Page 7 of Beckoning Liam

"Welcome to your temporary abode," Liam intoned as he opened the door to an unremarkable seaside cottage, his voice a low rumble against the howling outside. Once inside, he locked the door behind them with a definitive click, the sound echoing in the stark entryway.

"Temporary abode or gilded cage?" Becks countered, trying for levity but only managing to betray the edge of anxiety that licked at her nerves. She hugged her arms around herself, acutely aware of Liam's towering presence filling the space behind her.

"Neither gilded nor a cage, Becks," he corrected, stepping closer. "Merely a necessary precaution." His gaze held hers, piercing through the dim light, daring her to challenge his words.

"Of course," she said, turning away to mask the tremor in her voice. Her eyes darted across the room, taking in the sparse furnishings and the windows barred against more than just the storm. “Can I set up a workspace?”

"Sure," Liam suggested, guiding her towards a solid oak desk situated against the far wall. There was an unspoken commandin his gesture, the dominant part of him asserting control in the midst of her fear.

Becks acquiesced, her fingers trailing over the rough wood grain before she sank into the chair provided. She unpacked her notes and laptop, the familiar items grounding her in a reality rapidly spiraling out of her grasp.

"Will you be able to continue your work here?" Liam asked, his question laced with a concern that belied his commanding exterior.

"Translating is about focus... immersion," Becks replied, her hands hovering above the keyboard. "I'll manage."

"Good." He nodded, satisfaction evident in his tone. "You need to finish translating the rest of that message."

"It isn’t about translating the message, it’s about understanding it," she murmured, eyes flitting to the screen where encrypted text awaited her expertise. "And it's knowing that not doing so correctly could cost lives..."

"Which is why we have to stay ahead of whoever is after us," he interjected, sitting on the edge of the desk, his proximity a palpable force.

"Whose life is it you’re assigned to protect, Liam? Mine or countless others?" Her question hung between them, heavy with implications neither was ready to fully acknowledge.

"Both," he said firmly, the alpha protector surfacing once more. It seemed to be ingrained in him. "But right now, yours is my primary goal."

She felt the weight of his statement, the unspoken bond forming through their shared purpose and peril. His closeness was both a balm and a burn, a paradox she was beginning to crave despite the danger it represented.

"Let me get to work then," Becks declared assertively, her fingers dancing across the keys. As she delved into the cryptic message, translating symbols into warnings, Liam prowled thecottage, keeping watch—a sentinel guarding against the unseen threats that lurked beyond the walls of their refuge.

"Give yourself a minute, Becks. Take a deep breath; I’ll keep you safe," he reassured her, his voice a soft growl that sent shivers down her spine.

She nodded without looking up, her mind already ensnared by the puzzle before her. And yet, beneath her concentration, she was acutely aware of the man who stood ready to defend her—a protector who was as enigmatic as the message she sought to translate and decipher.

Hours later, Becks' fingers halted mid-stroke on the keyboard, a sudden awareness creeping over her. The room was silent except for the soft hum of the computer and her own heightened breathing. She scanned the safe house's interior, noting Liam had set up another workstation with two monitors that showed the entire area around the cottage. Apparently, cameras were placed all around the outside of the house, and she could see him monitoring the live feed.

"I’ve got all the cameras up and running," Liam announced, emerging from the shadows where he had been working discreetly. The sight of him, all broad shoulders and quiet intensity, sent an involuntary shiver through Becks. There was something deeply commanding about his presence, a dominance that seemed to echo his role in the hidden alcoves of the BDSM lifestyle they both frequented. It was ridiculous, but all she could think in that moment was that she wished she’d had sex with him after their scene.

"Good," Becks replied, trying to steady her voice. "I feel...safer."

He gave her a nod, the faintest curve at the corner of his mouth hinting at approval. "You're not the only one," he said, his gaze lingering on her with what she hoped was either respect for her intellect or his wishing the same thing as she just had.

"Speaking of which..." Her attention returned to the screen before her. With every keystroke, she unraveled more of the cryptic message she'd been entrusted to translate. The symbols slowly yielded their secrets, revealing ominous portents that tightened her chest with anxiety.

"Anything?" Liam asked, his voice low and laced with urgency.

"Perhaps. It's about Rovena."

"Rovena?”

“Rovena Lovari."

His posture stiffened, alertness sharpening his features. "What about her?"

"Her name... it's embedded within the code," Becks said, frowning as she parsed the text. "It's subtle, but deliberate. I think she may be in danger."

"Damn it." Liam's curse was a whisper lost in the tension that filled the room.

"Can we contact her?"

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