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CHAPTER FIVE
Ashlyn
Everything hurt. I wasn’t sure what to do with my body as I pulled my fingers across my skin, searching out the especially painful spots.
“Fuck, Ashlyn! What happened?”
I raised my head to the voice shouting from above, cringing when something on my cheek burned. I drew my fingers back to see bright-red blood smeared there.
There was a flurry of footsteps, and suddenly two warm, solid hands were pulling my face up again. I was looking straight into Liam Macklen’s face. It was white as a sheet, his gaze darting about my body.
“I’m fine. Leave me alone,” I said stupidly. I moved to stand, letting out a long hiss of pain.
“You are not fine.” His voice shook as his strong hands swept under my arms, pulling me into a seated position.
I should’ve pushed him off, but truthfully, the careful, comforting touch felt amazing. I let the tears I’d been holding back go, and they slid down my cheeks silently. I was embarrassed, I was tired, and I was more than a little intoxicated. Tonight had really gone downhill since the moment I’d yanked this dress off the hanger.
“Ashlyn, what’s wrong? Where does it hurt?” His voice rumbled against my body.
When I shook my head, still confused by the multitude of scrapes across my limbs, he responded by sitting down on the curb directly above me and hauling me onto his lap. Tucking my head under his chin, I let myself curl into his body, the heavy strength and muscle surrounding me a comfort.
“I’m fine. What’s up with the sidewalk? It was so uneven.” I tugged at the hem of my dress, which had ridden up my legs enough that I was sure Liam could see the matching black thong I’d put on this evening. I knew it shouldn’t matter, but it irked me still.
A soft, rumbling chuckle sounded under my cheek. “Ashlyn, you are literally bleeding onto my shirt. I don’t think me seeing your underwear is the most important issue right now.”
I snorted. “That’s because you’re the one getting to see them.” I must have had a concussion to be making jokes at a time like this. But I did stop fiddling with the edge of my dress. He was right after all. Dang him.
He laughed, the low sound comforting. “I’m glad to see a full-on faceplant is no match for your sense of humor. Let’s get you back inside.”
I started to straighten, to pull myself out of his lap, when Liam stood, sliding his arm under my knees. Before I knew what was happening, he had begun the walk back up the sidewalk.
I clenched my stomach, surprised and impressed by the easy way that he moved with me in tow.
I had never been carried by a man like this, but now I could definitely see the appeal. I could smell the spicy tease of his cologne on his skin and feel the way his arms flexed as they moved me easily through the night air. I only had to shift a little, and my face pressed directly into the hard lines of his neck. “No, no, please. Can I just go home? I think I’ve caused enough damage tonight.”
“I would say so. Are you sure you don’t need to go to the hospital?” his voice rumbled, washing away any lurking embarrassment as he shifted me against him.
I shook my head frantically.
“To home it is, then.”
I smiled against his neck, relief making me sleepy. It would be easy to be swept away by this man. I only closed my eyes for a moment, but the next thing I knew, careful hands were tightening once again. I stared blankly up at the building in front of us.
“You live here?”
Liam snorted. “So surprised?”
“I guess I am, a little bit.” I knew immediately we were in the Pacific Heights neighborhood, but this building was older than most of the surrounding structures. I cocked my head. The exterior boasted bay windows spread across each of the five floors. The flooring sweeping under Liam’s footsteps was shining white and black checkerboard marble. The elaborate chandelier above cast a glow over a carefully renovated space that made my lips quirk. It was all very romantic and whimsical. Who would’ve thought this playboy would choose to live here of all places.
Ian O’Malley was here again. He must’ve followed us from the club. I watched as his broad back led the way down a small hallway off the main lobby. A private entrance, I realized as Ian quickly keyed in a code then swept his finger over the top. Moments later, Liam tucked us away into a smaller elevator and up into another similar hallway, lined with sconces and dark hardwoods. I closed my eyes, delving back into the warmth of Liam's neck.
We moved through his apartment quickly, so fast I barely saw anything. Getting only glimpses of dark-colored walls and exposed brick. This time when we stopped, we were in a brightly lit room with gray walls and a massive four-poster bed taking up the center space, surrounded by an intricately patterned rug. Liam set me gently on the edge of the bed before slipping down to kneel at my legs.
I started to move away, flinching at the rush of pain that my weight caused.
“Easy there. I don’t think anything’s broken, but it’s definitely swollen. Can I?” Strangely earnest, Liam glanced up at me, his fingers already wrapping around the appendage in question.
Nodding dumbly, I felt him begin to unbuckle one of the outrageously high heels.
