“I cleared out this space for you. You can set all your stuff up here.” Maggie led me by the hand to a newly created space beside the dining room table. “After seeing your work station in the cabin, I had a pretty good idea of what you’d need.” She pointed some changes out. “I had a carpenter extend this shelf, take out part of the bench, and turn it into a desk for you. There’s only the two of us, so we still have plenty of space at the dining table.”

“Maggie, this is perfect. You even added more electrical outlets! And ergonomic arms for my monitors!”

“I figured if you didn’t need to use counter space to hold your screen, you could fit more equipment in a smaller space.

“It’s brilliant.” I scooped her up and planted a kiss on her lips. “I’ll start hooking everything up right now!” Practically giddy, I dashed out to my SUV to carry in the first of a dozen boxes in the trunk.

“Liam! Liam!” Maggie stood in the doorway of the bus. “We’re supposed to meet the guys for dinner in fifteen minutes!”

I stopped, the first box half in, half out of the trunk, and looked over at her. “Oh.” I stared down at the box in my hand. “Okay, I’ll just carry them in and then we can go.”

Passing her in the doorway, I kissed her again. I just couldn’t resist her.

“This is perfect, babe. When I’m in the states, I can run the company from your bus and use it as home base. Ben and Leo are perfectly capable of dealing with the day to day office stuff. I’ll still need to travel for work, but I can always come back here.”

My thoughts exactly.” She grinned up at me. “I kinda like having you around.”

“Promise me we can still escape to the cabin periodically,” I said.

“Absolutely. I wouldn’t want it any other way.” Liam pulled me to his side and kissed the top of my head.

“I can’t wait.” I looked up at him, so ridiculously happy I couldn’t contain myself.

“You need to get out there. Your fans are waiting.” Liam jutted his chin toward the stage. “Don’t keep them in suspense any longer!”

I leaned up on my tiptoes and kissed him quick and hard before popping in my earpiece. I clapped my hands once, shook the blood into my fingers, and ran out on stage.

“Hello, Dallas!”

I grabbed the mic and started singing. The stage, lights, and fans sent me to that place deep in my soul where the music was born.

I poured my heart into it, feeling the words seep out through my pores with the sweat. The temperature and sound level rose as the fans jumped, gyrated, and sang with me. My audience moved like a single creature, undulating in front of me and feeding my soul with its energy.

I sang through three sets, going on until my body vibrated with exhaustion and my mind soared on a musical high.

Off stage, life was a little different. I had to double my standard security. I had a second-string team vetted by Liam providing not only security for me, but also the entire band anywhere we stayed, and all the venues we played.

If I hadn’t had Liam to come home to, I’m not sure how I would have handled it. Secure in his love, I could chase my dreams knowing he kept me safe.

Life settled into a routine. I’d spend a week or so with Maggie, running the company, taking on jobs, assigning cases, and sending my teams out on assignments. After a bit, I’d head out into the field. It was nice, particularly on difficult cases. I would assist with the research, and when something piqued my interest, I would head to wherever I was needed. Maybe I’d take out some dictator, rescue a kidnapping victim, put down an uprising, or solve whatever problem needed solving. As a fixer, a company of recovery specialists, Scorpion Securities’ skills were in high demand.

This was Maggie’s big night. I slipped on my black pants with the satin ribbon down the side of each leg. I was just fastening the top button when Maggie wandered out of the bathroom.

Clad only in her slip, she was dewy and fresh from her shower. Her hair was piled on top of her head with tendrils cascading around her bare shoulders.

“Come here.” I wrapped one hand around her waist and pulled her toward me.

“Liam!” She playfully pushed against me, “You’re going to mess up my makeup!”

“Nah. You’re too beautiful for that to happen.” I reached up, pulled the clip out of her hair, and her curls fell in a red and gold cape around her. I couldn’t help myself. I reached out and caught a curl around one finger, tugged it gently, and watching it spring back.

She raised a hand and cupped my cheek as I weaved my fingers through her hair and around the back of her head. I pulled her in for a hit that turned carnal.

“Liam,” she breathed out before wrapping her hands around my biceps and leaning in to kiss me back. All thoughts of dressing for the award ceremony gone, we moved to the bed. I lowered her down and held myself up on my arms above her.

I peppered tiny kisses on her lips and up her jaw. Nibbling the shell of her ear, I palmed one breast and felt her nipple pebble in my hand. Catching the silk of her slip, I inched it up her torso until I exposed her mound. I ran a finger up the inside of her thigh. Her flesh was smooth and perfect. She shivered, wrapping both legs around my waist, and reached for my pants.

That’s all it took, and I was lost.

She freed me from my cloth prison, pulling me out and stroking me. Her touch sent lightning bolts of pleasure through me, and soon all I could think about was burying myself in her hot, wet, center.