Page 11 of Little Horrors & Deceptions

“Uh—” I stammered, heat crawling up my cheeks. I turned sharply, giving him some semblance of privacy, though none was really afforded in this open studio space. Why didn’t he just go tothe bathroom? Behind me, his chuckle was low and knowing. He knew what he was doing to me.

“Sorry,” he said, though his tone suggested he was anything but. “Didn’t mean to give you a show.”

Oh, he definitely wanted to give me a show.

His words were light and teasing and contradicted the tightness that had sprung up inside me, coiling around my ribs like ivy. I clutched the shirt closer, a makeshift shield against the palpable pull building in the room.

“Where’s the bathroom?” I asked.

“It’s okay. You can change. I’m decent and turned around. Go ahead,” he said, and when I turned to him, I saw his back, fully dressed in a new black, silky button-up and pants.

“Thanks,” I murmured. There was a silent countdown in my head, then the rustle of fabric as I shed the spoiled dress, feeling suddenly vulnerable in nothing but my undergarments. My skin prickled with awareness, and I wondered if his senses were as heightened as mine, if he, too, felt this charge in the air as I stood almost completely naked in his living room… or bedroom? It was a studio apartment after all.

I took the shirt and slipped it over my head, the smell of him—a mixture of cologne and something inherently Liam—enveloping me. It was both comforting and unsettling. I cinched the belt around my waist, the large garment now taking on a new form, one that hinted at curves but still left everything to the imagination.

“Done,” I called out, more to steady my own nerves than anything else. I took a deep breath, trying to shake off the electricity that seemed to hum through my limbs. Every sensation felt heightened, from the softness of the shirt against my skin to the distant thump of music filtering from the party below. To the man standing in front of me. Liam pivoted on his heel, giving me space to breathe.

“Ready?” His words cut through the silence like a knife.

I nodded, not trusting my voice, and stepped past him, leading the way back to the party. The tension was heavy, like a current of water that both of us seemed to be trying to ignore but instead were drowning in.

Once we were back downstairs, the music thrummed louder. Liam guided me to a secluded corner, away from the chaos of the event. We were cocooned by shadows. He leaned in, close enough that I could count the small flecks of gold in his emerald eyes.

“Much better,” he murmured, his gaze tracing the line of his shirt on my body. “You wear it well.”

His cologne wrapped around me again, woodsy and warm. My heart fluttered wildly, betraying my composed façade. Why did he have this effect on me?

“Thanks,” I managed, my throat tight. Our eyes locked, and the world shrunk to just this moment, to just us. His hand was a whisper away from mine.

“Jade,” he said, but the word was more breath than sound. It was as if he were about to bridge the gap—ignite this spark and let it burn.

“Is this okay?” I asked, not moving, barely breathing. The butterflies in my stomach were a hurricane now, relentless and exhilarating.

“More than okay,” he replied, his voice low and intimate. The space crackled with something fierce, and for a split second, I thought he was going to kiss me.

But then the moment shattered. Glass crashed to the floor, followed by angry shouts. Liam’s gaze snapped away from mine, zeroing in on the source of the disturbance. Two men, faces twisted with rage, were locked in a vicious tangle of limbs and curses.

“Stay here,” he commanded, but I was already moving, my federal agent instincts kicking in. Weaving through the startled crowd, I reached the fighters just as Liam did. He grabbed one by the collar, pulling him back with strength that belied his lean frame. I wedged myself between them, pushing the other man away with firm hands.

“Enough!” My voice cut through the noise. “Break it up now!”

“Back off, bitch,” the man I’d pushed grumbled, his words slurred by alcohol. I readied to protect myself, just like I always had in the past. But in the next moment, Liam’s fist met his face so hard, he went limp.

The crowd backed away, giving us space, watching with a mix of fear and fascination.

Liam looked down at the man, out cold, drool and blood leaking from the corner of his lip. “You shouldn’t have talked to her like that. Now—” He turned toward the other guy that was still upright. “Let’s not ruin the night for everyone.” Liam’s tone held that edge of authority that made people listen. “Why don’t you go take a walk and cool down?”

The guy didn’t say anything, just looked at Liam with bugged eyes before turning away to leave.

Liam had protected me, and yeah, maybe it had been just an over partying drunkard, but throughout my life, that rarely happened. It was the reason why I’d become an agent to begin with, why I did all the things I did. That small thought twisted through my chest, leaving me feeling raw and vulnerable in a way I’d never been before.

The stiffness began to dissipate as the partygoers returned to their conversations and drinks, the fight quickly becoming just another ghost story for the haunted house.

My adrenaline slowly ebbed away. I rubbed my temples, the alcohol suddenly catching up to me. Or maybe it was the twingestirring in my chest that Liam had caused. Either way, I’d had enough excitement for one night.

“Jade?” Liam’s voice was close. I turned to find him just a few steps away, watching me with concern etched on his face.

“I’m fine,” I assured him, forcing a smile. “I’m going to call it a night.”

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