This wasn’t just a quick, careless coupling. No one night stand. Something big was happening here.

But she couldn’t contemplate that now, not while he touched her with such savage grace. Caught up in his own rapture, Liam threw his head back and pounded away at her. She closed her eyes and concentrated on the delicious friction. So animalistic, yet so sweet. But just as her womb began to flutter again, he withdrew.

She opened her eyes and almost cried out from the loss. “Liam?”

“I’m right here, sugar.” He grabbed at her hips, held her tight, and re-entered her with a mighty thrust that made her see stars. As she cried out her ecstasy, he withdrew and plunged back in, over and over, each thrust deeper than the one before. Still grasping her hair, he slapped her ass and everything inside her vibrated. He seemed to grow harder and heavier inside her, and her body hummed and sang and bloody well shrieked its delirium. She came again in a fireball of lust, and had to cover her mouth because of the strange sounds erupting from it.

He slammed into her one last time, shuddering and shaking, then collapsed onto her back and kissed the nape of her neck. He didn’t release his hold on her hair, but loosened it, gently massaging her scalp where he’d tugged it.

“My God,” she managed when she found her voice.

He chuckled behind her and nipped her shoulder. “Jesus, Kate. That was unreal.”

Her heart pounded at the thought she’d satisfied him. More than satisfied, she dared to hope, when she felt how he lifted off her with another series of shudders. She couldn’t move. She remained bent over the dresser, her ass in the air, her eyes closed.

Liam laughed and slapped her ass as he headed to the bathroom. “Too worn out to move?”

“Too worn out to breathe.”

Soon he’d returned and stroked her bottom. “Careful, Kate. If you keep showing me that pretty ass, I might take advantage of the view.” He crouched and bit her on her right cheek.

“Ow!”

Liam laughed. “I warned you.” He put his hands on her shoulders and gently pulled her up into his embrace. He ran a hand over her sweaty brow and pushed aside her messy hairs. Then he just looked at her, his gaze full of an emotion she couldn’t quite decipher.

They stared at each other. She began to regret not doing it in bed. In bed, it would have been natural to turn to each other and cuddle. But here, in front of a dresser? What were they supposed to do? Should she ask him to climb into bed with her? It was still early and he probably worked late. Was he anxious to leave? She didn’t quite understand the post-coitus protocol in this situation. She doubted such a protocol even existed in their case.

“So,” she said. She was at a loss for words, only knowing she didn’t want him to go.

He brushed his fingers against her face, grazing the area under her bruise, more soft and intimate than any old touch on the cheek. One look, one caress, from this man and she was mush.

“It’s okay,” he said. “You don’t have to say anything. Just feel.” And like that, he enfolded her in a big bear hug.

Feel. Damn, it seemed all she did was feel around this man. She felt anger, guilt, raging desire. She’d never felt so much for anyone in such a short time and was pretty sure most of it was wrong.

Her eyes began to itch but she blinked the burn away. He released her, kissed her forehead and walked into the bathroom, returning with two complimentary bathrobes. He placed one around her shoulders and slid into the other one. She immediately lamented losing sight of that amazing body but told herself it was better this way. Too much naked Liam made Kate a crazy girl.

He motioned to the bed, then sat. “Sit with me.”

She nodded, glad he was taking the lead. She sat next to him, cross-legged. He watched her tuck her legs under her and a small smile crept onto his face.

“I like you, Kate. It’s been a long time since I’ve smiled like this.”

A thousand butterflies took flight in her belly. “I’m glad you’re smiling. You deserve it.” She played with the rumpled bed covers, smoothing the fabric between her fingers. “You said you were starting to reconsider suing for Michelle’s custody.”

His smile disappeared. “I don’t know. She’s so little. I just wish I could explain to her that I’m not abandoning her. She won’t remember why I left. All she’ll know is I’m gone.”

He said the last word with such vehemence, she made a horrible realization. Someone important must have abandoned him. The idea bothered her so much she had to know if it was true. “Who abandoned you?”

His head snapped up, his expression now cold. “No one.”

“I think we both know that’s not true.”

He shook his head, but said nothing.

“Liam, I can see you’re hurting. And it’s about more than just Michelle.”

“You’re wrong.”

“There’s no shame in talking about it.”

“How very New Horizons of you.”

“Well, the program has its merits. They helped me. Let me help you.”

“Kate,” he groaned, running his hand through his hair in exasperation. “We’re having a nice moment here. Why ruin it with needless talk?”

Needless talk? Boy, she knew she was stubborn, but he took the cake. “Liam, you told me you were ready to hit rock bottom. You can’t do it unless you open yourself up.”

He glared at the sheets. “Maybe this rock bottom thing isn’t such a good idea.”

“Liam…”

“Look, it’s not important.”

“You’re important.”

He stood up and gathered his clothes, frowning as if he didn’t quite believe her. “I don’t know why you’re fishing for information. You want me to tell you I had a hard life? Fine, I had a hard life. Yeah, it’s pretty sweet now but I had to work for it. I worked my ass off for it.”

“I’m not disputing that.”

He looked at the bunched up suit in his hands. “I know what you think. Nice clothes. Nice career. Fancy cars. Oh, and women. Lots of women, if I so desire. And you’re right. I can have all of it, if and when I want it.”

Ouch. She had a sneaking suspicion he’d said that to wound her. Mission accomplished. “How very nice for you.”

“It’s fucking awesome.” He twisted his hand in the wad of designer clothing. “So I don’t need you playing shrink, getting me to admit my deepest, darkest fears, and expect some kind of breakthrough. That shit only happens on TV.”

Kate was dumbstruck. What had happened? He’d turned on a dime, and all because she’d tried to help the man who’d helped her.

Yet she couldn’t help feeling he was pushing her away on purpose. She’d struck a nerve, and it made him scared. So did she let him walk away, or did she continue to probe?

Well, she’d never been the sort to accept defeat. She wouldn’t now.

She hauled her body out of the bed, ran to the door and blocked it.

“Get out of the way, Kate.”

“No.”

“I mean it.”

“No. You are going to stay here and you are going to tell me what happened to you. And I don’t mean the bullshit you’d find on a press release. I mean the real you.” She put a hand on his chest. “The real Liam.”

He stared at her, his face drawn and sad. Then he laughed in such a way her blood ran cold. Once again, he resembled the man Bridget had described, the man who got off on punishing others.

“You don’t ever wanna meet the real Liam. Trust me. Now move out of the way, Kate.”

“No,” she said, quiet but firm. “You’re trying to push me away to see if I’ll come running after you. Well, here I am. Running. What happened in the bedroom felt real. It wasn’t some random fuck. And I know you felt it, too. When you looked at me in the mirror, I felt…centered and scared all at once. I don’t understand any of it, but there it is.”

He made no response, but stared at her robe.

“Dammit, Liam. I shared my soul with you! How dare you take that and try to walk away? I know you’re in pain, so let me be here for you. Please.”