“He’s my friend’s husband. I just want to say hi.”
Wade frowned and pulled out his cell, murmuring something into it. Ignoring him, she approached Donny and smiled. “Hey, Donny.”
He didn’t look up.
“Donny?”
“What?” He stared at the machine, frowning, and then pulled out his wallet to count his cash.
“Donny, look at me,” she said in a louder voice. “Lisa’s worried about you.”
His head snapped up at the mention of his wife. Donny’s lip curled, his usual greeting. He didn’t like Lisa going to New Horizons and hated her association with Kate and the other members. “Shit. Did Lisa send you to spy on me?”
“No, of course, not.”
“Then piss off.” He turned back to the machine.
“Look,” Kate said, “maybe we could pop over to one of the cafes here and grab a coffee. You look like you could use one and, frankly, so could I.”
“I don’t want a coffee.”
“Okay, a sandwich, then. Are you hungry?”
Donny growled.
“I just want to talk with you.”
“Leave me the fuck alone, bitch.”
A male voice sounded from over her shoulder. “What did you say to the lady?”
Liam was there standing next to Wade. Kate’s heart skipped a beat. His anger was clear as he moved next to Donny.
“Liam, it’s okay,” she said.
“No, it isn’t.” He addressed Donny. “I asked you a question.”
“And I’m not answering.” He looked Liam up and down. “By the way, you can piss off, too. I don’t need you jokers preaching or handing out pamphlets about sin and vice. I’m in the middle of something.”
Liam hauled him out of his chair and pushed him toward the doors. “Not anymore, you’re not.” Wade followed at the ready. Kate scurried after them.
“Hey,” shouted Donny. “Take your hands off me! Who do you think you are?”
Customers lifted their heads to check out the commotion. Well, some of them did. Others didn’t bat an eye, still focused on their activities.
Liam offered him a small smile. “Oh, no one important. Just the owner.” He shoved Donny toward the revolving door at the entrance. “Get out of my club and don’t come back.”
“But,” Donny stammered. “It wasn’t my fault. She interrupted me.” He looked at Kate as if seeing her for the first time. “Why are you here anyway? Shouldn’t you be at one of your precious New Horizons meetings, tearing families apart with your stupid New Age bullshit? Because of you, Lisa kicked me out. I’m fucking homeless because of you.”
“Don’t you dare,” she began. “Lisa couldn’t take your crap anymore.”
He broke free from Liam and made a lunge for her. She froze, remembering Hugo Vaughan’s attack. But Liam already had him by the scruff of the neck. “It’s okay, sugar. I’ve got him.”
“Sugar,” Donny spat. “Well, isn’t that just fucking heart-warming?” He glared at her. “Fucking the toast of Vegas, are you? Wonder if Lisa knows her little saint isn’t quite so saintly?”
She looked away, horrified. She’d completely lost track of Lisa and the folks at New Horizons. She’d only been able to think of Liam and her own situation.
He pushed Donny through the revolving door and told Wade to put Donny in a cab, and to bill it to the casino. Donny reluctantly left, with Wade’s help, shouting at her the whole way.
Liam now turned to her, grasping her hands, then stroking them. He ran a hand over her loose hair. “Are you okay?”
That was when the tremors hit. She couldn’t handle this…whatever was happening to her. The guilt, the desire, the feeling that she shouldn’t surrender to him. It was just too much. Liam took her in his arms and held her close.
“Kate, sweetheart. You’re okay. I’ve got you.”
Damn, that scent! She just wanted to be with him again in some small way. Was that so horrible? She felt horrible for wanting it.
Even as she fought the wave of guilt that washed over her, she decided she was tired of being a victim. To her dad, to men like Hugo Vaughan, and most of all, to her own desires. She wanted Liam Doyle, had to experience him looming over her in bed, even if only once. It might be wrong, but she no longer cared.
She let out a sigh and looked at him, feeling oddly better now. His roguish face, gentle and savage all at once, gazed down at her.
“I’ve tried to stay away but I can’t stop thinking of you,” he said. And then his lips turned up into a grin. “Let me take care of you.”
Her resistance shattered, she nodded. “I want you to do much more than take care of me, Liam. I want you. I want you to fuck me until I beg you to stop.”
His grin became a wolfish smile. “As you wish.” He grabbed her hand and led her back to the elevators.
Chapter Nine
Crazed hunger.
That was the only way Kate could describe the scene as Liam got her into her hotel suite. Not that she had time to stop and analyze their actions. This was a time for…well…vice. Dirty, nasty, fantastic sin. They both seemed to need it.
From the moment he shut the door, his lips were joined to hers. Feeding off her, drinking from her, opening her up and devouring her trembling lips. Claiming her mouth the way he would soon claim the rest of her.
His hands roved over her curves as he moved her into the suite’s foyer. “Bed,” he commanded. As if he needed to.
He pulled her into the bedroom. She kept her eyes closed, relying on him to guide her, overwhelmed by their heat. She knew when they’d arrived because he’d stopped moving. Like a coma patient waking, she cracked her eyes open and took him in.
Liam stood before her, yanking at his tie. Part of her knew she ought to start removing her clothes, but couldn’t take her eyes off him as he disrobed. His navy tie flew across the room. One or two buttons popped as he pulled at his shirt. And then, as need radiated from his every feature, he worked his belt buckle.
He beckoned to her with a finger and a smile, and pushed his pants down, revealing black boxer briefs that looked as soft as a second skin. His erection strained inside them, stretching toward his waist band. She stepped toward him, already craving him, wondering how he would move inside her.
“You look like a kitten approaching her first bowl of cream,” he said.
She dropped to her knees before him, not bothering to answer. She palmed his length, marveling at the bulk of him. Liam let his head fall back as she touched him, and groaned low. Those carnal tones spurred her on and she slid her fingers under his waistband, luxuriating in the feel of manly skin. His hand tangled in her hair, caressing her. But as soon as she pulled down his boxers and licked him, his grip tightened and he tugged.
She took him deep into her mouth and gave thanks for men who loved to pull hair. Right now there was almost nothing she could imagine liking more.
“Christ, Kate,” he muttered, clenching his glorious ass. “You’re no kitten. You’re a hellcat.”
Giddy from his response, she smiled. And then as he watched, she licked him from balls to tip, drinking him down. Nuzzling the skin near his sac, she breathed deeply, smelling soap and just a hint of excited sweat.
Perfection.
Sensing him so close, she latched her hands around his thighs and took him to the back of her throat. Liam groaned and reached under her arms, gently tugging. His balls tightened and his thighs flexed. She had no choice but to release him and stood up, pouting.
“I wanted you to come in my mouth,” she said.
He ran his thumb over her lip and kissed her hard, biting her flesh. “Not yet. You don’t even have your clothes off and I need to see you come first. All I can think of is you coming, over and over.”
Liam kicked off his shoes, pants and socks. He had the body of a god and obviously took care of himself. His slim waist, tapered hips and amazing pecks had her drooling. His biceps and quadriceps made her dream. And his cock, well, that lengthy miracle just made her ravenous.