Page 13 of Claiming My Cocky Boss

She hesitated, then took a deep breath. “When I moved your truck earlier... I found something.”

Six

Mia

I took a deep breath, feeling the weight of what I was about to admit. There was no point in holding back now, not after what I’d done. “So, about your truck,” I began, my voice coming out a little softer than I intended. I could feel the heat rising in my cheeks already. “I, uh... I went snooping earlier.”

Liam raised an eyebrow from his position on the couch, his ankle still propped up, making him unable to move. He didn’t seem angry, just curious. “Snooping? What’d you find?”

I shifted, feeling a mix of nerves and embarrassment. “I… I wanted to know more about you. So, I looked inside your truck, thinking maybe I’d find something. You know, just to figure out what kind of guy you are.”

His lips quirked into an amused smile, but he stayed quiet, letting me continue.

“And, well,” I hesitated, really regretting this now. “I found a box of condoms in the glove compartment.” I bit my lip, trying to read his reaction, but his expression stayed calm, his eyeswatching me closely. “It just made me wonder if you were seeing anyone. I mean... they were unopened, but still...”

Liam let out a low chuckle, shaking his head. “So, you went snooping in my truck and found some condoms, huh?”

I felt my face heat even more. “I know it sounds bad. I wasn’t trying to invade your privacy, but... I guess I was curious.”

He adjusted himself on the couch, wincing slightly as he tried to find a comfortable position. “And you wanted to know if I’m seeing someone?” His voice was soft, not teasing, but there was a glint of amusement in his eyes.

“Yeah,” I admitted, feeling like I had to be honest now. “I mean, it’s none of my business, really. But I couldn’t help but wonder.”

Liam’s smile softened, and he gave a slight shrug. “Well, you don’t have to wonder. I’m not seeing anyone. Haven’t been for a while, actually.”

The tension that had built in my chest eased a little, but I still felt like I needed to explain myself further. “I don’t know why I thought looking in your truck would tell me anything about you,” I said, laughing nervously. “It’s just... you’re kind of a mystery, Liam. And I guess I was hoping to learn more.”

His eyes softened, and for the first time since I’d met him, I saw a different side of him—one that wasn’t guarded or playful but genuine. “I get it,” he said. “I probably would’ve done the same thing if I were you.”

That caught me off guard. “You would?”

He chuckled, running a hand through his hair. “Sure. If I were curious about someone, I’d poke around too. But now that we’re both being honest... I should ask—what about you? Are you seeing anyone?”

I shook my head, feeling a little more comfortable now that the air was cleared. “No. Not for a long time.”

“How long?”

I hesitated, then sighed. “Three years. My ex moved away, and I just... haven’t wanted to get close to anyone since.”

Liam nodded, as if that made perfect sense to him. “Same here, but for me, it’s been work. I’ve had casual stuff here and there, but nothing serious. Haven’t really had time for it.”

We both sat in silence for a moment, the fire crackling softly in the background. I glanced over at him, feeling the heat from the flames mixed with the heat of our conversation.

“Guess we’ve both been in a bit of a dry spell,” I said with a small smile.

Liam smirked, his blue eyes locking onto mine. “Yeah, you could say that.”

The tension between us shifted, becoming something else—something I hadn’t felt in a long time. I wasn’t sure if it was the wine, the firelight, or just the fact that we were two people who’d been alone for too long, but I felt myself leaning closer to him.

“I guess we could... fix that,” I suggested my voice barely above a whisper, unsure of what I was even saying.

Liam’s smirk deepened, and despite his injury, he leaned forward slightly, closing the gap between us. “Yeah, maybe we could.”

I wasn’t sure what came over me, but before I knew it, our lips met, softly at first, like we were testing the waters. But when he kissed me back, something inside me lit up. It wasn’t just the physical connection—it was the understanding, the shared loneliness, and the unspoken agreement that maybe we both needed this.

When we finally pulled apart, my breath was shaky, and I could see the same hunger reflected in Liam’s eyes. “You sure about this?” he asked, his voice rough and low.

I nodded, feeling the heat rise between us again. “Yeah.”

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