Page 21 of Dangerous Pursuit
"Oh, but I did respect it." His voice doesn't lose its potency even when he's speaking to the back of my head. "It's you who crumbled."
My head snaps back momentarily and my shoulders slump. I look at his face, puzzled, and a raspy, "Huh?" breaks my facade.
Ah, fuck it. I'm a lousy actor, anyway.
Liam's chin is still lifted, but his eyebrow arches, softening his features, making him appear less threatening as well. "I caved. I gave you what you wanted. You regretted that phone call even before it ended."
My brows furrow and I turn my entire body to him now, confusion effectively shattering the last of my bravado. "No, I didn't?" I don't mean to form a question, but here we are.
He lets out a humorless chuckle. "Please. You couldn't even look at me."
Oh, for fuck's sake.
My hands shoot up in anAre you mad? gesture. "Awkward! The way you're looking for is awkward." I put my hands down and onto the backrest, fumbling with the wrinkle in the leather, as I add, mumbling, "I've never had phone sex before."
Heat floods my cheeks and it takes me three tries to look at his face.
I haven't exactly found utter embarrassment in the cards either, alas...
It takes him a few moments to drop his chin to a natural level, his gaze still penetrating me, as if he's trying to decide if I'm being honest.
Holding his stare is difficult, but I manage not to blink.
And finally,finallyhe deems me worthy. His features soften even more and one corner of his mouth curls up slightly, but high enough for me to tell he's trying not to smile.
"Well, in that case." He pauses. "Not bad for a rookie."
And now it's me who's trying to keep a straight face. But unlike Liam, I know I have no chance of winning this game, so instead of trying, I decide to change the discipline altogether.
I straighten up, stepping away from the backrest of the sofa and make sure to maintain eye contact as I slowly, as slowly as I can, reach down for the hem of my t-shirt and pull it up over my head before tossing it on the ground. "I wouldn't say I'm a total rookie."
I don't miss how his face changes, how it morphs into something I can't yet pinpoint, even though his facial muscles don't seem to move at all.
And once I learn how to name his peculiar set of emotions, I'll be able to read him like a book, no matter how hard he tries to keep his appearances.
He clears his throat, his eyes no longer on mine, roaming my torso instead. "What do you train?"
And just like that, I've got him exactly where I want him.
I go for a nonchalant shrug. "I'll tell you next time."
"Next time?" he asks my chest.
"Yeah. When we go out on a date."
His eyes snap back to mine then. "A what?"
"A date. D-A-T-E. Don't they teach English in muscle school?"
He fails to conceal his chuckle this time. "You're pl—"
"I know, I know," I cut him off as I stroll around the sofa. "Playing with fire. I don't think I am, though." I finish my journey once I'm standing in front of Liam, the backs of my knees touching the edge of the sofa. "You're not that hot."
And with that, I unceremoniously plop down and place my elbows on the backrest, utterly pleased with myself.
Am I smooth, or what?
My contentment doesn't last long though, as the next thing that comes out of Liam's mouth proves that it's theor whatafter all. "And since when doyoufindmenhot?"
