Shadow Mate - Jen L. Grey Page 0,67

the dorm." I turned and hugged my brother tight. "I was proud of you tonight. You played well."

As I let go and turned to walk away, Max grabbed my hand and turned me back toward him. "If you need me, I don't give a fuck who he is; you call me and tell me where you are. I'm serious, Mia. Don't let him hurt you."

"He won't. I love you." The fact that my brother was willing to go to battle for me meant more than he'd ever know. I turned and headed to the car.

Liam finished getting out to walk over to the passenger side door and opened it. "Let's go."

I slid into the seat, not bothering to say thank you. It's the least he could do after everything he’d put me through. I glanced around the car as he was climbing in. If I had thought Kai's was nice, this car proved me wrong. It had all the bells and whistles.

As Liam slid into the driver's seat, my heart began to pound. I wasn't sure what to expect. He was a wild card for me, which was scary and exciting all at the same time.

He pulled out of the yard, and soon we were on a road that led us back toward the stadium.

"Hey, I think we're supposed to go that way." I pointed to the interstate.

"We're not going home." His eyes stayed on the road, and his breathing was still hard.

"But that's what we agreed on." Did he conveniently forget that part?

"No, that's what you said, and I played along." He turned down another road, and soon we were within a mile of the stadium. He slowed as we approached the Ambassador Hotel and turned into the unloading area. "We're staying here tonight."

"What? Why?" We'd told everyone we were heading back to Wolf Moon.

"Because you and I have a lot to work out. I don't need him and the others getting in the way." He parked the car and motioned for me to get out.

He was referring to Kai as him. "What about your tres amigos? They're going to be looking for you."

"I don't give a fuck about them." He got out of the car and slammed the door shut.

Well, okay then. I climbed out, not wanting to risk the car to another assault, and followed him inside.

When we reached the valets, Liam tossed his keys to them, not bothering to say a word.

In an attempt to avoid starting an argument in front of the hotel staff, I followed Liam inside, staying near him as he checked us in and grabbed the key card from the attendant.

"Come on." He motioned toward the elevators.

Within minutes, we were on the seventh floor, entering a room. Of course, it was super extravagant. It had a neoclassical style with a bathroom to the right as soon as we entered. It had dark tile flooring that looked nicer than my parents’ master bath back home.

As we stepped into the room, I realized there was one king bed. Apparently, he was ready for another night like the last one we had together weeks ago. Even though deep down I wanted the same thing, I wasn't sure I could survive another round. "No. I can't do that again."

He paused as he put the key card and his wallet on the dark cherry table that the flat-screen TV was hanging over. "Do what?"

"That night almost killed me." It wasn't wise for me to admit that to him, but he had to understand. "You abandoning me, disappearing like that. I can't go through that again. I … I won’t."

"I can't either." He ran his hand through his hair and pulled. "Do you know how many times I tried to get you out of my head? No one could do it."

"Great, so you slept around?" That was comforting.

“No, I couldn’t.” He sighed and shook his head. “No one measured up to you. There are things I need to tell you about why I have tried so damn hard to stay away. Reasons that don’t seem all that damn important anymore. And to see Kai hanging all over you." Liam's nose wrinkled in disgust. "It's like a dagger to my heart."

"I didn't sleep with him. We were just hanging out." I didn't want to say date. That word wouldn't bode well.

"Which is all that much worse." He growled as he pulled me into his chest. "You were trying to replace me."

My body responded to his words, his touch, and