Liam’s fingers brush my jaw, and he leans in, his breath warm against my ear. “Don’t worry your pretty head, Darlin’. This gothic romance isn’t ending in tragedy.”
He gives me a shit-eating grin, then sweeps me into his arms, making me squeak as my feet—still barefoot—dangle in the air. He gestures to River.
“Follow me.”
She snatches up my heels and follows while Liam carries me through the manor, toward a set of grand, gilded elevators. As we ascend, the bass of the party fades, replaced by a quiet, opulent luxury.
Where is he leading us?
River, trailing behind us, has removed her heels too, her bare feet silent on the thick, plush carpets. “I do love a good intrigue, Liam.” Her voice echoes in the grand hallway we’ve entered. “But if you’re bringing us to some sort of vampire parlor for a dark ritual, I’ll be leaving marks…onyou.”
He smirks, arms tightening around me. “I’ll keep that in mind, River.”
We walk down a hall lined with portraits of powerful-looking people before arriving at a massive, carved wooden door.
“This is your room, River,” Liam informs her. “Lexie and I are in the one next door.”
River’s jaw literally drops. She looks at the door, then at Liam, then back at the door. “What? You’re not fucking with me, right? We’re staying here?”
My head shoots up in surprise, but my forehead catches on Liam’s jaw. His head snaps back.
“Ow…Oh my God, I’m sorry,” I slur, my hand fumbling with his face.
Liam grunts, rubbing his wounded jaw. “No harm done, mo Róisín.” He crooks a smile at River before pushing open her door. “The owner and I are old friends. He has agreed to host us for the next week or two.”
River actually jumps up and down with a little squeal. “That is so grand! Thank you, Liam. Seriously.” She leans in and plants a quick kiss on his cheek.
I immediately poke her in the chest. And warn not so subtly,Hands off the book boyfriend, Riv.
She cocks her hip, winking at me. “I have to fly to Aspen in a few days for my parents’ anniversary. But spending an extended weekend in a castle will be the highlight of my year. For Lexie? Highlight of her life.” She hands me my heels, and I clutch them to my chest.
I can’t argue. I just lift a hand in a lazy wave as Liam starts moving again. “Night, Riv.”
“Night, Lex. Don’t be too loud, you two! I have excellent hearing.”
I stick out my tongue. He nods. A silent agreement: we’re not there yet.
Liam takes me into the room next door, and my breath catches all over again.
It’s expansive. A massive four-poster bed dominates the center, draped in heavy, blood-red silks. But the far wall kills me. Double arched window doors lead onto a private stone balcony. Beyond them, the moonlit gardens stretch out like a silver sea.
I drop my shoes onto the gold-flecked rug.
“Oooh…” I mutter, peering toward the nearby bathroom, where marble and gold gleam in the shadows. “You think there’s a Jacuzzi tub in there?”
Liam snickers, bringing me to the bed and lowering me onto the soft, cool sheets. “Probably, but you can learn tomorrow, Luv. It’s time for you to get some rest. You’ve had a long night of being a masterpiece.”
Aww! I’m too exhausted to melt.
As he settles me into the pillows, a massive yawn escapes. I fumble with my dress zipper. “Can you…can you take the dress off? It’s pretty, and I don’t want to ruin the fabric.”
Liam’s hand pauses in my hair. A slow, dangerous smirk spreads across his face. “Of course, Darlin’. But you understand you’ve officially crossed into thesharing one bed nakedtrope.”
I shrug, halfway to sleep. “Compared to the others we crossed off the list, this is pretty tame. At least there’s no Bible this time.”
He grins and stands, moving to the foot of the bed. I lift my heavy lids, watching as he removes his clothing, one by one. Slow, with purpose, he invites me to watch. But when he pulls his shirt over his head, my brows lift. The bandage on his side has come loose, the white gauze dangling and revealing the dark, angry bruise.
“Liam,” I murmur, reaching up with a shaking hand. “Your bandage…let me re-wrap it. I should?—”
