Page 20 of His to Keep

Damn it.

He took a deep breath and turned right, towards the bar where it all began.

Is this really what I want?But as soon as the question formed, the memory of Colt's touch – possessive and tender all at once – surged through him, leaving no room for doubt.

Liam knew he was walking into the lion's den, but he couldn't deny what he wanted any more.

Liam rounded the final corner, his pulse quickening even more as the secretive bar came into view. It loomed ahead of him, its unassuming exterior hiding the world of danger and desire within.

But as he stepped up to it, lingering on the front stairs, someone called his name.

"Liam."

His entire body tensed as he glanced towards the source of the voice – the shadowy alleyway beside the bar.

It was Colt, with a smoldering cigarette between his lips and an unreadable look in his eyes. Their gazes locked. Suddenly, Liam's heart threatened to pound right out of his chest.

"Hey, Doc," Colt drawled, exhaling smoke into the night air. "Fancy seeing you here."

Liam wanted to say something witty or charming, but all his carefully constructed walls crumbled under the weight of Colt's intense stare. The world beyond the alley ceased to exist, leaving only the two of them and the desires that crackled in the air between them like electricity.

"Hey," Liam managed to say.

"Little far from the emergency department, isn't it?" Colt drawled, his voice nonchalant as he took another drag from his cigarette.

Liam ignored the teasing, steeling himself as he stepped into the alleyway. The shadows enveloped them both, casting a veil of secrecy over them both.

Just like last time.

He couldn't help but let his gaze roam over Colt's powerful form, taking in the way his broad shoulders filled out his jacket, and the predatory glint in his eyes that sent shivers down Liam's spine.

"Maybe," Liam admitted, his voice barely audible over the pounding of his heart. "But I came to see you."

Colt quirked a dark eyebrow, amusement dancing in his eyes. "That so? And what do you want from me, Liam?"

For a moment, Liam hesitated, torn between the safety of his carefully constructed life and the fiery passion that threatened to consume him whenever he was near Colt.

His mind flooded with vivid memories of the last time they'd been alone together – the rough press of Colt's hands against his body, the taste of desperation on his lips, the intoxicating scent of leather and sweat that clung to his skin.

The memory of Colt's mouth against his throat was nearly overwhelming, recalling the delicious sting of teeth biting into his flesh, marking him as surely as if he wore a brand. Liam could almost feel the ghostly sensation of Colt's fingers digging into his hips, pulling him impossibly closer as their bodies strained against one another, aching for release.

"Tell me what it is you want, Doc," Colt said, his voice low and dangerous. "Because I cleared that debt. If you want something else…"

Liam swallowed hard, his pulse racing as he stared into the depths of Colt's gaze. This was his chance to turn back, to walk away from the world of danger and desire that threatened to swallow him whole. But as he stood there, caught in the web of Colt's magnetic presence, he couldn't resist any longer.

"No, you didn't."

"Huh?"

Liam looked him in the eyes. "You didn't clear the debt," he said, his voice strong, "because you cheaped out on what I asked for."

Colt had made Liam come — but that hadn't been what he'd asked for.Beggedfor.

There was a long moment, and then Colt let out a bark of laughter. His eyes were sharp on Liam's, holding him fast. "You better make sure you know what you're asking for."

"Yeah, I do." Liam felt as if he were standing at the edge of a precipice, breathless and dizzy with desire.

It was now or never.

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