Liam could feel his cheeks in his ears. Not caring that they were in a pizza parlor, he stood, scooped her out of her side of the booth and held her in his arms. Kate laughed as he fished for some money in his pocket and plunked it on the table to cover their meal. Then, kissing her like his life depended on it, he carried her out the door.
Somber intensity made Liam’s eyes sparkle as they entered her apartment, but Kate could tell something had changed. Gone was the man who had things to prove. Gone was the man who couldn’t trust, who needed to bend life to his will. And gone was the little boy who was afraid of being alone.
The need in his eyes no longer filled her with fear. Perhaps because his desire was now tempered with sweet consideration and freedom from his past. His perceived sins no longer held him hostage.
She was glad he’d brought her to her apartment, rather than back to Vice. As much as she felt badly he’d sold his businesses, she knew she didn’t need to see the inside of a casino again. Too many memories. Too many ghosts. Like Liam, she’d seen things she never needed to see again.
He embraced her long and hard and she drank him in. The scratch of his beard as he nuzzled her neck. His warm breath as it drifted under her collar. His delicious cologne as it mingled with the scent of his clean skin. He touched all her senses, gave her a heady rush.
Her Liam.
He dug his hands into her hair and looked deep into her eyes. “The last time I saw you here…” Lines of regret furrowed his brow. She remembered how Hugo Vaughan had been all over her.
“Don’t dwell on it. The future, remember?”
Since Vaughan’s arrest, other women had come forward, accusing him of rape. Detective Baxter had assured her the loan shark would go away for a long time.
Liam brushed his thumb over her cheek. “No one will ever hurt you again, Kate.”
“I love you.”
“I adore you. C’mere.”
He held her against his firm body, his arms molded about her as he covered her mouth with his own. She opened to him and their tongues met in a dance of velvety surrender. He kissed her as if making a pledge to her.
He skimmed his hands over the top half of her body as they kissed, massaging her shoulders, playing with her hair. Tickling her ribcage. She arched into him as her body begged for more intimate touches.
Despite her need, he kept his touch light and sensual, rather than sexual. A few minutes of this took their toll on both of them. Kate panted as he rested his forehead against hers and closed his eyes.
“Christ,” he murmured. “I’m trying hard not to rush things, but this might kill me.”
She let out a giggle, feeling his pain. “Liam, I want you so much.”
“I want you, too.” He caressed her ribs, his hand straying close to the underside of her breast.
“Then what are you waiting for?”
His eyes narrowed, his gaze piercing. “Just this.” Liam reached over to where he’d dumped his jacket and pulled a slim box from out of the inside pocket, handing it to her. “This belongs to you.”
Kate already knew what was inside but was too choked up to open it. Liam raised the lid of the box for her. Upon seeing the shimmery strand inside, her tears spilled over. Her mother’s pearls lay inside.
He took the choker out of the box and fastened it around her neck. “Vaughan left a trail. It wasn’t hard to follow it. You didn’t think I was going to leave your mom’s necklace in some grubby pawn shop, did you?”
She covered her trembling lips with her hand.
“Hey.” Liam smiled and wiped her tears away, holding her until her breathing calmed. “No more tears, okay?”
She nodded. “No more tears.”
Within seconds, their outfits lay scattered all over the floor. As soon as he revealed the tantalizing planes of his abdominal muscles, she dropped to her knees and smoothed her tongue over each ripple. His stomach clenched and he buried his fingers in her hair.
“God, Kate.”
She gripped him, teasing him further. He swore and lifted her off the floor, then dropped her on the bed. He stood over her, running a hand down her calf.
“Mine,” he said as he lowered himself over her, mystified by their connection.
And he was hers, all hers.
