Chapter 5: The deal

“Anna, please wait!” Liam called out, running after her. He grabbed her wrist right before she could open the door and pulled her back, crashing on his chest. 

“Oh, is your wife there with you?” Melisa spoke again, mocking, “Why don’t you bring her with you tomorrow? People might say I’m usurping her position.” 

“Okay,” Liam replied, and he held Anna tightly against him as she struggled to free herself from his grasp. He hung up and chucked his phone across the room. “Damn it!”

“Let me go!” Anna yelled, kicking in the air.

“I’m sorry Anna, I can’t let you leave me like this. Believe me, I am doing all this for your own good. All this will be meaningless if you leave,” he pleaded.

“How is you parading your perfect ex-fiancé for my own good?” She huffed, pushing his arms away with no luck. Those toned muscles weren’t for show. “I do not want to be part of whatever is going on! None of it, you hear me?  And I am not attending that whatever event as the third wheel!”

"I'm afraid you already are part of it," Liam's voice came through, barely above a whisper. He wrapped his arms tighter around her from the back, resting his chin on the crook of her neck.

Anna stilled at his words. "What do you mean?"

"You stepped into muddy waters the moment you signed your name on that marriage certificate. I'm afraid it won't be easy to get out," Liam replied, his moving cheek against her neck, tickling her. She tilted her head to the side, trying to ignore the sensation, but that only awakened the desire buried deep inside her.

"How do I get myself out of this mess?" she asked, throwing her head back subconsciously to grant him more access. His warm breath against her skin warmed up her body, reminding her of the sensation she yearned for. His muscular arms around her and her back against his chest offered the comfort she had always longed for. His rhythmic heartbeat—her favorite music—vibrated against her back, weakening her resolve.

"Let's strike a deal," he said, slowly loosening his arms around her and turning her to face him. "If the deal is successful, you are free to go. I won't cause any problems."

"What do I have to do?" Anna asked, focusing her eyes on his tie. She knew she'd lose her remaining resolve if she looked him in the eye.

"Attend the event tomorrow without causing any drama." He studied her face for two seconds and exhaled as a sliver of pain flashed in his eyes. "If you succeed, I'll agree to your terms. I'll sign the papers willingly."

"What if I lose?" she asked, looking up to make eye contact, and she immediately regretted her choice. His face up close resembled a model, and his hands on her shoulders made her heart pick up its pace.

"You will agree to my terms." He closed the gap between them and lowered his hands to her hips. Anna took a step back to maintain their earlier distance, but he also took a step forward. She took one more step backward and her back made contact with the wall. She had walked herself into a trap.

"What terms?" she asked, trying to sound unaffected by his closeness.

"I won't sign those papers." He held both her hands and pinned her against the wall while looking her in the eye. "You will still be my wife legally, and we will make this marriage work."

With her hands pinned against the wall, her eyes found their way to his perfect features, and she had an overwhelming urge to trace her fingers all over him. She shifted uncomfortably, painfully aware of their close proximity—just an inch separated them, and his scent wrapped around her. Her gaze flickered to his lips, and her tongue involuntarily traced her own lips before swallowing hard. Should she seal his lips with hers? 

"How do I know you won't play any tricks?" she asked, trying to distract herself from her impure thoughts. 

"I won't. I promise." 

"I'm sorry, but I can't trust you." 

"Anna," he whispered, stepping closer. His body heat radiated towards her, making her blood heat up. "I can't do this without you." He leaned in, and for a moment, her breathing almost stopped. His lips hovered inches from hers, close enough that she could feel the ghost of his breath against her skin. 

"I can't..." Her mind went blank as his fingertips caressed her cheeks. 

"Oh, yes, you can." He swiped her bottom lip with his thumb, sending heat waves through her body, and leaned in closer to her ear. "Give us one more chance," he said softly and nibbled on top of her ear right after his words, making her breath hitch. 

"Liam..."

"Just this one time..." he persuaded, brushing his lips against hers and pulling her against him. Once their lips met, the gates of her desire burst open, and her resolve crumbled. She parted his lips to let him taste her mouth, indulging in the pleasure of the moment. Things weren't progressing according to plan. She shouldn't be doing any of this, but here she was, complicating her life further. 

Without breaking their kiss, he pushed himself against her and rolled his hips, letting her know how hard he was against her core. She gasped at the pressure, still unable to understand why she was letting him back into her life. She gathered the little resolve left in her bones, wanting to push him away. But when he grazed up and down her neck with his lips, teasing her, and pressed himself against her again, she lost all control. She tilted her head to the side, letting out a small moan. 

"Are you sure you want to give up this?" he whispered while rocking his hard self against her. 

"I don't." She untucked his shirt and slid her hands under it. She ran her hands up his torso, feeling every single hard-defined muscle. "But you don't give me much choice." 

"What do you say now?" he asked as his hands made their way up under her top, moving up slowly to caress her with both hands. Her back arched off the wall slightly at his touch. He dropped one hand off her and grabbed her hand, flattening it against his hard self over his pants. He rolled his hips into her hand for more pressure, resting his forehead against hers. He looked up at her with hooded eyes as he moved her hand up and down his hard length, picking up his breathing.

"Only if you promise to finish what you started," she said, pressing herself harder against him, wanting to get relief in her dripping wet core.