Starr Fated (27 page)

“So tell me,
how long ago was it your mam passed away?” she was quizzing
him.

“A long time.
It must be, what, nearly twenty two years now,” Liam replied.

“So you were
just a wee boy? How sad,” she tsked, as she shook her head. “She
never got to see what a fine man you’ve grown into.”

“Come on,
let’s go.” I opened the front door and headed outside. It was a
lovely spring morning, but still quite chilly. I shivered as I
shrugged my jacket on. Then I shivered again as Liam’s fingers
touched my neck as he helped me.

“Sorry about
the inquisition. My family mean well, but they are all incredibly
nosy,” I apologised.

“That’s okay,
I didn’t mind,” he replied.

I was
surprised when he took my hand in his as we walked up the hill
towards the hotel, and I felt a thrill run through me. His warm
hand was big and square and strong and easily engulfed my much
smaller hand, and that felt nice, reassuring somehow. It was just
the same when he engulfed me in his powerful arms and held me
against his broad chest. He made me feel safe and protected, as if
I could finally relax because someone was watching out for me.
Gran’s words came back to me
‘Liam’s role is to protect and look
after you….he will always be there as your solid rock to lean
on.’

I shook my
head. I'd start believing all her mumbo jumbo next if I wasn’t
careful. What I needed was to keep a clear head and just think
logically.

“Are you
looking forward to your trip to New York?” I asked Liam, just for
something to say really.

“I wouldn’t
exactly say I'm looking forward to it, but as you’re aware, a lot
of planning and preparation has gone into it so it’ll be good to
get on with all the meetings and hopefully get the anticipated
deals in the bag.”

“Of course,
yes.”

“So, now I
know you weren’t ignoring my calls, can I ask if you’ve given some
thought to what I said yesterday?”

He tugged at
my hand to halt me in my tracks. His deep blue eyes bore down into
mine, and what I saw there made me realise that he was actually
quite nervous. Liam Starr, The Big Guy, was nervous. Wow.

“Of course I
have. But let’s wait until we’re sat down before we talk,” I
suggested, as I tore my eyes away from his. Resisting him was not
going to be as easy as I’d convinced myself it would be last night.
Now that he was here, towering over me as he held my hand tightly
in his grip and oozing sexual chemistry out of every pore, it was
another matter.

“I don’t like
the sound of that. You’re prevaricating,” he frowned at me.

“No, I’m not.
I'm just being practical. It’ll be easier to talk when we’re sat
down together, and the hotel is only just around the corner now.” I
tugged on his hand to get him to continue walking.

Liam sighed
louldy, but resigned himself to continue to the hotel. We headed
straight into the restaurant, where the waitress immediately seated
us as she passed the breakfast menu over.

“Mr. Starr,
good to see you again. And this is the guest you told us would be
joining you for breakfast? Are you ready to order yet?”

“Yes. I’ll
have the full Irish breakfast and coffee. Would you like the same,
Seraphina?”

“No, thanks.
I’m not a fan of big cooked breakfasts, especially with the black
pudding they give you over here. Could I have a couple of soft
poached eggs with some wholemeal toast instead? And tea, Earl Grey
if you have it, please.” A more subtle flavoured tea would make a
nice change from all the really strong builders brew tea that Nana
always served up.

“Of course, no
problem.” The waitress collected up the menus and then left us
alone. There were only two other couples in the large room, so it
was quiet, and I knew Liam was not going to be fobbed off again.
Sure enough, he went straight for the kill.

“Is it yes or
no, Seraphina? Are you going to be brave enough to take what I'm
offering? Are you prepared to give us a chance?” He took my hand
and gently kissed it, and then nipped my little finger with his
teeth. I almost jumped out of my skin as a surge of electricity
shot through me, my heart started racing and other areas
immediately responded to create a decidedly moist feeling in my
underwear, although he’d barely touched me. And by the smug look on
his face, he knew exactly what he was doing to me. I took a deep
breath. This was not how I’d planned things would go. I snatched my
hand back.

“Liam, I
appreciate that the job you are offering me is a great
opportunity….”

“Yes, it is.
Not many students get offered this kind of position before they’ve
even graduated,” he interrupted, as he placed his hand on my knee
under the table, and rhythmically stroked his finger gently
backwards and forwards.

The bastard
wasn’t playing fair.

I couldn’t
help myself; I found myself imagining him using those skilful
fingers somewhere far more intimate, and I suddenly found myself
getting very hot. I pushed my chair back to break the contact with
him, and remove my jacket.

“And I'm sure
the flat you said I could use is really great, but….”

“I can assure
you it’s a very nice apartment. In fact it’s very similar to the
one I live in, just a bit smaller.”

He reached
over and adjusted my necklace.

“It was
twisted round the wrong way,” he offered by way of an explanation.
He let his hand linger, and I wished I’d worn a top with a higher
neckline as the touch of his hand seared into my skin.

Luckily our
food arrived just then to put pay to his subtle seduction
techniques. I watched with fascinated interest as Liam tackled his
food. He was neat, methodical and efficient as he cut up his food
and then ate with enthusiasm. Nana would certainly have approved.
She always says she can't abide folk who play around with their
food.

“You enjoy a
good breakfast then?” I couldn’t help remarking as I smiled at
him.

“Hmm? Yes,
well I've usually eaten well before now, normally as soon as I get
back from the gym. But I waited for you this morning. And I’ll also
wait for you until I get the answer I want, you know that, don’t
you, Seraphina? So you might as well just save time and say yes
right now.”

“Liam, let’s
be logical here. Like I said, I don’t deny there is a strong
physical attraction between us, but that’s not enough.….”

“Being logical
is what led to you nearly being raped by Jamie. I stood back and
denied my feelings for you, because logically I thought I was doing
the right thing. Now I admit that I was wrong, but in my defence
these types of feelings are all new to me, and maybe I panicked.
But I can't deny I was being dishonest, which is not the way I do
things and why I’ve thought hard to come up with a way forward for
us. But if you insist on being logical, let’s cut to the chase. How
logical is it for you, after working so hard for your degree, to
turn down a fantastic opportunity for your career, one that you
have earned totally on your own merits because you are undoubtedly
very talented? Is it being logical to take a gamble that you’ll
find an equally good opportunity in Dublin or Cork rather than
London?”

Liam stared
intently at me as he waited for my response. What could I say? He
had a very good point, as he well knew.

“Well, I know
but….” I mumbled. I looked down and concentrated on finishing the
last remnants of my poached eggs.

“And what
possible logical objection could you seriously have to living in a
decent place for a change?”

“I
suppose…”

“You told me
you wished it was me instead of Jamie that night at the ball,
didn't you? So I think the problem is that you’re just as scared of
what you feel between us as I was. But I’ve had the courage to face
up to these feelings and I've decided to embrace them
wholeheartedly. All I'm asking is that you have the courage to do
the same, Seraphina. You have it in your power to help me change
and become a better man - are you really going to be cruel enough
to deny me that opportunity?”

God, this man
knew how to be persuasive. I felt my resistance crumbling when I
looked into his eyes, as he reached over to take my hand in
his.

“Please? Just
come back to London and give me a chance, that’s all I’m asking.
Let’s give it everything we’ve got to make it work between us,
because I'm not a fool, realistically I know it won’t always be
easy. You’re right – in a lot of ways we are very different, but
that’s good, isn’t it? It’ll make everything more interesting and
refreshing even if it will be challenging at times. I’m so bored
with my old stale life, and I need you to shake things up. You must
be exhausted from the sheer effort of having to live so frugally
day in, day out, and I want to ease that burden so that you can
really blossom to reach your full potential. So what do you say?
Please, Seraphina, say yes?”

“I’m still not
sure…”

“What’s the
worst that could happen? You’d end up back here staying with your
Grandmother, but at least with some extra experience to add to your
CV. What are you so afraid of? What have you got to lose?”

“Me. That’s
what I'm afraid of losing, Liam. You’ve got everything mapped out
and I find it overwhelming. I'm afraid the real me will get lost as
you sweep me along to make me part of your world. I’ve managed
perfectly well on my own for a long time now, and it’s hard for me
to accept so many changes all at once.”

“But
everything was bound to change once you went out into the big wide
world after you graduated, wasn’t it? You can't stay locked in your
little student bubble forever. Believe me, I have no wish to change
who you are, I just want to be there with you to help you live out
your dreams.”

“But how can
you when you don’t even know what my dreams are, Liam,” I
protested.

“Then tell me.
I’ll listen. And I promise to try my hardest to give you the space
you need to grow. I’ll admit I have a slight tendency to over
manage things…”

“You don’t
say. Only a slight tendency?” I said sarcastically. At least he
recognised this trait in himself, which I supposed was
something.

“Well, you’ve
already proved you have no problem in asserting yourself and
standing up to me, which I respect. And I think you’ve discovered
that I’m always brutally honest and up front too.”

“Yeah, like
telling me getting my hair cut short would make me look like a
dyke,” I commented dryly.

“Well, it
would,” Liam laughed. “You have such beautiful hair, Seraphina. It
would be a sin to cut it all off, and we can’t have that, can
we?”

“I thought you
were rather keen on getting me to sin, actually,” I quipped, then
blushed as I realised the implications of what I was saying.

“Oh trust me,
Seraphina, I am. But only when the time is right, and that’ll
totally be your decision – you will set the pace between us. After
what happened with my brother… let’s just say I appreciate that
you’re going to need time, and that’s one hundred percent fine by
me.”

“How is Jamie?
Have you seen him since…?”

“He’s fine.
Don’t you worry yourself about him, he really isn’t deserving of
your concern,” Liam scowled ferociously. “I don’t want to talk
about him. What I need to know is if you’ll be back in London by
the time I get back from New York next week. Are you going to be
brave enough to accept the challenge of what I'm offering you? Or
are you going to continue to hide yourself away here in Ireland?
Please, just say yes, Seraphina” he whispered, as he ran his
knuckles down my cheek, and then skirted my lip with his finger
tip.

I closed my
eyes in defeat, and then took a deep breath before launching myself
into deep unchartered waters.

“Yes, Liam.
I’ll return to London. I’ll be there waiting for you when you get
back.”

And so it
began.

~*~

Knowing how
much of a micro manager Liam was, I really don’t know why I was
surprised by the fact that before he left, he handed me a large
folder containing the following items:

• Comprehensive details
  of the Butler’s Wharf apartment, complete with a set of key cards
  and security codes, along with instructions that I was to feel free
  to change any of the décor, hang any pictures that I wanted etc,
  etc. Butlers Wharf. Of course. Why hadn’t I guessed Liam would just
  happen to have an empty apartment in one of the most prestigious
  prime locations in London?
  

• A contract for the
  position of Associate Designer at Starr Capital Ventures, giving
  full details of the very generous package.
  

• A brand new, latest
  version iPhone, with a fully paid up unlimited monthly
  contract.
  

• Details of the new
  Gmail accounts he’d set up for us to use to correspond while he was
  away, as he felt they would be ‘more appropriate for personal
  conversations than work accounts’ – I was to log in and change my
  password as soon as possible.
  

• Details of the Skype
  accounts he had set up for us for the same purpose.
  

Liam insisted
on taking some photos on his phone before he left, saying he wanted
to have some pictures to look at while he was away because he was
going to miss me. And I did understand, because I felt as though a
huge chunk of me was being ripped out as I watched Liam driving
away. Although I felt apprehensive about what I'd agreed to, I knew
in my heart of hearts that I'd really had no option, however things
eventually turned out between us in the long term. I could deny it
no longer. Resistance was futile.

I wanted Liam
to be my first lover, nobody else. Only him.
He is The
One.

And he really
had pulled out all the stops to try and convince me to be with him,
so I believed that for now at least he was sincere. How he would
feel in another month or two when the novelty of bedding a virgin
had worn off remained to be seen. But if the worst came to the
worst and it all went tits up, if I could just stick the job out
for a few months, that would look sufficiently respectable on my
CV, wouldn’t it?