keep your vomit inside your stomach for a few goddamn minutes. The cameras flock around me like strange black birds as I grasp the railing. It doesn’t take long for the yacht to catch up to our smaller boat, and then suddenly it’s rising out of the water like a white giant. How the hell am I going to get up there?
Liam’s head pops up over the railing, and he waves at us. Then he climbs into a yellow inflatable boat, and it’s lowered into the water. The waves lap against his boat as he detaches it from the ropes and paddles to us. I let out a happy cry and run down the steps as the camera crew follows me. I can almost hear the swell of violins as Liam climbs into our boat and catches me in a bear hug.
“I missed you so much!”
“It’s okay, love. I’ve got you.”
He takes my face in his hands. The way he looks at me is as though I’m a cherished lost thing. I’m confused. The cameras disappear for a moment when he pulls me closer for the kiss I didn’t realize I was dying for. Then there are tears in my eyes. I don’t know why, but I’m crying. Liam wipes them away gently.
“Let’s go home.”
He tucks me under his arm as we wave to the Scottish crew, and then he climbs into the yellow boat.
“Bye! Thank you!” I wave at the cameras as Liam paddles back to his yacht and attaches the inflatable boat back to the rig. It yanks us upright, and nausea jolts back into my stomach.
Do not fucking throw up.
“See you!”
The wind whips around us as we’re pulled to the yacht, and then the air is filled with earsplitting cheers. The crew is waiting for us, clapping. I’m speechless. People I’ve never seen before in my life are delighted to see me.
“Thank you all for coming for me. I am very touched.”
“Here, here!”
A warm hand touches my back, and I lean into Liam’s chest.
“My wife has been through quite an ordeal. We’re going to retire to my quarters. Thank you for your help.”
His hand slips down to mine and grasps it tightly. Liam and I make a show of smiling at all the others before he takes me down below into a sprawling cabin with a king-sized bed and wood-paneled walls. As soon as the door slams shut, his hand drops away from mine and he moves away, stiff with rage.
“Liam—”
He flinches when I touch his hand and sends me a look that’s filled with venom.
“What’s your problem?”
The anger slowly fades from his eyes like a fire burning out. “You got what you wanted.” He lifts his arms and slaps his sides. “You got your fifteen minutes of fame.”
My jaw goes slack. “You think this was some kind of stunt?”
“I saw the emails, Daisy. I know I’m just your meal ticket for a story.”
“Meal ticket? You think I actually enjoy making a complete ass of myself in front of the entire world? There’s going to be footage of me throwing up all over a cameraman’s shoes, just wait for it.”
He crosses his arms, clearly refusing to believe I might’ve done this because I wanted to come back to him.
“You don’t really believe that, do you?”
Uncertainty dances in his eyes. “I don’t know what to believe anymore. Lucian says you begged him to help you escape.”
“And you believe the guy who has a vested interest in screwing up your life? I was forced to leave by your brother’s goons.”
“Why the hell didn’t you go back to America?” he says, taking an aggressive step forward. “He did you a favor.”
“The moment I arrived in Scotland, I wanted to come back to you.”
Liam closes the space between us, his presence intoxicating, filling me like a strong drink. Blood careens through my veins as I meet his intense gaze.
“What the fuck do you want from me, Daisy?”
I don’t know.
“Daisy. It’s not a rhetorical question,” he says in a softer tone. “What do you want from me? Why did you keep that photo of us in your bedroom?”
I can’t think with his eyes blazing at me like that, his lips hanging half-open. I touch his waist and run my hands over him, finding the bulge between his legs and giving it a good squeeze. His eyes glaze over.
“I want you.”
His lips twitch. “You kept the photo to masturbate to. Didn’t you?”