Page 64 of Ward Willing
“Orion’s rules dictate that women are allowed inside the club, but men have to register. It’s a safety protocol.”
“I see. Can we talk about how Orion has aclub?” I slur. It never came up in conversation with him when we hung out last week.
Liam’s lips twitch. “It’s another one of his ventures.”
“And he called you?” I mumble.
Liam’s jaw rolls as his gaze flicks down to my chest for half a second. “He did.”
I start to make a joke about how ironic it is that Orion, who is sober, opened a club… but then my drunken mind skirts over to what else Liam said.
“I’m trying to understand the problem with me going out.”
“It’s nearly two in the morning. My mind was unraveling with worry, Zoe,” he growls. “Also, where the fuck is Scotty?”
I hardly hear his question, because the first part replays in my mind over and over.
My mind was unraveling with worry.
My mind was unraveling with worry.
My mind was unraveling with worry.
I’m not surprised, but the idea of Liam pacing the house because he wasworriedabout me…
The swarm of butterflies I’ve been pushing away the last few weeks erupt inside of me, making me inhale sharply.
“Where is Scotty?” Liam asks again, taking a tiny step closer.
Almost like he’s waiting for my answer.
My mind is buzzing with somethingheated, and everything seems like it’s moving in slow motion.I take a deep, shuddering breath, realizing too late that Liam’s scent is surrounding me now, and all I can think about is how much I want him to kiss me. Fuckme. Command me.Devourme.
“Scotty broke things off,” I tell him honestly.
Confusion and… relief pass over his expression. And then… hunger. A low, deep hunger that makes my knees weak and my heart pound against my ribs. Liam makes a low noise in the back of his throat, and my core clenches at the sound. The pulsing begins between my legs and then radiates outward so my whole body seems to be thrumming with need. It sits between us in the air, like a lion waiting to pounce.
Liam expels his breath in a steady, slow hiss as he closes his eyes. “What happened?”
His voice is soft, and I know both sides of him are fighting to the death for dominance. The guardian—my father’s best friend. The one who came here and told himself it was because he was looking out for me. It’s fighting with the other side—the one who looks at me for a second too long in class. The one who knocked my knees apart at Scotty’s show two weeks ago and let me grind against it as he watched me, spellbound.
The one who called mehisgood girl that night in Catalina while he fucked me against a wall.
I shrug. “He wanted more, and I didn’t.”
I don’t tell him about the texts, or how it set Scotty off. I don’t relay the things Scotty said. It’s not important, anyway.
“Are you okay?” he asks.
The gentle way in which he asks—it’s genuine. And that thought sends a wave of emotion to crash through me.
“I’m fine,” I mutter. I look around the sparsely decorated office, taking in the computer, filing cabinet, and large, oak desk. “And I was fine here by myself, too,” I add, looking up at Liam again.
Liam’s eyes search mine for a second before he responds. “Are you sure? Because you don’t look fine.”
Of course. Because no matter how much I try to hide myself away from him, he always manages to figure me out.
“Come on. Let’s go home,” he says. I open my mouth to protest, but Liam presses himself against me. “If Orion weren’t here—or if I couldn’t see your location—what do you think would’ve happened to you tonight, Zoe?”
