Page 28 of Little Horrors & Deceptions

Chapter 17

Olivia Bennett

The smell of bacon and something sweet pulled me from sleep. Coffee, too, I realized. My eyes fluttered open, and I took in my unfamiliar surroundings. Liam’s apartment. Memories of last night flooded back, instantly making heat rise to my cheeks.

I propped myself up on my elbows, the sheet slipping down. There he was at the stove, shirtless, muscles and scars rippling along his back as he flipped pancakes.

“Mmm, smells amazing,” I murmured, voice still husky from sleep.

Liam glanced over his shoulder, a slow smile spreading across his face. Those piercing green eyes raked over me, igniting a fire in my core all over again. I bit my lip, fighting the urge to drag him back to bed.Focus, Oli. You’re a professional.But god, the things he’d done to me last night… I’d never been so easily distracted.

“Sleep well?” he asked, turning back to the stove.

“Better than I have in years,” I admitted, stretching languidly.

“Good morning, kitten,” Liam purred, the pet name from yesterday sending a shiver down my spine and straight to my pussy. His eyes sparkled with desire as he looked over his shoulder at me one more time, and I felt my insides melt.

God, I had never been so needy for someone before. It was unsettling, how much I craved his touch. I, Olivia Bennett, a seasoned federal agent, reduced to a quivering mess by this man’s mere presence. Oh, how far I’d fallen.

I swung my legs over the side of the bed, suddenly unsure of what to do next. We weren’t together, not really. This was just… what? A fling? A one-night stand? I had wondered once we had each other, if the interest would go away, if my desires would settle, but considering that thought alone made my stomach tie up in knots, this wasn’t just a fuck I could shake off. I didn’t want it to be, although it probably should given my circumstances.

I glanced around, reminding myself that his apartment was still technically inside the haunted house. But did this still count? Should I leave?

Liam noticed my hesitation. In two swift strides, he crossed the room. His strong arms encircled me, pulling me flush against his chest. The heat of his bare skin seeped through my thin shirt. I inhaled sharply, catching the scent of him.

“There’s no rules in here, remember?” he murmured against the shell of my ear. Well, that answered my question. Before I could respond, his lips crashed into mine. The kiss was deep and hungry. My body responded instantly, melting into him. A small, needy hum escaped me.

This was a bad idea. I had responsibilities, a case to solve. But god, the way he made me feel…

Liam pulled back suddenly, his eyes dark with desire. “Jade,” he breathed, his voice rough. My resolve wavered at the sound of my name from his lips. Even if it was my undercover one, Ididn’t care. His attention was all I wanted. I was used to being in control, to following protocol. But here, with Liam, all bets were off. And part of me—a growing part—loved it.

“We should eat before I eat you,” Liam growled, his voice low and husky. Another blush crept up my neck, burning hot against my skin. We moved to the table, the air thick with tension. I picked at my food, hyperaware of Liam’s every movement.

“So—” I cleared my throat, desperate for normalcy, for anything other than the raging thoughts of having him again and again. “Any special plans for the next Fright Night?”

Liam’s eyes glinted. “Oh, I’ve got a few tricks up my sleeve. Thinking of incorporating some new jump scares in the west wing.”

I nodded, trying to focus on his words and not the way his muscles flexed as he reached for his coffee. The way his eyes watched me over the rim of his mug.

As we finished eating, reality started to creep back in. “I should probably head home,” I said reluctantly. “I need to change and get ready for work.” I stood, glancing around for my pants. I was in nothing but one of his shirts and my panties.

Liam stood abruptly, his chair scraping against the floor. Before I could react, his hand wrapped around my wrist, tugging me toward him.

“I’m not done with you yet,” he murmured, his eyes burning into mine.

Our lips met, and this time the kiss was slow, languid. We savored each other, exploring with a newfound intimacy. My analytical mind struggled to process the emotions flooding through me. But I was learning that I wanted to take the plunge, like the fear you feel when you’ve been under water too long. It only intensified my desires for him.

The kiss deepened, becoming heated and urgent. Liam’s hand slipped lower, fingers teasing the waistband of my panties before dipping inside. A moan escaped me. My body arched into him.

What was I doing? This should be a fling. I shouldn’t keep doing this, but I didn’t want to stop all the things I was starting to feel for him.

“Fuck, kitten.” Liam groaned against my lips. We stumbled backwards, our bodies entwined. My legs hit the edge of the bed, and I fell onto the soft mattress, pulling Liam down with me. His weight pressed me into the sheets, the feel of him already familiar yet thrilling.

“Liam.” I gasped, my fingers tracing the scars on his back. His green eyes locked onto mine, burning with an intensity that both excited and unnerved me. For a moment, I glimpsed something darker lurking beneath the surface. A hunger that went beyond mere lust. “What are you doing to me?” I whispered, half to myself.

Liam’s lips curved into a predatory smile. “Only what you want me to, kitten.”

This man was dangerous, I knew that in my bones. But so was I, and I couldn’t stop myself from arching into his touch.

---