Page 24 of Savage Temptation

Look up, Jamie. Look up.

I focused on the ink adorning the right side of his torso, catching sight of the other tattoo running down his forearm. It was a phrase I couldn’t decipher. Sexy and dangerous was everything I didn’t know I liked.

"Good evening, Miss Harden," he said, snapping me out of my daze, my stare peeling off his abs to reluctantly settle on his jade eyes. The way he said my name was laced with bad intentions, and I reveled in the sound of it. The blush of being caught red handed was impossible to stop, my cheeks suddenly feeling as hot as the sun.

How long have I been staring? Coming here was a bad idea.

"G-Good evening, Liam," I stuttered, my eyes returning to his rock hard muscles that seemed to scream for me to gently stroke them.

"Oh, sorry. I just got out of the shower and thought it was the pizza guy," he said, turning to go get a shirt, leaving me rooted to my spot.

The view was premium, though. As he walked away, I couldn't help but notice how good his ass looked in those pants, my head querking to the side as I took his figure in. His back was perfectly toned with rippling muscles in places I didn’t even know they existed. Two dimples just above his ass punctuated an image of perfection. For the second time today, I found myself drooling over my boss.

"Come on in and make yourself comfortable," Liam shouted as he disappeared further into his apartment.

I stepped inside and closed the door behind me. Glancing around, I realized that Liam's place was nothing like what I had expected. I had envisioned a luxurious penthouse overseeing Central Park, assuming that he and his family were extremely wealthy. However, the reality was much simpler. The apartment was situated in a less exclusive part of town, yet still spacious and well-appointed. Lean and clean, with an eclectic industrial feel to it.

Liam finally returned with a black t-shirt on that hugged his chiseled body. I preferred the previous version, yet I still had to force myself to look away.

"Again, I'm sorry. I thought you would call from downstairs. I wasn't expecting you to be here already. Would you like something to drink?" he asked, offering me a smile that melted me on the spot.

"Hum… Just water, please. Nothing else," I replied, smiling in return. I still felt the slight buzz from the glass of wine I had drank earlier.

"I'm sorry if I interrupted anything when I called," he said as he handed me the glass of water and sat on the couch opposite me.

"No, I haven't been here long enough to make plans or friends, to be honest," I admitted, taking a small sip trying to quench a thirst that called for a lot more than water. Apart from Alison, who was still a recent acquaintance I’d soon like to call my friend, I had no one else in this city.

"So, you're not from New York?" he inquired, his smile turning into a knowing grin.

"No,” I chuckled. “You got it right at first sight. I arrived only three months ago. I'm originally from Jacksonville, Oregon."

"Smallville," he laughed. The sound pierced my gut and sent an electric current through my body. "That's far from home. What made you come all the way over to the east side?"

I smiled nervously, wondering how I could keep the conversation light when this was the topic.

"Where do I begin? I was looking for a new start, an opportunity like the one your father gave me, to be able to do what I loved, far away from prying eyes that don't usually cheer me on. I wanted to be independent and not shy away from being myself without the need to justify any of my choices, you know?" I tried to keep my smile, but I felt that it didn't quite reach my eyes. Liam saw right through it, and the air thickened with my discomfort.

"I do. I really do. Congratulations, then."

"For what?"

"Part one, at least, is achieved. You should be proud of that." Contrary to mine, Liam's smile was genuine, comforting, and easy enough to tame my anxiety as he didn't pry any further.

"Thank you. I'm extremely grateful. It’s an amazing opportunity. I am a die-hard fan of your father's work, but I'm not sure it’s my place. There's something that feels too heavy, too complicated." I couldn't find better words to say that without telling him he was complicating it for me. His presence, his existence alone was enough to occupy my mind without space for anything else since I first bumped into him. And if I was to make this work, I had to focus.

"I might be to blame there. I was a huge jerk."

"Yes, yes, you were," I laughed.

"I'm sorry I made your life harder. My animosity was misdirected. You were just an easy target, and I wrongly took out my anger on you. Contrary to what it might seem and what you think, I do like you." I couldn't help the blush from spreading to my cheeks again, my heart doing a small flip at the sound of that. "I'd hate to know you quit your dream job because of me. Because of how I treated you. Could you possibly find it in you to forgive me?"

"Mr. Dornier, if I didn't know any better, I'd think you were trying to convince me to stay," I said in a mocking tone, trying to lighten the mood.

"Maybe I am. Is it working?" he replied with a wicked grin as he took a gulp from the beer bottle he held in his hand.

Damn him, it was. But I couldn't waver, and there was no turning back. I had already accepted MG's offer, and I needed to tell him.

"I–"

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