Liam brushed the hair out of my face, and I blinked an eye open. He was lying on his side, facing me, his hair tousled, his muscled chest on display.
“Don’t think you can fuck me into compliance every time you want me to do something.” My words were muffled by the pillow I was half buried in.
He picked up my hand and kissed it. “But did it work?”
“Maybe.”
He leaned in and kissed my cheek, the gesture innocent and caring after what we’d done. “I’m positive I can turn that into a yes.”
“It’s only three days,”I insisted.
“Make it one.”
“No way. I need to at least show my face. Make sure I still have staff. Check in with Amara and Vlad or they’ll mount a search party.”
I was sitting on Liam’s lap, enjoying being this close to him and touching him whenever I wanted to.
“I don’t like this.”
Taking a sip of my coffee, I melted into him. It was hard to stay mad at Liam for long when he was this close. And when his hand was on my leg. Or when he placed a kiss on my head every now and again, as if he couldn’t help himself.
Or when his voice went all growly, making warmth spread all over my body.
“You don’thaveto like it. But you do have to let me do it.”
He cupped my cheek, his hand spanning half my face, and I nestled into his touch. Tilting my head back, he leaned down until our lips were almost touching. “If I could stay, I would.”
His lips brushed mine with every word he spoke. My eyes fluttered shut, and my body turned pliable in his arms. “You’ve stayed away from me for this long. What’s another few days?”
I was still in disbelief at how we’d gotten to this point. I’d had feelings for Liam for a long time, but to find out he returned them? That was a beautiful dream I never wanted to wake up from.
His phone vibrated on the table, interrupting his reply. A glance at the screen showed Gabriel was calling. I reached over, handing him his cell. “I’m getting a refill. You want more?”
He held out his coffee mug with a smile, his face turning back into his usual expressionless mask as soon as he answered the phone. His hand holding the mug was bandaged, something I hadn’t noticed until we woke up this morning. He’d told me he’d cut himself, but I’d still been worried. After making sure he was okay under the guise of changing his bandage, I let it go.
I busied myself filling our cups, trying but failing not to listen to his conversation.
“I know how important the meeting is.”
Silence, then another growled answer. “And I said I’d be there.”
He hung up, then came over to where I was leaning against the counter. Tugging a strand of my hair behind my ear, he put his forehead to mine. “I have to go.”
There was still so much left unsaid between us. But we had plenty of time to figure it out. “Let me know once you’re back safely?”
His lips found mine again, and after a too-short kiss, he stepped back. “I will. Don’t go anywhere without Pete.”
Pete was my new bodyguard. I still thought it was ridiculous that anyone wanted to harm me, but Liam insisted. And I was happy to concede to his wishes, as long as I could still move around freely.
I knew being with Liam wouldn’t be easy. His world was different to mine. And I was trying to trust him, starting with my safety.
Walking him to the door, I tried to concentrate on all the things I still had to do today instead of wallowing in the thought of not seeing him for the next few days.
He turned back once he was already in the hallway, his arms going around me, pulling me close for another kiss. He pressed his face into my neck, placing soft kisses on my tender skin. “I don’t think I’ll ever get enough of you.” His words sounded regretful.
Ignoring the small glimmer of doubt flaring to life, I hugged him tight before letting go. I’d see him again soon. There was no need to panic at the thought that he already regretted what had happened between us.
All his actions told me he returned my feelings.So why can’t I shake this sense of foreboding?
