cared. Like she mattered to him. It made her want to lean against him, take the solace he was offering.
Despite her efforts to stay detached, her resolve began to waver as the seconds passed. What would it hurt to live this part of her fantasy? To stop fighting him and let him share her burden for just a little while?
Releasing a breath, she leaned into his body, allowing her stiff muscles to relax. In response Liam pressed his cheek to the top of her head and cradled her even closer. Her hands slowly uncurled on his shoulders, her palms molding around the hard contours of muscle there. But as he held her the ache inside her dissipated, transforming into sensual warmth.
Pressed against his sculpted chest, her breasts began to tingle. Tiny shockwaves of sensation raced to her nipples, down to her belly and between her thighs. She went rigid. Pull away. Now. Before you do something stupid.
Rather than release her, Liam raised his head and took her face between his hands, staring down at her intently. The blatant desire in his eyes made her mouth go dry. He hadn’t looked at her in a sexual way for a long time, and never with this kind of heat. Talia sucked in a quick breath as shock dissolved beneath a tidal wave of need. He was so close, so huge, every bit of his concentration focused on her.
“You know, I’m really sick of you shutting me out,” he said in a low voice, tracing his thumbs over her cheekbones.
Trapped by his stare, she gazed up at him, her mind wiped blank. It took her a moment to find her voice. “I haven’t—”
“Yeah, you have. But not anymore, because that shit ends right here and now.” His gaze dipped to her lips, and her belly did a delicious somersault. The surge of lust that tore through her stole her breath, left her muscles locked in an agony of suspense.
Oh God, oh, God…
His hands tipped her head back as he lowered his mouth to hers. She didn’t protest. Couldn’t. She wanted this. Needed this connection, to have his warmth chase away the cold and loneliness inside her.
The touch of his lips lit up every nerve ending in her body. She made a tiny sound of distress.
“Shhh, it’s okay,” he soothed, kissing the corner of her mouth.
She shook her head slightly, on fire but afraid of ruining everything.
He didn’t let go. “I would never hurt you. Just let me…” He feathered his tongue across her lips, then pressed inside to caress her own when she opened for him. It was so damn good she couldn’t stop. His mouth moved over hers in a slow, hypnotic motion, the erotic glide of his tongue making her quiver. The kiss wasn’t tentative or soft. It was deep and possessive, a full-out sensual assault on her battered nervous system. He kissed her like he’d been dying to kiss her and couldn’t hold back anymore.
Hot, sweet desire whipped through her, peaking her nipples and dampening the throbbing flesh between her thighs. Her hands fisted on his shoulders, a sound of denial escaping from her throat. They shouldn’t do this. She should push him away, tell him to get out, but he felt so good and she was so lost…
With a dark sound of hunger low in his throat, Liam drove her backward until he had her back pinned flat up against the wall, every inch of his hard body molded to hers. His hands tightened in her hair, holding her still while he explored her mouth with his tongue, his hips rocking the solid ridge of his erection against her lower belly. Talia gasped and speared her fingers into his silky hair, arching her back to press her breasts against him. She wanted his hands on them, his mouth sucking the tender tips, easing the heated ache there. Her body felt hot, weak. He tasted delicious, and combined with the hard length of his cock digging into her belly, the velvet stroke of his tongue in her mouth had her trembling with need.
He held her in place easily with his body, taking complete control.
That show of male dominance, his ultra-sexy confidence that told her he knew exactly