“Okay, Sparkles, do you have the applications for the new team?” Mark requests, walking in my office.

We’ve taken over for a company that failed at two contracts for support in Africa, and now that Cole Security Forces won them, we need to staff them. I’ve become extremely passionate about my new role. I feel like I’m ensuring everyone comes home safe. The issues the company had previously were due to poor planning. I now make sure the teams we send over there have all the equipment they need. It’s also given me a chance to see that Jackson spares no cost for it. Any time I’ve asked for more funding for supplies, he grants it with no questions. He’d rather cut funding on our end than on the front lines.

“Yeah, they’re right here.” I lift a stack of papers and keep writing. “I hate that you somehow have given me the call sign I could kill you for.” My middle name is Star thanks to my father’s hippie days. Mark found out on my application and said I sparkled like a star.

“It’s a gift. You should’ve seen Catherine the first time I called her ‘Kitty.’” He stands there and laughs.

“I hope she punched you.”

“Nah, she loves me.”

“How is it you manage to drive people insane but they still keep you around?” I ask, still keeping my eyes on the paper I’m trying to fix. The wording is wrong and I want to get it right.

“You know you can take a break and we have killer coffee,” Mark’s New York accent is thick and I can’t help but want to mock him. It was the one thing they’ve always made fun of him for.

“Cawfee?” I smile and mimic him, putting the pen on the desk.

“I see we got jokes.”

“Only with you, Twilight.”

“See?” Mark says as he sprawls out on the loveseat I have in my office. “We make a good team. You’re Sparkles and I’m Twilight. It’s like a match made in heaven.”

I laugh, “I think you’re hitting on me, Mr. Dixon.” I know he’s not, but it’s fun to rile him up.

“No, I’m just kidding.” He lifts his hands in mock defense. “I wouldn’t disrespect you, Natalie.”

“Calm down,” I shake my head. “I know you’re not. Aaron would kick your ass,” I reply jokingly and my hand flies to my mouth. “I meant…I…”

Mark stands and heads over toward my desk. “He would, and so would Liam. It’s okay.”

“Did someone say my name?” I hear Liam’s voice and my eyes snap up. Oh, great.

“Hey,” I greet him and walk over.

“Hey, Dreamboat!” Mark smiles and they shake hands and hug.

“What’s up, man? Long time no see.”

Liam and Mark finish saying hello and catching up briefly before Mark heads out. I don’t know if Liam heard, and if he did, whether it would bother him. Regardless, I’m surprised to see him here.

“I wasn’t expecting you.” My voice is wary.

He enters and closes my door. “I know. I sent you a text but you didn’t answer. I figured I’d just stop by.”

“Well, I’m happy to see you.” He steps closer and I take a step back. Why am I retreating from this man?

“You look beautiful.”

“You look incredibly sexy in uniform.” I appraise him as he approaches. He’s wearing his woodland camo. His sleeves rolled up make his already large biceps look huge. The way the top clings to his chest is hot, and I can only image how amazing his ass looks. Something about the uniforms always makes their asses look fantastic. Maybe I’ll have him spin so I can see.

Liam’s lip slowly rises as if he’s reading my mind. “What are you thinking about?” he asks as he approaches.

I trail his body with my eyes and then back to his face with a grin. “Your ass.”

He laughs and then his eyes darken.

I love the game we play. Playful but seductive. I keep pushing him and soon enough he’s not going to be so patient.

“I’d be happy to let you see my ass…”

“I bet you would, but I’m at work and that would be all sorts of inappropriate.” I giggle and put my hand on his chest to stop his approach. Liam pushes me back slowly as if I’m not even there. “What can I do for you, sailor?”

“The guys are going to a bar tonight,” he pauses and I nod. “I haven’t gone out with them in a long time.”

Another step he pushes me back.

“Okay?” I respond slightly confused where he’s going with this.

Liam’s eyes lock with mine. The way he’s looking at me leaves me breathless. I take a deep breath but it does nothing to help, all I smell is him. His cologne mixed with a hard day’s work filters through my body and makes my head spin. “I want you to come with us. With me.”

“I-I…but...” I trail off and look away. “I don’t know if that’s a good idea.” I keep my eyes down but, of course, Liam isn’t having it.

His arms cage me in as he presses me against my desk. “I don’t want to go and have to push away random skanks all night. I want you by my side. I want to spend the night with you, Natalie.” Liam’s lips press against my neck and I shiver. He slowly trails feather-light kisses down my collar, then to my shoulder, and I groan. “I want to walk in and have every motherfucker look at me and think ‘damn, how’d he get so lucky?’ Then I’ll take you in my arms…” Another kiss and he moves his way up my neck to my ear. “And I’ll…”

“You’ll…?” I whimper when he bends back.

“You have to tell me if you’re going to go first.”

It’s impossible to say no to him. His blue eyes glimmer with hope and he has me practically trapped between his arms. This date will be different. It’s us going out as a couple with mutual friends. People who knew Aaron and then will see me with Liam. I have to choose whether I will let my past define my future.

“Who’s going?”

“Does it matter?” he counters.

“Yes,” I say looking at him. “Of course it matters. I mean, what do we say?”

Liam’s eyes don’t waver. “Don’t go inside your head. It’s just friends, going out for a beer.”

“No, it’s you and I going out with our friends. Friends that don’t know us as us. Plus, you’ve already told me what you plan to do,” I reply with a taunting look.

“Lee,” he says cautiously, “This doesn’t have to be strange. I’ll keep my hands to myself the whole night.”

I look at him with raised brows. “Right. After you assaulted me in my office with all your promises.”

“Hey, I can keep myself in control. It’s you I worry about. I’m prime meat and you may want to mark your territory. And my assault was working?”

The laugh that escapes me is loud and effortless. My head falls back and his lips find my neck again. I sigh and wrap my arms around his shoulders. “You use your sexiness against me.”

“All part of the plan, sweetheart.”

I squeal and smile, “Okay, you win. I need to see if Paige can watch Aarabelle tonight.”

“Mmmm,” he groans against my collarbone before looking at me. “Hands to myself, right?”

I lean up and kiss him chastely. “It’s not tonight yet.”

“No, no, it’s not,” Liam says before he presses his lips against mine. He reclines me against the cold desk but I only feel heat. His heat. He holds me close and cradles my head in his hands, winding my hair around his fingers. My heart thumps erratically in my chest as he kisses me relentlessly. I claw at his back and pull him closer.

I open my mouth to him and his tongue brushes against mine. And it’s like a switch is turned off. He devours me and takes away all the fear I was holding on to. I’m floating from my body as his weight is on top of me. He won’t let me hurt. He’ll protect me even if it’s from my own guilt.

I feel his joy radiate from him. Both of us have found happiness through each other. It’s scary but also beautiful. I want to give him more. I want to give him what I know he wants. I’m just not sure I’m ready.

Aarabelle is asleep when Paige arrives. This girl saves my life being available on zero notice. I’m not sure what to wear since this is the first time I’m hanging out with everyone. I change over ten times, but finally settle on my favorite jeans and an off-the-shoulder purple top. Cute and comfy is my goal for tonight.

I hear Liam’s car pull in the drive and I give myself a mental pep talk.

I can do this. It’s just friends, and Liam and I aren’t doing anything wrong. Hell, we’re not even sleeping together. Just a lot of kissing. Really, really good kissing. Amazing kissing.

Before he knocks, I open the door. Once again, this man is too good-looking for his own good. How did I never notice this before?

“Hi, sweetheart.” His deep voice is velvety seduction. I melt at the way he draws out the “heart” in “sweetheart” as he appraises me.

“Hi, yourself.” I smile and grab my clutch.

“You ready?”

“As I’ll ever be.” I close the door and reach up to kiss him but he moves away. What the? “Ummm?” I question with my eyes wide.

Liam puts his arm out in a gesture for me to loop mine through, but I stand there waiting for an answer.

“What the hell was that?” My voice is filled with indignation.

“That,” he says, tapping my nose, “Was me keeping my promise. You want me to behave, so you can’t go starting off the night using me for your pleasure,” he informs me, putting his arm back out.

“You’re joking.”

Liam leans down and his lips barely touch my ear as his voice drops lower, “If I touch you now, the rules are off. I want to be able to have my hands on you tonight, but if I start I won’t stop. So you choose. I want you…don’t doubt that.” He pulls away and I know this has to be my choice.

Talk about a decision.

I want him and he makes me happy. “And if I want you to kiss me now?”

“Then I get to kiss you later, when I want.”

“What if I don’t want you to kiss me later?”

He laughs and moves his lips so they align with mine, “I think you’ll like me kissing you now, and I know you’ll like me kissing you later.”

“Well, since you put it that way,” I grip his shirt and pull him flush against me. His lips meet mine and I lose myself in his arms. Liam’s hands slide down my body and he cups my ass, lifting me off the ground. Pressed between him and the door, my hands grip his neck and I give him what he wants.

Kissing Liam is unlike anything I’ve felt before. He’s rough, but at the same time tender. His tongue dances with mine as if we’ve been doing this our whole lives. There’s no awkwardness. When he gives, I take, and vice versa. I could spend my entire day kissing him and be completely content.

I moan in his mouth and he grinds his hips against mine. Oh. My. God. My body starts to shake and he does it again. My lips break from his and I’m freaking panting.

“We should go,” he grumbles against my neck.

“I’m going to need a few beers after this.” I shake my head and slide down Liam’s body.

“I need a cold shower.” Liam grabs my hand and we walk to the car. He opens the car door for me. “Seriously, though,” he pauses and waits until our eyes meet, “You’re beautiful.”

My arms wrap around his neck and our lips press together. “Thank you.”

He kisses the top of my head and I climb into his car.

I pray I can make it through tonight without anything exploding.