Page 22 of Trouble

“Seriously, what kind of pharmaceuticals are you on?” I slapped his roaming hand away from my backside and rolled out of the bed before I succumbed to his all too convincing touch. If I wanted any hope of not being rendered with a permanent limp, I needed at least a small break before the nextround.

Liam sighed wistfully and turned over so he could sit up. “No need for pills when you’re waving that sweet arse around, love. I’ve never known a woman as beautiful as you. ’S’far as I’m concerned, the only pharmaceuticals ‘round here are whatever amphetamines you’re hiding between yourthighs.”

I snorted, hiding the way my cheeks heated with involuntary happiness at his obvious flattery by turning my back and pulling my thigh-length robe on. “I appreciate the attempt, Liam, but you don’t need to feed me bullshit lines. I’m not one of your impressionable girls.” I left the bedroom and bee-lined for the kitchen without looking at him. I didn’t want him to see how easy it was to listen to all the sweet things he said. It was one thing during sex—it was another to hear them when we both had a functioning blood supply to ourbrains.

After I finished the tea, I found Liam lounging in my living room, eating one of my leftover slices of now cold pizza with the same carefree attitude as always and not a shred of clothes on. Soft jazz, the old CD I’d left in my stereo from weeks ago, flowed smoothly through the air, and he’d lit a couple of the candles on the sofatable.

“Needed to refuel,” he said when I sat on the couch next to him, placing two cups of tea in front of us. He grabbed another slice and held it out for me, and when I took it, he pulled me into his body so I was resting against his side and chest, his pizza-free arm around my shoulders. It felt so good, so natural, and I instinctively relaxed against his warmskin.

“You do know the curtains are open, right?” I murmured in between bites of pepperoni bliss. He was definitely on to something with this refueling idea. My stomach rumbled inappreciation.

“Gotta give your neighbors something to look at,” he said with an unconcernedshrug.

“You’re not bothered by anything, are you?” I asked, genuinelycurious.

“Sure I am.” I felt a stroke through my hair, and couldn’t hold back a hum of pleasure. “Just never gave two shits about what other people think ofme.”

“No one?” It seemed like such a foreign concept. As long as I could remember, I’d most definitely worried about what others thought of me, starting with my parents and including my bosses thesedays.

He made a thoughtful sound. “I guess my brother, Louis. But he and I are basically the same person, so… it’s never something I worryabout.”

“Must be nice,” I sighed, not realizing how wistful I sounded before he pushed my chin up with a couple of fingers so he could capture my gaze withhis.

“Anyone giving you any bullshit,love?”

The flash of something dark in his otherwise effulgent eyes seemed completely out of place on his beautiful, mischievousface.

“Not really,” I said. The memory of the abuse I’d been taking on a daily basis via a steady stream of emails from Perkinson made me wrinkle my nose. “I’ve got a really horrible client at the moment, but I’ve always had to measure up to my sister. And I’ve always come up short, youknow?”

“I doubt you come up short against anyone.” He sounded so completely sincere that for a moment, I almost believed him. Then reality set in and I flushed and looked down. “Don’t dothat.”

“Dowhat?”

“Flirt. Flatter.” I waved a dismissive hand. “I don’t want anything fake, okay? I… being with you is such a breath of fresh air from all the façades. You’re so wonderfully genuine. Don’t give me cheap lines, like I’m some naïve girl you’re trying to get into bed. That’s not what Iwant.”

He was silent for a short moment. Then his hand rounded on my chinagain.

“Audrey, look at me.” His voice was far more serious than I’d ever heard it before. I obeyed on instinct and was caught in his gaze once more. There was so much sincerity in it, it nearly took my breathaway

“I’m not feeding you some bullshit lines, love. You’re fucking beautiful, driven, and obviously smart as shit. I promise you I’ll be nothing but real with you, if you promise me you’ll stop thinking you’re somehow not measuring up. Not when you’re around me.Yeah?”

I stared at him for the longest time, letting his words sink in through the heavy thumping from my heart. Saw the flames of truth in those silver eyes, and knew I’d found the one place in the world I could be free to simply be, if only for a fleeting moment. In the arms of a man I’d thought I’d only ever seeonce.

My throat was too thick to produce words, so I nodded mutely instead. That was our pact—our promise that existed only in this space between the two of us. No bullshit. Nofaçades.

Liam threw the leftovers of his pizza slice on the table and got to his feet. He held out his hand, and I let him pull me up next tohim.

“I love jazz,” he murmured, slipping both arms around me. “My mother had thisalbum.”

“Is she dead?” The way his mouth tensed when he saidhadmade me place my hands on his chest in an instinctual attempt at offeringcomfort.

“Yeah. Many years ago. I don’t remember as much about her as my brothers do, but I remember this. Her love of music.” Liam rested his head against mine and held me tighter against his naked form. Slowly, he moved us in rhythm to the music, and I slipped my arms up around hisneck.

“I’m sorry,” I said, softly so as to not drown out the melody enveloping our swaying bodies. “How did shedie?”

“Shot.” He nuzzled his nose against my ear. “It’s not a happy subject,love.”

“Does it have tobe?”

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