I’ll think about that later!
Because right now, the thought of abandoning him was too painful. My heart wept tears of blood for this beautiful man.
“You matter.” I pressed my thumbs under his eyes, brushing them over the soft skin, yet feeling the difference between both sides. “Your well-being matters to me.”
My name was a strangled groan on his lips. “Gabriella.”
“Let me help you find someone who can help you through this,” I insisted softly. “Please, Liam.”
There were doctors. There were treatments. He didn’t have to suffer like this.
He shouldn’t be suffering alone.
As much as it broke me to admit it, I needed to make sure he was fine before I left. That he was in a good treatment program with someone to listen to him when we eventually did part ways.
Leaving before that would be downright cruel.
“Okay,” Liam breathed.
And then, because I didn’t have any other idea how to make this better, I leaned down and kissed him. It was a gentle kiss. My lips brushed over his in a soft caress. But just because it lacked the passion of our other encounters, didn’t mean it was any less powerful.
I liked this man. I probably could love him someday if I didn’t already. I was in danger of falling harder every second we were together.
There was no way to make a clean break.
If only things were different….
Pulling back, I pressed my forehead against his and smiled. His eyes were closed, but his breathing had returned to normal.
“Thank you—” He cleared his throat. “Thank you for coming.”
“Of course! That’s what we do,” I said simply. Because it was. For as long as we were together, this was how things worked. “Now, how about you show me around your casino?”
Liam hesitated. “Actually, can we just stay here?”
Smiling to myself, I leaned down. My cheek rested against his shoulder, and my body draped over his. “An even better idea.”
He began to stroke his fingers up and down my spine. I let his touch lull me as I protected him with my body. It was nice, and for a moment, I let myself pretend it would never end.
Chapter 38 – Gabriella
“Stop fidgeting, you look fine,” Connor hissed.
I shot a glare over my shoulder. “I’m not!”
“I was talking to him.” Connor jerked a thumb at Liam, who was in fact fidgeting in the front seat of the SUV.
“And if you were talking to my wife like that—”
“Yeah, yeah,” Connor interrupted. “You’d cut my tongue out to teach me a lesson. Save your breath, mate. I’m not stupid enough to disrespect her in front of you.”
“I should pierce your tongue,” Liam muttered, staring out the window. Wearing a fitted black tux, he looked incredible. Since I hadn’t seen him the whole week, just being in a car with him was a breath of fresh air. I seized the opportunity to watch him without restraint.
It didn’t help the terrible decision plaguing my heart.
“Ooh, kinky.” Connor pulled through a gilded gate that had to be at least ten feet high. “Sorry, not into that.”
Liam punched his shoulder.
