Chapter 2
CHAPTER 2
K elsey
I tried to maintain composure, but my heart was pounding in my chest so loudly that I wondered if he could hear it. Every nerve in my body seemed to be on high alert. Liam’s scrutiny, as well as his piercing gaze, had me on edge. My palms sweated and my knees wobbled, as I tried to maintain my composure.
I couldn’t let him win.
“Look, I just needed a place to hide, far away from my ex. He hits me sometimes and… and…” I stammered. “I thought this pub was empty. I didn’t mean to intrude.”
Liam’s gaze remained fixed on me, and his eyes narrowed, focusing on me like a predator closing in on its prey. “You’re a long way from safety if you’re looking for it here.”
I bit my lip, feigning vulnerability. “I heard the Murphy family had connections. I thought maybe I could find protection here. I didn’t know where else to go.”
He chuckled, the sound both menacing and oddly captivating. “You’ve got guts, sweetheart, creeping into the lion’s den and expecting sanctuary.” He stepped even closer, the air thick with an electric charge. “But, this is a dangerous place. Not everyone is as friendly as they seem.”
A tingle of fear mingled with the undeniable attraction that pulsed between us. “I… I didn’t mean to cause any trouble,” I whispered, meeting his gaze with feigned innocence.
Liam tilted his head, a wry smile playing on his lips. “Let’s not pretend, sweetheart. What’s your game, really?”
I swallowed hard, my mind racing. “I don’t have a game. Honestly, I just wanted to disappear and start fresh. I heard the Murphy family could make things happen.”
He stepped back, the distance between us momentarily widening. “Starting fresh with us is like jumping from the frying pan into the fire,” he said, his gaze lingering on mine, “If I find out you’re lying to me, I just might have to take you over my knee and redden that pretty bottom of yours.”
My mouth went dry, and my body simmered at the heated promise in his voice.
He didn’t really just say what I thought he said, did he? He couldn’t be serious. It had to be a joke of some kind, meant to shock me into silence. Spankings were a punishment for children, not for the likes of me. Why, then, was my pulse racing and my core sizzling with sudden need? Why did that single line keep repeating in my head?
“If I find out you’re lying to me, I just might have to take you over my knee and redden that pretty bottom of yours.”
Why was a part of me actually curious about it? Why did I kind of want him to do it?
Maybe it was just the adrenaline talking or maybe I was going a little bit insane…
“You can’t spank me. I’m a grown woman,” I scoffed, and he raised a single eyebrow. The dark shadows in his eyes seemed to swirl into a deeper black, and I shut my mouth.
Liam Shelby was a criminal. He probably had no qualms about killing a man, or maybe even a woman. What would stop him from hurting me if he felt like it?
He’d already threatened to spank me…
A low heat simmered in the pit of my belly, and I swallowed hard. A droplet of sweat beaded at the edge of my brow and despite everything I tried to do to stop it, my pussy clenched hard.
Why was I drawn to him anyway? Why did I want him to reach out, take me in his arms, and kiss me the way I was meant to be kissed?
He didn’t say anything more about it, and I didn’t press the issue.
“I have nowhere to go,” I admitted, my voice a whisper laced with vulnerability.
A sly grin played on Liam’s lips, and he took a step closer. “Well, Kelsey, it just so happens I know a place where you can lay low for the night,” he said, his hazel eyes glinting with mischief.
This couldn’t be good, right?
“Your place?” I asked warily, trying to gauge his intentions. For all I knew, he could be taking me to my death, rather than into his bed. But there was something about him that made me trust him.
And then I realized something else.
He could be my “in” to the Murphy family.
He chuckled, a low and throaty sound that reverberated through the room. “No, not my place. I’ve got something better in mind. Ever heard of the Cambria hotel?”
There was no concrete evidence for it, but it was suspected that the Murphys laundered money through the expensive hotel.
Maybe I’d get to see some of that firsthand.
“The Cambria hotel? Isn’t that a bit… fancy?” I questioned, raising an eyebrow. “I’m a simple girl. I don’t need much.”
Liam’s grin widened, his eyes dancing with amusement. “Well, sweetheart, sometimes a bit of luxury is what you need to forget everything that troubles you. Trust me; they won’t ask too many questions. It’s the perfect place for you to stay the night. Your ex will never suspect you’re there.”
I considered his offer, torn between suspicion and the tempting promise of a supposed safe haven for the night. Sure, I could go home to my tiny apartment, but this unlikely turn of events was looking better and better.
I’d take the chance.
“Alright,” I finally conceded. “Thank you.”
I took a deep breath.
This was my big break.
* * *
The drive to the Cambria hotel was a curious blend of silence and tension. Liam navigated the streets with confident ease, the city lights casting an almost ephemeral glow on his features. As we pulled up to the entrance, he smoothly parked the car right in front of the hotel, and I couldn’t help but wonder about the lack of questions from the attendants. It was as if the city itself recognized him, and an unspoken understanding that he could do whatever he pleased hung in the air.
Honestly, it was pretty scary.
“Stay here,” Liam instructed, a look of command in his eyes as he got out of the car. I watched him stride inside and head toward the concierge counter, his presence commanding attention.
He wasn’t gone long.
Liam returned with a subtle grin, and I couldn’t help but raise an eyebrow. “Do they know you here?” I questioned, my voice laced with curiosity.
“Let’s just say I have a way of making things happen. Come on, the penthouse awaits,” he replied, his tone serious.
He wasn’t playing with me. This was really happening.
I swallowed back my disbelief and followed him. We entered the hotel, and my eyes flitted around the opulent surroundings. The concierge behind the counter nodded respectfully at Liam, confirming my suspicion that he was no stranger here.
“Mr. Murphy, the penthouse is ready for you,” the concierge informed us with a deferential tone. Liam nodded his thanks and then strode forward into a private elevator and beckoned me inside. We rode all the way to the top and when the doors opened to reveal a lavish corridor, I followed him in silence.
The scent of fresh flowers and muted jazz music wafted through the air, creating an atmosphere of sheer indulgence that took my breath away.
The spacious living area was adorned with sleek, modern furniture. Floor-to-ceiling windows offered a panoramic view of the city skyline, pulling my gaze to the shimmering night straight away.
“Welcome to your refuge for the night,” Liam declared.
“This is… unexpected,” I admitted, my voice betraying a mix of surprise and unease.
So, this is what true power, and money bought you.
Liam leaned against the window, his gaze fixed on me. “I just want to make sure you’re safe for the night, Kelsey.”
Despite the undeniable danger that surrounded him, I found myself drawn to him in a way that defied all reason. His charisma, the air of mystery that clung to him—it was a potent combination that stirred conflicting emotions within me. I couldn’t ignore the fact that he was a criminal, yet the intensity of my reluctant desire persisted.
It made no fucking sense.
“Come. It’s late. Let’s get you ready for bed,” Liam said softly, and I followed him into one of the bedrooms. The plush carpet felt luxurious underfoot as I kicked off my shoes.
Liam handed me a set of silk pajamas with surprising gentleness. “You might as well get comfortable,” he remarked, his eyes lingering on mine.
Was he going to stay the night here with me, too?
Somehow, I found the thought intriguing instead of frightening. His gaze bore into mine like he could read my mind and I lowered mine to the floor, breaking eye contact with him just in case my emotions were written all over my face.
I left the room and retreated into the bathroom. As quickly as I could, I changed into the pajamas, feeling the soft fabric against my skin, still grappling with the uncertainty of what was to come. I took a deep breath before I went back into the bedroom where he was seated in the armchair by the window.
Climbing into bed, I pulled the covers up to my chin. Liam stood up and approached me, and I sucked in a heated breath. I gazed up at him, hoping for something that I shouldn’t want.
In that fleeting moment as he looked down at me, an intensity in his eyes hinted at the possibility of a kiss that threatened to take my breath away. My heartbeat quickened with anticipation, and I found myself yearning for him to do exactly that. However, to my disappointment, he simply smiled, a touch of something I couldn’t quite read in his expression.
Did he find me attractive? Did he even want to kiss me, or did he just see me as some charity case that he’d taken in for the night?
I honestly couldn’t tell.
“Goodnight, Kelsey,” he said, his voice low and almost tender. My disappointment must have flickered across my face, but he didn’t acknowledge it. Instead, he pulled the blankets up even tighter around me and tucked me in. Then, he turned and walked away, leaving me alone in the silence.
He stopped in the doorway and looked back over his shoulder. I held my breath.
“I’ll see you in the morning,” he whispered, and there was the slightest hint of a threat to his tone. “We’ll talk then.”
A shiver raced down my spine.
“Goodnight, Liam,” I murmured, my voice shaking just the slightest bit. He nodded once and left, and I let out the breath that had seemingly been stuck in the back of my throat.
I was going to have to nail down the details of my story tonight if I wanted this mission to be a success.
I closed my eyes, listening to the soft sounds of his footsteps fading in the distance. The door clicked shut and, I knew he’d left the suite.
My chest rose and fell with relief, but something else pulsed deep inside my core, over and over again until I couldn’t ignore it any longer.
Desire.