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When she swallowed, I fought a laugh at the wrinkled expression on her face.
But I did smile. I couldn’t help it.
She coughed. “Holy shit, that’s terrible.”
I grunted, motioning for the bottle. “Speak for yourself. That’s some damn good whiskey.” I wasn’t drunk. Wasn’t even really buzzed. But there was a pleasant, fuzzy warmth coating my thoughts, loosening my muscles.
“What were you looking for in there?” she asked. Then she shuddered, still feeling the bite of the drink.
“Clarity,” I answered.
Her eyes were big in her face, her cheeks a sweet shade of pink. “Did you find it?”
I sighed, then shook my head slowly.
Zoe nodded, bringing her hand up to rub at her neck, the same spot she was always fussing with.
“Now what?” I asked gruffly.
“I was reading while Mira watched a movie.” She blushed. “Rosa gave me a new book, and whenever I stare down at my Kindle too long, my neck starts hurting again.”
“I told you that you need a massage or some shit.”
She stretched her neck, wincing when she pulled it too far. “I know.” Then she snapped her head up. “Don’t make an appointment for me; I can handle it.”
I notched my fingers to my temple in a mock salute. “Noted.”
Zoe grinned, pushing her middle and pointer fingers into the curve of her shoulder again.
Because I couldn’t fucking help it, I watched.
I always watched what she did. Had for years. And for some reason, that night, with my inhibitions lowered just the right amount, watching wasn’t enough. “You’re doing it wrong.”
At the gruff sound of my voice, her fingers stilled. Her eyes searched mine.
I jerked my chin at all her bloody hair. “Pull that out of the way. I’ll show you.”
Don’t.
Don’t.
Don’t fucking do it.
The voice was so loud in my head. Fucker was screaming at me, because every part of me knew that it was a horrible idea to touch her, even just this tiny bit.
And like the idiot I was ... I ignored it.
Chapter Twenty
LIAM
I took another swig of whiskey while she wrapped a tie around her hair, bunching it up onto the top of her head. I could watch her play with that hair all fucking day.
Slowly, I walked behind Zoe, swallowing hard at the delicate bumps of her spine.
Did she like to be kissed there?
Her shoulders were tense, and I could understand why. I was too, my whole body strung tight like a bowstring.
