I tried to study the page, but my mind kept replaying the day. The shopping. Being close to the monster. The fear that should have come but never did.
“You’re running away,” I scolded myself.
So why did that thought hurt? Not as badly as the agony of my other scars, but it was there. I recognized it. It was supposed to be easy, leaving the world of mobs, crimes, and sin in the dust.
“If you stay, you can never….” The words died on my tongue. I couldn’t fathom the idea of not righting the wrong that had been done to me.
Closing the book and setting it on the coffee table, I rolled into the couch. Tears leaked from my eyes as I squeezed them shut. Running away meant building a future that would mend my broken heart. But now, it was painfully obvious that I was in danger of leaving a broken piece behind.
“You don’t love him, it’s too soon!” I protested. “You can’t go falling in love with someone just because they throw a scrap of attention your way. You learned that lesson once, don’t be stupid.”
Taking deep breaths, I forced myself to calm down…and ended up falling asleep.
Something wispy tickled the back of my neck. It was a smokey, translucent caress. In the suspended state of sleeping and wakefulness, I chased the shadowy tendrils, my lips moving to call it back.
I sat bolt upright, sucking air into my lungs. Storm was gone. In his place sat my masked husband.
“Creepy much?” I wheezed, flattening my hand on my chest.
Liam was sprawled in his chair, one long leg bent over the footrest. My gaze immediately snagged on the center of his pants. Right where the material strained.
“See something you like, cailín?” his lilting voice rumbled, almost a tease.
“No,” I grumped. “Just some stranger jacking off while I sleep.”
I regretted the words the moment I said them. He hadn’t been doing anything gross. How many times had I been desperately turned on around him? If I had to chance to watch him sleep, I would have a girl-hard-on too.
Liam shot to his feet and came at me with slow, deliberate steps. “I’m going to fuck the brat right out of you.”
His vicious promise sent a shudder of excitement through me.
“I’m not being a brat!” I protested.
Liam reached for me, tugging the jeans down my hips. Damn me, but I tipped my hips to help him.
“One, you interfered at the store.”
Oh, dio!He was counting.
“Two, you drive like a maniac.”
I lifted my arms as he wrenched the tee over my head. “I do not!”
“And three, you can’t say anything nice when you wake up.” His accent thickened, tongue rolling deliciously over the words. “I’m going to spank that pretty little arse until it’s cherry red.”
Horror washed through me. “Liam!No!”
I scrambled away.
I could run. I could find a door. Lock it. Barricade it until he calmed down.
Or maybe you just want him to chase you….
I dodged his grip. My feet hit the floor. A deep breath fueled my burst to safety.
Liam snatched me around the waist, kicked my feet out from under me, and tackled me to the floor. There was no running from him. No escape.
“I didn’t mean to be rude,” I choked, tasting a mouthful of the fuzzy rug.
