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I want to. I ache for it. But Kayley could come and check on us at any second.
“Are you going to …”
“Kill him?” Liam growls. “I should. But no. I’m not a killer.”
“Are you going to pay him off, then?”
Liam snorts gruffly. “Let me worry about that. You just worry about keeping that ass nice and juicy, and writing a song for Sunday.”
I lean back in his embrace, looking up into his turbulent-green eyes. “I’m not singing on Sunday.”
He smirks. “We’ll see about that,” he says. “I’m not booking another opening act. So it’s either you sing or nobody does.”
I gasp. “Liam, book another act.”
“Nope,” he grins like a wolf.
I find myself smiling, despite everything. Maybe I could do it. Maybe I wouldn’t freeze up and choke.
“You’re such a handsome prick, aren’t you?” I giggle.
He leans down and brushes his lips against mine, a hot brushing contact, not quite a kiss. He whispers into my ear so that his warm breath dances around my ear and down my neck.
“I got you laughing, didn’t I? That’s all I ever want, Lola. To see you smile. Now be a good girl and get out there for dinner. And don’t you dare worry about this Quinn bastard for one more second. I’m going to make it right.”
“Okay, Liam,” I say. “I trust you.”
He rears up and touches my chin, tipping my gaze up to his. I feel so tiny when he does that.
He makes me feel so much like a woman, an actual woman, and not just one of the guys.
“Good,” he snarls. “Because you’ve got the rest of your life with me, Lola. Every second belongs to me. Every breath you take belongs to me. Every inch of your skin belongs to me. Your wet cunt—that definitely fucking belongs to me. I protect what’s mine. So I’ll protect you. Tell me what you are, Lola.”
“Yours,” I moan, my clit pulsing.
He’s becoming the beast again, the same way he does when we do anything intimate. His jaw is tight and his eyes are focused on me like lasers.
“My what?” he snaps.
“Property,” I murmur shakily. “I’m your property, Liam.”
“You’re goddamn right,” he growls. “Now let’s get to dinner. Try and behave yourself, okay?”
I swallow.
Kayley, right.
I keep forgetting about Kayley.
I’m the worst best friend ever.
Chapter Ten
Liam
We sit in the main dining hall, a grand room with a high ceiling and two chandeliers. The check-board tiled walls are only visible here and there. Mostly, the walls are dominated by heaving hangings depicting battle scenes, or helmets and weaponry set in glass cases sunken into the walls, so that they appear to be a part of the wall.
I can’t help but smirk when Lola gapes around at it, her mouth wide open in a way that gets me stirring. I have to focus hard not to stare at her. Kayley is sitting on the other side of the dining table, to my left.
We should tell her and get it over with, but I know that Lola wants to wait. She’s scared. It makes sense, but nothing good can come of prolonging it.
I don’t want to push the issue, not when we’ve got this Quinn Lineman sonofabitch to contend with too.
We all sit down and turn to our dinner, prepared by Kayley. It’s steak and fries, cooked perfectly.
“You’re an amazing chef, Kayley,” Lola says.
“You always say that,” my daughter smiles.
“Because it’s true.”
Lola cuts into her steak, a smile touching the corners of her lips. It’s so sweet to see how much she enjoys food. I’ve never wanted a lady who’s obsessed with calories and fitness. I almost want to order her another steak to keep her nice and strong for the pregnancy.
“Got any plans for tonight?” Kayley asks, looking at Lola.
“Not really.”
Lola’s cheeks prick red. She’s purposefully not looking at me, I can tell. Maybe she thinks that Kayley will be able to see through the surface-level mask she’s wearing and spot the real emotion beneath.
“I feel so bad for leaving you,” Kayley says. “It’s just that Ryan booked the tickets ages ago. He didn’t know I’d be bringing you then, Lola. Maybe we can get another ticket somehow if you want?”
“Don’t be silly,” Lola says. “I want you and Ryan to enjoy the play, enjoy the evening. I’m a big girl, Kay. I’m sure I’ll be fine. Anyway, the song is coming along quite nicely.”
“Oh, really?” Kayley says brightly, unable to mask her relief at being alone with Ryan.
Ryan is a good boyfriend, loyal and respectful. He’s never played any games with Kayley, the way some men seem to enjoy these days. He’s a man I’d be proud to call a son-in-law one day.
“Yeah,” Lola says. “I think I might even finish it tomorrow. I’ve already got the music figured out. I’m just tinkering with the lyrics now.”
