Page 25 of Liberty

I waited. I saw no one, so I got up and looked around the door.

Belle stood in the hallway.

“Hey,” I said, feeling surprised to see her.

She was staring at my stomach then her eyes roamed upward along my chest to finally rest on my face. She looked stunned.

“Is everything okay?” I asked her.

Her gaze lowered again as she kept staring.

I chuckled. “Belle?”

“Huh?” she mumbled then looked up at me.

I stepped back. “Come in. I want to talk to you.”

Shaking her head, she extended my sweat jacket. “I just wanted to return this.”

“Ok, but I do need to talk to you.”

She bit at her lip and then stepped inside.

I shut the door and motioned for her to sit on the small sofa.

All the rooms here were like studio apartments basically. At least on this wing. Small living room, bedroom, and a kitchenette.

“You want something to drink?” I asked her.

“No, no. I’m good.”

I laughed. “I didn't mean alcoholic ya know? I’m having water.” I went to the fridge and got out a bottle of water. Heading back over, I sat on the sofa next to her. “Look. I really am sorry that I insulted you today. It wasn’t my intention to do that.”

“I know,” she said. “It just felt a little degrading.”

“I get it. I do. I didn't mean it like I would getyounaked. I just meant…” I uncapped the bottle and drank a good amount down. “Like it wasn’t about you in particular.”

“So, you just meant any woman in general, then.” She was staring at my chest again then turned her head away.

It suddenly dawned on me. I was shirtless. She’d never seen me without a shirt before. I was also pretty darn sweaty. I shrugged. “Sorry about the no shirt and the sweaty look. I was working out.”

“Yeah, I sorta figured that out.” She smiled.

Oh, wow. A smile?I stared at her. “You know you are beautiful when you smile.” I then froze as I sure as hell did not know that those words were going to pop out of my mouth.

Chapter Eight:Beautiful And Shameless

Belle

Damn… I never realized how muscled Liberty was. Or how smooth his skin looked. I was actually staring when he opened the door. And I could not seem to stop staring. The room suddenly seemed too hot and stuffy.Then did he just say I was beautiful?

“Hey,” he called to me. “You alright there?”

“I am. But did I just hear you correctly?”

“What do you mean?”

“Never mind.” I stood from the sofa.