Page 55 of Peyton's Price

Matthias nodded once. “Thank you for that. I admit this isn’t how I saw things going if we ever reconciled—if that’s what we’re doing.”

“If it’s only the two of you, I want to be here,” Liam confessed. “Here and nowhere else.”

“Good.” Matthias seemed pleased, but it had always been hard to read him when his guard was up. “However, are you sure you’re going to be able to handlemetouchingherin front of you?”

How the hell was Liam supposed to know until it happened?

“I guess we’ll find out.”

They eyed each other. Memories Liam had buried broke loose. He blinked, wondering what the hell he should do now.

The fucking question of my life.

“You’re certain you don’t want to wait?” Matthias asked after a long moment. “Perhaps you would care to take a nap first?”

Liam blinked a few times. “A nap?”

Matthias put his hand on his shoulder, giving it a squeeze. “Don’t get me wrong—you always look good to me—but it’s obvious you haven’t slept in days. Kudos for showering at least. But do you want to face Peyton at anything less than your best? Plus, it might be a good idea for me to soften her up before we let her know you’re here. We can tell her after a fabulous dinner…some wine. Lots and lots of wine.”

“Don’t you dare get her drunk,” Liam growled, his overprotective instincts kicking in automatically. Liam could never let anyone take advantage of Peyton. Not even himself. Especially under these circumstances.

“I wouldn’t dream of it. Peyton should be sober when you take her virginity.”

Liam had made the mistake of taking a step away from the doors. He tripped, but he caught himself before he fell flat on his face.

He spun around so fast he made his own head swim, shock etching his features.

Matthias smirked at his reaction. “I never told you what I paid to get her back.”

“How much?” Liam’s brow creased.

“The exact sum is unimportant. Just know I paid a premium for a verified virgin.”

Liam’s heart stuttered. Flipped. Squeezed painfully. He’d have never suspected… “I didn’t chase awayallher boyfriends.”

Matthias raised a brow.

“All right, I did,” he conceded. “But only the ones I knew about. Surely there were more. She and Maggie excelled at sneaking out at night when they were in high school. They nearly drove me into an early grave.”

“I guess there weren’t any men of consequence,” Matthias hazarded. “Regardless, I didn’t share that very confidential piece of information to gossip. But you need to know what you’re getting into.”

“Why didn’t the two of you, err, consummate your relationship?”

Matthias snorted softly. “Because it wasn’t worth my life to initiate her on my own. Peyton’s going to be furious, of course, but I knew I couldn’t go forward without giving her what—who—she truly wants.”

“And what if things don’t work with the three of us?”

“Then they don’t.” Matthias sighed. “But I owe it to Peyton and myself to find that out. I owe it to you, too. But, seriously, you need to go for now. Sleep. Meet us after dinner.”

Liam wanted to argue, but now that he was here, he was feeling those long, sleepless nights. “Are you pulling up anchor?”

Matthias hesitated. “Why don’t we see if Peyton throws you overboard first? It’ll be a much shorter swim if we’re still in port.”

Liam snorted. Matthias was right. After everything that had happened, everything he’d done, Peyton was far more likely to punch him in the face than kiss him.

Liam raised his head, gesturing to the deck. “Um, you know what? I have an idea about that…”

He told Matthias his plan.

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