Page 46 of Ignite
Laughing, I asked, “What’s the matter with you? Got ants in yourpants?”
“Figuratively speaking.” He kissed me on the forehead and smoothed my tangled hair behind myears.
After everything we’d been through—the mess, the misunderstandings, the fights, the makeovers, the one-night stands—being with him, touching, kissing, talking…it was all natural. I wasn’t shy, I didn’t hesitate, and I certainly enjoyed being vocal in otherareas.
I was pretty sure Liam knew it, but he was the one who’d reignited my thirst for life and love. He was the catalyst I’d been waiting for all these years. He’d shown me the way, and now I was taking the path. Talk about an epicmetaphor.
And Liam? He was walking the talk right beside me. So far, we were doing perfectly. Partners incrime.
“Are you horny?” I asked, pressing against him. “Or are you here for somethingelse?”
“Something else, but I can be here for that,too.”
“You’reinsatiable.”
“Greedy more likeit.”
“It’s not greedy if I’m offering,” Iretorted.
Cupping my face in his big hands, he smiled. “I’ve got a proposition foryou.”
My eyes widened, and I felt a trickle of sweat begin to bead on my forehead. Proposition? He had the crazy eye right now, and I wasn’t sure what he was playing at. It could be anything, but the first thing that popped into my mind was ‘wedding,’ and I felt likepuking.
“Don’t piss yourself, Ali,” he said with a chuckle. “Just listen for amoment…”
I nodded as his thumbs brushed over mycheeks.
“After everything…” he began, his voice taking on a serious tone. “After all the bullshit… I’ve realized something. I’m your person now. No matter what happens, you’re not going to be alone anymore, youhear?”
I frowned. “I thought that was agiven?”
“It is,” he replied. “That’s why I want to take you away. Leave everything behind and start somewhere new. Just you andme.”
I froze, not understanding where this was coming from. Hardly any time had passed since his last fight at The Underground, and his face and body still bore the marks of Viper’s attempted murder. Because that was what it was. No need to beat around the bush about it. If I hadn’t shown up when I did, this story would’ve had a differentending.
“What do you mean?” I asked, hardly daring to jump toconclusions.
“Pack up your apartment, and give your landlord notice,” he said. “Put your stuff into storage with mine, and let’s justgo.”
“Where?” My heart jackhammered in my chest, my palms sweating. Images of all the places around the world I wanted to visit popped into my mind’s eye. I hardlydared…
“Anywhere,” Liam declared. “Let’s just pack our bags, go to the airport, and get on the first flight out ofhere.”
“That’s crazy… I have nomoney…”
“Remember what I told you?” he asked, grasping my shoulders. “That night by the bar when you kissed me? If you want to livelife…”
“Reach out, and takeit.”
He smiled, his hands smoothing through my hair. “So?”
“What about theChampionship?”
“I’m done with The Underground,” he replied. “I won’t go back there. It’s not worth losing you overit.”
“But your dream… The money could change everything foryou.”
Liam shook his head, his lips quirking. “It was never about money, Ali. It took me a long time to realize, but it’s always been aboutyou.”
