His arms cage me in as he presses me against my desk. “I don’t want to go and have to push away random skanks all night. I want you by my side. I want to spend the night with you, Natalie.” Liam’s lips press against my neck and I shiver. He slowly trails feather-light kisses down my collar, then to my shoulder, and I groan. “I want to walk in and have every motherfucker look at me and think ‘damn, how’d he get so lucky?’ Then I’ll take you in my arms . . .” Another kiss and he moves his way up my neck to my ear. “And I’ll . . .”

“You’ll . . . ?” I whimper when he bends back.

“You have to tell me if you’re going to go first.”

It’s impossible to say no to him. His blue eyes glimmer with hope and he has me practically trapped between his arms. This date will be different. It’s us going out as a couple with mutual friends. People who knew Aaron and then will see me with Liam. I have to choose whether I will let my past define my future.

“Who’s going?”

“Does it matter?” he counters.

“Yes,” I say looking at him. “Of course it matters. I mean, what do we say?”

Liam’s eyes don’t waver. “Don’t go inside your head. It’s just friends, going out for a beer.”

“No, it’s you and I going out with our friends. Friends that don’t know us as us. Plus, you’ve already told me what you plan to do,” I reply with a taunting look.

“Lee,” he says cautiously, “This doesn’t have to be strange. I’ll keep my hands to myself the whole night.”

I look at him with raised brows. “Right. After you assaulted me in my office with all your promises.”

“Hey, I can keep myself in control. It’s you I worry about. I’m prime meat and you may want to mark your territory. And my assault was working?”

The laugh that escapes me is loud and effortless. My head falls back and his lips find my neck again. I sigh and wrap my arms around his shoulders. “You use your sexiness against me.”

“All part of the plan, sweetheart.”

I squeal and smile, “Okay, you win. I need to see if Paige can watch Aarabelle tonight.”

“Mmmm,” he groans against my collarbone before looking at me. “Hands to myself, right?”

I lean up and kiss him chastely. “It’s not tonight yet.”

“No, no, it’s not,” Liam says before he presses his lips against mine. He reclines me against the cold desk but I only feel heat. His heat. He holds me close and cradles my head in his hands, winding my hair around his fingers. My heart thumps erratically in my chest as he kisses me relentlessly. I claw at his back and pull him closer.

I open my mouth to him and his tongue brushes against mine. And it’s like a switch is turned off. He devours me and takes away all the fear I was holding on to. I’m floating from my body as his weight is on top of me. He won’t let me hurt. He’ll protect me even if it’s from my own guilt.

I feel his joy radiate from him. Both of us have found happiness through each other. It’s scary but also beautiful. I want to give him more. I want to give him what I know he wants. I’m just not sure I’m ready.

Aarabelle is asleep when Paige arrives. This girl saves my life being available on zero notice. I’m not sure what to wear since this is the first time I’m hanging out with everyone. I change over ten times, but finally settle on my favorite jeans and an off-the-shoulder purple top. Cute and comfy is my goal for tonight.

I hear Liam’s car pull in the drive and I give myself a mental pep talk.

I can do this. It’s just friends, and Liam and I aren’t doing anything wrong. Hell, we’re not even sleeping together. Just a lot of kissing. Really, really good kissing. Amazing kissing.

Before he knocks, I open the door. Once again, this man is too good-looking for his own good. How did I never notice this before?

“Hi, sweetheart.” His deep voice is velvety seduction. I melt at the way he draws out the “heart” in “sweetheart” as he appraises me.

“Hi, yourself.” I smile and grab my clutch.

“You ready?”

“As I’ll ever be.” I close the door and reach up to kiss him but he moves away. What the? “Ummm?” I question with my eyes wide.

Liam puts his arm out in a gesture for me to loop mine through, but I stand there waiting for an answer.

“What the hell was that?” My voice is filled with indignation.

“That,” he says, tapping my nose, “Was me keeping my promise. You want me to behave, so you can’t go starting off the night using me for your pleasure,” he informs me, putting his arm back out.

“You’re joking.”

Liam leans down and his lips barely touch my ear as his voice drops lower, “If I touch you now, the rules are off. I want to be able to have my hands on you tonight, but if I start I won’t stop. So you choose. I want you . . . don’t doubt that.” He pulls away and I know this has to be my choice.

Talk about a decision.

I want him and he makes me happy. “And if I want you to kiss me now?”

“Then I get to kiss you later, when I want.”

“What if I don’t want you to kiss me later?”

He laughs and moves his lips so they align with mine, “I think you’ll like me kissing you now, and I know you’ll like me kissing you later.”

“Well, since you put it that way,” I grip his shirt and pull him flush against me. His lips meet mine and I lose myself in his arms. Liam’s hands slide down my body and he cups my ass, lifting me off the ground. Pressed between him and the door, my hands grip his neck and I give him what he wants.

Kissing Liam is unlike anything I’ve felt before. He’s rough, but at the same time tender. His tongue dances with mine as if we’ve been doing this our whole lives. There’s no awkwardness. When he gives, I take, and vice versa. I could spend my entire day kissing him and be completely content.

I moan in his mouth and he grinds his hips against mine. Oh. My. God. My body starts to shake and he does it again. My lips break from his and I’m freaking panting.

“We should go,” he grumbles against my neck.

“I’m going to need a few beers after this.” I shake my head and slide down Liam’s body.

“I need a cold shower.” Liam grabs my hand and we walk to the car. He opens the car door for me. “Seriously, though,” he pauses and waits until our eyes meet, “You’re beautiful.”

My arms wrap around his neck and our lips press together. “Thank you.”

He kisses the top of my head and I climb into his car.

I pray I can make it through tonight without anything exploding.

My God, this woman is killing me. She’s got me wrapped around her finger, but she doesn’t see it. I can’t stay away from her no matter what I do. Running is useless anymore. I wind up thinking about her during any song that comes on. The gym is a joke, every blonde that walks past me I compare to how Natalie’s body is better. I’m growing a fucking vagina.

She looks at me like I’m saving her. I wish she knew how much she is saving me. I’ve always been reckless on missions. There hasn’t been anyone waiting for me at home, so I’d take a bullet for anyone. Now, during our training, I think about how she’d feel. How it would be for her if something happened to me. Not that she loves me . . . yet. But I know she cares. She sure as hell wouldn’t kiss me like that if she didn’t.