My breath catches in my throat, and I stare up into his eyes, searching for reassurance.
“Have you talked to Morales about this?” I finally manage through a shaky voice.
Liam shakes his head. “We haven’t heard from Morales in weeks. We aren’t supposed to reach out unless it’s an emergency, but when he does finally call, I’ll tell him our decision.”
We stand silently, eyes locked, the tension between us coiling tighter than ever. My heart pounds like a war drum. Liam doesn’t blink, doesn’t flinch—just stares at me with something dark and hungry etched into every sharp line of his face.
Then he moves.
His hand cups my jaw with purpose, fingers splayed against my cheek, thumb grazing the edge of my mouth. His grip is firm, unyielding, and unmistakably dominant. A shiver skates down my spine.
“I meant it,” he murmurs. “You’re not alone. Not anymore.”
And then his mouth crashes into mine.
The kiss is nothing like the others. It’s not soft or questioning. It’s a claim. Possessive. Deep. My body reacts instinctively, lighting up from within as my hands grip his shirt like I might fall through the floor without him. He pushes me backward until I hit the wall, his hips pinning me in place, leaving no doubt how hard he is against me.
His tongue slides against mine, slow and forceful, coaxing a moan from my throat. My lips part wider, hungry, needing more. I feel devoured. I feel alive.
When he breaks away, it’s only to trail hot, open-mouthed kisses down my jawline, to the sensitive skin just beneath my ear. I gasp as he sucks there, teeth grazing gently, tongue soothing over the mark. My head falls back against the wall, giving him more access.
“You drive me fucking insane,” he mutters against my neck, his voice low and gravelly. “The way you walk around here like you don’t know what you’re doing to us.”
I barely manage to whisper, “I didn’t mean to?—”
“Yes, you did,” he growls, biting softly at my collarbone. “You knew. You always knew.”
His hands slide beneath my shirt, fingers rough and warm against my skin. He drags it upward slowly, deliberately, exposing inch after inch. I gasp as the cool air brushes my bare stomach, then my ribs. My bra is shoved up and out of the way before I can even think to stop him.
Then his mouth is on me.
He takes one nipple between his lips and sucks hard, the sudden stimulation making me cry out. His tongue circles it, alternating between rough flicks and soft licks, until I’m arching into him, clutching his shoulders like I might fly apart.
“Fuck, Liam,” I gasp, breathless.
He growls his approval and switches sides, lavishing the other with the same attention—biting, sucking, licking—until I’m trembling, my knees starting to buckle. His hand squeezes my breast, thumb brushing across the pebbled peak with expert precision.
“You like that?” he mutters against my skin.
“Yes,” I whimper, barely able to speak.
“Good. Because I’m not done.”
One hand trails down my body, slow and possessive, fingers grazing my stomach, then slipping below the waistband of my jeans. He pauses just long enough to pop the button and drag the zipper down, his other hand still gripping my breast.
I’m panting now, trembling as his fingers slide inside my panties, stroking gently at first, then firmer, deeper.
“You’re soaked,” he growls. “You want this. Say it.”
“I want this,” I gasp, no shame left.
He slides two fingers inside me, hard and unrelenting. My mouth falls open in a silent cry, and he leans in to capture my lips again, devouring me as his fingers pump with deliberate force. His thumb finds my clit and rubs tight circles—no finesse, no mercy—just enough to make me lose control.
“You’re gonna come for me right here,” he rasps against my mouth. “And when you do, I want you to remember exactly who made you feel like this.”
I cry out, the pleasure cresting too fast, too strong.
“Liam—oh my god?—”