Let Me In by Callie Croix Page B

intended to savor every second of this experience because she knew it wouldn’t last.
Liam sighed in contentment and snuggled closer. “I knew you’d feel this good.”
I love you. Talia bit her lip to hold back the words that demanded to be set free. She closed her eyes, fighting to make sense of everything. The thought of walking away now was too painful to contemplate. And she had only herself to blame.
Raising his head, Liam gave her a slow smile. “You okay?”
“Yes.” She couldn’t help but smile back. He’d been an amazingly considerate and attentive lover. Not that it should have surprised her. She’d always known he’d be like that, since he was so caring and affectionate. And the way he was looking at her right now almost convinced her she really did matter to him. More than anything she wanted to stop the clock and bask in the moment, soak up all the tenderness he lavished upon her.
“Be right back.” He kissed her again, letting his lips and tongue linger against hers, unraveling her all over again before he got up and disappeared into the bathroom.
When the door clicked shut, Talia sighed and flopped back against her pillow. Shit, what now? They never should have done this, and now it was too late. There was no way to fix it, and it would hurt him when she left. God, she didn’t want to hurt him, or to be gutted in return. Too late to escape unscathed now. He hadn’t asked her for anything or expressed an interest in more than a fling, yet this thing between them felt anything but casual. Now that they’d slept together, would he expect way more than she was capable of giving him? And he’d want to ask her about her mother. He deserved to know at least that much about her past, but she wasn’t quite ready to have that conversation. And certainly not while she was naked in bed with him.
Should she get up, shower and then head down to the police station? They probably wouldn’t let her see her mother yet, but she had to figure out what her next move was going to be. And she had to plan for a future that didn’t include Liam, no matter how much she wished otherwise. Things were too complicated now to allow for a relationship, assuming he even wanted one.
A searing ache spread through her chest. The thought of losing him tore her heart apart.
The bathroom door opened and she braced herself for his questions, but Liam merely walked back to the bed in all his naked glory and slid in beside her. He pulled the sheets over them and rolled her onto her side, curling his body around hers protectively.
Talia closed her eyes, summoning the courage to be strong. There was no escaping the reality of what had to be done. She had to end this. “Liam…”
His arms tightened around her and he placed a tender kiss on the back of her neck. “Don’t talk right now. Sleep for a while. You’re exhausted. Things won’t look so bad after you’ve had some rest.”
Yes, they would. A few hours’ sleep wouldn’t change the inevitable.
She tried to turn in his arms and look at him, but he kept her tucked tight against him. “Sleep,” he repeated in a husky whisper. “Just close your eyes and let me hold you like this. You have no idea how long I’ve wanted to.”
Her eyes burned with unshed tears. Damn, she really must be tired. Blowing out a breath, she allowed her muscles to relax and focused on the sensation of being held in Liam’s arms. A few more hours wouldn’t kill her. Once she woke up she would do what needed to be done. In the meantime, she’d savor every moment of being held tight against his naked body.
His warmth soothed her, the steady beat of his heart lulling her as her eyes drifted shut. His contented sigh barely registered before she fell asleep.
* * *
     
When Liam woke it took him a moment to realize Talia wasn’t in bed beside him. Rolling over, he blinked groggily and found her already dressed, busy folding what few items of clothing she’d brought in her duffel. “Hey.”
She