Sirens sound off in my head despite an alcohol-induced haziness, warning me why being with him is not worth it. I stand, my head swimming. My body finds balance and a fragment of mental clarity again as I grab my purse off the table. A ride-share sounds like a great idea.
I avoid direct eye contact with Liam as I fumble through the items in my purse, grabbing things left and right. He sits and watches me with a smirk on his face. Unable to find my phone, I curse to myself. My hands sift through the contents again. My fingertips brush against the rough texture of my phone case at the bottom. As I pull it out, I find my list attached to the back of my case, stuck together by static or voodoo. I watch with horror as the laminated paper flutters to the ground.
Liam grabs it off the cement floor before I have a chance to pick it up. “What’s this?”
Unlike movies where horrific moments are slowed down, my heart speeds up and I attempt to snatch the paper with lightning speed. “Let me have that. It’s nothing, just a shopping list.” My voice fails to hide how horrified I feel.
Liam grips the paper harder as he sends me a devilish grin that liquefies my insides. “Tsk, tsk. How rude of you to grab something from my hands. You greedy little thing.” He pulls the paper toward his eyes as he attempts to make out the letters in the dimly lit bar. I barely breathe, taking in enough oxygen to not pass out. Although a medical scare sounds like a great diversion.
He holds back a laugh. “A Fuck It list? I’m curious about what type of things you’re shopping for here.”
“I hate groceries, so fuck it. Right?” I dash for the list again. My fingers grasp the slick plastic coating before Liam lifts himself from the couch.
Liam has to be a foot taller than me, my list no longer in reaching distance. A growl of frustration escapes my lips as I stomp my foot. He smiles down at me like he finds my irritated display cute.
I teeter on my feet, my hands grabbing onto his arms for stability. The warm skin of his biceps heats my fingers. His rigid muscles tense under my hands, teasing me to feel him up like a creep.
I look up at him as I step away, putting some room between us. He offers me a toothy grin as he pulls out his phone and turns on the flashlight to assess my items. I want to die right here, right now, in some dingy Chinese bar to an Asian rendition of Elvis Presley.
“You even color-coded it?” Liam’s surprised voice comes off sincere.
My eyes hold his steady, facing my fate. “I like to be organized and detail-oriented. Why make a list if it isn’t perfect? Now give it back.” I hold my palm out and tap my foot.
Liam childishly waves it above my head. His height makes the task of snatching my list impossible. I bounce up and down to no avail, unable to reach his hand. My body rubs against his firm chest. The contact makes me jump back a foot and nearly twist an ankle.
His chuckle sounds more like a rumble. “You’re making it hard to read. Cut it out.”
“Well, excuse me for the inconvenience. Didn’t your mom teach you that it’s not nice to take things from others?”
“Must have missed that lecture. But my mama taught me how sharing is caring, so maybe you need a lesson or two yourself.” His smirk and the alcohol I’ve consumed override my senses. That and the way he pronounces mama, hinting at his accent and boyishness.
“My, my, Miss Mitchell, what a dirty mind you have. I’ve clearly underestimated you.” Liam shakes his head as his flashlight illuminates the page.
I rub my eyes, attempting to rid myself of this nightmare.
Nope, didn’t work. Liam is still here, in his sexy glory, illuminating my list with his phone.
He reads my list, ignoring my state of distress. “Go skinny-dipping. Buy a vibrator. Try foreplay with ice, now that is quite bold. You’re in luck, wanting to kiss a foreigner, because turns out you have one at your disposal right here. Do karaoke while drinking, completed. Try new food, go skydiving, watch porn, play strip poker, kiss someone in front of the Eiffel Tower. Ah, now you’re talking. Get tied up and be blindfolded.”
I attempt to rip the list from his hands, but he holds strong, continuing my torture.
“No need to get rough. Come from oral sex and experience multiple orgasms in one night. Basic, but I like it. Mirror sex sounds hot as fuck, you secret voyeur. Have sex in public, havesex against a wall, have a quickie, and get high. And last but most certainly not least, have outdoor sex. I have to say, I’m impressed by your level of creativity and boldness.”
If I had a drink in my hand, I wonder if I would’ve thrown it in Liam’s face. His smirk tempts me to go to the bar and fulfill my fantasy.
He taps my scrunched nose. “You know what we have to do now, right?”
“I’m sure you’ll tell me whether I ask or not.”
“Smart girl. I’m making it my project to help you with this. It’ll be our secret.” His words make my skin break out in goosebumps. Liam has a way of screwing me without ever getting me in bed.
Mindfucked. Every damn time.