Page 52 of Liam

“Ten, it was tough because just as I was starting to see the world, she began to fade from it. She had cancer, and it was a long, ravaging process. It was as if I lost both my parents that year.”

“I’m glad your father finally saw his mistakes.”

“Me too, although I feel cautious. Does that make sense?”

He twirled a lock of her hair in his fingers as he inhaled her sweet scent, not sure if he could love this woman more than he did, and then finding at every turn he could. “It makes perfect sense. Your father hurt you, they all have, and you’re protecting your heart from more pain.”

Taamira reached up, wrapping her arms around his neck. “I love you.”

“I love you, too.” He kissed her lightly, dreaming of the day it was just the two of them again.

“Do you need to work?”

Liam nodded regretfully. “I do. We have to finish questioning Scott, and Lopez has some financials for us to look through, plus I have a few new ideas ticking through my brain after today’s happenings.”

“Okay, I might take a bath and maybe read a book.”

“Shall I pop my head in when we order some food, see if you’re hungry or do you want to be left alone?”

“No, come get me. I want to eat with you guys.”

Liam kissed her once more wishing he could take it deeper but knowing he couldn’t. First chance he got, he wanted this woman all to himself.

CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE

TAAMIRA TURNED ON HER SIDE IN THE BIG BED AND INSTANTLY REACHED FOR LIAM ONLY TO FIND HIS side of the bed cold. She sighed, feeling a sense of loss. It had only been a few days that she had shared his bed, but she had already grown accustomed to waking up with him.

He had come to bed around three in the morning, sliding in behind her and gently pulling her body into the hard, warm shield of his arms. A feeling of rightness had settled in her bones, and she had relaxed enough to sleep.

The hours before that, after eating a supper of soup and chicken pesto panini for her and burger and fries for the men, she had retired to her room. Liam had kissed her soundly, telling her he still had a fair bit of work to do but he would be in as soon as he could.

Taamira had not minded, all the work he and the others were doing was for her, to keep her safe and she could never repay them for their kindness, but she would try.

It had been after midnight, and her brain was still playing over the meeting with her father. The change in him had been profound, but as she had let her mind drift, she realised it was not as shocking as she first thought. Memories of a man who had walked with her in the garden showing her different types of flowers returned.

Her mind drifting, forgotten thoughts of him smiling at her as he sat with her mother at dinner, his hand resting on the top of his wife’s much smaller one came to her. Her mother had been a great beauty, having a sweet nature but as she let her mind open to old pictures in her head, she got the sense that her mother and father had been real partners. Best friends, almost nary a day went when they were not together.

Had that man who had adored her mother so profoundly suddenly seen the light and come back to them or was it all a ruse? Taamira hated that she did not know, that she distrusted so deeply she could not take her own father at his word, especially as she so wanted to, or maybe it was because she wanted it so badly.

He and her brother had hurt her in such a way she was not sure she would ever fully trust them again. Had her father and brother authorised her captor’s payment? If they had, what had gone wrong? Who hated her enough to want to see those atrocities done to her? The thoughts had gone full circle around and again until her eyes were gritty from tiredness, her brain like scrambled egg.

Only when she was safe in Liam’s arms had she finally drifted off to sleep. Flipping on her back, Taamira saw it was ten-thirty. She had slept later than she wanted, but as her speech was not until tonight and she had little else to do, she was not concerned.

Slipping from the bed, she padded to the bathroom and relieved her bladder before brushing her teeth and then stepping into the shower.

Quickly washing her hair and body, shaving her legs and underarms, she stepped out and almost screamed when she saw a hulking mass in the doorway.

Liam smirked and moved closer, his eyes running over her body, holding out the towel for her. “Not the kind of scream I was going for, Princess.”

“You scared me. How can a man your size be so silent on his feet?”

“Ballet lessons.”

Taamira turned in his arms and stared up at him as her hands came to rest on his hard chest. The hard muscle under her hands had her body tingling with desire. “You took ballet lessons?” Her voice was huskier as she asked the question.

“Of course not, treacle. It’s just part of the job. You learn not to make a noise if you want to stay breathing.”

“Oh.” Taamira could hardly remember what they had been talking about as his rough hands that brought her so much pleasure lightly caressed her skin where her thighs and buttocks met.