He sighs and mutters, “Here we go.”
“Get off—”
He silences me with a kiss.
I break away as soon as I can. Which isn’t soon enough, because I like the way he tastes just as much as the way he kisses, and what it does to my body when he kisses me.
I’m going to need so much therapy when this is through.
He says, “We’re going to sleep now. I’m a light sleeper, so forget about trying to sneak off.”
He rolls over, flips the covers off one side of the bed, and grabs me, pulling my arm so I tumble over his body. Lying on his back, he tucks me into his side and flips the covers back over us, then settles in with a satisfied sigh.
“Liam.”
“Aye, baby?”
“I still have my shoes on.”
“You’re the one who didn’t want to get undressed.”
“So you’re listening to what I want now? That’s a nice change of pace.”
My hair stirs, and I realize he’s silently laughing into it.
“Glad I amuse you.”
He whispers, “You have no idea.”
I stare in disbelief at the ceiling. This can’t really be happening. This can’t be my life.
“You can holler at me some more in the morning,” he says, sounding relaxed. “For now, just go to sleep.”
“It’s not like I have a choice.”
A tinge of warmth sneaks into his voice. “You might discover you enjoy having all your decisions made for you.”
“Sorry, but this isn’t the middle ages. Women have the right to vote now, did you hear?”
“I did. Terrible development, if you ask me. Everything has gone straight downhill since.”
He’s teasing me again. Who is this jolly new Liam, this smiling, joking version of my glowering, smoldering wolf? He can’t really be that happy that he kidnapped me and we’re going to be spending the next month together full-time…can he?
And if he is, how awful was his life before that it takes something like this to make him smile?
Don’t you dare start empathizing with him! He’s a mafia king! He’s a kidnapper! This isn’t the guy you feel sorry for!
I shout at myself mentally for a few minutes, until Liam nuzzles my ear, murmuring sleepily, “Go to sleep soon or I’ll think you’re waiting for me to rip off all your clothes and fuck you until you’re limp.”
Exasperated, I roll onto my side and bury my face in the pillow.
He follows me, throwing an arm and a leg over my body and pulling me close. He presses a kiss to the nape of my neck. After a few minutes when we remain unmoving, the lights dim, then fade to darkness.
I’m left alone with my racing thoughts as Liam holds me fast, even after he falls asleep.
I wake up sometime later with no idea where I am.
For a moment, my mind is blank. Lying on my side, I let my gaze drift around the unfamiliar room. It’s quiet and still. Light peeks all around the edges of heavy gray curtains along one wall, so I know it’s morning.
Then I hear slow, heavy breathing coming from behind me, feel the weight of a big male arm wrapped around my waist, and it all comes back in a rush.
I’m a captive.
I wait for the outrage and anger to kick in, but all I feel is a pale sort of irritation, quickly followed by the urge to turn over and burrow into all that delicious warmth heating my backside.
Apparently, Stockholm Syndrome sets in fast.
“Good morning.”
Liam’s voice is thick with sleep. He stretches his legs, inhales deeply against the back of my neck, then pulls me tighter against his body.
Feeling his erection pressed against my ass, my face heats. Good morning wood, you mean. I clear my throat. “Hi.”
“You didn’t run away.”
“I figured you’d tie me to the bed if I tried.”
“You figured right.” Gripping my hip, he rocks his pelvis into my bottom and exhales. “Remind me again why you’re dressed?”
“Because I’m mad at you. Kidnapping, remember? Abduction? Any of this ringing a bell?”
“Hmm. Right.” He slides his other arm under my body and squeezes me, nuzzling my neck. He murmurs, “My beautiful captive. I need to come inside you. How do you feel about anal sex?”
My eyes pop wide open and my heart starts to pound. “I’m very opposed to it. Very, with a capital V. Especially with the mafia pope who stole me away from my celebration dinner and locked me up in his skyscraper.”
There’s a thoughtful pause. “Mafia pope?”
“Never mind. I’m getting angry again.”
He slides his hand to my breast and squeezes. In a husky whisper, he says, “Let me make you come. You’ll feel better.”
About ninety percent of my cells are on board with that idea, screaming with glee, while the other ten percent set about trying to club them into submission.
Screw that stupid ninety percent. I’m in charge here, not my crazy hormones.
Deliberately, so there can be no misunderstanding, I say, “No.”
“Okay. You’re the boss.”
I lift my brows. “Really? Since when?”
He chuckles. “Since never. I was only trying to placate you.”
“Gotcha. Just out of curiosity, is there a gun on the nightstand on this side of the bed, too?”
His chuckle turns into full-on laughter. He flips me over so I’m flat on my back on the other side of him, then—as he seems to love to do—he throws his leg over me, pinning me down.
Gazing down at me with soft eyes and a sleepy smile, he says, “There you are.”
Jesus. Why does he have to be so damn beautiful? It makes everything so much worse.
“Are you always this happy after you abduct an unsuspecting victim?”
“No,” he says softly. “I’m happy because I’m waking up to you.”
Shit. He’s in charming mode. Wary, I narrow my eyes at him.
“Don’t look so suspicious, it’s true.”
“When I don’t come home, Ellie will call the police.”
He trails his nose along my jawline, tickling my skin with his beard. “Ellie knows you’re staying with me. She thinks it’s a great idea.”
The traitor!
“And your boss knows you won’t be in for a while. He told me to tell you hello.”
I glare at him. “How long have you had this planned?”
“You’re wasting time with all this unnecessary outrage. Let’s move on to something more important: how long are you going to be mad at me? My dick is aching for you, and I need to hear you scream my name again. Like within the next five minutes.”
“Get used to disappointment.”
He raises his head and stares deep into my eyes. “You could never disappoint me. Even if you don’t let me touch you again for the next month, it will still be the best month of my life, because we’ll be spending it together.”
I stare at him in slack-jawed disbelief. “Come on!”
He drops his gaze to my mouth. His eyes heat. He licks his lips.
“No, Liam. This isn’t how it works. You don’t get to ignore my wishes and trample all over my free will and then expect me to happily spread my legs for you.”