of you for a change.”
“I can’t imagine what that would be like,” she said softly.
Liam lowered his head and kissed her hair, then pulled her into his arms and held her. He couldn’t make false promises, but he would show her what it was like to be taken care of, at least for a little while.
* * *
PEYTON CLOSED HER EYES, savoring the comfort of Liam’s strong, protective arms. His tender kiss in her hair stirred a deep longing to be touched and loved in a way she hadn’t in a long time. Maybe forever.
When was the last time she’d been with a man? Allowed one into her heart? Her bed?
Maybe college. But Val’s addiction had gotten in the way then. The guy she’d been dating hadn’t wanted to be linked to a girl with family problems.
So, she’d shut herself off from men. Figured they’d all feel the same way.
Then the incident at the hospital with Gloria Inman happened. She’d tried to be strong afterward. Had suppressed the pain from her sister’s addiction, and from watching her mother deteriorate.
She looked into Liam’s eyes, expecting censure. Instead understanding and concern darkened his eyes. Other emotions glittered there, as well. Ones she didn’t know how to put a name on. Tomorrow they’d continue the case, hopefully find the truth.
Tonight, she wanted him to hold her and to pretend that everything was all right.
She traced her finger along his square jaw, and he clenched it, heat flaring across his face.
“Peyton?”
In the morning, she might regret what she was about to do, but need and desire emboldened her, and she stood on tiptoe and pressed her lips to his. For the briefest of seconds, he hesitated, and she thought he wasn’t going to kiss her.
She moved her lips gently against his, and he sighed and cupped her face between his hands. His lips bonded with hers, gliding across her mouth in a sensual foray, making her breath quicken. Need thundered through her, and she traced her tongue along his lips, pleading for more.
He slid one hand to her waist and pulled her into the vee of his thighs as he plunged his tongue into her mouth. Her body tingled with desire, and she threaded her fingers into his thick hair. He groaned, and she moved her body against him. Her nipples stiffened to turgid peaks, liquid heat pooling in her belly.
His lips teased hers, his tongue trailed a line down her throat and she threw her head back, feeling wild and needy and ready to abandon caution. Together they kissed and teased each other until the titillating sensations built inside her, and she raked her hands down the corded muscles of his back.
His sex hardened, pressing into her heat, stirring her passion to a frenzy. She hadn’t been naked with a man in over five years. Had forgotten what it felt like to be held and kissed and touched so sensually.
She didn’t want the feeling to end. She wanted him in her bed loving her all night.
Her hands dropped to his chest and she slowly began unbuttoning his shirt. He groaned her name, then trailed kisses along her neck, dipping lower to tease her breasts through her blouse. She sighed her pleasure, then freed the top half of his shirt and ran her hands inside to feel his bare skin. A soft sprinkling of dark hair covered his broad chest, and his hips shifted, his sex stroking her heat.
She pushed at his shirt, anxious to feel his body against hers and pressed a kiss to his muscled chest. His skin tasted salty and manly, making her crave more of him.
But when she reached for his belt, he placed his hand over hers. “Peyton, stop.”
Hurt stole her breath, and she dropped her hands. “I’m sorry. I...shouldn’t have been so bold.” For heaven’s sake, he’d simply been comforting her, and she’d read too much into it because she was lonely and needy.
No, it wasn’t just that. She had been attracted to the sexy man ever since she’d met him. And she admired him.
She might even be falling for him.
But he didn’t want her, so she stepped away.
* * *
IT TOOK EVERY OUNCE of restraint Liam had not to throw Peyton onto the couch and tear her clothes off. She was a vixen in disguise.
He couldn’t remember the last time a woman had him panting and desperate for a hot night between the sheets with her. But Peyton made him want that and more.
The very reason he