Audrey woke in the middle of the night, leaving behind troubled dreams. Pulling on a robe, she slipped out of her bedroom, thinking to grab a glass of water.

Liam was in the kitchen when she walked in, drinking right out of the tap. He straightened and glanced at her, looking worse from the wear.

His hair was disheveled, his skin paler than usual.

Gone was the smirking, confident bad boy. In his place was this very human, very damaged version of Liam, and seeing him like this tugged at her heart strings in a major way.

“Are you still up?” she asked, leaning against the counter to watch him.

“Can’t sleep,” he admitted with a shrug. “Bad dreams.”

His words killed Audrey just a little, inside. She held out a hand to him, expectant.

“Come on,” she said. He took her hand, and she towed him back to his bedroom.

“What are you doing?” he asked when she shooed him back into his bed.

“When I was little, I would always run to Jack’s room anytime I had nightmares. He would let me lie in his bed for a little while, until I wasn’t scared anymore. Sometimes, you just need another person in bed to keep the nightmares at bay.”

Liam made a soft, angry sound. “I told you I don’t want your pity, Audrey.”

“Well, that’s good, because I don’t have any to give you,” she sighed. “But if I was hurting, if I couldn’t sleep, you’d do the same for me. Now lie down.”

Liam gave her a long look, then sprawled out on his side in bed. Audrey climbed in behind him, pulling the comforter up over them both.

“Are you trying to be the big spoon?” Liam asked, sounding somewhere between amused and aghast.

“Shut up and accept my comfort,” Audrey said. “You always make everything so damned difficult.”

Liam quieted. Audrey molded herself to his body, shivering as the warmth of his big body seeped into her bones. She took several slow, deep breaths, sucking in lungfuls of his spicy, masculine scent.

It was a little intoxicating, lying here with him like this. In another life, maybe she could have experienced this for real. In an alternate universe, one where Liam wouldn’t shatter her heart into a thousand pieces.

Liam’s breath slowed and deepened, and soon the sound of it lulled her senses. Though she’d intended to go back to her room once Liam slept, Audrey soon relaxed, letting herself drift off to sleep.

Audrey dreamed she was in a hospital, walking down an endlessly long hall. At her side was an older man in a white doctor’s coat. The lights above flickered oddly, making her feel jumpy.

There was blood on her hands, but she didn’t know why.

“I’m so sorry, miss. I’m afraid he didn’t make it,” the doctor told her. “You didn’t save him.”

“Who?” she asked.

They walked and walked.

“You didn’t save him,” the doctor said. “It’s your fault, Audrey. You loved him, but you didn’t save him.”

“How could I have done more?” she asked. “Can I wash my hands, please?”

“No, no,” the doctor clucked. “Here we are.”

They stopped at a steel door that read MORGUE. Audrey looked at the door, then at the doctor.

“Go on,” he urged.

She reached out a hand, her bloodied fingers trembling, and pushed at the door. It swung open with ease, and she stepped inside.

The room was small and bright, lit from above with fluorescent surgical lights. A stainless steel table took up most of the space, and on it was someone she recognized.

Liam, cold and pale, draped in a sheet. No longer Liam, really, just a body now. Audrey gasped and burst into tears, stumbling forward to grasp his ice cold hand.

“I loved you!” she swore to him. Knowing he couldn’t hear, knowing she was far too late. “I loved you, I think. I wish I’d been brave…”

She heard Liam’s voice, whispering her name, and started to sob.

Audrey… Audrey….

* * *

“Audrey!”

Audrey’s eyes opened and she stared straight up into Liam’s worried face.

“Are you all right, love? You’re crying in your sleep,” he said, touching her face with a fingertip, spreading a bit of wet warmth across her cheek.

Audrey surged up, digging her fingers into his hair, and pressed her lips to his.

“Audrey,” Liam mumbled, pushing her back. “Wait—”

“Don’t talk,” she whispered, dragging his head back down to hers once more.

Liam surrendered with a groan, taking control of the kiss. His tongue stroked hers, his hands roving up and down her body over her robe.

Impatient, Audrey pulled back to strip off her robe, t-shirt, and panties.

“Audrey…” Liam said, his expression tortured as he studied her body, bared to him entirely.

“I want you, Liam,” she said, pulling him down for another kiss. “I want you. I’m ready for you.”

Feeling bold, she took his hand and brought it to her breast, then lower, lower… until his fingers dipped between her thighs. At the same time, she reached down to squeeze his hip, then shape his thick cock through his boxer briefs.

“Fuck,” he whispered. “You’re wet for me, aren’t you sweetheart?”

“Take me, right now,” she said, plucking at the hem of his t-shirt.

“Are you sure, love?” he asked, looking tormented.

“Yes, god damn it!” she said, yanking his shirt up over his head.

He stood and stripped off his boxer briefs, his cock springing free and jutting proudly. He truly was magnificent, a work of art. Six feet of pure, lean muscle capped with those blazing emerald eyes…

Suddenly, his smirk returned, that killer dimple appearing in one cheek. Audrey felt heat pool low in her body, just looking at him.

When he laid down beside her again, Audrey kissed him hard and brought her knee up to rest on his bare hip, letting the length of his erection brush her wet heat.

Impatient, she pulled him closer, sighing with pleasure when his hands found her breasts, teasing her.

“Now, Liam,” she urged him.

“What’s the rush?” he asked, leaning down to flick the tip of his tongue over her nipple.

But she’d been teased for long enough, and she wasn’t going to wait another second.

With a growl, Audrey pushed him onto his back and straddled his hips. Grasping his cock, she guided him to her entrance and sunk down on him, inch by slow inch.

“Fuck, Aud,” he said, his fingers flexing against her back as he gripped her hips. “You’re so tight, love.”

Audrey moaned as he filled her to the brim, stretching her tight core to perfection. She threw her head back and arched against him, moving her hips in slow, soft circles.

She gasped when Liam pulled her down and flipped her onto her back, splaying one of her knees wide so that he could take control.

The first full thrust had her crying out, the second had her shaking with need.

“You’re already so close, love,” he said, his eyes brilliant with lust. “I can feel it.”

He slipped a hand under her lower back, lifting her the barest inch as he began to fuck her. Slow at first, then harder and harder, until her nails raked his shoulders, until she was crying his name, a steady chant.

“Liam, yes!” she said again and again as he filled her, the sensation so perfect.

Her release rippled up from somewhere deep inside, unleashing so hard that her eyes rolled back in her head, her body clenching and trembling.

She heard Liam mumble a curse. He tried to pull out, but she clutched at him, digging her nails into his back, refusing to let him go.

“I want all of you,” she demanded. “Do it. I want you to.”

Liam came hard with a low groan, pumping his hot seed deep inside her body. He slowed, his lips seeking hers for long, tender kisses.

Audrey sighed into the kiss, feeling sated, cherished. Liam pulled away, only to turn her onto her side and tuck her up against his body.

She should say something. Explain herself, maybe.

But instead, Audrey just closed her eyes.

Words could wait. If this was all she would ever get from him, so be it.

For the moment, she was content in Liam’s arms. For the moment, this could be enough.