Begin Again novel Chapter 65

"Excuse me!" Eden held up her index finger, pulled out her iPhone and checked the caller ID.

Liam didn't mean to peek, but the lawyer's name flashed on the screen in big, bold writing, taunting him.

All his anger and annoyance at her was back, swallowing up his sincere apology.

"I should return to my desk," Eden said, slipping her phone back in her blazer.

"Why is he still around? Stop wasting his time and yours," he said, pissed out of his head at the realisation that Julian was right about the lawyer. He's very much a part of Eden's life, and he didn't like it at all.

"I don't know what you mean."

"You know damn well what I mean," he snarled, crossing his arms over his chest. "You don't like him. You don't belong with him, and you're just wasting both your time."

"Who are you to decide I don't belong with him?"

"I'm the man who knows how to please you, Princess. The lawyer can't." He said frankly. "And when you're ready to be pleased, you know where to find me."

"That won't happen."

"It will," Liam assured her. "I'm a very patient man, Eden. I can wait."

"Then you'll be waiting for a long time, Mr Anderson."

"That's okay. I waited two years for you to come back to me. What's a few more weeks?"

"I didn't come back to you. And you know what, I'm done—" Eden turned to leave, but he reeled her back in, and kissed her hard, punishing her for her little act of defiance.

"Liam," she sighed as she wove her arms around his neck, her body yielding to his.

"I like it when you say my name," he smiled on her lips, enjoying the taste of her cherry lip-balm.

"God, you infuriate me so much!" She purred against his mouth, driving him nuts with her tongue on the side of his lips.

Where the fuck did she learn to do that, Liam wondered as he ran his hands through her hair, drowning in her kisses. He bloody hoped she's not doing that to the lawyer.

The thought sent him in a mini rage; he picked her up and sat her down on the table in a corner piled high with discarded printing paper and long-forgotten documents, their lips and hands barely parting as he kissed her harder in a desperate attempt to banish all thoughts of the lawyer from both their minds.

"Do you have any idea how much I've missed having you in my arms," Liam groaned, their foreheads touching lightly, their shallow breaths mingling. "Stop pushing me away."

"Maybe if you stop being an asshole—" She sighed, kissing his jawline, her hands gliding frantically on his chest. "—I'll think about it."

"I'm your asshole," he laughed, gently nipping her lower lip. Eden moaned out loud, almost sending him over the edge with the sounds. "And you are my tonic!"

"I'm not your anything," she whispered, throwing her head back, exposing more of her graceful neck for him to kiss.

"Stop talking nonsense," Liam growled, burying his face in her neck, breathing in her scent.

And for a good five minutes, they were enraptured with each other, as their mouths and tongues and hands did all the talking.

"Shut this shit down with the lawyer, Princess," Liam warned her softly when they pulled apart at last. "You are too important for my recovery. I won't share you with him, or any other man for that matter."

"I don't take orders from you when it comes to my personal life," Eden said stubbornly as she hurriedly fixed her clothes and smoothed down her pants. "And the last time I checked, you wouldn't touch me with a ten-foot pole, remember? Isn't' that what you told your therapist?"

Not in those exact words, but he did say something along those lines in Linda's office.

"A wise man changes his mind sometimes," Liam informed her cooly, surprising himself with the announcement. "I thought if I stayed away from you, I could get you out of my system somehow. But after a month of following your lead, I realise now that I can't."

Up until that moment, he hadn't decided what he wants.

But now, he knew without a doubt, and with absolute clarity, he wanted Eden.

He wanted to possess every inch of her, and so completely, so thoroughly, that the only man she'll ever need is him. The only man she'll ever want is him.

Fixing printers and fetching documents is not his job. And pleasing employees is certainly not in his nature!

"Ugh!" He rattled off a long string of colourful words under his breath as he made his way to Eden's office.

She was hard at work, squinting at her screen when he placed the documents on her desk. She barely looked up from her presentation or report or whatever it was that had her undivided attention.

Liam lingered, waiting, hoping for some acknowledgement. But when it didn't come willingly, he made sure to get it out of her.

"I fixed the printer." He announced, rocking on the balls of his feet, pleased with himself and proud of his achievement.

"Thanks," Eden mumbled. "I'm sure your staff will be very grateful."

"My staff?" He scoffed, unable to believe his ears. He did this for her. Why she would bring the other employees into it was beyond him.

"Anyway, I also brought your documents." He added, tapping the stack proudly. "I stapled them myself."

"I can see that." Eden nodded.

"And?"

"And what, Mr Anderson?"

"Aren't you going to thank me?" Liam demanded, annoyed that he's been reduced to fishing for compliments and praise.

"Hold on, let me look for my gold star stickers," she looked through her desk drawer and came up empty. "Sorry, I think I left them at home for Aiden. Remind me to bring them next time."

"You!" He wagged his finger at her. "Leave all that sass at home with your stickers!"

Liam didn't wait for more of her smart-mouthed comebacks, he turned on his heel and stormed his way to his office, fuming at her cheekiness.

This is the last time—he vowed as he plopped down in his seat—the last time he tries to play hero and do something nice for Eden McBride.