His Assignment: Chapters 21-25

Chapter 21

Liam seems to think he’s won as he locks the door to our hotel room and kicks off his shoes, but that couldn’t be further from the truth.

“What did my dad say?” I ask.

I figured this wasn’t a conversation he wanted to have in the crowded bar, and he should feel grateful I waited until we were in our room. Honestly, I’m so thoughtful when it comes to Liam and his comfort.

He spins around and leans against the door, his lips pursed as he watches me remove my shoes and flop back on the bed. It’s pretty comfortable, and I spread my arms out to the sides with a content sigh.

I’m excited to sleep on this tonight.

“Well?” I prompt when Liam doesn’t immediately answer. “What did you two talk about?”

Liam sighs. “You know I’m not going to share that information with you.”

I figured he would say that, but he should know by now that I don’t take no for an answer. I’ve gotten just about everything I’ve ever wanted from him, and this will be no different. It’s only a matter of time.

Liam may have the patience of a saint, but everybody has a breaking point.

“Tell me,” I order.

Liam shakes his head.

Why does he always feel the need to be so secretive? It’s not like keeping me in the loop will negatively affect either of us. If anything, it would probably be helpful. I’d be much more willing to follow Liam and listen to his near-constant, annoying orders if I knew the motivation and reason behind them.

I’m not some feeble-minded woman he can intimidate into doing what he says.

Not today, not ever.

Liam steps toward the bed, and I raise a brow as I prop myself on my elbows and stare down at him.

“You’re a fool if you think I’m going to let you touch me,” I say. “I want to know what you and my dad talked about, and you’re not laying a finger on me until you fess up.”

My lips curl into a cruel smile as Liam recoils, disbelief briefly flashing in his eyes before he snorts and turns away from the bed. I don’t like how he acts like he doesn’t want me, like my decision isn’t frustrating him, and I pointedly arch my back before flopping back down on the mattress.

Liam reaches for his bag and begins rummaging through his clothes, and I glare at the side of his face before sliding off the bed and undressing.

I take great pleasure in the way Liam’s movements slow as he realizes what I’m doing, and I can tell he’s looking at me as I pull off my shirt and unclip my bra. I let both fall to the floor before hooking my thumbs into the waistband of my leggings and sliding them down my legs.

Liam turns to face me fully as I step out of them, and I adjust my underwear before climbing back onto the bed.

He doesn’t get to see the goods until I get answers.

I lay on my back and get comfortable on top of the comforter. Liam unbuttons his shirt, and I wait until he steps toward me before shaking my head and pointing to the chair by the desk.

“Sit.”

Liam raises a brow, looking mildly amused, before dipping his chin and pulling the chair to the end of the bed. He sits in it, still looking amused, and crosses his arms over his chest.

“What’s this, Katie?” he chuckles.

I ignore him as I spread my thighs and trail my hand down my torso. My fingertips graze my skin, and tiny goosebumps pebble as I tease them up and down the length of my stomach.

Liam falls silent, his gaze heavy as he finishes unbuttoning his shirt. It falls open once he’s done, revealing his muscular, ink-covered chest. I can’t help but stare.

It’s annoying how good Liam looks, and he seems to take great pleasure in my attraction toward him as he leans back in his chair and smirks.

“Like what you see?” he teases.

I ignore him.

“What did you and my dad speak about?” I ask again.

The corner of Liam’s lip twitches, and I turn things up a notch and slide my hand even lower. I trace the waistband of my underwear, pleased with myself for wearing a lacy red pair, before easing my fingers between my thighs.

Liam’s throat bobs as I touch my clit over the fabric, but it’s the only reaction he gives that I’m affecting him.

I spread my thighs wider, and I let out a quiet moan as I rub myself. It feels good, and Liam leans forward before unbuttoning his pants and shoving them roughly down his hips.

He pulls his cock out of his underwear the second he can, and I lick my lips as I realize he’s already hard. I’ve never taken a good look at his dick before, and I’m pleased to see it’s as thick as I thought it was.

It always felt big inside me, but now that I’m seeing it, I’m surprised it fit without pain.

Liam spits into his palm and takes hold of himself, and I slip my hand underneath my underwear to touch myself directly. The skin-on-skin contact feels amazing, and I can tell Liam’s annoyed by his inability to see through the red lace.

Good.

“Tell me,” I urge him.

He moans, easing his hand up and down his shaft, but doesn’t answer.

“Was it good or bad?” I try, hoping this question gets me better results. “I’ll take my underwear off if you answer.”

Liam licks his lips, debating, before throwing his head back with a loud groan. He sounds tormented, and I’m wildly pleased by it.

“Good or bad, Liam?” I repeat.

He slides his hand to the base of his cock and squeezes. His chest still heaves, and I take great pleasure in how his neck and chest have reddened. I’m making him flush.

“Bad,” he admits.

Bad? My heart lurches, but I remain true to my promise and slide my underwear down my legs.

I prepare to toss them aside, but Liam lunges forward and snatches them out of my hand before I do so. My eyes grow comically wide, and I watch in shock as he brings them to his shaft. He curls both my underwear and his hand back around himself, a low groan slipping from his throat as he does so.

“Spread your legs,” he orders.

My thighs fall open, and Liam leans back in his chair as he stares at me and touches himself. His throat bobs as he gulps, and he licks his lips as I tentatively rub my clit for him to see. I’ve never done anything like this before, but Liam seems perfectly at ease.

That thought has me angrily snapping my legs together.

“How many women have you done this with?” I hiss.

Liam shuts his eyes and sucks in a deep breath. He looks entirely done with me when he opens them back up, but I don’t care. I don’t even know why the thought of him doing this with other women upsets me, but it does.

I’ll have time to look into and worry about my wayward emotions later.

“I’m stroking my cock with your underwear while I watch you touch yourself, princess. I’m desperate, and I’m needy, and I can assure you those are two things I’ve never let a woman make me feel before,” Liam admits. “Now, please, spread your fucking legs.”

That’s more like it.

I smile as I spread my thighs so he can see me, and I let my head drop back onto the pillow as I circle my fingers around my clit. It feels good knowing he’s watching, and I curl my toes as I slip my fingers lower and ease two inside myself.

The sound of Liam stroking himself fills the room, and I clench around my fingers as I pretend it’s him doing this to me instead. I want him to touch me, want him inside me, but I can’t let that happen.

I need to remain strong.

My back arches as I curl my fingers inside myself, and I sink my teeth into my bottom lip to hold back my moans as I pull them out and return my focus to my clit. I listen to Liam touch himself, loving every throaty noise he lets slip out.

“Fuck, Katie,” Liam moans.

I peer down at him through my lashes, my eyes tracking his every movement. He’s stroking himself at a frantic pace, and I spot my lacy red underwear peeking out his fist as he rolls his hips into his fist.

His gaze is focused between my thighs, and I let out a tiny cry as the coiling tension grows. It feels so good, and I shake as my orgasm builds.

“Are you going to cum?” I ask, wanting to see.

Liam’s attention darts from my sex to my face, and a quiet curse slips from his lips before he gives a jerky nod.

“Yeah,” he breathes.

Fuck. I have half a mind to stop and demand he gives me more information about his phone call with my dad, but I can’t bring myself to do so. I want to cum, and I’m so fucking close.

I stare at Liam as I rub myself, enjoying how his abs flex with each roll of his hips. He’s so fucking big, and the memory of his weight pressing into me while he fucks is permanently ingrained in his mind.

Liam’s better at sex than he has any business being, and I fight the urge to ask him to sink his cock into me as I smash my jaw shut and cum. My thighs shake as I fall apart, and Liam lets out a throaty moan as he watches.

“Fuck, baby,” he gasps.

He pants as he squeezes his eyes shut and finds his release. He quickly curls his free hand around the head of his cock so he doesn’t spill everywhere, and after a long few seconds, his muscles go lax and he removes his hands from himself.

My underwear drops to the floor, the fabric thoroughly covered in Liam’s cum.

I stare at them before shifting my attention back to Liam.

“You owe me a new pair,” I say.

He chuckles, not exactly the reaction I was expecting, before nodding. I’m proud of how thoroughly fucked he looks, his shirt unbuttoned and ripped open while his cock hangs limply on his thigh. He didn’t even remove his pants all the way, the fabric still bunched up at the top of his hips.

He was so desperate to get his dick out and touch himself.

Liam is desperate for me.

I smirk and roll off the bed, and Liam watches my every movement as I grab a pair of his underwear and slide them up my hips. They fit me well and are admittedly quite comfortable to sleep in. I know Liam likes it when I wear them, too.

He awkwardly shuffles to his feet and steps into the bathroom to clean himself, and I listen to him turn on the sink as I find and slip on one of his shirts. It falls to my mid-thigh, and I turn and glance at myself in the mirror on the closet door.

My hair’s a mess, and I nervously glance at the bathroom door before smoothing it back into place. I know I shouldn’t care how Liam sees me, the man nothing more than one of my dad’s annoying meatheads, but that’s easier said than done.

Besides, if I intend to seduce him for information, it only makes sense I’d want to look nice.

That’s the only reason I’m doing this.

I jump away from the mirror just as Liam steps out of the bathroom, but I can tell I’ve been caught looking at myself by the cocky smile that spreads over his lips. He’s much too pleased with himself, and I roll my eyes as I brush past him into the bathroom.

I take my sweet time brushing my teeth and peeing, and Liam’s already in bed by the time I finish. He lies on his back, playing on his phone, and I glare at the device before shutting off the lights and crawling into bed.

“Watch it,” he hisses as I not-so-accidentally knee him in the thigh.

“Please tell me what you and my dad spoke about,” I say, flopping onto my back.

My plea is met with silence, and just when I’m convinced Liam plans to ignore me, he turns off his phone and rolls over to face me.

“I’m not keeping secrets because I think it’s fun to annoy you,” he admits. He places his hand on my hip and pulls me closer. It’s cuddling territory, and I don’t know how to feel about it. “I will tell you, but now isn’t the time.”

I fight the urge to pinch him.

“That doesn’t make any sense. I’m not a child, Liam, and I don’t appreciate the whole ‘keeping things from me for my benefit’ thing,” I say.

Liam sighs. “I know you’re not a child. Things have gotten…” His voice trails off as he searches for his following words. “Things have gotten worse, and you and I will be together for a bit longer than expected. I don’t know for how long.”

I am not pleased to hear this.

“What do you mean things have gotten worse?” I pry.

Liam seems to be done talking as he cups the back of my head and pulls it into his chest. I fight against him, pissed he’s moving me around like I’m some rag doll, but I angrily give in when he tightens his hold and refuses to let me move.

I’ll let him cuddle me because he clearly needs it, but I’m not a fan.

I don’t enjoy cuddling with the enemy.

I listen to Liam’s heartbeat as I replay his words, trying and failing to make sense of them. I don’t even know why my dad deemed it necessary to move me into hiding in the first place, but I’m not happy to hear the situation has worsened.

How long am I going to be stuck with Liam?

I need to return to my life at some point, and I’m sure somebody’s noticed I’ve gone missing by now. I don’t have many friends, but I do have a few. One of them is bound to have gotten worried.

Not to mention the fact that I have rent and bills to pay. They’re on autopay, but I don’t have much money in my account.

I’ve probably overdrawn by now.

“Liam?” I whisper.

He hums, clearly on the verge of sleep.

“I’m going to need you to give me your bank information tomorrow,” I say. “I have responsibilities, and if you’re going to ruin my life, it’s only fair you pay my rent and utilities until I’m back on my feet.”

Liam slides his hand down the back of my head, petting me. He doesn’t verbally respond, but he also doesn’t say no. I take it as a yes, and I’ll borrow his phone and credit card the first chance I get.

Chapter 22

Liam is suffocating me, and I feel pity for every woman he’s ever shared a bed with.

I glare at his arm, the heavy thing draped over my stomach, preventing me from breathing as easily as I should. There’s a pain in my lower abdomen, I suspect from gas, and I cringe as Liam shifts and presses more of his weight onto me.

I have to admit that a small part of me enjoys looking at him without him knowing.

Liam’s skin is surprisingly tan, just enough to have a nice, healthy glow, and I scan the rose tattoo above his wrist before shifting my attention to the skull above it.

On the inside of his forearm, almost hidden away, is an odd little bushy tree. I scrunch my nose, trying to figure out what it is, before grabbing his arm and subtly rolling it to get a better look.

“What are you doing?” Liam groans.

His voice is thick and rough with sleep, and I nervously release his arm.

“What’s this tree?” I ask, poking the dark tattoo.

Liam makes a smacking sound with his mouth as he looks at what I’m pointing to.

“It’s the tree on the South Carolina flag,” he admits. “That’s where I’m from.”

I raise a brow, a bit surprised. Liam doesn’t sound like he’s from the south, and he sure as fuck doesn’t have any of the ‘southern charm’ I always hear people talking about. I struggle to imagine him even being able to put on a front and fake it.

It’s no wonder he moved away.

They probably kicked him out.

Liam pulls away from me and crawls out of bed. He stretches, raising his arms above his head and leaning back with a quiet groan. I suppose I knew he was only in his underwear, but I didn’t truly realize it until just now.

I hate myself for the way I stare.

I wish Liam were ugly. It would make things so much easier.

“Do you want to go downstairs and get some breakfast?” he asks, glancing at the clock. I can tell it’s early, ungodly early. “I think it opened at six.”

I roll over and peer at the clock. It’s six thirty.

“Give me five minutes,” I say.

I’m always hungry in the morning, and I’m not eager to sit in this stuffy hotel room all day. I’ve spent the past few weeks hiding from the world, and I can’t even begin to express how excited I am to be able to do some people-watching over a hot meal.

I hope this place has a waffle maker.

Liam gets dressed while I muster the strength to leave the warm bed. The mattress back in the cabin, and even on the train, were uncomfortable, and I can’t remember the last time I slept as well as I did last night.

I feel refreshed.

“I can bring you back something if you want to sleep in,” Liam suggests as he notices my struggle to get up.

I shake my head and roll out of bed.

Liam said we’d be here for a few days, so it’s not like this will be my only opportunity to get a good night’s sleep. I’ve got at least tonight, and hopefully even tomorrow.

“I’m going to need your phone while we eat,” I warn Liam.

He cocks his head to the side, looking mildly confused.

“Why’s that?” he asks.

I don’t immediately respond, instead letting him simmer in his confusion as I pull a fresh change of clothes out of my bag and slip them on. Liam not so patiently waits for me to answer him, and I take great pleasure in his annoyance.

Nothing gives me a burst of energy more than knowing I’m making Liam angry.

“You agreed to let me put my rent and utilities payments on your card,” I eventually say.

Liam snorts. “Did I?”

I nod, and Liam presses his lips together before giving in with a shrug. What? He’s not going to argue with me or anything? Where’s the fun in that?

A small part of me wants to push, but I should probably be grateful he even seems inclined to let me charge him for my rent. I’m sure he can afford it, especially considering he owns an entire brownstone in Brooklyn.

It’s ridiculous, and entirely unfair.

Liam makes his way to his weapon bag, thoroughly perking my interest. I tiptoe to the side to get a peek, but he moves too quickly for me to see anything good. My nose crinkles as he pulls out what I’m pretty sure is a gun and shoves it into the back of his pants.

Is he planning on bringing that to breakfast? He didn’t walk around with weapons when we were in the cabin, and doing so here feels a bit excessive. I doubt anybody at this rinky-dink hotel intends to hurt us.

Besides, Liam’s like twice the size of an average person. He doesn’t need a weapon to win a fight.

Unless he thinks the people who were watching us at the cabin have followed us here. Is that what he and my dad were speaking about? It makes sense Liam wouldn’t want to tell me out of fear I’d get all panicky like I did when we were abandoning his car at the grocery store.

Fuck.

I probably made him think I couldn’t handle bad news.

I can’t, but that’s none of his business. I want and deserve to know what’s going on. I know better than anybody not to rely on a man, and that’s precisely the situation Liam is forcing on me.

“Can I have a gun?” I ask.

Liam doesn’t even spare me a glance. “No.”

Of course, he’d shut down my idea without considering it. He thinks he’s so much better than me.

Liam zips up his bag and sets it on the floor. Metal clanks inside, and he nudges it under the bed with his toe before turning toward me. I cross my arms over my chest, wanting him to see I’m upset.

“Please?” I ask again.

“No.”

“Pretty please?” I continue to beg.

Liam puffs out his cheeks before crouching and turning toward his super secret bag. I bounce on my toes, in complete disbelief, as he unzips it and reaches inside.

Is he really going to give me a gun? My heart races, both in excitement and nerves, but I refuse to let it show on my face. I don’t want Liam to be able to tell I’ve never touched a real gun before, and I’ll lie if he asks.

He definitely wouldn’t give me one if I admitted that.

There’s some clanging as Liam hunts around in his bag, and I resist the urge to run forward and peer over his shoulder as he pulls something out.

My lips curl into a wide smile as he zips the bag, and I impatiently tap my fingers against my thigh as he turns back around.

My smile quickly falls when I see what’s in his hand.

“That’s not funny,” I huff, staring at the small utility knife in his hand.

It’s one of the lame ones with all the tools built into it, and I cross my arms over my chest as Liam steps forward and pulls out the bottle opener and pliers. He chuckles as he brings the utility knife to my eye level, and he pinches the pliers in my face like a crab claw.

“I want a gun,” I repeat.

Liam shrugs. “You can have this or nothing.”

He’s treating me like a child, and I’m not amused.

I snatch it out of his hand, debating opening the blade and stabbing him in the neck, before shoving it into my pocket. I’m taking this because I’m terrified of the men coming after Liam and me, but this won’t be the last time Liam hears from me on this topic.

He may think he’s god’s gift to this earth, but he’s only human. As much as he likes to pretend otherwise, there’s a very good chance we end up in a position where he’s not around and I’m forced to defend myself.

That’ll be hard to do when I have no weapon.

“You’re going to regret this,” I warn him.

Liam looks amused, which only further pisses me off.

“I’m sure I will, princess.” He turns away, still mumbling to himself. “You’ll make sure of it.”

He’s damn right I will.

“Stop calling me princess,” I order.

Liam glances at me out of the corner of his eye before making his way to the bathroom. The door slams shut behind him, and I make a face before stepping in front of the closet mirror and working on my hair.

I haven’t had the opportunity to make myself look nice since I was captured, thanks to the cabin’s lack of mirrors, and I hum quietly as I smooth my hands down the front of my head. My hair is still just the tiniest bit greasy, despite the two times I washed it before going to the bar last night, but I think one more wash will bring it back to normal.

Getting back into a hair-washing routine is going to be a bitch, and I’m fruitlessly hoping that going so long between washes has actually helped my hair. I can tell by the crunchiness of the ends that that’s far from the truth, but I enjoy living in blissful ignorance and hope anyway.

I’ve got a halfway decent braid done by the time Liam steps out of the bathroom.

It’s not my favorite hairstyle, but it’s all I can do with literally zero products.

Liam looks effortlessly beautiful, of fucking course, and I glare at him as I take my turn in the bathroom. The towels from my shower last night and the plastic wrapping the soap came in have been cleaned up, and my lips curl upward as I take in the cleaned room.

Does Liam like keeping his bathroom space neat?

Interesting.

I lick my lips, wash my hands, and leave the wet towel directly in the center of the sink counter. I brush my teeth next, pointedly leaving the tiny bit of toothpaste that spills and dripped water all over.

There was a notice in the elevator that rooms get cleaned every three days for long-stay guests, which means nobody will come in and tidy up here.

It’s up to Liam and me.

Perfect.

I finger-brush my hair, letting the strands fall where they may, before giggling to myself and folding the very corner of the bath mat over on itself.

This is the greatest day of my life, and I feel much better about the utility blade incident as I step out of the bathroom and slip on my shoes.

“Ready to go?” I ask.

Liam’s sitting on the edge of the bed, the fool looking mildly happy as he follows me to the door. I can’t wait until he goes into the bathroom and sees the mess I made, and I hope it eats him up inside.

I hope his frustration toward me festers.

“I was thinking you might want to go to the hotel gym with me once we’ve eaten,” Liam suggests as we make our way to the hotel.

I blink. Did he really ask me that? It takes only one look at my weak, squishy arms and soft belly to realize I don’t exercise. The only workout I get is carrying my laundry basket to and from the laundromat.

“Well?” Liam urges.

“I don’t exercise,” I admit.

Liam, the greedy fucking bastard he is, takes his sweet time looking at my body.

“I know, but I thought it could be fun for us to go. I can teach you what to do.”

I’m willing to admit that he sounds genuine, but I’m too offended by him saying he knows I don’t work out. What’s that supposed to mean?

Does he not find me attractive because I’m not some meathead gym rat like him? I wonder what his ex-fiance looked like. I bet she was fit. They probably went to the gym together all the time, and I bet he fucking loved it.

Did they take pre-workout together? Sharing the same gross little scoop?

Why does it even matter?

I rush out of the elevator when the doors open, desperate to escape Liam. I’m obsessing over him way more than I should, and no amount of acknowledging that seems to be fixing the situation.

He doesn’t bring up the gym again as I make my way to the breakfast bar and hunt down the waffle machine. Liam serves himself a giant bowl of yogurt, naturally, and takes a seat nearby.

The dining area is small, and nobody else is here. I debate sitting at a different table and leaving Liam all alone like a loser, but I decide against it last minute and plop down in front of him.

We eat in silence.

And then it happens.

I sneeze, and my underwear grows uncomfortably wet.

“I need to use the bathroom,” I blurt out.

I rush toward the woman’s room a second later, and I fight the urge to scream as I enter the first empty stall and pull down my pants.

Fuck.

My birth control implant makes my periods irregular, and I haven’t had one in almost eight months. It’s just my fucking luck I’d get it right now.

I clean myself the best I can and shove some toilet paper into my underwear, glad I caught it early, before washing my hands and returning to Liam. He’s none the wiser about what’s just happened to me, and I stare wide-eyed at him as he shoves a spoonful of nasty-looking yogurt into his mouth.

“Uh…” I clear my throat, drawing Liam’s attention. He sets down his spoon and leans back in his chair, waiting for me to continue. “I’m going to need you to do me a favor.”

Liam frowns. “I thought you’d at least wait until I was finished eating.”

He reaches into his pocket and pulls out his phone and wallet. I gulp, waiting until he hands them over before telling him that’s not what I’m going to ask for. Only once I have his phone and credit card securely in my hands do I continue.

“I’ve just gotten my period, and I’m going to need you to go to the drugstore and get me some tampons and diapers.”

Liam shuts his eyes for a long, long moment.

“What?”

My face is hot, and I avoid eye contact as I continue. “My periods are heavy. Tampons work during the day, but I’ll need a diaper for the night. Otherwise, the blood gets all over.”

Liam opens his mouth, but I interrupt before he says something stupid and hurts my feelings.

“Please,” I beg. “I don’t want to talk about it, and I need to go to the room before it gets messy.”

Liam glances at his yogurt, frowns, and shovels the last few bites in his mouth before standing and tossing it in the trash. I still hold his phone and credit card, my knuckles white with how hard my grip is.

“There’s a drug store just down the road. Please don’t make me regret leaving you alone with my phone and money,” he says.

He pats my butt before leaving, and I watch him walk out the hotel’s front door before hurrying toward the elevator. He’s doing me a favor, so I won’t go wild with his things, but it’s fair game the next time.

Chapter 23

Liam lounges on the couch, flipping through the TV channels, and I sit on the bed playing with his phone.

He didn’t say anything when he came back from the store and found me holding the device to my chest, and he hasn’t demanded it back in the hours since. I even took it to the bathroom with me, refusing to give Liam the opportunity to snatch it up and shove it into his pocket where it’s impossible to steal back.

I’m pleased, and I peer at him over the top of the screen before returning to my game.

I downloaded six, and I’m quickly working my way through them. They’re all silly puzzle ones I found in the App Store, and every single one cost money. They’re only a dollar or two, but I can’t lie and say I didn’t feel mighty good as I typed in his card numbers and hit submit.

This is the most entertainment I’ve had in weeks.

Liam finally settles on some old western movie, and I watch out of the corner of my eye as he sets the remote on the couch and kicks his feet up on the coffee table. He’s sure making himself comfortable in this room, and I wonder if he’s happy to have something to do besides argue with me.

I’d imagine so.

Another hour passes in silence, and I roll over and plug the phone into the charger when I get a notification that the battery is getting low. Liam has one of the short ones, so I can’t comfortably play on it while it’s plugged in, and I frown as I climb off the bed and make my way to the couch.

Liam wordlessly moves over, making room for me.

I once dated a guy who was petrified of period blood, absolutely horrified at the mere thought of it, and he’d make a fuss whenever I’d try to sit next to him while I was bleeding. I haven’t encountered anybody quite as dramatic again, but a small part of me always worries.

Thankfully, Liam doesn’t seem to care.

His nose doesn’t even wrinkle in the subtle gesture of disgust when I press myself against his side and soak in his body heat. Instead, he wordlessly wraps an arm around my shoulder, his attention locked on the TV.

I bite back a smile as I turn toward the TV, already bored. My idea of a good movie is either a small indie film or a horror, and western doesn’t fall into either category. At least this one is in color, even if it’s grainy and seems to have been made twenty years before I was born.

It holds my attention for all of ten seconds, and poor Liam does his best to pretend not to notice when I shift my gaze toward him.

I wait patiently for him to acknowledge me, but when he doesn’t, I take matters into my own hands.

“Liam?” I ask.

He hums, and I lean into him with a sly smile.

“Can I see your guns?”

The duffel bag under the bed has been taunting me since our conversation, and I might die if I don’t get to see them. I want to know how many he has, and how big they are. I need to know.

I won’t rest until I do.

Liam lifts his arms and flexes, and I cock my head to the side before realizing he’s making a ‘guns are muscles’ joke. I open my mouth to insult him, aiming to say something insinuating that he’s not strong and his ‘guns’ aren’t impressive, but it takes too long for something good to come to mind.

I can tell Liam takes great pleasure in watching me struggle to find a retort, and the corners of his lips twitch upward as he drops his arms back to his sides.

“Please,” I beg, grabbing his thigh.

Liam glances at my hand, and as if he can read my mind, he flicks my fingers off his thigh.

“No.”

I shouldn’t have let him watch me touch myself yesterday. It means he’s not nearly horny enough to fall for my seduction attempts, and I should’ve waited until he was truly desperate to try it. I bet I would’ve gotten so much more out of him had I waited a few more days.

Men are fools when they’re horny.

They always are.

“What if somebody tries to break into the room while you’re gone, and I need to use a gun to defend myself?” I ask. “It only makes sense you show them to me and let me know which one to use and how to prepare it.”

Liam snorts.

“If somebody is here to kill you while I’m gone, then you’re already as good as dead, princess.”

How. Fucking. Rude.

I hesitate, debating what to do, before curling my hand into a tight fist and slamming it down on the top of Liam’s thigh. He grunts and pulls his leg away, and I prepare to strike again when he plants a hand on the center of my chest and pushes me down.

I screech as I fall back on the couch, my head hitting the soft cushions before I spring back up.

“I hate you,” I say.

Liam laughs, and I prepare to launch into a complete tirade when he leans forward, cups the back of my neck, and pulls me in for a hard kiss. I’m beyond shocked as his lips meet mine, and it takes me a good second to catch my bearings as Liam slides his other hand to my hip and pulls me over his lap.

My heart pounds as I straddle him, and I shiver when he forces his tongue into my mouth and roughly grabs my ass.

Liam smiles against my mouth, and I grab his shoulders with a low moan. You’d think he’d have lost some muscle over the weeks we spent in the cabin, but he’s just as big as he was the day he kidnapped me.

I slide my hands down his arms, lingering near his biceps, before pushing back.

Liam continues to palm my ass, his hands flexing as he takes advantage of the situation and feels me. He continues even when I pull away, and I squeeze his hips with my thighs as I peer down at him.

“Please,” I beg. “We both know I’m going to look at them at some point, and wouldn’t you rather it be with your supervision?”

Either he will show them to me now, or I will take a look for myself the first moment I have. Liam can do his best not to leave me alone with them, but I’ll find an opportunity at some point.

Even if I need to sneak out of bed at night and take a peek while he’s sleeping. I’m not above doing just that.

Liam licks his swollen bottom lip, his tongue darting out before he glances at the bag peeking out from under the bed.

He’s considering it, and I do my best not to get too excited as he clenches his eyes shut and lets out a low groan. He can be annoyed all he wants, but I always get what I want. Liam should know that by now.

“Fine,” he says, nudging me off his lap.

I don’t hesitate to climb off, and I bounce slightly on my toes as I make my way to the bed. Liam looks far from happy as he follows me, and I clasp my hands together as he grabs the bag and sets it on the bed.

This is the greatest day of my life.

I inch forward, plastering myself to his arm as he unzips the bag and begins pulling everything out. The first items to emerge are two small cases, and my breath catches as he opens them up to reveal two guns.

A padded material surrounds them, and I reach forward to touch one, only to have the back of my hand smacked.

“No,” Liam grunts.

The third case he pulls out is even smaller, and I stare at it with wide eyes as he sets it on the bed and begins removing boxes of ammo. He pulls out four before it becomes impossible to contain myself.

“Why do you have so many?” I ask.

Liam slows, his hand momentarily freezing where it reaches into his bag. I’m not sure why he seems surprised by my asking this, and I’m pretty sure it’s more than a reasonable question. There’s no reason for one grown man to carry around three different guns and boxes upon boxes of ammo.

“They’re for different uses,” he explains. “And I like to be prepared.”

Clearly.

I press my lips together, forcing myself to be quiet as Liam removes the remaining items from his bag. There are a few hunks of metal left in the bottom, one I recognize to be a knife and a few other things I’m unable to make out.

“Do you have a silencer?” I pry.

Liam turns to me and raises a brow.

“Do you mean a compressor?”

He’s so fucking pretentious. I roll my eyes before letting out a deep sigh and shrugging.

“The thing that makes the gun quiet,” I explain.

Liam visibly holds back a smile, and I fight the urge to stomp on his foot. He should know better than to make fun of a woman on her period, and I’m not above using it as an excuse to annihilate him.

I’ll crush Liam into the ground like the little bug he is.

“Yes,” he finally says, answering me.

I raise a brow. “They’re illegal in New York.”

The words are out of my mouth before I can test them out in my mind, and I wish to swallow them back up the moment they escape. Liam shoots me a sideways glance, and my cheeks turn a bright shade of red as I realize how dumb that was to say. I doubt any of these guns are legal, and I’m sure his uses for them are far from it, too.

Liam turns back to his weapons, and I inch closer.

“Do you usually carry one on you?” I ask.

I’m pretty sure I’d have noticed him pulling a gun out of his bag every time we go out together, but there’s always the possibility he’s sneaky with them. Liam seems the type to do that, mainly because he probably knows I’d bother him whenever I see him open the duffel bag.

Leaning forward, I continue to peer at the weapons. I want to touch one, but I know Liam wouldn’t appreciate that.

He doesn’t seem to appreciate anything I do.

“I could get in trouble for letting you see these,” Liam admits, breaking the silence.

I blink, shocked, before looking up and meeting his gaze. He’s already watching me, and I wonder how long he’s been doing so.

“Why?” I ask. “I’m an adult, and there are zero reasons why I shouldn’t be allowed to lay eyes on a weapon.” My eyebrows furrow together, and I plant my hands on my hips with a quiet huff. “I bet you wouldn’t say that to me if I had a dick swinging between my legs.”

Liam’s eyes grow comically wide before he coughs into his fist. He’s not nearly as sly as he tries to be, and my blood boils as he tries to hold back a laugh. It’s not funny.

He doesn’t take long to compose himself, and I glare at the side of his face as he grabs a box of bullets and tosses it back into his bag. It rattles, and I drag my eyes from him to the weapons still laid out on the bed.

“Your dad is adamant you be kept far away from this life,” Liam says. “He put me under strict orders to keep you as separated as possible.”

I scoff. That’s rich, considering he’s the one who ordered me to be kidnapped and hidden by one of his meatheads. I ignore Liam’s statement and point to the gun closest to me.

“Can I hold it?”

“Absolutely not.”

Liam locks the guns away in their cases and returns them to his bag, and I pout as he sets the bag back on the ground. He nudges it underneath with his toe before sitting on the edge of the bed and reaching for his plugged-in phone.

He checks the time, and I let out a quiet groan when I realize it’s not even noon.

“Let’s go out and do something,” I suggest. “This room is boring.”

The cabin wasn’t much better, but at least I could go outside and waste time walking through the woods. It wasn’t exactly the most riveting form of entertainment, but it was better than nothing.

“I can think of something inside we can do,” Liam says, reaching for me.

He doesn’t hesitate to pull me onto his lap, the action more natural than it should be. I’m growing too comfortable around Liam, and it’s a dangerous slope I can feel myself barreling toward.

I anticipate Liam trying to pull a move on me, but instead, he holds me against his chest and falls back onto the bed. My breath hitches, and I go comically still as he smooths a hand down my back. It settles at the base of my spine, and my pulse races through my ears as I realize Liam’s properly trying to cuddle me.

I expect to feel disgusted or annoyed, but instead, I relax in his arms with a content sigh.

I’m developing feelings for the stupid oaf.

Chapter 24

I don’t know how I got roped into this.

Liam peers at me over his shoulder, his eyes crinkling as he shoots me a stupid smile. I’d say something rude if I had the energy, but instead, I shake my head and push my legs to go faster.

I hate running, and I hate Liam for convincing me to do this.

I really thought my argument of not having any exercise clothing would do the trick, and I’m annoyed with how well his running shorts fit. The small tie pulls them snugly around my waist, and the spandex underneath prevents my thighs from chafing.

My sports bra isn’t the most supportive, and my boobs bounce with just a bit more vigor than I’m comfortable with, but it isn’t unbearable. I bought this one for fashion, never for exercise.

I’m never doing this again.

“You’re slowing down,” Liam says, glancing at my legs.

He slows his pace, closing the growing gap between us.

I debated lying and saying the new pink sneakers he bought me are giving me blisters, but I decide against it. He’ll probably want to look at them later, and I’d never hear the end of it when he realizes I lied to get out of running.

“Don’t rush me,” I say instead.

Liam snorts, and I wipe the sweat off my brow before looking at his phone. It’s slippery in my sweaty hand, and I take care to hold it tightly as I check our distance. I downloaded a running tracker app before leaving the hotel, and we’re almost done with the mile I promised I’d do.

Although I’m starting to doubt if I’ll be able to finish.

This is killing me.

I might actually die.

Liam continues to slow, and I fight the urge to lean over and bite him as he places a hand on my back. There’s a woman with a stroller just ahead, and Liam gently guides me to the side as we approach.

I try to smile at her, but given the look of pity she gives me, I assume my expression is more of a pained grimace than anything else.

It’s all Liam’s fault.

My breathing is obnoxiously loud as we run, and I pump my arms hard in the sad hope it makes my legs move faster. It doesn’t, and it’s another four minutes before the tracking app finally hits a mile.

I stop the second it does.

I agreed to a mile, and that’s all Liam’s getting out of me.

Liam slows too, but I’m too exhausted to pay him any attention. Instead, I plant my hands on my knees and hunch over, struggling to catch my breath. This is pathetic, and it’s by far the worst thing I’ve ever agreed to do.

Still, I’m secretly a little proud of myself for running the entire mile. I didn’t think I’d be able to do it.

Liam rubs my back while I pant, and he even goes as far as to tighten my loose ponytail for me. He’s always doing these nice little gestures, and I struggle to understand what they mean.

Does he have feelings for me?

We have sex, so he’s clearly attracted to me, and all these little things point toward him feeling something more than lust. It’s as clear as day, and I know I’m not crazy to think it. He probably just doesn’t know how to tell me.

I end the run on the phone and check my time. Twelve minutes.

Not good, but I’m still pretty proud of it.

I take a few more moments to catch my breath, not enjoying the burn in my lungs. I’ve never understood people who claim that they like the feeling of exercise. There’s not a damn thing I enjoy about it.

Liam removes his hand from my back as I straighten up, and I turn to him with a wide smile.

“I did it!” I shout.

I throw myself into his arms a second later, not fully thinking through my actions until it’s too late. Liam takes it well, though, returning my hug with a loud laugh.

It’s addictive, and I find myself joining in as he lifts me into the air and spins me around. I’m a sweaty mess, and I’m painfully aware that he’s still bone dry as he sets me on the ground and beams down at me.

“A whole mile,” he says. “I knew you could do it.”

When he first suggested we run, he tried to get me to agree to three miles. He didn’t seem to understand how somebody could want to do less than that, and it took more convincing than necessary to get him to agree to one.

Our arguing was embarrassing, but I’m pleased I did it. I don’t think I could have managed three miles.

One just about killed me.

I shove Liam’s phone into my pocket and plant my hands on my hips. I’m absolutely spectacular.

“I’m jacked,” I say, glancing at my biceps.

Liam quirks a brow, his lips twitching.

“An absolute fucking unit,” I continue.

To prove my point, I lift my arms and flex, showing him my bulging muscles. Liam eyes my arms as his smile grows, and I fist my hands and bring them to my sides with an exaggerated groan.

“That’s enough, Schwarzenegger,” Liam chuckles, pulling me into his side.

He doesn’t seem to mind my sweat, but I sure do. As much as I joke about my lack of fitness, it is slightly embarrassing to see the physical difference between us right now. I’m a red, sweaty, panting mess, and Liam looks like he hasn’t even begun his run.

I wonder how far he can go, but I have a feeling the answer will only make me feel bad about myself.

“Do you want to get some ice cream?” I ask, gesturing toward the shop we passed a few minutes ago.

The place looked pretty busy, which I hope means it’s good. I deserve a treat after such strenuous exercise, especially when I’m doing it on my period. Thankfully my birth control prevents me from cramping, and besides the almost always uncomfortable wetness between my thighs, it isn’t too bad.

Liam didn’t even make fun of me for the diaper I put on last night, but I suppose he knows it’s better to deal with that than sheets full of blood. Or he was scared of what I’d do if he dared bring it up.

When he bleeds out of his penis hole on a regular basis, then he can complain. Until then, I don’t want to hear one word.

“I deserve a treat after all you’ve put me through,” I continue.

Liam snorts, but I can tell he’s pleased. He practically begged me to go on this run with him, probably because he was worried about the trouble I’d get into if he left me at the hotel alone. I’ve never gotten into trouble a day in my life, so I honestly don’t know what he’s so stressed about, but Liam seems the type to needlessly worry.

“Ice cream, it is,” Liam says, gesturing for me to lead the way.

Happily.

That shop has been at the back of my mind from the moment I spotted the pink siding and giant sign advertising their soft serve. I’m not sure what flavor I want to get, but whatever it is, I want it to be doused with sprinkles.

I wonder what kind of ice cream Liam will get.

He seems like a vanilla kind of guy. It’s boring, just like him, and it requires the least amount of thought. That seems right up Liam’s alley.

Maybe I can convince him to let me order for him. I’ll get him a bubblegum one, and I’ll even have it put into a waffle cone. I’m sure Liam has the funds to splurge on a waffle cone.

“Did you bring money?” I ask, turning to Liam.

He nods before unzipping a hidden pocket in his shorts and pulling out a few folded-up bills. I spot what looks like a fifty before he shoves the money back into his pocket, and I resist the urge to roll my eyes as I turn forward and continue walking.

It’s a bit chilly out today, which felt amazing while I was running, but now it feels freezing against my damp skin. The heat from the sun is the only thing making it bearable, and I hug my arms to my chest as I tilt my face upward and soak it in.

There are ads in the hotel elevator, and I’m pretty sure I saw one highlighting a rooftop lounge. If it warms up a bit more today, I’d love to spend a few hours up there. Yesterday was fun and all, but being cooped up in the room gets boring.

Liam only booked the hotel for three nights, so in theory, we should be leaving tomorrow morning. I’ve tried asking him what the plan is, but he’s being tight-lipped about it. I’m not sure why. It’s not like I’m going to run around screaming from the rooftops where our next destination is.

He’s overly protective.

We stop at a red light, and Liam silently grabs my wrist to pull me back a step. A car whizzes by a second later, the driver going much too fast for how residential the area is. He wasn’t even close to hitting me, and I was standing in a safe spot on the sidewalk, but it would have startled me if Liam didn’t pull me back.

My cheeks warm, and after a moment’s hesitation, I reach down and find his hand. My pointer finger brushes the back of his before I work up the courage to lace our fingers together in a proper handhold.

Out of the corner of my eye, I see Liam look at me, and I can practically feel my cheeks turn even redder as I spin to face him. We’ve been playing this game of girlfriend/boyfriend since we got here, but this is the first time I’ve gone out of my way to be affectionate with him.

He usually initiates our cuddling, but I suppose it won’t kill me to put in some effort. I’ll die before I voluntarily tell Liam I’m interested, but I hope my subtle actions show I am. I like him, even if he is a brutish meathead who kills and tortures people for a living.

Liam glances between me and our interlaced fingers before clearing his throat and bringing his other hand to my face. I gulp, eager to see what he’s about to do.

“You understand this isn’t real, right?” Liam asks, brushing his fingers over my forehead.

He tucks a loose strand of hair behind my ear, his gentle actions a sharp contradiction to his words.

“This is fun, but sooner or later, I’m going to bring you home,” he continues. “This won’t ever turn into a relationship. We aren’t going to exchange numbers, we won’t keep in contact, and I’ll never see you again.”

My heart lurches, and I open my mouth before snapping it shut with a quiet click.

What?

“Obviously,” I say, ignoring the dull ache in my chest.

I haven’t thought much about what happens between Liam and me when I return home, but it seems he has. If he was planning on cutting this off when I got home, I don’t see why he’s been so cuddly and sweet with me.

He’s been leading me on.

A painful mixture of embarrassment and anger rushes through me, and I pull my hand out of Liam’s before clearing my throat and glancing at the walk sign. The light has changed, and I don’t hesitate to rush ahead and continue walking.

I don’t want to have this discussion with him.

I’ve gotten the hint, and I won’t be humiliating myself any further.

Chapter 25

Liam and I walk side to side in complete silence.

The sounds of cars rushing past us help make it feel less awkward, but the tension between us is still unbearably thick. How could I have been so dumb as to think Liam was feeling something for me? Even worse than that, I let him know.

I was beyond obvious with my emotions, practically flaunting my affections.

I lick my ice cream while Liam hits the button on the crosswalk pole. This ice cream is the only good part about today, and I eye the chocolate and sprinkle-dipped cone to ensure nothing is dripping down the sides before leaning in and sucking off the top.

Liam finished his promptly two minutes after it was handed over, the man practically devouring his minty cone. I’m still surprised he didn’t get a vanilla soft serve.

The crosswalk sign lights up, and Liam glances left and right before beginning to walk. I trail a few steps behind, staring at his back. Even through his shirt, I can see his back muscles flexing with each movement.

It’s no wonder Liam was put in charge of protecting me. He’s a fucking unit, and he doesn’t seem nearly as deranged as some of the other men that work for my father.

“I’m done,” I say, holding out my ice cream.

Liam looks at me over his shoulder before slowing and taking my cone. A bit of ice cream drips onto the back of his hand, and he smoothly licks it up before beginning to eat my leftovers. I’d normally tease him for his never-ending appetite, but the mood has been ruined.

He knows I’ve developed feelings for him, and I don’t want him misconstruing my jokes for flirting.

I’ll never joke around with Liam again.

He’s made it clear this is just business for him, and I’ll do the same. I refuse to sit around pining after some meathead that doesn’t care for me. I’ve got better things to do.

I shouldn’t have let him convince me to go for a run.

Our hotel is just ahead, and I speed up once I spot the automatic front doors. I’m ready to go to our room and lock myself in the bathroom. I need space from Liam, and a hot shower.

The doors slide open as I approach, and I step inside the lobby with a huff. My eyes immediately land on the pretty receptionist who checked us in the other day, the one who shamelessly flirted with Liam right in front of me.

What was he thinking when I got jealous? In hindsight, it was pretty obvious. I was all up on him like a bitch in heat, squeezing myself between his torso and the reception desk in a desperate attempt to stake my claim.

I thought he enjoyed it, he seemed to, but maybe I was misreading the situation.

Was I also misreading his reaction toward the man who flirted with me at the bar later that evening? I thought Liam was jealous, but maybe he was just annoyed that I was talking with somebody who could potentially be dangerous.

Protecting me is his job, and I was making it harder for him.

“Morning!” the receptionist greets us.

Well, she greets Liam. She’s painfully apparent in her attraction to him, but I refuse to give her the time of day as I march straight toward the elevator. If Liam wants to linger behind and flirt, that’s his prerogative.

Surprisingly, he follows me to the elevator, not so much as returning her greeting.

The old Katie would’ve greatly enjoyed that, but I refuse to let her surface. Liam’s not stupid, and I’m sure he can tell I’m upset. He’d have to be a real asshole to go ahead and flirt with her after his confession, which he’s not.

Despite how much I want to hate Liam, I have to admit he’s a pretty nice guy. He’s been respectful of the boundaries I’ve set between us, and he’s gone out of his way to soothe me when I get all worked up and angry.

Especially as of late. He’s been holding my hand and cuddling me like a boyfriend would, which only further confuses me. Why do that when you know this isn’t going to go anywhere? Liam doesn’t seem like the type to purposefully lead me on, either.

“Would you like to shower first?” Liam asks as we reach our hotel room.

I nod. “Yes.”

He pushes open the door for me, and I step inside and make my way to my bag. Most of my clothes are dirty, and I rifle through until I settle on the mildly uncomfortable dress Liam stole from my apartment before kidnapping me.

I still can’t believe he thought taking clothes from my dirty laundry basket would be a good idea, and I frown before bundling the dress in my arms and going to the bathroom.

My reflection is the first thing that greets me as I push open the door, and I grimace before looking away and turning on the shower. I don’t want to see myself.

The water takes a while to heat, and I sit on the toilet’s edge while waiting. After living in the cabin with nothing more than a freezing cold spigot to clean myself with, this is heaven.

No shower will ever be taken for granted again, even if they only get mildly warm and the water smells just a tiny bit like a dog.

I strip and step inside the clear shower doors once the water warms. Liam called reception and had several mini shampoos and conditioners brought up, and I happily finish off the one I opened last night before reaching for a small bar of soap.

“Katie,” Liam says, knocking on the door.

I jolt, almost dropping the soap, before glancing at the bathroom door through the glass shower door.

“What?” I ask, my voice thick with annoyance.

I want space. Is that too much to ask?

“The hotel has a laundry room, and I’m going to do a load.” Liam’s voice is muffled through the wooden door, and I just barely make out the sound of him clearing his throat before continuing. “Do you want me to take your clothes?”

I hesitate, glancing down at myself. Liam’s already seen me naked, but I’m not sure I want him to get another peek. The bathroom door is clear, and not much is hidden.

“Yes,” I eventually say.

I cross my arms over my chest as he pushes open the bathroom door and steps inside. He doesn’t look in my direction, thank god, as he makes his way to the pile of sweaty clothes I left on the floor and bundles them into his arms.

He then turns to the dress and underwear I picked out to wear, his fingers twitching by his sides.

“Take them, too,” I say.

They need a wash, and I’m fine sitting around in a towel for a few hours.

Liam nods and grabs the remainder of my clothing before disappearing from the bathroom. The door shuts behind him with a quiet click, and I press my lips together as I return to my shower. I suppose I should be glad he didn’t try to sneak a peek at me.

I would’ve yelled at him if he did.

I finish washing myself before turning off the water and pushing open the glass door. Cold air smacks me in the face, and I hurry to dry myself before grabbing a spare clean towel and wrapping it around my chest.

It ends only a few inches below my butt, but it should be fine as long as I don’t bend over.

Liam’s gone by the time I make it out of the bathroom, and I roll my eyes as I realize he took his duffel bag full of weapons with him. I wasn’t even planning on going through it.

I make my way to the end table, fully intending to lay on the bed and play on his phone, only to realize he took that, too. What the fuck? He knows I’ve been playing on it.

Grinding my teeth, I snatch up the TV remote and plop down on the couch. I should find an expensive porn video to play. They’ll charge it to the room, but I don’t think it’ll affect Liam too much. He probably wouldn’t even notice the additional charge.

The only person who would see it would be the pretty receptionist at checkout, but I don’t want her thinking about Liam masturbating.

Not that I have a reason to care anymore.

Liam’s made it clear he and I will never become anything. I’m just a job, one he’s going to wash his hands of the moment my father gives him the go-ahead. He’ll probably drop me back off at my shitty apartment, probably even going as far as to push me inside and slam the front door shut behind me, before disappearing from my life forever.

That’s probably for the best.

Liam’s not exactly boyfriend material. He seems great when we’re forced to be alone together, but who knows what he’ll be like when he’s back at work. I bet he’s out until late every day, and he probably conducts all his business out of strip clubs as they do in the movies and TV shows.

I’m not interested in a man who’ll give me a cocktail of syphilis and chlamydia every other month. Liam probably doesn’t even wear a condom. He didn’t with me, so clearly he’s not that concerned about his reproductive health.

I should’ve pushed him to wear protection, though, so I guess he’s not entirely to blame.

I flip through the TV channels before settling on a historical drama I’ve never seen. It’s already halfway through the episode, but I’m not paying much attention, anyway. My thoughts continue to flicker back to Liam, and I painstakingly overanalyze every interaction we’ve had these past few weeks.

Was I really that foolish to think he was into me?

It sure seemed like it, and I’m pissed he didn’t say anything sooner. He sat around and flirted with me until I’d developed feelings, but it could have all been avoided if he had been upfront from the very beginning. I would’ve never let myself get so caught up with him if I knew he never intended this to go anywhere.

I hadn’t thought much about what a future between us could look like, but I didn’t realize it was out of the realm of possibility. We both live in the city, so it’s not like distance would be a problem.

The biggest issue would’ve been my father, but I doubt he’d care that much. He’d probably be happy I’m sticking around somebody he considers safe. Besides, if anything, it would give him a way to always keep tabs on me.

I mindlessly gnaw at my bottom lip as I stare at the TV screen, still not taking anything in.

Liam’s been gone for a while. Is he planning on sitting by the laundry machines until our clothes are done? He made a big deal out of leaving the laundromat that one time we went, so I know he’s not overly concerned about our things being stolen.

Besides, there are hardly any guests in the hotel, and I’m sure the laundry room is empty. Plus, there are probably cameras.

I bet Liam wants space from me. I doubt he feels bad about what he said, but he can probably tell I’m upset. A small part of me is glad to have some alone time, and I’m probably only getting worried because Liam has been sticking to me like glue since he first kidnapped me.

I’m just not used to being alone.

That’s all.

Two hours pass before Liam finally emerges, the man full of smiles as he bursts into our room with a bag of clean clothes.

“Where were you?” I ask.

Liam’s smile falls, and I watch the column of his throat bob as he sets the bags on the bed, kicks off his shoes, and tosses his phone on the pillow. He’s still in his running clothes.

“I had some errands to run,” he says.

Errands? What the fuck does that mean? We’re literally in the middle of nowhere, and he doesn’t even have a fucking car. He also doesn’t have any extra bags with him, so I know he didn’t go shopping.

“What errands?” I pry.

Liam ignores me, and I glare daggers into the side of his head as he grabs a fresh pair of clothes and steps into the bathroom. Seriously? I grind my teeth, beyond annoyed. I hate when Liam keeps secrets. He’d be beyond pissed if I just up and left for hours, and I’m pretty sure he’d have torn down the entire fucking hotel looking for me.

The double standard is ridiculous.

The shower turns on, and I go to the laundry bag. My clothes aren’t even folded, and I angrily rip them out before carefully tucking them back into my bag. I reach for his phone next, my pulse racing as I pull open his call log.

It’s empty, so I make my way to his messages.

I read about a new feature that lets you retrieve deleted messages, and I practically drop the phone when I find a deleted thread. Liam’s a fucking idiot, and I don’t hesitate to retrieve it.

Liam received one message from an unsaved number a little over two hours ago. It must’ve come in right after our run, probably while I was in the shower, and I work my jaw side to side as I read it.

In the lobby, babe

In the lobby? Babe? Is this a fucking joke?

____

Katie's going to go full-blown crazy