Page 108 of Debt of My Soul

Frankly, I’m shocked he let me come after my ridiculous argument. Clearly, he isn’t alone here. All the men he works with mill around these establishments along with the string of locals addicted to the high of hearing coins drop and placing bets.

That isn’t what I meant, though.

Lately, Liam seems more and more uncomfortable at the compound. He’s always looking over his shoulder and stress riddles his face most of the time. I’m not sure how to help him aside from encouraging him to leave, and after Adam threw all Liam’s done for him back in his face, I’m not sure why he wouldn’t.

The truck’s door groans when I open it and my jeans catch as I slide out. Most likely I’m dressed too casually for this place. Last time, the women wore outfits I’m pretty sure I lack the confidence to wear. But I’m here for Liam and truthfully, I only care about what he thinks.

Considering he watched me out of the corner of his eye the entire way here, I’d say my sheer black top with black racerback underneath is on his list of items he approves of.

Liam’s hand guides me as we walk the sidewalk, his palm settling into the dip on my back and I shiver.

“You cold?” he asks.

“No.” No, not at all. I’m burning up. I have half the mind to sniff under my arms at the amount of sweating, and it’s not the Mississippi heat this time.

Wind brushes against the back of my neck and it carries Liam’s scent straight to my nose, caressing it to drive me wild. Mother Nature is out to get me. I swear I’ll be a sweat-dripping, feral mess by the time I walk through these doors.

What is wrong with me? I’ve never craved a man like I do Liam and the fact he’snottouching me much is driving me insane.

The last thing I want to be is a needy burden to him tonight, but I need this man like I need air conditioning in the Southern summer.

When the door opens, the sound of glass clinking and gaming chips tickles my ears, and Liam automatically drags me through the floor to find Darrin and his crew in the back. We slowly pass a poker table where Ruin’s sheriff winks at me and raises a glass of not so clear liquid in my direction. I wasn’t even sure he knew of me, but I guess he does. Jerk lied to my parents and gave them the runaround when they couldn’t get ahold of me. Someone needed to sweep the fire of my farmhouse under the magical rug.

I smirk back at him while breaking away from where Liam guides me, choosing to walk around their table. The players follow my movement, and when I get to the sheriff’s hand, I lean over his shoulder and loud enough for the whole table to hear I say, “Wow. Four kings. That’s good, right?”

Players at the table laugh, while some fold their hands immediately. The sheriff snorts while twisting his head to glare at me. The whiskey on his breath drives me back.

“Liam. Control your old lady.”

I waltz back to Liam with a grin on my face, but it falters when we hit the back seating area. The lights are turned lowback here, giving us the perfect view of the well-lit floor like it’s a stage. Here for Darrin’s entertainment.

In a way, I guess they are. It’s all money rolling in.

But that’s not why my steps slow and my heart pounds. There, seated next to a man whose skin could very well have never seen the sun, is Adam.

His dark hair is long, straggly pieces jutting out each side and he’s leaned back in his chair, nursing a bottle of beer. His eyes find mine before dipping down to where Liam’s hand guides me to another leather chair. Most of the guys’ women sit on their laps as arm candy, and Liam sits, pulling me down.

I gasp when I hit his taut thighs, the sensitive friction of his jeans rubbing against me. He doesn’t look at Adam. Rather, his possessive hands splay wide across my hips, gripping me gently.

My eyes flick to the men around Darrin, all engaged in conversation with each other or shoving their tongues down their companions’ throats. Blitz licks his lips when he catches my perusal, and he bites the air in my direction.

I wrinkle my nose in disgust and lean back into Liam, feeling the weight of his chest behind me, sturdy and comforting. Liam’s body shakes a bit and when I turn to him, he’s chuckling.

“What?” I ask.

“Don’t let Blitz get to you,” he says, wiping his nose with his thumb.

“He almost killed me.”

Liam’s smile fades, his expression unmovable, stone-cold, and lethal.

“I’d never let him touch you, Fleur.” He snarls at his own words and wraps an arm around my waist, pulling me into him.

My heart catches in my throat at his husky timbre, and my eyelids are suddenly heavy at the press of my body melding into his. My backside nestled perfectly at his hips. The rough prickleof his beard drags along my neck as his warm breath skirts over my ear. “Trust me, Fleur.”

He kneads my thigh and I’m desperate for a drink, mouth completely parched. I ache everywhere but couldn’t tell you where I need his hands the most.

Roe, the girl I managed to help out during the attack, is a couple chairs down, taking orders for drinks, and I find myself tapping my knee, impatiently waiting for something to suck down. When she gets to Raven, her body strikes a defensive tone.

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