“And you’re most likely correct.” Liam pulls out the little drone Mitzy gave him. “Remember these?”
“Yes?”
Liam glances at the ceiling and heads to an overhead vent. He pulls off the grate and does something to the drone, turning it on.
Whisper quiet, the tiny rotors barely make a sound as the thing lifts off his hand to hover in the air. The optical skin covering the miniature drone does that thing to my eyes, making them slip over the drone. If I didn’t watch it lift from Liam’s palm, it would be completely invisible.
“You’re putting it in the vent?”
“Best way to gain access to pretty much everywhere. People watch rooms, but no one thinks about what’s behind the walls.” His attention shifts to the drone. “Ready?”
The tiny drone lifts and lowers its front section, as if answering Liam.
“Is someone flying that thing?” For some reason, I thought it was autonomous.
“Knowing Mitzy, she’s probably the one at the controls, but it can honestly be anyone.”
“Gotcha.”
I try to follow the drone as it flies up and into the vent. Liam’s right about the Belvedere’s security systems. We watch the rooms, the halls, the elevators, and all the common areas, including the employee-only areas. To my knowledge, there’s nothing monitoring the ventilation shafts.
“How long will it take?”
“For what?” Liam replaces the cover to the vent after the tiny drone flies in.
“To do whatever it’s supposed to do?”
He shrugs. “Honestly, I don’t know.”
“Now I know why you call it Mitzy Magic.” Another yawn slips out of my mouth. I cover it with my hand, but Liam misses nothing.
His attention shifts to the door leading to the bathroom. “How about we get you in that shower and to bed?” There’s a twinkle in his eye.
It’s completely devastating.
And for whatever weird reason, I’m suddenly incredibly self-conscious. I’m not sure what to do, what to say, or what to do next.
“Princess …” Liam sweeps out his arm. “It can be just a shower. I’m not pushing for it to be anything more.”
“You’re not?” My brows pinch together, a bit surprised by the comment.
“I’m not.” His voice turns husky, a low throaty sound that turns my insides to jelly.
“You don’t want to …” I let my voice trail off.
“Oh, I want …” He closes the distance between us and takes my hands in his. “I very much want, but like I said, we’re putting on a show for others. In public, we touch, we kiss, we invade each other’s space. We’re a couple in every way. That doesn’t extend to what we do in private.”
“It doesn’t?” I’m really confused.
“What happens between us when we’re alone is separate from what happens in front of others. I don’t want you to feel like you have to do anything you don’t want to do. We did just meet. I would never assume …” The husky timbre of his voice grows deeper, sexier.
“Oh …” Then I get it. He’s trying to be a gentleman. If he only knew I was the queen of casual sex, he wouldn’t try so hard to resist. Casual hookups are my thing. It’s the relationship thing where I fail.
“Consider this the green light.” I reach up and begin unbuttoning his shirt.
The moment my fingers brush across the heat of his skin, Liam’s body tenses. He places his hand over mine.
“About your green light … what’s on that list of yours?”
“What list?” I bat his hand away and continue unbuttoning his shirt. A strangled moan escapes him.
“You will be the death of me.”
He doesn’t move as I untuck his shirt and continue with the buttons. After I’m done with the last one, I push his shirt to the side and run my hands up the hardened ridges of his muscular physique.
I take my time. Letting my fingers feather along the defined ridges and valleys of masculine perfection, I can’t help but lean in and take a long, slow inhale of his potent essence: wonderfully dark and virile.
My toes curl.
I lean in and press my lips against his chest. It’s a light, reverent kiss and lasts but a second. I push back and stare into the dark depths of his eyes where his arousal shimmers and swirls.
Liam makes no move, giving me the time I need to admire his chiseled perfection. Beneath my hands, however, his entire body vibrates with suppressed need.
My hands skate down his washboard abs and land on his belt buckle.
“Love where you’re going, princess, but this is a one-way road from here on out. If this is what you want, you need to know one thing about me.”
“What’s that?”
“I’m not a follower. I don’t do gentle and sweet. You’ve got your list, so you know what it means when I say I’m dominant in bed. If any of that scares you, or is on your other list, we stop here.”
“I don’t want to stop.” I pull the end of his belt through the buckle and let my actions speak for themselves.
He’s aroused and hard. With my hands where they are, and my attention fixed on his belt, there’s no denying his eagerness.
Or my willingness.
Heat curls in my belly. Anticipation rises within me.
I’m not into all things associated with green, yellow, and red. I’m too independent to slip into the submissive mindset, but I’m perfectly fine with letting a man lead.
With his belt loosened, I flick open the button of his pants and grab the pull tab of the zipper. Before I can lower it, his hand slams down, covering mine as a low growl escapes him.
I tear my gaze from what waits for me behind that zipper. All evening, I’ve fantasied about this moment; when I finally get to see what he’s been teasing me with all night.
Liam curls his fingers in my hair and leans in real close.
“First rule …”
My breath hitches as the deep, rumbly sound from his throat hijacks my senses. A whole-body quiver begins at the top of my head and rolls through me all the way to my toes.
Liam leans down, the heat of his breath washes over my neck as he places his lips on the curve of my ear.
“Ladies always come first.”
With that, Liam sweeps me off my feet and carries me to bed.
38
LIAM
From the moment Maria pointed her gun at me, I’ve thought about this moment.
There’s something about a strong woman that gets under my skin. I love the power and confidence melded with feminine sensitivity and gentleness. It’s a goddamn aphrodisiac.
Now, I’m a man on a mission, and I didn’t lie. While I fuck like I fight; full of fire, passion, and determined to achieve results, the woman always comes first. If she’s not happy, I’m not happy.
When I enter a woman, I engage my entire body, dedicating everything—not to fighting—but to dispensing pleasure.
But I don’t fuck gently.
I didn’t lie to Maria about that.
I’m as aggressive in the field as I am in bed; an assertive and unstoppable force, driven to achieve one objective—pleasure.