Page 10 of Phoenix's Redemption

“Why are you saying it?” His dark eyebrows raised in humorous question. “Don’t tell me it’s because you like to root for the underdog.”

I chuckled. “I can tell when someone cares about their loved ones and wants to protect them. You speak about your mom the same way I talk about my dad and little sister.” Liam nodded, but his face showed that he was trying to put together everything I was saying. I tried to shrug off my awkwardness. “Anyway, that was just my way of expressing that I think you’re alright.”

“You saying you like me, Coach?”

The frosty cold beer had to work hard to cool me off. “Don’t push your luck.” I gave him a playful nudge, noticing how I was now finding harmless little ways to touch him. “Unless you want to do burpees first thing tomorrow morning in the gym.”

“I’ll take my chances.” He pushed a strand of my hair away from my face, his fingers touching my cheek. “You’d probably make me do them anyway.”

“Yeah, you’re right.”

We laughed it off. Then Liam told me funny stories about his time in the army, the matches he got into with a cook in one of the fobs overseas. Then he told me about his very first unofficial MMA match that had him fighting a guy in a chicken suit with leg warmers. By the time we finished our beer, my sides were sore and I was out of breath from laughing so hard. I was also turned on so high I wanted him to straddle me like he did the barstool.

The distance between us felt smaller somehow, as if our confessions made us closer. For a heartbeat, I allowed myself to forget about vengeance and danger, to simply be there with Liam. We were connected by honesty. I had the unexpected comfort of being seen as a friend. And as a woman.

Liam got the tab. We left the bar close to ten o’ clock. As we walked outside, the brisk night air did little to cool the heat that Liam's presence had on me. "You don't need to walk me home." My voice was laced with a teasing edge. "I'm a former cop, remember? I can take care of myself."

His white smile glinted under the streetlights. "Believe it or not, I can be chivalrous with a lady. Especially ladies not used to going to dive bars."

I laughed, the sound mingling with the distant hum of traffic. "Okay but stop it already.” I accepted his invitation to walk me home, feeling both protected and a little giddy about extending a few more minutes of our time together. “I told you, you don't know where I go or what I like to do."

As we reached my doorway, the world seemed to shrink until it was just Liam and me, caught in a bubble of anticipation. He leaned in close, his breath warm on my cheek. "I’d like to find out what you like to do. I might have detective skills of my own."

"Right now, you're giving all of your intentions away." My words were just above a whisper.

His hand came up to cup my chin gently. "What intentions are those?"

“I think you want to kiss me.” I swallowed hard, feeling my stomach flutter. He leaned in, his lips hovering inches from mine, yet he held back, as if waiting for permission. My breath hitched, and I opened my eyes to meet his gaze. A look of amusement danced in his eyes, but beneath it, desire mirrored my own.

"It looks like you're showing what you want to do, too," he murmured.

The space between our lips disappeared in an instant as I allowed him to close the gap. His mouth met mine in a kiss that was both tender and demanding.

I turned, my hand shaky as I inserted the key into the lock, all while Liam's lips traced a path down the sensitive skin at the back of my neck. Each brush of his mouth sent a shiver down my spine, awakening a hunger that pooled low in my belly. The door swung open, and the warmth of my condo drew us inside.

With every gentle kiss, he peeled away the layers of strength and professionalism I'd built around my heart. As his hands found their way to my waist, pulling me closer, I knew I was stepping into dangerous territory. For the first time in a long time, I was allowing myself to feel, to want, to hope.

Liam's hand moved to the small of my back. He used his foot to make the front door swing shut with a soft click. I could feel his body heat through the thin fabric of my clothes. My heart beat faster as he pulled away just enough to look at me. His fingers traced my cheek before trailing down my neck.

The motion sensor of my floor lamp flickered on, casting soft shadows on the walls. Liam moved in once more, his lips meeting mine in a lingering kiss. Our breath mingled, hot and hurried, as he explored every corner of my mouth. My fingers twitched with need for him. His other hand drifted down to curl around my hip.

Liam's grasp was firm but gentle. I could feel each calloused knuckle against my skin. His tongue danced with mine as if testing boundaries that were quickly dissolving like ice under sunlight. I ran my fingers through his hair, feeling its silkiness against my palm as he pulled away just enough to murmur against my parted lips. "You taste so good. I want to taste you everywhere.”

Chapter Five

SOPHIE

We stumbled into the living room, our hands on each other. We found the couch. Liam's lips found their way down my neck, suckling gently while his other hand slipped behind my head, tangling in my hair and pulling me closer still. “Will you let me taste you, Sophie?”

I nodded, leaning into him as he found a sweet spot behind my ear and nipped. My fingers dug into his shoulders, and I tilted my head back, inviting him to continue his trail of kisses down my collarbone. He obliged, his lips grazing the sensitive skin with featherlight contact that sent warm tremors down my spine.

Our bodies pressed tighter against each other with each breath. His muscles molded against my softer curves. His mouth found mine once more, demanding, like he couldn't get enough of me.

Our kisses grew deeper, more desperate. The couch springs creaked under our combined weight, but all I could feel was the warmth of Liam's skin on mine. His calloused hands roamed freely over my body as if mapping out new territory.

His lips trailed down my neck again, leaving hot little pecks along the way while one hand found its way under my shirt and brushed against my bra. My heart thudded as his thumb rubbed circles around the hardened peak. He pulled my t-shirt overhead. My breath caught in my throat as he opened the clasp of my bra and pulled it aside gently. His hot breath fanned overmy bare skin then dipped downwards as he took one nipple into his mouth, sucking softly at first then harder with a moan of approval.

I gasped as he tongued and suckled harder, teeth occasionally grazing the sensitive nipple before soothing it with his soft lips again. It sent fireworks off in my core as my pussy tightened in tandem with his sucking motions. My free hand fisted in his hair, holding him close while the other roamed his rock-hard abs below. He was all lean muscle and raw power beneath his shirt. Liam growled against my skin and tugged the fabric over his head before discarding it.

---