Running from His Claim (Beauty and the Beast #2)

Chapter 30

He tasted of chocolate and heat.

Liam deposited the chocolate in my mouth and pulled back to look into my eyes. I stared back, amazed, and automatically sucked on the blissful sweetness melting in my mouth. He leaned in again and pressed his lips on mine, this time slipping his hand into my hair.

I drew in a breath, steadying myself, then I leaned into him and kissed him back. I drew back a minute later, feeling awkward, and gave him a nervous smile.

It wasn't Liam's fault, really. There was only one person whose kisses drove me crazy...

Stop thinking about him!

He smiled back. "Good?"

I nodded, blushing, and he laughed again.

He dropped me off at home a few hours later. He drifted behind me as I walked up to my front door, then I turned and smiled at him. He was watching me from lowered lashes, his hands in his pockets.

"Well, I had a great time," I said softly.

He nodded, stepping closer. "Me too."

"Uh, I guess I'll see you Monday?"

He tugged on my skirt, pulling me against him as his brown eyes darkened. My breath hitched as he leaned in to kiss me. I quickly averted my face and his lips met my temple. His kiss lingered and he murmured, "You're definitely worth waiting for."

Oh, damn! Was I leading him on? "Liam, I..."

"No, it's okay." When he drew back, he was smiling sadly. "Anyone can see that Strandton and Thorne are the only ones with a real shot at being with you." He raised his head and guilt threatened to crush me at his soft look. "I just don't know when to quit, I guess."

What does one say to that?

He backed away with a wink. "See you Monday, Belle."

I stood watching until he drove away, then I dragged myself into the house. The light was on in the kitchen so I stepped in to find Dane waiting up. He stood by the counter, arms folded. He raised a brow when I sighed and dumped my bag on the counter before settling on a chair. "Hey."

"Hey back," he said quietly. "How was your date?"

I placed my head in my hands. "This is all Anya's fault! And Amber. And Mitch. And okay, so I'm the one who made us sign up for that stupid play so I guess it's on me."

He was silent for a minute, then surprised me by laughing. When I looked up his tension was gone - I hadn't noticed it until it disappeared - and he opened the freezer. When he returned with my favorite ice cream and two spoons I smiled.

"What's so funny?" I asked after the first spoonful.

"You," he replied with a goofy grin. "I guess I still get annoyed when strays come sniffing around you."

I shot him a look and he laughed. "Liam's the other guy in the play. I was feeling weird about our kiss, so when he suggested a date so I get comfortable with him I said yes. I don't know why I thought that was a good idea." I rolled my eyes.

"Ah, I see. And now he actually likes you so it got even more awkward."

"Pretty much," I sighed. "What do I do now?"

"You could let me scare him. Or better yet, use Victor."

I shook my head. "No, I just have a couple more weeks of the play and then we're done. I just have to make our relationship clear in that time."

He nodded. "Sure, go the boring route."

"You're a terrible influence," I giggled as I got up. Somehow he'd made me feel better. I still had no idea how he did that. "Thanks."