Hear My Heart Beat

V

(Warning: Sexual content. For mature readers only.)

Liam and I grew closer, now that our secret past was out of the way. He seemed to accept the new me completely, which only made me want him even more. And now that I was working less hours, I had more time for him.

The night of his parents' party came. He planted his arm on my lower back protectively, effectively branding me as his. We sat beside each other for most of the party. Yaffa and Fin looked ecstatic seeing us together. I decided not to bring up the issues of the past with them, as I thought they were irrelevant now.

After dinner, the gentlemen converged at the game room and the ladies had tea in the living room. Liam kissed me on the temple before he reluctantly let me go as we parted ways at the foyer. I saw his mother's bright smile behind him.

"Darling," she began excitedly, "It's so good seeing you and my son so happy with each other."

"Thank you, Yaffa." Despite her role in setting us up before without our consent, I knew she was doing it out of love. I remembered her concern for me that night and couldn't help embracing her.

I sat on the couch by myself afterwards, since I wasn't close to any of the women here. I knew some of them growing up, but we weren't exactly friends. A pretty brunette around my age approached me, all smiles. Following behind her were two other women who were as pretty as her.

I stood up and accepted the hand she extended.

"You must be Liam's new toy. I'm Jenna, by the way."

Her voice was saccharine, and so was her expression, but I didn't miss the possessive undertone when she said Liam's name.

"So is that baby really his? Did you just do it for the money?" She asked mockingly.

I was shocked at her open hostility. Blood rushed to my head, making me dizzy.

"Jenna!" A beautiful redhead appeared at my side.

I recognized her as Riva, Liam's younger sister. She lived across the continent now, but she came home for her parents' celebration.

"I should stop you from embarassing yourself further. Don't you recognize her?" Riva asked. She placed an arm around my shoulders. "She is Helena Richmond-Keene, heiress to the shipping empire."

I didn't bother to correct her because Jenna and her friends were taken aback at that. But Jenna recovered fast. She looked me up and down. "Sorry, I didn't recognize her. Not when she looks like that." She stared at my ear piercings with derision.

I had half a mind to turn and show her my tattoo as well. But strangely my head felt like it was underwater. I clutched my abdomen with a clammy hand.

"This keeps getting better and better. So you're the reason why Liam turned down every single woman in Amethyst Cove? What did you do to him to make him abhor women so much?" the one to Jenna's right said.

I knew they were only trying to rile me up. In another lifetime, I would have come up with a witty remark, and then I would have gracefully turned on my heels and left them gaping. But my baby seemed to sense my distress and was getting upset as well. 'Hold on, my love,' I said to it telepathically. 'I'm leaving these chickenheads soon.' Which was a hard promise to keep, as my knees suddenly felt weak.

But before I could do anything, a strong arm wrapped around my waist and held me up. A familiar scent calmed my racing heart. "Liam," I sagged against him gratefully. I had always been headstrong and independent, but tonight I almost wept with relief when my knight rescued me from these evil harpies.