Page 58 of Peyton's Price

He returned to Peyton, who was watching him with her heart somewhere around her knees. “And I’m not going to be able to sleep until I’m balls-deep inside you.”

“Holy shit.” Peyton’s voice was little more than a squeak, but she didn’t get anything else out before Liam kissed her again.

If Matthias hadn’t moved to hold her waist, she would have fallen down.

Peyton could count the number of times Liam had kissed her on one hand. Two were forehead kisses on her birthday and the rest were cheek, except for that one time he’d been tipsy and had missed, pressing his lips against the corner of her mouth instead. She’d cherished that accidental caress for longer than she’d cared to admit. For years, she’d wondered what it would be like to bereallykissed by Liam Tyler. But her fevered imaginings couldn’t compare with the reality.

Heat like she’d never experienced coursed through her body. If she didn’t stop this, she was going to pass out. Peyton put her hands up, breaking the kiss so she could get air into her burning lungs.

Liam’s face could have been carved from stone. Then he shifted, nodding over her head.

Starting, she glanced at Matthias, feeling guilty for forgetting he was there.

Matthias met Liam’s nod with one of his own, then reached to pull the straps of her satin gown down.

The air hit her bare breasts, making her nipples peak.

Liam’s eyes widened at the sight. She wanted to explain that this kind of dress couldn’t be worn with a bra, but she couldn’t find her tongue long enough to speak. Peyton wasn’t even sure if she were breathing.

Matthias pushed the dress all the way down. The silky satin pooled at her feet, leaving her standing in nothing but her heels and lace panties. Peyton grabbed his hand—not to stop him, but out of the sudden and irrational fear that Liam might make him leave.

But Liam had other plans. “Get her on the bed,” he ordered.

Matthias wrapped his arms around her. The room spun. She landed on her back in the middle of the bed, losing a heel in the process. She kicked off the other one, still trying to catch her breath. Behind her, clothing rustled. She knew Matthias was undressing, but Liam was, too, and she couldn’t take her eyes off him.

Always keep your eye on the biggest predator in the room.

She’d seen Liam in swim shorts. Even in his boxers a few times during the old B&B days, but that had been years ago.

Matthias pulled her into his arms, resting her back against his front. His chest was bare, but he might have still been wearing boxers. She twisted at the waist, intent on checking, but he wouldn’t let her. His hands held her down, effectively trapping her against him and the mattress.

Peyton thought she was too far gone to panic, but her throat damn near closed up when Liam continued stripping. He stood a few steps from the bed, yanking at the bottom of his shirt. His eyes never left hers as he took off his pants, revealing a pair of dark red boxer briefs.

It was what filled his briefs that made her glad she was being held down—else she might have humiliated herself by running out of the room. Matthias must have felt her tension because he leaned down to whisper in her ear. “It’s going to be all right,prinsessa mi. Liam’s not going to hurt you.”

Liam tugged at the shorts, pulling them off and throwing them aside. Matthias coughed. “Well, he’ll try not to hurt you,” he amended a little too honestly, bending over to press a kiss to her lips.

The caress distracted her, but her attention swiveled back to Liam when his weight depressed the bed. “Be careful,” Matthias told him.

Peyton forced her breathing to slow. Liam had been starring in her bedroom fantasies for years. And he was perfect. His chest was a work of art. The number of ridges on his abs seemed impossible. Her fingers itched to touch him, but him holding her down was too exciting to protest.

Matthias had only spent a few weeks flitting through her dreams, but his gold-dusted masculine beauty rivaled Liam’s dark and rough elegance. Peyton knew there wasn’t a single woman in the world who wouldn’t give anything to be in her place at that moment, but her heart was racing too fast for her to be able to appreciate it.

“I don’t know if I can handle this.” Or at least, that was what she tried to say. Her breath was so short she strangled the words.

“Peyton, look at me.”

Almost panting, she obeyed. The look on Liam’s face, the hunger and fire, was almost frightening. “I love you,” he whispered.

She stared at him, shaking her head slowly.

Liam crawled over her, covering her body with his. His hot skin almost sizzled when it touched her much cooler one. “You heard me. I love you.”

Tears stung at her eyes, and Peyton shuddered. She wanted to deny it, but the truth was there for her to see. He wasn’t hiding it from her anymore.

Matthias squeezed her arms, and she moved to hold his hands instead. In front of her, Liam reached out to pull down her panties, exposing her to his hot gaze.

Peyton cringed, instinctively moving to hide her secrets, but Matthias forestalled her. His ankle hooked around hers, spreading her legs wide. Liam smiled—a hungry, almost feral, expression.

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