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She turned to face him, schooling her features. “For starters, you’re an amazing lay.” At this, his grin grew even wider, so she planted a hand on her hip. “We’ll renegotiate the terms of your debt tomorrow. For now, you may return to your own room.”

“Hell, I will.” He was on her before she had a chance to run.

“Liam,” she squawked as he tossed her back onto the bed.

Before she could bolt, he curled up behind her, slung his arm around her stomach, and cupped her breast. She tried to stiffen against him, but her body wouldn’t cooperate, instead melting into his heat. Still, she managed an affronted tone. “What do you think you’re doing?”

“Not taking orders from you anymore, Viv. Can’t protect you from down the hall. This way, someone comes after you, they have to go through me first.”

His words swirled warmth inside of her. Exhaustion pressed in. She didn’t have the energy or the desire to fight. With his big male body tucked around her, she had to admit, she could see the logic.

She sighed. “Very well.” Tomorrow theywouldrenegotiate the terms of his debt.

Fifteen

Liam wokein the one place he’d been avoiding for years, Vivian’s bed. She lay with her curvy body tucked against him, generous ass snugged against his stirring cock. His knee rested between her pale thighs. His palm cupped her plump breast. He was man enough to admit he didn’t hate the situation. Vivian slept on, unaware, her hands beneath her cheek.

Memories of the pleasure she’d given him drew a smile across his face. He’d never had a woman make love to him before. Trussed up, he’d had no choice but to let her call the shots. Not his usual style, but it seemed to make her happy. Least she let him have his way with her in the end. And he didn’t hear any complaints while she was screaming her second orgasm in his ears.

Sure, the sex between them was mind-blowing, but that didn’t mean she’d tamed him. Not by a long shot. If she thought he’d allow her to renegotiate their deal, making new demands of him, she was crazier than her ex.

What the hell had she been thinking, trying to kick him out while she had a giant target on her back?

He scowled, ghosts of his many failures rising up to haunt him. Ancient images of his mother and siblings slithered through his mind, followed by flashes of a young faerie and her savaged mother.

Perhaps Vivian had finally realized what a fuckup he was, failing to protect those in his care. Hell, he may very well screw things up again, but he had to try. Try to make things right.

With her own lips, she’d accused him of pushing her into the mage’s arms. He knew all too well what it was like to have your freedom stolen, along with your dignity. No way he was letting the sick bastard get his hands on her again.

Liam eyed her sleeping form and firmed his jaw, possessive urges rising inside him. Urges he didn’t care to poke and prod like emotional females were wont to do. No fucking way he was abandoning Vivian now. Too bad if she’d finally come to her senses. He’d taken the job and would see it through to the bitter end. No matter the cost.

Sick of his own bellyaching, he eyed the window. Sun wasn’t up, and Vivian had yet to move a muscle. What woke him in the first place?

His nose twitched. In an instant, he was wide awake. He drew his face from Vivian’s hair and took a breath.

Smoke.

Adrenaline shot through his body. “Vivian, wake up.” Before she’d cracked open an eye, he hauled her out of bed and set her on her feet.

She wobbled, pressing her palm to her forehead. “Liam, what are you doing?”

“Fire. We’re under attack.” He whipped on his jeans, stomped into his boots and slung his leather jacket over his bare shoulders.

Vivian jolted, snapping awake as though he’d dumped a bucket of ice water on her head. “What do you mean fire? Where are the alarms?”

Right on cue, the alarms sounded. Voices shouted from below.

“Move your sweet ass.” He grabbed her hand, only to have her twist free.

“Not without my clock.”

“Dammit, woman, leave it. This isn’t the time to worry about your stupid trinkets.”

Again, he went after her, and she ducked under his arm, shouting, “Not without the clock.”

All the crap she owned, and she worried about some beat-to-hell antique? The alarms fell silent, and the lights flickered, then died. Not good.

Through the dimly lit room, Vivian darted to the mantle, grabbed the ugly clock, and smashed it against the marble surround. Porcelain exploded, fracturing into shards.