Page 57 of Peyton's Price

“I’m not going anywhere.” Liam’s voice sounded like he’d been gargling with gravel.

“You still haven’t explained what the hell you’re doing here,” she snapped.

“I’m here for you,” he rumbled, stepping closer. Peyton backed up a step only to hit the wall that was Matthias’ chest.

Figuratively stuck between a rock and hard place, Peyton froze as Liam’s head bent and he took her mouth.

Fire raced up her spine, melting her bones into liquid wax. It went on and on, blistering her soul, then his hand tugged her chin down, his tongue demanding entrance.

Peyton jerked away, slapping him as hard as she could before she lost all her pride. The sound was very loud in the quiet. Matthias hissed in sympathy, but she’d deal with him later

“I waited years for you.It’s too late.” Peyton’s breath hitched, but she would rot in hell before she cried in front of him.

Damn it, she hadn’t meant to tell him that. Yes, it was an open secret, but he didn’t need to hear it from her.

“I know.” Liam grimaced. “And I lied to myself for years, pretending it wasn’t true. I wasn’t good enough for you. I’m still not.”

“On that we can agree,” Matthias chimed in, obviously trying to lighten the mood. Both she and Liam turned to frown at him. “Not the time for jokes, I see. But we’re going to look back on this later. While we may not laugh aloud—”

She held up a hand. “There will be no trips down memory lane. Liam is leaving now.”

Peyton whirled on the man in question, who was still rubbing his face. “Peyton, I’m sorry.”

“I don’t care. I’m done with you.”

For the first time, the brash and confident Liam she knew resurfaced. He cocked his head, his eyes unreadable. “No, you’re not. We’re just getting started.”

“Unbelievable—”

“I will not apologize for coming here, but I will apologize for cutting your G-string bikini into pieces and throwing out your Gucci perfume.”

Peyton’s drew up straight in surprise, and she gaped at him like the lunatic he was. “What?”

Liam gave her a tight smile. “When you were nineteen. We had just opened the Caislean in Boston. It was sweltering and you and Maggie were going to join the guests at the pool, so I made up an errand to delay the two of you. Then I went after your suit with scissors.”

“Why?” Matthias asked.

“She was going to go out there in a white G-string bikini. Ihadto. She would have caused a riot.”

Matthias laughed, but he subsided after she shot him a dirty look. “And my perfume?”

The first bottle had been a gift from Maggie. Peyton had loved the scent and wore it often, but then the small vial had disappeared.

“I drove you home one night, then asked to go to the bathroom. I nicked the bottle when you were grabbing me a soda for the road.”

“But why?”

“Because it made you smell fucking amazing. And you were too fucking irresistible as it was. Maggie was going to give you another one for your birthday to replace it. I had to steal that one, too.”

He reached up to touch her, his hand coming to rest on her shoulder. His fingers traced her collarbone, leaving a trail of tingling skin in his wake.

“Later, I told Maggie that particular scent gave me a headache. She bought you a purse instead.”

This time when he crowded her, Peyton didn’t move by choice. He stared deeply into her eyes. “I haven’t slept in days,” he admitted,

“I told you to nap,” Matthias muttered.

Liam raised his head. “Well, I couldn’t.”

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