"Hey, how are you feeling?" Liam asks in a soft whisper as I wake from my blackout.

"Um . . . okay." My squinted eyes wander around, a hazy sensation shooting through my head.

"See? I told you she'd come around," another voice chirps in, making my face harden in a heartbeat. "Hi, I'm Sergeant Jack Connor from LAPD," a police man introduces himself with his badge, and I sit comfortably by Liam's side.

I guess I'm safe now. Relief washes over me.

"Hi." I raise my head to meet his full profile.

He's black, tall and lean, but rather fit, with military-short hair.

"Can you give your statement right now?" Liam asks me tenderly. "If not we can wait until tomorrow."

I glance at Sergeant Connor and his gaze questions the same.

"I can do it," I whisper and sit straight.

Liam gives me a slight nod.

"Very well, ma'am." The detective sighs while taking a seat at the recliner chair adjacent to the table. "We have apprehended the guy who broke in. Do you know him by any chance?" He looks at me.

"Yes, I know him." I clear my throat that feels dry.

"How are you two related? Have you had any kind of relationship?" he continues, together with a series of other questions, while noting down the details.

I answer his queries as best as I can. And as I think of my altercation with Jeremy, I feel nothing but resentment. I want him to be pushed severely, because that's what he truly deserves.

"Okay. That will be all for now," says Sergeant Connor and I sigh softly with relief. "Mr. Darcy, I'll keep you posted," he tells Liam, and the two get up their feet.

I curl myself on the couch as the two of them head to the door.

"Thank you, detective," Liam says over a handshake. "I'll walk you out," he adds.

"Have a good evening, ma'am," the detective tells me. "And I'm very sorry for the incident."

"Thank you," I reply.

When Liam returns he seizes me tightly to his side. My body melts in his arms, and my eyes shut at the feel of his warm embrace, inhaling his reassuring scent.

"I don't know what I would've done if anything bad happened to you," he softly says. I lift my gaze at him. His blue eyes are engulfed with nothing but anger and worries. "That bastard."

"I'm sorry that I had you worried," I tell him in a low voice, my head on his comforting chest—my little home.

"It's okay, my love," he replies, his voice laced with gentleness. "Do you want something warm to drink? Tea or coffee, maybe?"

"Coffee." I smile at him as he gets up.

"Okay." He kisses my dry lips and walks towards the kitchen. I can't imagine how he felt when he received my call earlier.

I lay down to my side and fold my legs together, resting my head on the pillow. The entire scene with Jeremy flashes back in my head and I wonder why he's so obsessed with me. It's hard to believe that he tried to apologize, only to end up hurting me again.

Is it really my fault? I throw my eyes at Liam and my smile resurfaces.

Could he be that knight? I find myself sitting up and staring at him. He is busy with the boiler; I can only see his back moving slightly. I swallow at the sight and find myself smiling wider. I do have a reason to live and be happy, and he is a huge part of my happiness now.

Decidedly, I get up and follow him in the kitchen. He seems so absentminded, his back muscles rippling tensely. Gently, I lay my cheek against his back. He exhales softly, reacting to my grasp in a slight start. He quickly turns around to face me.

"Hey," he utters carefully, seemingly worried.

Responsively, I hug him tightly. I want to feel him near, and all for myself. He wraps his arms around me just as much, so tight that I feel like I'm going to melt in his embrace.

"Please don't cry. It's all over now," he breathes, nuzzling his nose in my hair.

"I know, Liam. I love you," I whisper.

"I love you, too, baby. Too much that I don't want to leave you even for a second," Liam replies, his heart beating promisingly against my ear. He holds my chin up and strokes a thumb on my cheek. "You need to rest."

"Yeah," I murmur.

Liam leans down to kiss me, but the timer of the boiler ruins the moment. I frown and glare at it. Seriously? As I stare at my boyfriend we share a laugh—a brief but hopeful laugh—knowing that the storm is over.

"How about I finish this coffee business first?" Liam asks disappointedly.

"About that . . . Um . . . I don't really want coffee," I say truthfully.

Liam squints his eyes. "You don't? Then . . . What do you want?"

"I just want to be with you," I reply lazily, hugging his sturdy frame one more time.

He chuckles.

"Okay, but you should change first," he says in a bossy tone that's always a turn on. I blink my eyes at him. "We're going to the hotel, Kira. I can't leave you here and I'd rather you don't sleep here tonight, either."

"Oh, that's better. Okay, I'll go change," I oblige, feeling energetic as the devil in me searches for her most sinful lingerie.

Agent Provocateur? Victoria's Secret? She really can't decide.

With that, I head straight into my bedroom. I whip down the dress I'm wearing and I don't think I'll ever put it on again. It's going straight to the dumpster. I'm only left with my underwear when Liam breezes in and sits on the bed. I smile softly, and he returns as given.

Three weeks ago I wouldn't be this audacious as to just regard him while weaning next to nothing, but things have changed and so have I. He's made me bold, confident in my own skin, and I'm ever beguiled by his mere presence.

From my dresser I fetch a white maxi dress, a pair of blue jeans, and a plain top. I put on the dress and pack the rest inside a brown Louis Vuitton handbag, together with a pair of clean underwear. What else? I mutter inwardly, scanning around.

Liam continues watching, and I'm not complaining. It's incredible how one person could turn your world upside-down, in various dimensions, and make you feel powerful and vulnerable at the same time. It's just a thought that crosses my mind, for it's exactly how he makes me feel.

"Are you ready?" He gets up nonchalantly.

"Yeah." I slip my little powder kit into the handbag, and then a hairbrush . . . and then . . . a lip balm. "Hold on." I pause.

"What?" Liam urges.

Mutely, I saunter hence and forth as though I'm forgetting something important—and I know I am. My phone charger! Damn, it's super important, isn't it? I grab it and pack it in the bag.

"Well, I'm ready," I announce with a tooth grin.

Liam breathes heavily. "Finally."

"Hey, a girl needs her full package, c'mon!" I giggle as he grabs me playfully by the waist. "What?" I stare him in the eyes, and he looks so sexy and enticed.

When I slide a hand over the fly of his jeans, I find him hard.

Victoria's Secret it is.

"Bad boy," I whisper.

"That I am," Liam utters, his breath ragged, our eyes so connected. Heat runs through me, oblivious of everything else. "I'd really love to fuck you right now, I swear," he says.

"Hmm?" I widen my eyes.

Fuck me? Damn, this escalated quickly.

But why do I find it hot, sexy, and arousing? I query inside, and my subconscious answers with a simple word 'Slut!'

"Relax, Kira." Liam laughs at my reaction, and I glare at him disastrously. "You've gone through a lot in a short while, and I want you to recover before we take that road again."

"But I don't mind," I confess.

Slut! My subconscious repeats.

"And I say I do," Liam recoils, no jokes in his voice.

"Liam!" I pout.

"What?" Amusement dances in his eyes.

"Okay, fine. Let's go." I bend down to get my bag but Liam immediately pulls me back. "What now?" I sigh exhaustedly, feeling a bit shortchanged.

Frankly, I don't know what he's done to me. Am I getting addicted by sex?

"Let's go to the hotel and I'll give you all that you need." He palms my face, his eyes a bit cajoling.

I flush right away.

"Why not now? Are you not attracted to me anymore?" I tease back.

Liam bursts into a laugh. "Have you gone crazy, Kira? I'm trying so hard to be a nice boyfriend right now, and you're busy turning me into a bad boy." He sounds thrilled.

"I want the bad boy, maybe?" I bite my lip provokingly, trailing my index over the buttons of his maroon shirt.

His muscles flex and he inhales swiftly. He seems stunned—turned on even—and I'm overflowed with this energy inside that burns my flesh, setting me ablaze. So I push him on the bed and falls in a soft thud, denting the mattress.

"Wow." He grins.

Smiling, I climb on the bed and straddle Liam, his knees between my thighs. He pants softly, his chest rising and falling. I lean over to his lips and kiss them unhurriedly, briefly, just enough to leave him craving for more.

I pull back, trailing down to his chest, caressing him with my tongue, slowly, kissing his chiseled contours, my eyes fixed on his. He's turned on. Yes! His body stiffens. He grunts mildly, his fingers finding my curls, and mine the leather belt of his jeans, ready for more.

"Damn it, Kira, what are you doing to me?" Liam pants, and I see his six packs contracting as he tries to watch what I'm up to. "Are you—"

"No, Mr. Darcy. You stay still. I'm in charge!" I hiss and he automatically lays back. I unbuckle his belt with ease, and then undo the button of his jeans. "You are mine."

"Yes, Ms. Jones. Yours," he replies simply, his voice deep and hoarse.