Liam stood by the keg and sipped his beer. The music was in full swing now that the haunted house was over. People were moving, dancing, laughing, and making out in the shadowed corners. Mike and Jack stood by his side, drinking, and commenting over the girls as they walked past.

His gaze was focused on Sera as she sat with Danielle and Kathleen on an old couch. She was laughing happily as her eyes followed the people dancing. A man in a devil costume walked up to her and held out his hand. She shook her head, said something, and he shrugged and walked off.

"Looks like Lucifer wants your girl," Mike commented, his hairy werewolf hand was covered in spilled beer.

"Maybe Lucifer could get her to give it up," Jack said laughingly.

"What?" Liam inquired coldly.

Jack shifted uncomfortably as Liam turned to face him. "Well, did you get any yet?"

"Is that any of your business?"

Jack looked to Mike for help, but he had become very engrossed upon a dangling bat. "No."

"That's right."

"But if you do, could you let us know how it is?" Jack inquired laughingly as he tried to break the chill in the air.

Liam forced a smile to his face as he turned his back on him. Anger was rapidly coursing through him, but getting into a fight with one of his best friends wouldn't do him any good. "There are some good looking women here tonight. But then again, you can't see most of their faces!" Doug joked as he approached the keg.

They all laughed, and Liam felt some of the tension ease out of him. He glanced around the room, but his eyes quickly went back to Sera. She was laughing happily as Kathleen gestured crazily. He couldn't help but smile as Sera's laugh rang through the room and her violet blue eyes sparkled brightly. She was unbelievably beautiful tonight. His heart and body ached from just looking at her.

A flash of gold cut across his line of vision as Michelle stepped up to the keg. "Hello boys," she purred as she bent over to give them a clear view of her full breasts.

Liam looked away in disgust as everyone else bent lower with her. "You are looking exceptionally fine tonight," Mike said.

"I thought I looked exceptionally fine every day, Mikey."

"I think you do," Jack said eagerly.

"Thank you Jack, you're a doll."

She stood back up, brushing her chest provocatively against Liam's arm as she studied him through lowered lashes. "Good party," she whispered in his ear. "I could make it even better."

She turned away from him, casually tossing her hair over her shoulder. "Well," Jack drawled. "You could definitely get some from her, again."

Liam glared after him as Jack moved swiftly past him and out to the dance floor. He didn't need to be reminded of his past mistakes. He ground his jaw as his hand clenched on his cup.

"There is something wrong with that girl. Don't listen to Jack; he's an ass. I'm only going to say this because I'm drunk, and I'll deny it tomorrow, but if I had a girl like Sera, sex or not, I wouldn't give her up," Mike said.

"Weren't you the one telling me to break up with her two weeks ago?"

Mike downed the rest of his cup. "You know why I think that. It can't last forever Liam, but for now, you might as well stay with her."

"I intend to," he replied icily.

"Good," Mike said, clapping him on the shoulder. "Now, I'm going to get laid. At least one of us should!"

Mike laughed as he hurried out to the dance floor. Liam shook his head in annoyed disbelief as he watched him mingle with a group of girls. He spotted Michelle again as she flirted with a bunch of guys. He resolutely turned away and walked over to Sera.

"Would you care to dance?" he asked, extending his hand to her.

She looked up at him and smiled. "Certainly."

He took hold of her hand and led her out onto the dance floor. Tugging at his hand, she stopped him at the edge of the floor. He turned to her, smiling as he wrapped her in his arms. She tilted her head back, her eyes appeared mysterious from the red flames that curled to her temples. The creamy skin of her rounded shoulders was too tempting to resist. He ran his hands across them, pleased when he saw her eyes spark and her mouth part. He grinned as he pulled her closer against him.

Sera bit into her bottom lip, her hands clenched on his back as a familiar tightening started in her loins. Just a few weeks ago, the feel of his obvious arousal would have frightened her, now it excited her. She stepped closer to rub against him. His abrupt inhalation, and the darkening of his eyes, caused her to smile with satisfaction.

Liam savored in the silky feel of her skin and luscious hair. He lifted his head; his gaze darted across the room to find Michelle watching them. Her eyes locked on his as she continued to talk to the group of guys around her. She stared hatefully at him, and then glared at Sera. He kissed Sera's neck, his eyes never leaving Michelle's. He had begun to hate her for the way that she treated Sera, for the way that she talked to her, and looked at her. But, he hated himself more. It was his fault that Michelle despised Sera as much as she did.

He turned around and pulled Sera closer to him. He couldn't lose her, couldn't even bear the thought of losing her. He inhaled her precious, sweet smell. A smell he knew he would never forget.

Suddenly, a flash of gold was beside them. Liam stiffened as Sera pulled away. "I need to talk to you," Michelle said to Sera.

"I don't want to talk to you," Sera replied.

"Go away Michelle," Liam informed her coldly.

"No, I think that your girlfriend needs to know the truth." She spoke softly to not draw any attention to herself.

"Michelle..."

She tossed back her thick red hair and smiled coldly at Sera. "Look, you need to know why I was so upset about the two of you."

"Michelle..." A tendril of unease squirmed through him.

"I have no idea what you're talking about." Sera was frowning in confusion, her face reflected her innocence.

"Let's go," Liam said, grabbing her arm. He had to get her out of there before Michelle could say anything else.

"Wait!" Michelle cried. "I think you owe it to me to listen. For old time's sake Sera, please."

"I don't owe you anything," Sera replied coldly.

Michelle pitifully hung her head. "You're right, you don't owe me anything. I'm really sorry to tell you this..."

"That's enough," Liam interrupted brusquely.

"But Liam and I slept together in the beginning of the school year. That's why I've been so infuriated, and upset. He just stopped speaking to me. He started completely ignoring me, for you."

Sera's eyes shot back and forth between them. Her breath was frozen in her lungs as her heart began to hammer. Liam glared hatefully at Michelle. "Is that true?" she demanded.

Liam knew that he could lie, that she would believe him, but he couldn't bring himself to do it. She had bared her soul to him in utter trust; he couldn't betray that trust any more than he already had. "Yes," he grated through his teeth.

Sorrow burst through her eyes as her jaw clenched. She ripped her arm away from him, and cast Michelle a scathing look before she turned and walked away. "I'm sorry!" Michelle called after her, a huge grin on her face.

"You bitch!" Liam hissed. "You goddamn bitch!"

Michelle turned to him, a sly smile on her face. "It's about time she knew. Were you ever planning on telling her, because someone had to? I was just being a friend."

Liam stepped closer to her, forcing her to tilt her head back to look at him. "I will get you for this. Do you understand me?"

Alarm flickered through her eyes but she covered it up with a haughty expression. "No Liam, I think I got you."

As much as he wanted to make her pay for what she had just done, he wanted to get to Sera more. He turned and hurried after Sera but was effectively cut off by Danielle and Kathleen. "What happened?" Kathleen demanded, her cute face scrunched and her hands planted firmly on her hips.

"Where did she go?" he demanded.

Kathleen tilted her chin defiantly. "I don't know. What did Michelle say to her?"

"Where did she go Danielle?"

Danielle lifted her head and angrily met his eyes. "You should have told her," she whispered, cutting deeper into his heart.

"Told her what? What did you do?" Kathleen insisted. Then, her mouth dropped open and her eyes flew back to Michelle. "You bastard! How could you? And with her? You cheated on her!"

It took all he had not to shake the girl. He didn't need this now. "I did not cheat on her," he growled. "Now, where is she?"

Kathleen glowered at him, her arms folded over her chest, and her mouth compressed in a severe line. "What's going on?" Mike asked happily as he appeared beside Kathleen.

"Your friend's a lying bastard!" Kathleen snapped.

Mike's mouth dropped as he looked at Liam. Liam was fighting every impulse he had to grab hold of Kathleen and shake the answer out of her. Instead, he fisted his hands and took a deep breath to control the growing fury inside of him. "Where is she?" he ground out.

"Who?" Mike asked.

"Sera."

"She just went out the door."

"Thank you."

Kathleen moved to block him. "Leave her alone!"

Liam glared at her but she refused to back down. "Kathleen, get out of my way."

"No, you've upset her enough, now leave her be."

"What is going on?" Mike demanded.

"He," Kathleen said, thrusting an outraged finger at Liam, "slept with Michelle."

Mike winced as he cast Liam an apologetic glance. "How'd she find out?" he asked.

"You knew?" Kathleen cried, whirling on him.

Liam swiftly moved past her while she was distracted. He hurried through the mess of labyrinths that had been erected for the haunted house, becoming increasingly agitated with every step he took. He would like nothing more than to rip Michelle's throat out. But, he was angrier at himself than he was with her. He should have told Sera. He never should have let her find out like this, but his concern over losing her had kept him from telling her.

He made his way to the first floor, and stopped. Sera hadn't gone outside. The eerie music that played when the door opened hadn't gone off. He froze to listen, but he heard no footsteps or sounds of movement. He headed back up the stairs, knowing that if she had made her way down, she would have left. He went a different way through the maze, and back up to the second floor. He rounded a corner, stepping into one of the scenes set up between two bedrooms.

All that was left was a large table, and two dining room chairs. Sera was sitting in one of the chairs, her head resting in her hands. "Sera..."

"Go away, please."

"Sera..."

She dropped her hands to look at him, her eyes were wet with tears but her jaw was set. "Go away Liam, now."

"I have to talk to you."

"No. You could have talked to me before, and you didn't. Now, I don't want to talk to you."

"Sera just let me explain."

"You've had your chance to explain," she replied icily. "You chose not to. You chose to have me think that one of my best friends suddenly hated me for no reason. You could have told me. You made your choice, now I've made mine. Go away."

Liam made his way cautiously into the room. He knew that if he moved too fast she would bolt out of the room. "Would you have had anything to do with me if I had told you?"

She bit into her bottom lip as a tear streaked down her cheek "Yes," she whispered.

"You would have kept talking to me if I had told you that I got drunk, slept with your best friend, and left without even saying goodbye? You would have thought I was a piece of shit, and you wouldn't have said one word to me."

A few more tears slipped free as she realized just how easy walking away from Michelle had been for him. He hadn't cared about her at all; he had just used her, and left her. Sera's heart was breaking as she began to realize that she didn't know him as well as she had thought. She had known that there were other girls in his past, but she hadn't thought that he could discard them so easily. As if they were nothing.

"Lying was much better though," she whispered.

"I didn't lie."

She laughed coldly and shook her head. "You acted like you didn't know why she was behaving the way she was. You lied to me."

She choked back a sob as she buried her head in her hands again. "Sera please don't do this..."

"I didn't do this," she whispered. "I told you things I'd never told anyone. You son of a bitch." She wiped angrily at her face. She hated herself for crying like this in front of him, but she couldn't help it. Her heart was breaking into a million pieces.

Liam felt a fresh rush of anger as he was reminded of what that bastard had done to her. He had to clench his jaw against the sudden bloodlust that ripped through him. He swore that if he ever found Jacob, he would kill him. But now was not the time to let his temper get the best of him. Now he had to make her understand as her tears tore at his heart.

"Please don't cry Sera. I'm sorry; I never meant to hurt you."

She laughed angrily as she shoved back her chair and jumped to her feet. "Go away Liam, I don't want to see you."

"Listen to me, I made a mistake, but I didn't lie to you."

"Liam..."

He walked across the room to her. "Stay away from me!" There was a wealth of vehemence in her voice, but he ignored it as he took hold of her hands. She jerked them away. "Don't touch me!"

"Sera, I love you."

Her head shot up so forcefully that he thought she might have given herself whiplash. "Don't," she whispered. "Don't."

"I'm sorry about what I did, I made a mistake, but I do love you."

She took a hitching breath as she shook her head in denial. "How could you say something like that? How could you?"

He didn't know what else to say. He stepped forward and took her into his arms. She sobbed as she angrily pushed at him in a desperate attempt to free herself. "Stop," he whispered. "Stop."

"Get away from me!" she yelled, but he refused to release her. He needed to get through to her. He couldn't lose her, he just couldn't. "How many times have you used that line?"

He cupped her face in his hands and forced it up. Tears slid down her face as she glared at him. "I have never said that to anyone before," he said. "Never! You are the only person that I have ever loved."

She stared at him as her eyes searched his face. "How can I believe you?" she whispered tremulously.

He closed his eyes against the agony that ripped through him. "You just have to," he answered. "I'm telling you the truth."

Tears caused the makeup of her flames to trail down her cheeks in red and orange streaks. He tenderly wiped them away with his thumb as she fell limply into his embrace. He held her against his chest as he smoothed her hair and kissed the top of her head. He was suddenly unable to stop himself from kissing and touching her. He wanted her so badly that he burned with it.

"I love you," he said again, kissing her neck and tasting her sweetness. She buried her face in his shoulder as sobs continued to wrack through her. "Come on," he urged as he took hold of her hand.

He led her through the maze and back up the stairs to his room. He settled her in before walking down the hall to the bathroom. Music blared from upstairs as he washed the makeup off his face and tried to get his thoughts together. The water did nothing to ease the tense anxiety in him. He hung his head as self-disgust rolled through him.

With a deep sigh, he shoved away from the sink, grabbed some paper towels and wet them before making his way back down the hall to his room. He opened his door, closed, and locked it behind him. Sera was standing by the window. She had taken her cape off, her exposed skin glistened like pearls in the moonlight as it streamed over her.

He wanted to talk to her, to try to explain, but he didn't know what to say. Instead, he moved across the room to stand behind her. Resting his hands upon her shoulders, he relished in the feel of her satiny smooth skin. She went rigid beneath his touch, but didn't move away from him.

"Why didn't you tell me?" she whispered.

Liam closed his eyes and inhaled deeply as he tried to gather his thoughts. "I didn't want to lose you," he answered honestly.

She turned to face him. His breath froze in his chest at the sorrow in her startling eyes. Gently he tilted her chin up and used the paper towels to wipe the makeup from her tear stained face. She kept her lashes lowered as he worked. When he was done he tossed the towels aside, and her gaze finally came up to his.

"You wouldn't have lost me."

There was so much warmth in her gaze that he knew he didn't deserve her. She was too good, too innocent and pure for the likes of him. "In the beginning I would have."

"I told you what happened to me on the second day I knew you. I trusted you then, and you said that I could, but I couldn't. If you had told me about Michelle then, you wouldn't have lost me, but now..."

Her voice trailed off as she rapidly blinked back tears. Liam bowed his head to press his forehead against hers. "I meant what I said. You can trust me. But at that time, I didn't think you needed me to tell you about it. The conversation we had that night had no place in it for what happened between Michelle and I. After that night, I should have told you, but I didn't."

"Why didn't you?" she asked tremulously.

His hands clenched on her shoulders. "Because I didn't want you to think less of me for it. I preferred to pretend that it didn't happen. Can you understand that?"

Tears slid down her cheeks as she nodded. She could understand that. There were things that she would prefer to forget but she still felt betrayed. Maybe he couldn't have told her that night, and she could see why, but she wished that he had told her later. She wouldn't have been upset with him, and maybe she could have tried to talk to Michelle, but she didn't think Michelle would have spoken to her anyway.

"I can understand that," Sera whispered, lifting her head so that she could look at him. "But I wish that I hadn't found out this way."

"So do I," he said hoarsely. "So do I."

"How could you use her so easily?"

Liam's jaw clenched, a muscle twitched in his cheek. "Sera, I didn't use her, she was there, and I was there, and sometimes things just happen."

"She obviously thought that it was more."

"I don't think she did. She's just aggravated that I don't chase her around, and follow after her like everyone else," he said honestly. "We met, and we slept together, that is all that it ever was."

She was tempted to ask how many others there had been that he'd experienced the same thing with, but she couldn't bring herself to do it. She didn't think she could handle the knowledge.

His hands clasped the sides of her face as he lifted it to him. She stared at him, her eyes misty in the moonlit room. He couldn't seem to get enough of looking at her, of touching her, of holding her. Her breath shuddered through her. "Liam."

The sound of her whispery voice sent a shiver through him that heated his loins, and caused him to become instantly erect. He bent and kissed her, his mouth sliding over hers. She shivered and then her mouth parted. She was sweet and warm as her tongue met his with the same urgency.

He stroked the exposed skin above her dress, relishing in the silkiness of it. She shivered again as her breath rushed out of her. He knew he should stop, he should pull away, but he couldn't bring himself to release her. He was almost wild with his need for her. He would hurt her, or he would push her too fast, but tonight he had to have all of her.

His hands slipped across her shoulders and around to the back of her dress. His hands hesitated upon the zipper as he waited for her to tell him to stop. She moaned and pressed closer to him as he broke the kiss. Her passion-clouded eyes met his in the moonlight. "Liam?" she asked questioningly.

He closed his eyes as he took a steadying breath. "I want you Sera, I want all of you," he added so that she got the point.

She was unaware of how seductive and enchanting she was when she smiled at him like that. "And I want you," she whispered.

His hands clenched upon her as a muscle twitched in his cheek. "You don't have to do this." The words nearly killed him to say, but he had to give her a chance to get away from him now, before he could no longer control himself.

"I want to."

The words sent a firestorm of yearning to his elongated shaft. He had to take a deep breath to steady himself before he ripped the dress off of her body. Instead, he slid the zipper down; the rasp of metal was loud in the hushed room. His hands caressed the swell of her back and trailed down to her waist. She was so unbelievably small in his arms. He could feel the rapid pounding of her heart through her delicate ribcage.

She took a step back. Her smile was enticing as she allowed the dress to slide off her shoulders and pool at her feet on the ground. In the moonlight, she was ethereal. Her skin shimmered; her eyes were smoky as her hair spilled around her in silvery gold waves. Her body was amazingly perfect. He sucked in his breath as his gaze traveled over her. Her full breasts were pushed tantalizingly high in her bra. The material was thin and lacy, revealing her dark nipples. Her stomach was flat, her waist tiny, her hips small and round. The juncture between her thighs was shielded by lacy white panties that would reveal a small triangle of golden curls. He could never get enough of looking at her.

Liam's heart leapt in his chest as his prick jumped with enthusiasm. She was exquisite, perfect. He forced his gaze back to hers. She was staring at him uncertainly as a blush crept through her cheeks. He opened his arms to her. She hesitated before stepping into his embrace.

He enfolded her. His head lowered so that he could whisper in her ear. "You're exquisite."

She shivered as her arms wrapped around his broad back. Lifting her face to his she kissed him. His hand wound into her hair as he pulled her head back for better access. Pleasure filled her as her body arched against his.

Liam tried to slow down before he lost complete control and ravished her, but he couldn't stop touching her. There was a firestorm raging through his body, searing his veins, and causing all of his blood to rush into his groin. He pushed his pelvis against hers. She moaned as he rubbed provocatively against her. A shudder ripped through her body as her movements matched his.

Her hands slid down his shoulders and she began to unbutton his shirt. Liam released her mouth; his arms held her loosely as he watched her long, delicate fingers work the buttons out. Her head was bent as she focused upon her task. Slipping the last button free she lifted her head to his. Her eyes were dazed with passion, her lips swollen from his kisses. Her gaze never leaving his, she slid the shirt from his shoulders and down his arms.

Her eyes were round as she looked upon his broad, well-muscled chest. Her fingers ran over his smooth skin as she relished in the feel of his muscles and the small tufts of black, wiry hair. He was a perfect carving of masculine strength and beauty. In the moonlight, his eyes were clouded with passion. She should have been frightened by the hunger in his gaze, instead she found herself even more aroused by it.

His hands slid along her back. She couldn't suppress the shiver that raced through her, heated her blood, and caused her whole body to melt. He easily unclasped her bra and let it float to the floor. His eyes darkened even more as he gazed upon her heaving breasts. He clasped one gently. Her mouth parted with her faint inhalations as she arched against him. He ran his thumb teasingly along her nipple, watching as her passion rose. She was more desirable and responsive than any woman he had ever known, and he had known many. None of them had responded to him with such open abandon. None of them had ever made him this hard and aching.

He bent his head to take her nipple into his mouth. Her fingers wound into his hair as he stroked her with his tongue. He nipped her and she spasmed in his embrace. "Liam!" she gasped.

He pulled away from her, grabbed hold of her hips, and lifted her onto him. She blinked in surprise and then wrapped her legs around his waist. A cry of ecstasy escaped her as she settled against his erect shaft. He groaned as he lifted her up and slid her back down. Her eyes slid closed as she tilted back in his embrace, her back arching to give him easier access to her heaving breasts.

Laying her down he stepped back to admire her exquisite body as he hastily unbuttoned his pants and kicked them aside. Sera's eyes were dazed with passion as her eyes settled on his cock. Apprehension briefly flashed through her gaze. Then, she met his eyes again and opened her arms to receive him.

He climbed onto the bed and wrapped her within his arms. He touched her everywhere, unable to stop his hands from roaming over her, from feeling every perfect curve. Her breasts pressed firmly against his chest as she arched eagerly against him.

He slid her panties down her long thighs, savoring in the touch of her as he slid them easily off. Moans escaped her as he caressed every inch of her body while his mouth made love to hers. One hand caressed her breast while another slid down to stroke her stomach, her hips. She arched beneath him as his hand slid through her golden curls. He unhurriedly slid lower, his hand cupping her mound. He was pleased to find her already wet as he slid a finger into her warm body. Delight ripped through her as he began to move in and out. Her hands dug into his back as she lifted her hips against him, matching the leisurely pace he set as he slid easily back and forth.

Liam watched her as moans erotically escaped her throat. His dick was aching, but he was determined to give her as much pleasure as possible before the pain. He fondled the nub above her wet sheath. Tremors rocked through her body as she dug deeper into his back.

"Liam!"

The sound of his name on her lips nearly caused him to explode. He couldn't wait any longer. He slipped his hand from her. She moaned her disappointment as she arched her hips demandingly against his. He nearly tore his underwear off as he shoved it down his waist and legs. Finally free he grabbed hold of her hips as he leveled himself between her enticing thighs. She watched him intently, her breath coming in pants that made her lips and breasts quiver.

He rubbed against her, watching for any sign that this was not what she wanted. It would absolutely kill him to stop, but he would. She lifted her hips against him as she opened herself to him.

He lowered himself over her and took her mouth with his again as he began to slide into her. His body was tense as he parted her inviting folds. She was so tight, so warm, and so inviting. It took every ounce of willpower he had not to thrust brutally forward and end his torture. Instead, he inched forward, his arms trembling from his weight. Then, he reached it. The barrier. He didn't want to cause her discomfort, but he was unable to stop.

With a moan, he shoved forward, burying himself to the hilt. She cried out as pain shot through her eyes, her teeth bit into her lip and her hands spasmed upon his back. He didn't move as he stared at her. "Are you all right?"

"Yes," she breathed as her muscles eased around him. He stroked her face as he leisurely reclaimed her mouth. She trembled beneath him, but her thighs released their rigid hold on his waist. His tongue entwined with hers as he tried to ease the rest of the tension from her body.

Gradually he withdrew from her before easing back in. The familiar pleasure he gave her began to return. He moved at a leisurely pace in and out of her, allowing her to get used to his invasion as he deliberately stoked the fires in her again with his mouth and hands. His whole body was as taut as a bowstring as he forced himself to take it easy. It was the most strenuous thing he had ever done. He'd never felt anything as exquisitely tight and wet as she was. Never known such pleasure could exist.

His willpower was rapidly unraveling. She began to move with him, her hips and body arching against his as she met each of his thrusts. Her long legs wrapped around his waist, pulling him deeper into her. Her soft moans and eager reception were driving him beyond the brink of control. He wanted to tell her to slow down, that he couldn't restrain himself, but he was past the point of speech. Waves of pleasure washed over him as he drove in and out of her.

Sera's hands dug into his back as her body was pushed to a point that was almost painful. She had never known anything could feel like this, never even imagined how wonderful it would feel to have Liam inside of her, filling her, becoming one with her. Her whole body was quivering as she neared a point that she didn't understand, came close to something that was almost frightening.

He thrust vigorously into her and pushed her over the brink. A cry tore from her as her body exploded with unimaginable pleasure that swept through her in fierce waves. Her muscles clenched around him as the force of her climax ripped his from him. With a savage yell, he drove himself into the hilt, and spilled everything he had into her.

He almost collapsed on top of her but managed to catch himself in time. Instead, he wrapped his arms around her and rolled so that she lay beside him. Her body was still trembling against his, her breath came in pants as she wrapped her arms around him and nuzzled into his neck. He was unable to believe the force of the orgasm she had managed to rend from him as he held her. Never in his life had he felt anything so good. Never in his life had he expected to find someone like her.

He kissed her cheek as his hands ran over her body. "I love you too." Her breath was a mild breeze against his neck.

Anguish and pleasure crashed through him in tangled waves. Until then he hadn't realized exactly how much he needed her love and warmth. He pulled her flush against his chest. He didn't deserve her. He shouldn't have her, but he was never going to let her go.