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Vivian wasn’t wrong to put him in his place earlier. For helping him rescue Alex, at the very least, he owed Vivian a couple of cataclysmic orgasms. Hell, maybe he’d even throw in a back rub for good measure. Those commands she was so eager to lay on him, he’d make sure they were commands of more, faster, harder.Oh, Liam! Yes! Yes!

Halfway down the hall, he followed her into the room. Here, her exotic fragrance grew stronger, intoxicating. It came as no surprise her bedroom was just as decked-out as her living room had been. Rich colors, lots of fringy shit and velvet. He eyed her massive four-poster bed. What the hell was the deal with women and their damn throw pillows? Had to be at least twenty of them.

With her back to him, she caught her balance on the bedpost and reached for the buckle on her ankle. “Come in and make yourself comfortable,” she said over her shoulder.

With their shared interest in poker, they’d played in the same tournament on occasion. Every time they crossed paths, Vivian had tried to get him into this exact place, what with the flirting and sexual innuendo. Tonight, she’d finally succeeded. Guess it was past time he showed her what she’d been missing. He toed off his boots, unbuckled his belt, and left it hanging from the loops.

“Where do you want to do this?” Her bed looked sturdy enough, but given Vivian’s reputation, she’d probably prefer something kinkier.

She turned just as he popped open the button on his jeans.

“What are you doing?” she snapped, brows drawing harsh angles on her forehead.

He froze with his fingers on his zipper, cutting her a rakish smirk. “Can’t do this with my pants on, sweetheart.”

She folded her arms. “You can’ttalk to mewith your pants on?”

“Talk?” He frowned.

“Yes, talk. As I explained earlier, there are several issues we need to discuss.”

Their arrangement seemed pretty straightforward to him. It was so like a woman to want to complicate things. The narrowing of her eyes had him refastening his jeans. He grumbled a curse, wincing as he smashed his cock behind his zipper.

“Have a seat,” she ordered.

He eased into an armchair next to a smoldering fireplace. How many fireplaces did she have, anyway? One in every room?

Now that he wasn’t focused on her ass, other things caught his attention, like the flickering candles scattered around the space along with the bluesy music playing from a hidden speaker. The singer crooned something aboutputting a spellonher man ’cause he was hers. It was the kind of tune Vivian would have used in one of her performances long ago.

Then, it hit him. She’d staged her room for seduction. He fought a snicker. There was no need for her to seduce him when he was a sure thing.

On stocking-clad feet, she sauntered to a table, lifted a crystal decanter, and filled two glasses. “Are you familiar with the women’s shelter I’m building?”

He scratched his chin. “Yeah, there’s been some talk about it at the bar. Heard you were building it on the ashes of your former mansion.”

“That’s right.” She handed him a glass, then took the seat across from him. “As you can imagine, there are many who do not approve of this endeavor.”

“Course they don’t. You can’t threaten to put high walls, enchanted barbed wire, and a moat between a male and his mate and think he’ll just go along with it.” Liam sniffed his glass before taking a drink. Basil Hayden. Oh, yeah, she was out to seduce him, all right.

“I take it you don’t approve either,” she said.

He twirled the liquid in his glass. “Not sure it’s your place to interfere, is all. What happens between bonded couples is their business.”

She pressed her lips into a thin line. “And what if Alexandra was bonded to an abusive male? One who did atrocious things to her?”

Then that male would die a slow and painful death.Liam sipped from his glass, washing away the bitter taste the image left behind. “She isn’t.” She was mated to his oldest friend. The one male he’d trust with his life. “Jericho would sooner cut his arm off than harm one hair on her head.”

Vivian tightened her grip on her glass, her knuckles turning white. “And what if she wasn’t bonded to Jericho but to someone sadistic and twisted? Someone from the auction, perhaps.”

Liam snorted, saying with great confidence, “Even without your help, I wouldn’t have let that happen.”

She glared at the flames in the fireplace, sipped her whiskey, then lowered it again. When she finally spoke, her words sounded clipped. “And what of the women who don’t have honorable protectors looking out for them? What happens to them?”

He shrugged. “Still not sure how that’s any of your concern.” Where the hell was she going with this anyway? This was far from the foreplay he’d envisioned.

Her jaw hardened, a muscle ticking in her cheek. “Suffice it to say, I’m making it my concern. Regardless of your, or anyone else’s opinion, this shelter will be constructed. And since I’ve taken on this task, I’ve received numerous death threats.”

Someone threatened her? The urge to crack some skulls together had him clenching his fists. He forced his fingers to uncurl and rubbed his palm on his knee.Not your concern. Not your responsibility.“Figured there must be a reason for the guards you posted outside. Gotta tell you, not one of them is capable of keeping you safe if someone really wanted in here.”