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“Trust is a prickly bitch,” she says in total agreement. “Well, then, all I can say as your bestie is trust your gut. It’s never led you wrong.”
“I love you, Malls.”
“Love you, too.”
The phone line goes dead before I can say anything more. I turn off my cell, shutting out the world for a little bit longer, and exit the bathroom. Silence surrounds me when I journey down the thin hallway of white painted bare walls. I expect to find Liam in the living room but he’s nowhere in sight, though I notice the sliding door in the living room is wide open. I leave my cellphone on the counter then pad my way across the white ceramic floors and step outside.
That’s when he appears.
Beneath the full moon, Liam stands at the edge of the water, power and calmness all in one. There’s a lot on my mind, that much I do know. A lot I need to figure out. But what this man does to me, the control he has over my body is not one of them.
CHAPTER6
Liam
My toesdig into the sand, the cool water splashing up on my legs. The night is quiet with a slight breeze creating waves out on the water. When warm hands slide beneath my arms and over my chest, I smile and turn to Aria. I catch the strain in her eyes, and understand perfectly. I’m right there with her.
Tonight is all we’ve got left.
I can only hope I’ve begun to show her that right here with me is where she belongs. Though as I stare into her eyes, I’m torn between wanting her to realize this and hating to see her struggle like she is. “You don’t want this night to end?” I ask, brushing a thumb across her cheek.
“Here everything is very uncomplicated,” she admits.
I brush my fingers across her cheeks, tucking her hair behind her ears, appreciating her honesty. “What’s so complicated?” I need to get through to her, no matter what.
She stares into my eyes, the moonlight casting a stunning glow across her face. “I thought we’d have this epic weekend of hot sex.”
I arch a single eyebrow. “Have we not had that?”
She laughs softly, leaning her palms against my chest. “Of course, we have, but it’s more than hot sex. I like being with you. Today, it was ...”
“Easy,” I offer, understanding completely.
She nods and smiles. “It feels good being around you.”
Now that’s exactly what I want to hear. “I know it feels good.”
“How do you know?”
“Because it works, you and I.”
Her brows draw together, confusion so heavy in her eyes. “How can you be so sure about me?”
“You’re unforgettable, Aria.”
I see the way my words affect her, softening her eyes. “See, it’s things like that. Why do you have to say stuff like that?”
“It’s the truth.”
“Is it?” she asks, wide-eyed.
That’s when I see what this is all about. Jackson has poisoned her mind. She’s desperate to believe me but she can’t. And she can’t because Jackson has clearly told her not to trust me. I hate him for that, as much as I hate him for everything he’s done. I refuse to waste my last night with Aria thinking about Jackson. I step closer, sliding both of my hands across her face. “Stay here with me, Aria.” I brush my lips across hers. “Can you do that?”
Her eyes search mine. It’s clear she’s fighting against all the lies in her mind to what the truth of my touch holds. “I can try,” she says gently.
“That’s all I ask.”
It wasn’t, though. Not truly. She knows that truth. So do I. I want her to give me everything. I want to wake up next to her in the morning. I want to go to sleep with her safe in my arms. There is not a memory from this night on that I don’t want her in.
