. “Do you really want to talk about it now?”
“Yes.”
He huffed out a long breath. “Jordan said the meeting was tense but fine. John wasn’t happy about the past relationship either, but given the story Nolan had told him about Sammy, was very supportive of him. Bentley laid down some very strict demands, and John agreed to them. John’s a smart man—this is too lucrative a contract for him to lose. Being part of a BAM project is huge for his status. If Bentley canceled the contract, it would hurt him, even if he sued BAM. With the reputation BAM has, his business would be toast.” He smiled tightly. “The three of us will have very little interaction from now on. Especially you and Nolan. It’s not really necessary, and Kim or someone can handle any meetings if needed.”
“What about you?”
“I will attend meetings with Jordan or Aiden present. Most of our communication will be via text or email. He’ll get as little chance as possible to get personal with me.”
“Have I jeopardized your job, Van?” I asked, worried.
“No. I talked to Bentley this afternoon. We had a frank face-to-face meeting, with Aiden and Maddox there as well. He’d calmed down and it was fine,” he assured me. “I think Bentley’s impression of Nolan helped. He was pretty full of himself in the meeting at the start. It didn’t last too long once Bentley finished with him.”
“Oh.” I wasn’t sure what else to say. I felt terrible for what was happening, yet at this point, I couldn’t fix it.
Van rose up and lifted my chin. He bent close and brushed a kiss over my lips. “I know what you’re thinking, Liv. To be honest, I think Nolan going after you and Sammy was something that was going to happen, regardless. My gut tells me this was planned. Even if we had gone to the boys with the info and WIN hadn’t gotten the job, this would have happened. This way, we can keep an eye on him and try to figure out why. Even Bentley thinks that way.” He stroked my cheek. “Everything is fine, okay? Our jobs are safe. You and Mouse are safe. You’re right where you should be.” He stood. “Well, almost.”
“Almost?”
He looked down at me, his dark gaze intense. “I want you in my bed, Livvy. Soak for a while and finish your wine. Once you’re relaxed, come to me, and I’ll help you relax a little more.”
I felt a rush of desire from his words. “I’m actually done in here.”
“There’s no hurry.”
I offered him my hand. “I want to be with you, Van. I need you.”
He pulled me up, the water splashing over the edge of the tub in his haste. He lifted me as if I weighed nothing, wrapping the towel around me. He ignored the water streaming from my body and carried me to his bed, kissing me the whole time. He tasted of coffee, cinnamon, and mint. Of Van. I wound my fingers into his hair, moaning into his mouth as he laid me on the mattress. He stood over me, his breathing hard and fast.
“You are so beautiful,” he murmured, stroking my skin, trailing his fingers over my collarbone. “So soft and pretty. I love how you look in my bed.”
I clasped his hand, bringing it to my lips and kissing his knuckles. “I want you in the bed with me.”
He pulled his shirt over his head, his toned and muscled torso bare in the dim light. I watched with hooded eyes as he slowly unbuckled his belt and kicked out of his jeans, leaving him in only black boxers that clung to his muscled thighs. He cupped his growing erection, meeting my gaze.
“Is this what you want, Livvy? My cock?”
“Yes,” I breathed out. “I need you inside me, Van.”
He slid his fingers inside the waistband of his boxers, back and forth, a wicked expression on his face as he teased me.
“What’s the magic word?” he asked, his voice low.
“Please.”
He pushed down his boxers, his cock springing free. Long, heavy, and swollen—I ached for it. For him. I held out my arms.
“Make love to me, Van. Make me forget. Just for a while.”
He moved between my legs, his chest pressing to mine. He held himself over me, his weight resting on his forearms. He skimmed his cock along my center and I lifted my hips, wrapping my legs around his waist.
He dropped his face to mine, our lips barely touching. “I’m here, Livvy. Right here, baby. I’ve got you.”
A tear rolled down my face and he kissed it away. His mouth covered mine, and for long moments, there was only the feel of his lips on me. The taste of him as his tongue stroked and tangled with mine. The way his body covered me, the hard planes and sinewy muscles firm under my touch. He slid into me, stilling as we were joined, a low groan deep in his chest.
“The way you feel around me, Liv…” he whispered as he began to move—long, unhurried glides of his hips. “There is nothing like it. There never will be. Promise me I can have it all the time. Promise you’ll be here.”
I was already rushing toward the edge. It was as if he knew my body and how to drive me to ecstasy quickly and took great pride in doing so. I gripped at his back, whimpering in need.
“More,” I pleaded, my voice shaking as I grasped his shoulders and pulled him in tighter. “I need more, baby.”
With a long hiss, he began to move in me vigorously, hitting the spot only he had ever found, and I broke. I cried out, his mouth covering mine to stifle the sounds as my orgasm rushed over me, powerful and intense. I shook with the force of it, my body spasming around him. His release followed, and he drove himself as deep as he could, stilling, pouring himself into me until he was spent.
He collapsed on me, his weight substantial and welcome. For a moment, there was only the sound of our heavy breathing. He rolled, pulling me onto his chest. The sheets were wet from the bathwater, our skin sticky from our exertions, and my hair a tangled mess from his hands. A trail of water led from the bathroom to the bed, and the comforter was on the floor, getting wetter by the second. Neither of us cared.
He pressed a kiss to my head. “Welcome home, Livvy.”
I nestled closer. He was right. With him, I was home.
Van
The next ten days were a juxtaposition of emotions. We were both tense at work, the hours dragging by. I struggled to keep my temper in place, and Liv worried constantly. I kept in touch all day, and I missed having her around the site, even though I knew it was for the best.
The evenings were the exact opposite. Since the band was still taking a break, my entire focus became Liv and Mouse. I loved having them with me.