“No. I need to clear my mind and come up with a new plan, and there’s only one way I want to do that.”
“We aren’t kissing right now!” I slap his shoulder and he holds his hands up in surrender.
“I was kidding, but I still hoped to convince you.” He teases, clearly trying to lighten the mood like he does, but I can find no humor in this situation. “Okay, let’s think this through…”
My fists clench, and his voice drifts away as I glance around, studying every face I find, searching for the one who might be after us. Waiting for us. Everyone is smiling or talking. Everyone except…
My body turns to ice, the blood draining from my face.
It’shim.
I swallow the panic rising through my throat, but it’s too late.
His head swivels my way. I see it happening in slow motion, and I execute the last plan that registered in my brain. I grab the lapels of Liam’s suit jacket and press my lips to his.
He only remains confused for a moment before his mouth moves against mine with a hungry fervor. I can tell with his kiss that somehow he’s smirkingright now. He slips a hand around my waist and another one around the back of my head, tilting my body just enough to gain better purchase. Then he parts my lips, dragging my bottom lip into his mouth with his teeth. My knees give out, and I fall into him, trusting him to hold me up. Something in the back of my brain is screaming at me to stop this, but my body isn’t listening. I slip my arms up his chest, settling around his neck, pulling him even closer as I taste his bottom lip. He groans somewhere deep and low, and it sets off a thrill inside me.
I’ve never been kissed like this. I’ve never kissed like this. This is a whole new adventure. I feel like I’m flying and free-falling at the same time. Maybe that’s because I’m kissing Liam—the man who has endlessly lied to me. He’s kidnapped me but also cared for me. I thought I knew exactly what kind of man he was, but he’s proved me wrong at every turn. He surprises me, and I’ve come to enjoy it.
There’s a raging fire in my chest ready to demolish my heart and soul for this man.
All my reservations from earlier have been obliterated. I thought I was in control of my heart, in control of this kiss, but now I realize I never was. Pushing him away was never going to work; it was our destiny to collide. And collide we did. Now I can’t stop kissing him. He’s an addiction I must satiate.
His hands sneak down my sides as his tongue slips over my lips. I’m putty in his very capable hands.
I have to tell him.
My pulse slows. No. I can’t. Not right now. Not with Sebastian here.
I drag my lips away, and he pulls back, his eyes glazed over. “I knew you wanted me.”
“I…” I glance behind him.
Sebastian is gone.
I untwine myself from Liam and take a step back. “Time for plan F,” I say.
“Please say it’s more kissing because that was incredible,” Liam says. “Though, I say we take it—”
His words drop off when the lights go out. His arms disappear, and I have the distinct impression he’s gone, though I can’t see a single thing.
“Liam?”
A hand comes over my mouth. Another one around my waist. The overwhelming scent of Ralph Lauren permeates my senses. My stomach drops.
“Hello, love,” Sebastian whispers in my ear, scratching my cheek with his rough beard. “Did you miss me?”
Chapter 22
Liam
No no no. Thiswas not the plan. Anxiety claws at my chest. But instead of giving in to its defeating grip, I take a breath. It’s okay. I can adapt. I’ll make a new plan. The power just went out. No big deal. Something bad isn’t about to happen.
No matter how many times I tell myself this, the knot in my stomach only grows. Something bad already happened.This wasthe plan.
I pat my satchel, ensuring the jewelry box is still in place.
People around me are using their phone lights to see, and I yank mine out. My night vision glasses are of little use right now.
