"Erica, that was the best thing I've ever seen!" she exclaimed, her dark eyes sparkling with admiration. "Heidi needed taking down a peg or two, and you just became my favourite person!"
"Thanks, I guess," I said, trying to brush off the praise. I never cared much for the spotlight, especially when it came to confrontations. But there was something gratifying about standing up to Heidi and showing her I wasn't someone to be pushed around.
"Seriously, though, that was badass," Frankie continued, her grin infectious. I couldn't help but smile back, feeling a sense of camaraderie with this rule-breaking pack member who seemed to have my back.
As we shared a laugh, I sensed someone approaching. A presence suddenly appeared beside me, causing Frankie's grin to widen even more.
"Looks like you've got a shadow," Frankie teased, nodding toward the figure beside me. I glanced over to find Grant standing there, his blue eyes dancing with mischief and a cheeky grin plastered across his face.
"Seems like you're already causing trouble," he said, his tone light and flirtatious.
"Me? Causing trouble?" I replied sarcastically. "I think you have that backwards, Grant. You're the one who ratted me out to the Alpha when I was trying to escape." He shrugged nonchalantly, his grin widening.
"Maybe I just wanted to keep you around." His words were playful, but something in his gaze told me there might be a kernel of truth hidden beneath the flirtation. Despite my irritation, I couldn't help but smile at his flirting. There was something about Grant's carefree demeanour that drew me in, and I found myself wanting to let down my guard, if only for a moment. But I couldn't forget that he had betrayed me, even if his intentions weren't malicious.
"Anyway," I said, forcing my expression back to neutral, "I'm not looking for trouble. It just seems to follow me wherever I go."
"Isn't that the truth?" Grant laughed, his eyes twinkling as they met mine.
But our moment of levity was short-lived, as a dark cloud seemed to descend over the room. Across the bar, I caught sight of Liam glaring in our direction, his handsome face twisted into a scowl. He was watching Grant and me with an intensity that sent a shiver down my spine.
Suddenly, he pushed through the crowd and made his way over to us.
"Grant," Liam said coldly, his voice dripping with disdain, "shouldn't you be on duty or something?" The tension between them was palpable, and I couldn't help but wonder what had caused such animosity. I knew Liam had a possessive streak when it came to me, but this felt like something more, something rooted in their shared history.
"Relax, Alpha," Grant replied, his tone casual but his eyes wary. "I'm just enjoying some time off with my friends."
"Your 'time off' seems to coincide with mine a little too often for my liking," Liam snapped, his gaze never leaving Grant's face. Grant's jaw clenched as the tension between him and Liam continued to escalate. With a frustrated huff, he threw back the rest of his drink and stormed off, leaving me standing there with Liam's dark gaze boring into me.
"Excuse me," I muttered, attempting to sidestep him and put some distance between us. But Liam had other plans, seizing my arm and pulling me around a corner, away from the prying eyes of our friends.
"Hey!" I snapped, yanking my arm free from his grasp. "What the hell do you think you're doing?"
"Erica," he growled, his voice low and dangerous. My heart pounded in my chest, partly out of anger but also, frustratingly, out of attraction. His close proximity was doing things to me that I didn't want to acknowledge.
"Leave me alone, Liam." My voice shook slightly, betraying my growing unease. Instead of listening, Liam suddenly closed the gap between us, pushing me against the wall and kissing me fiercely. Instinctively, I tried to push him away, furious at his audacity. But as his lips moved hungrily against mine, my resolve began to crumble, and soon I found myself melting into his embrace, my hands gripping the fabric of his shirt.
His scent, an intoxicating mix of gingerbread and fire, enveloped me as our lips danced together, each kiss more passionate than the last. I hated how good this felt, how easily my body responded to his touch. It wasn't fair, especially when I'd already made up my mind about not giving in to the mate bond.
As we kissed, I couldn't help but wonder what this meant for my future with Liam, and how much longer I could resist the powerful connection between us. The thought both terrified and excited me, leaving me breathless and wanting more, even as I knew I shouldn't. But instead of pulling away, I found myself only craving more of him, and hating myself for it. My mind raced as Liam's hands roamed over my body, his touch leaving a trail of fire in its wake. I run my fingers over his back. I can feel the heat radiating from his body and the hardness of his muscles. I curl my fingers into his t-shirt and pull him in closer. The rough scratch of his beard, the warmth of his body, the softness of his lips. His hands are like the softest velvet, gripping me like they’re brand new. I gasped as Liam's lips left mine, and he trailed a line of flames down my neck. His hands continued to explore my body, and I felt the warmth and desire radiating from them. The sensation was so intense that I wanted to cry out in pleasure, but I held back, knowing that I shouldn't give in just yet. His lips finally reached my collarbone, and he gently nipped at the exposed skin there. Instantly, a jolt of electricity shot through me and I shuddered with pleasure. His hands moved lower on my body, causing me to moan softly as he touched me in all the right places.
His mouth urgently met mine again. Our kiss was electric, almost like a drug, and I felt myself growing more and more addicted with each passing second. I could no longer deny the attraction that burned between us, and it only seemed to intensify as we explored each other with our mouths. Liam's hands moved possessively over me, igniting a fire inside of me that threatened to consume us both. He was demanding yet gentle, setting my skin on fire wherever he touched. The sensations were overwhelming, and I found myself longing for even more. Time seemed to stand still as we clung to each other desperately, exploring every inch of each other with our tongues. I felt as though I had been transported to another world where nothing else mattered but this moment between us. Every sensation combined into an intoxicating blend of pleasure and desire that left me wanting more and more of him. We were lost in each other, completely unaware of the world around us. Just when I thought I couldn't take any more, his fingers slipped beneath the waistband of my jeans. He expertly explored every curve of my body until I was trembling with anticipation and desire for more. It didn’t matter that we were in a public place, and anyone could walk around the corner and see us at any moment. My skin burned wherever he touched, sparking an inferno inside me that threatened to consume us both. His hands moved in slow circles over my hips and stomach before sliding upward toward my chest. He slipped his hands into my bra and cupped my breasts in his palms and gently massaged them until I moaned with pleasure. His lips trailed kisses down my neck as he moved his hands back down to explore the rest of me. Everywhere he touched felt like pure bliss and I found myself arching into him, desperate for even more contact. With each caress, he seemed to be reminding me of just how much he wanted me and it only made me want him even more. Before long, we were both lost in a haze of desire and longing for each other, our bodies intertwined in passion-fuelled abandon.
"Erica," he whispered into my ear, his breath hot against my skin. "You need to remember that you're mine. You might not agree yet, but I won't hesitate to kill any man who dares to touch you like this." And just like that an emotional bucket of cold water drenches the fire in me.
"Who the hell do you think you are?" I snapped, trying to regain control of my emotions. "I'm not your property."
Ignoring my protests, he continued to kiss my neck, nipping gently at my marking spot. The sensation sent a thrill down my spine, and I hated myself for enjoying it. Liam was claiming ownership over me, and despite my anger, I couldn't deny the pull between us. As if sensing my internal struggle, Liam pulled back slightly, smirking at my flushed appearance.
"It's only a matter of time, baby. You can fight it all you want, but you can't escape what fate has planned for us." His words stung, making me feel trapped and powerless. But instead of lashing out, I just clenched my fists, biting back tears of frustration.
"You don't know me, Liam. Don't you dare presume to know what I will or won't do."
"Time will tell," he said with a smug grin before walking away, leaving me standing there, a mess of conflicting emotions.
Annoyance and anger warred within me, battling against the undeniable attraction I felt for Liam. I tried to tell myself it was just the bond, that I didn't actually want him. But as I leaned against the wall, trying to calm my racing heart, I couldn't help but feel a nagging sense of doubt.
"Damn you, Liam Anderson," I muttered under my breath, wiping away a stray tear. As much as I wanted to deny it, there was a part of me that feared I might be falling for him, and that terrified me more than anything else.
