AmberBrian’s club was located in the bustling part of the city. The place was alive, the air buzzing with music and chatter as stylishly dressed people flocked inside. Liam pulled his sleek black SUV into the valet line and handed his keys to a young man in uniform.Before we could make our way inside, a tall, good-looking guy around Liam’s age approached us, his smile wide and warm. Liam immediately stepped forward, clasping his hand in a firm shake before pulling him in for one of those bro hugs.“Good to see you, man,” Liam said, his tone light.“Good to see you too,” the guy replied before turning to me. “And it’s good to see you again, Amber.”I blinked, my brows furrowing in confusion. See me again? I couldn’t place him, was this Brian? My confusion must’ve shown on my face because Liam stepped in.“This is Brian,” he said with a knowing grin.My jaw dropped. The Brian I remembered from high school looked nothing like this. The Brian I knew was Obese used to sit on the bleacher
AmberI knew I should tell him to stop. I should push him away, walk away, and do something to regain control. But I couldn’t. It was like I’d lost the ability to speak, my body betraying me in ways I didn’t fully understand.Liam’s lips brushed against my ear, his deep voice a soft, deliberate murmur. “You want me to continue, don’t you?”The way he said it sent a wave of heat crashing through me, and I felt my arousal pooling between my legs. My breath hitched, and I could hear the erratic rhythm of my own heartbeat in my ears.He seemed to unravel me with ease, and his presence alone suddenly made me forget every reason why this might be a bad idea. I didn’t care because at that moment, none of those reasons mattered.His hand inched higher, skimming the edge of my thigh as he held my gaze, his eyes dark and full of promise. “Amber,” he drawled like he was trying to control himself.I opened my mouth to speak, but instead of words, a shaky breath escaped.“Tell me to stop.” His han
Just then, Brian returned a wide grin on his face and a young woman hanging on his arm. “Hey, guys!” he said, his voice cheerful as ever. “Meet Julia.”I barely caught her name, my mind still hazy as I tried to come down from the high Liam had just sent me to. I managed a polite smile, but my attention was fractured, scattered, tethered to one person and one person only, Liam.Brian and Julia slid into the booth, and casual conversation flowed between them and Liam, but I couldn’t bring myself to participate. Instead, I let my eyes, or rather, they chose linger on Liam, trying to figure out what he was doing to me.What we’d just done brought back memories of how we used to be in high school, and later, sometimes, in college before we broke up. Young, wild, free. Back then, being with Liam felt like the most natural thing in the world, like we could conquer anything together.But after I met and married Dan, all of that felt like a distant dream. But I never got any of those things I
LiamI drove to the hospital as fast as I could, my mind racing faster than the car. The call from my mom replayed over and over in my head, her shaky voice barely coherent as she told me about Dad. I gripped the wheel tighter, trying to keep myself calm as several thoughts ran through my mind. This wasn’t his first heart attack. Over the past few years, my dad’s health had steadily declined. And every time something like this happened, a gnawing question echoed in my mind: Is this the one?When I arrived, Mom was waiting in the lobby. The moment she saw me, she threw her arms around me, her body trembling. “Liam,” she said, her voice cracking. “Oh, thank God you’re here.”I held her close, trying to absorb some of her panic. “Mom, what’s going on? What happened?”She pulled back, tears brimming in her eyes. “I found him in his study. He was holding his chest, gasping for air. I should have gone in earlier to check on him. I shouldn’t have allowed him to be in his study alone…” Her v
Dan was chasing me through a dark, empty alley, his voice echoing off the walls, low and menacing."You can’t escape me, Amber. I’m never letting you go," he growled, his tone dripping with venom. "If I can’t have you, no one will."His bitter laugh ricocheted in my ears, chilling and cruel, as I ran faster, my breath hitching with each frantic step. No matter how far I pushed, the alley seemed endless, his shadow looming closer and closer.I woke up with a start, gasping for air, my body drenched in sweat. My heart pounded wildly in my chest as I sat up, clutching the blanket like it could protect me from the lingering fear. It was just a nightmare, I reminded myself, glancing around the dark room to reassure myself that Dan wasn’t there. He couldn’t hurt me anymore.Curling into a ball, I reached for the bedside lamp and turned it on. I tried to calm the storm inside me, taking deep, shaky breaths. When that didn’t work, I forced myself out of bed and stumbled to the bathroom.Standi
The next morning, my phone buzzed with a text from Liam. I rubbed the sleep from my eyes and smiled as I read his message: "I'll be at the hospital for a while. Go into the office without me. One of the guys will take you. I'll join later."I sent a quick response letting him know I would reschedule his meetings. Stretching in bed, I felt a warmth I hadn’t felt in years. My thoughts drifted to last night, his voice, soothing and deep, a lullaby that carried me into sleep. I sighed, letting the moment linger before reluctantly slipping out of bed.As I brushed my teeth, my gaze caught my reflection in the mirror, a soft pink coloring my cheeks. I froze my toothbrush in midair. Blushing? Over Liam? I shook my head, muttering, “Get a grip, Amber,” but even as I rinsed my mouth, I couldn’t shake the image of his smile, the way he had looked at me last night, and the feel of his hands on me. I managed to get ready for work without spending the entire morning daydreaming about Liam. When
As I walked toward the restaurant, I tried to keep my emotions in check. The last thing I needed was to jinx this moment by celebrating too soon. I wasn’t free from Dan until those divorce papers were in my hands, signed and sealed. Only then would I allow myself to finally breathe.The small eatery came into view, and I pulled the door open, stepping inside. My gaze swept over the space until it landed on Dan. He was seated in a corner at the far end of the restaurant, away from the bustling lunchtime crowd. The moment his eyes met mine, his lips curved into a smile—too wide for my liking. Unease rippled through me. I couldn't remember the last time Dan had smiled at me, at least not genuinely. The only time he ever did was when we were posing for cameras, playing the perfect couple.My stomach twisted as I approached the table. Dan rose to his feet, then, to my absolute shock, he reached for a chair and pulled it out for me. My steps faltered. My gaze darted around the restaurant, h
I stormed out of the eatery, my pulse pounding with frustration. How could I have been so foolish to believe Dan had changed? That he had finally done the one decent thing and signed the divorce papers? I should’ve known better. He was still the same manipulative cheating liar, clinging to a marriage that was long dead.He had a week. One week to sign those damn papers. If he didn’t, I was filing a petition, and I would make sure every dirty truth about him came to light.Lunch was the last thing on my mind as I walked back to the office, my appetite long gone. I needed the distraction of work, something to drown out the anger simmering inside me.Just as I settled at my desk, my phone buzzed with a message from Liam.Liam: Are you done with lunch?I typed a response, “Yeah” not seeing the need to tell him that I ended up not getting lunch.A second later, another text came in.Liam: Come to my office.Taking a steadying breath, I grabbed my phone and made my way to his office. When I
After I dropped the bombshell about Dan hitting Amber, Dad was the first to pull himself together. He looked at me, shaking his head, and said he had no idea that guy used to lay a hand on her. “That’s bad. It’s a good thing Amber left,” he added. “No woman should have to endure a beating in a marriage.” I could tell he meant it. His voice had that steady, no-nonsense tone he gets when he’s pissed.Mom, though, she was still in shock. Her eyes were wide, and she spoke up before Dad could say anything else. “I had no idea,” she said, her voice soft, almost trembling. “Thank God Amber left. Poor Amber. I wonder why she pretended to be happy while he was hitting her.” Then she paused, and I could see her thoughts shifting. She turned to me, her expression tightening. “Even though what Dan did was awful, Liam, you don’t need to insert yourself into this situation. You can help Amber without dating her. This whole thing is messy and you shouldn’t let yourself get dragged into it.”I couldn
When I pulled up to my parent’s house, I barely had time to step inside before I heard my name.“Well, well, look who finally decided to show up,” Lilian drawled from the living room, a glass of wine in her hand. I already knew what her smirk was about and I wasn’t in the mood.I sighed. “Hey, Lils.”She smirked and walked over. “Your mom’s in the kitchen, and let me tell you, she is not happy.”I rubbed the back of my neck. “Yeah, I figured. She called me earlier.”Lilian raised a brow. “So, you and Amber, huh? No wonder you were so damn on edge the last time her name came up at dinner.”I shot her a look, but she just grinned and took a sip of her wine. “So tell me, when exactly did this start?”“We only started seeing each other after she left Dan,” I said firmly. “That marriage was a sham, Lils. And she already served him divorce papers, but he refused to sign them.”Lilian hummed, tilting her head. “Yeah, but Dan’s out here making it look like you two were sneaking around behind
Back at the office, I couldn’t focus. My mind kept drifting to Amber, her tear-streaked face, the way her voice cracked when she told me what Dan had done. The rage I felt earlier was still burning in my chest, a steady, unrelenting fire. And I felt like hitting something more, like I felt like hitting Dan.I wanted to hurt Dan. Badly.The bastard had always been a selfish prick, but this? Smearing Amber’s name, painting her as the villain just to salvage his fragile ego? That was something I wasn’t going to take, and I would make sure that he paid.I clenched my fists at the memory of her breaking down in my office, feeling powerless as she read the comments tearing her apart. If I had Dan in front of me right now, I wasn’t sure I’d be able to hold back.I had just wrapped up a meeting when my phone rang. Brian.I already knew what this was about. My phone had been ringing non-stop since that idiot released his ridiculous statement—media houses, bloggers, reporters, all wanting to co
Liam let out a curse as he read the statement Dan had released. “That bastard doesn’t just know when to stop,” he muttered.I couldn’t believe this. This was low, even for Dan. Then again, he had always been selfish. He had never cared about how his actions affected me as long as he came out looking like the perfect husband. I should have known he would go to any length to spite me. But I never thought he would drag me through the mud like this—turning me into a villain for the whole world to see.Liam placed my phone on his desk and reached for me, holding my face, his thumbs brushing away the last of my tears. “Amber,” he said, his voice calm but firm. “Don’t worry. Everything is going to be okay.”I let out a humorless laugh, shaking my head. “You don’t understand, Liam.” My voice wavered as I gestured helplessly toward my phone on the desk. “People are tearing me apart online. They’re calling me a cheating whore. A liar. Dan has made me out to be the villain, and they’re eating it
The moment those words left my mother’s mouth, my stomach clenched. "Are you sure?" I asked, my voice barely above a whisper."It’s all over social media, Amber," she said, her tone laced with urgency.My fingers tightened around the phone as dread coiled in my chest. “I’ll call you back,” I muttered, ending the call before she could say anything else.My heart pounded as I tapped open Twitter. The trending section confirmed my worst fear. My marriage to Dan was making headlines.I clicked on the top post, and a video started playing. It was from the restaurant a few days ago. Dan sat across from me, his hand reaching out to grip mine, I jerked my hand away, my expression unreadable to an outsider, but I knew what was running through my mind in that moment. Disgust. Frustration. Resentment.The caption beneath the video made my throat tighten:“Is there trouble in Sullivan paradise?”The post went on to speculate about my absence from Dan’s recent luncheon, suggesting that we had sepa
I stirred awake to a sensation so blissful, so warm, that I thought I was still dreaming. Soft lips brushed along my bare shoulder, trailing a path of heat down my spine, sending tiny shivers racing across my bare skin. After making love into the early hours of the morning, we both slept naked in each other’s arms.I let out a sigh, somewhere between contentment and need, as the lips ventured lower, followed by the featherlight touch of his fingers gliding over my hip.A slow, indulgent kiss pressed against the dip of my back. Then another. My body arched instinctively, drawn to his touch, my skin buzzing with anticipation. A deep chuckle rumbled from behind me, sending another wave of warmth curling in my stomach."Liam," I whispered, my voice still thick with sleep.His lips brushed my ear as his hand slid up my thigh, his touch both possessive and reverent. "Morning, beautiful," he murmured, the huskiness in his voice making my stomach flutter.I barely had time to respond before h
Throughout the day, Liam and I tried our best to keep our hands to ourselves and act professional around each other. It was hard but we made it to the end of workdayThe ride back to the penthouse was quiet, but there was an unspoken tension crackling between us. As he drove, Liam's hand rested on my thigh, his thumb tracing slow, lazy circles against my skin. It was an absentminded touch, but it sent shivers down my spine. I placed my hand over his, feeling the warmth of his palm beneath mine. It was such a simple act, yet it felt so intimate.My mind kept drifting back to what he had said that morning. My girlfriend. He had called me his girlfriend. The words kept replaying in my head, twisting and turning in my thoughts. Should I bring it up? Should I ask him if he really meant it? It shouldn’t be a big deal, but for some reason, it was.Swallowing hard, I pushed the thought aside and turned to him. "How's your dad?" I asked, hoping to distract myself.Liam glanced at me briefly be
I padded out to the kitchen, the smell of something sweet filling the air. My eyes landed on Liam, standing by the stove, flipping pancakes with effortless ease. He was still shirtless, his toned back and strong arms flexing with every movement. The sight of him cooking, completely at ease in the kitchen, did something strange to my heart.Liam turned just then, catching me staring. A cute smile spread across his face, his dark eyes filled with warmth.“Coffee?” he asked.“Yes please.” I smiled, tucking a stray strand of hair behind my ear. "Need any help?"He shook his head, lowering the heat on the stove before reaching for a mug. "Nope, I got it." He poured me a cup of coffee, fixing it just the way I liked, before handing it to me. "You just sit there and relax."I took the mug, warmth spreading through my fingers as his fingers brushed mine. "Thank you."Liam leaned in and kissed my nose before turning back to the stove. I settled onto one of the barstools by the island, wrapping
I woke up the next morning, tightly snuggled in Liam’s arms. His warmth surrounded me, his steady breathing a soothing rhythm against my skin. As I slowly opened my eyes, I found him already awake, watching me with a soft, content expression.“Good morning,” he murmured, his voice husky from sleep. Oh God, I love his morning voice.“Good morning.” A slow smile spread across my lips as I snuggled deeper into his embrace. “So… all of that wasn’t a dream?” I whispered, still half-dazed from sleep and the surreal nature of waking up beside him.Liam chuckled, his chest rumbling against mine as he leaned in to press a soft, lingering kiss on my lips. “No, sweetheart. It was very real. Every single moment.”I sighed against his lips, my fingers tangling in his hair as I pulled him in for another kiss. I can’t seem to have enough of him. The reality of being in his arms, feeling his touch, was something I never thought I’d have. Yet, here we were. When he finally pulled back, his gaze search