Chapter 7

It only got worse when Liam rolled in with A.J, Max, and a couple other guys. The usual ruckus followed, our regulars and bartenders chanting “Cage Kings,” the name of the gym that produced so many warriors we watched during fight nights. We wore our Cage Kings T-shirts and blasted the volume on the flat screens. Even regulars who didn’t watch MMA became fans after enough visits.

“There are my boys,” Riley grinned, sliding pints across the bar as they took their usual seats.

“Lookin’ good, Riles,” A.J said.

“I got tan! You noticed?”

“Always.” He tossed her a wink. Liam smirked, exchanging a look with me.

“Good workout?” I asked casually, trying to mask my nerves. He wouldn’t take his eyes off me, and my pulse spiked as he leaned back, lingering over the T-shirt clinging tighter than usual to my breasts.

“A little distracted today, but decent overall,” he said, that crooked grin melting my brain.

“Distracted? Why?” Riley cut in. “Thanks for saying hi, by the way.” She leaned over the counter, presenting Liam her cheek, which he kissed.

“You okay, sweetie? What’s got my big, strong man so distracted?”

Max and I exchanged looks. He and I seemed to be the only ones who noticed the blatantly flirtatious way Riley spoke to Liam. She wants him, he mouthed. I smirked, wiping droplets from his wet hair and sliding him a pint, mouthing back, oh yeah.

“Is it a girl?” Riley pressed. Liam gave her a generic answer, and I froze, catching his mischievous eye.

“Actually, Riles, yeah. It’s a girl,” he said.

My heart stopped. I shot him a warning look, but he grinned wickedly and didn’t look at me. Riley gasped.

“No way. You finally developed feelings for one of your little groupies?” she asked scandalously. “How the hell did that happen, King Playboy?”

Liam laughed, leaning over the bar, his bite-able shoulders stretching the cotton of his white T-shirt. “It’s one of those long-time-coming situations,” he said, eyes gleaming at me.

Riley slapped her hand on the bar. “No! You? Holding in feelings for that long? Shut your mouth!”

I bit my lip, feeling the heat of A.J and Max’s stares. They didn’t know for sure about us, but now they definitely suspected something as they watched me blush, shake my hair into my face, and busy myself with glasses.

“Are you hearing this, Sash?” Riley grabbed my arm. “Liam says he’s been in love with a girl for like, ten years and didn’t start doing anything till now. Total bullshit, right?”

I shrugged casually, trying to look unfazed. “Could be true,” I murmured.

“It is,” Liam said, staring at me. I forced myself to stay outwardly calm.

“So, like, what, you used to date her and she got away?” Riley asked, dying of curiosity. Liam sipped his drink and let out that low, sexy laugh.

“I never dated her. Never so much as touched her till last night. But it was well worth the wait,” he grinned before wincing and shifting in his seat.

“A.J! Please don’t talk about my stepbrother’s hard-on in front of me,” Riley scolded, though she secretly enjoyed guessing Liam’s size.

“Sorry. Thought it’d be a crowd pleaser,” A.J snorted, nodding at the girls behind us, who were undoubtedly eavesdropping.

“Clearly someone’s getting laid tonight. What about you?” Riley asked Liam, pressing aggressively. Max shot me that look again—damn, she’s thirsty.

Liam cocked an eyebrow. “What about me?”

“You going to fuck this girl tonight?” Riley asked.

“I’d like to,” he said. He grinned. “I could do it now. She’s in this bar.”

“What?” My heart stopped. Riley shouted. I stood behind her, shooting daggers at Liam and shaking my head as subtly as possible.

“Liam! Where? Which one is she? Show me now!”

“She’s right next to you,” he grinned, reveling in my panic.

“Which one? Where?”

“The one with the tits, Riles.”

“Liam,” I hissed, cheeks flaming. Max read the situation immediately. Guilt and shame washed over me. I hadn’t even thought about the repercussions of us—what would happen if people found out.

“Oh my God, is it that one?” Riley pointed at a model-esque blonde.

“She’s not even that pretty!” I mouthed at Liam to stop, but he only laughed. He was punishing me, enjoying every second of my torment.

“Nah. Not that one, Riley. The brunette. Five-foot-five. Light brown eyes. Fuckin’ face of an angel,” he said, describing me perfectly. Riley remained clueless.

“Shouldn’t be that hard, Riles,” Liam said as I white-knuckled the rail. “She’s easily the hottest girl in the room.” Hurt flashed in my sister’s face. Liam’s gaze snapped to me. “And no matter how pissed she is at me tonight, I’m going to make her come harder than she’s ever come in her life.”

You fucking asshole.

“I have to change the keg,” I muttered, rushing away from the bar. Liam was toying with me, and as much as I’d done the same to him last night, tonight I was pissed. Fucking with Riley to get a rise out of me was messed up. I really shouldn’t have put it past him. He wasn’t afraid of telling Riley about us, but he knew I was. I yielded to her because it was easy. She was bullheaded and dramatic, and I realized I couldn’t let her find out. Fear, shame, and fury boiled in my veins as I headed to the back.

As long as I was at the bar tonight, Liam was going to tease me.

So instead of changing the keg, I walked out, hailed a cab, and got the hell out. But as the cab pulled away, I had no idea Liam wouldn’t let me escape that easily… and that the next time I saw him, everything between us would change.