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“Hello!” he called out loudly.
Crashing sounds sounded from within, and I instinctively crouched back. What had I gotten us into? Where was Liam? The very thought of him hurt or injured was sending my mind into a tailspin.
“Hello! Macklen, are you here?” Carter tried again. His blond head jerked when footsteps, loud and measured, sounded our way.
I braced for impact. Expecting every sort of masked criminal to pop his head out like a fucking jack in the box.
Except they weren’t masked. In fact, the only head that peaked out was the perfect,not a hair out of placeman who I’d been crying about for longer than I wanted to admit.
Liam’s eyes bulged, sweeping over the seventy-five inches of alpha male standing in his entryway. “Uh. Carter, right?”
Carter glanced at me. “Nice to see you again.” He crossed his arms over his broad chest.
I stared.
Liam shifted, stepping into the room. Other than his discarded tie, he looked like he’d just walked out of his office. “Ashlyn…” The relief in his voice was palpable. “What are you doing here?”
My stomach clenched, and angry, frustrated tears pricked at the backs of my eyes. “What am I doing here? Are you kidding me?”
I didn’t mean for it to come out on a shout, but my logical objectivity was officially out the window.
Carter bounced on his toes, obviously uncomfortable being in the middle of this. “Uh, I feel like I should head out. Glad to see you’re okay, man. Ash, I’m out. Text me if you need anything.”
As if the hounds of hell were on his heels, Carter was making his way to the stairwell, bypassing the elevator in a flurry of gray sweatpants and dimpled smiles. Leaving just me and my ragged breathing in the hall. I could feel Liam’s gaze on me and I couldn’t make myself meet it. I was terrified of what I’d see there. I’d just pulled an entirely insane ex-girlfriend move, barging in after he accidentally butt-dialed me.
“Ashlyn?” He was closer.
My stupid, traitorous eyes continued to water, and I sniffed. Just once. To try to clear the impulsive rush of embarrassed tears.
“I thought you were hurt. I called you a dozen times. You weren’t answering, and I heard noises, and then I didn’t know what to do.” Even my voice was thick as I fumbled along, afraid to let the dangerous silence fall around us again.
His hands, warm and steady, came to rest on my hips. Then one slid north, tucking his fingers under my chin. With a gentle tug, I found myself staring right into the depths of those deep gray eyes. They were soft, holding me prisoner as my words finally slowed.
“You came to check on me?”
Embarrassment bloomed anew, and I shoved back against the heavy wall of his chest. “I…uh…”
His arms tightened, and without another word, his lips were on mine, and again I was drowning in him. The smell of him, the feel of him, it broke over me like a wave. Memories, hot and potent, followed.
I whimpered against his mouth. My tears died away as I threaded my fingers into his hair. I was still mad at him, furious even, but even now, God, how could he taste like that? Howdarehe taste like that?
His hands slowed, dragging slowly up and down the arch of my spine as our mouths finally eased up, adrenaline and arousal making my blood race.
“I’m still mad at you,” I whispered at his chest.
A chuckle, ragged and torn, sounded. “I know. And I deserve that. But tonight, tonight was a giant screw-up from start to finish.” He looked down at me, his expression miserable. “Do you want to come in? Showing is easier than telling in this case.”
I waffled. Biting my lip, I couldn’t stop my gaze from darting to the still open doorway behind him. Curiosity killed the cat and apparently my willpower as well. I moved farther into Liam’s penthouse.
