“I think it’s perfect.” Faye sets the drawing on top of the others. “Elise would say the same thing.”
Elise is touring the island with a prospective suitor, and Faye and I are sprawled on two lounge chairs in the main sitting room. Just because Liam has locked himself away in his quarters doesn’t mean I have to.
And if I’m honest with myself, maybe I’m hoping to see him since a meeting at Zodiac Headquarters detained him all morning. He’s been in his office ever since he came back, clinging to the distance growing between us.
“You’re too critical of yourself,” Faye says. “You could start a clothing line with these.”
It’s a subject we’ve talked about before. No doubt, it’ll arise again because Faye is loyal and supportive. Bold and opinionated. Where I capitulate, she forges ahead, refusing to let anyone stand in her way.
She wants the same for me, as one of my ladies and a lifelong friend.
“She’s right,” Liam says, his deep voice startling me. I drop my pencil and turn around to find him standing in the archway that leads into the formal dining room. He saunters to the table and picks up a drawing. “You’ve got natural talent. You should pursue it.”
“Maybe I would if the twelve of you weren’t passing me around.”
Faye gasps. “Novalee…”
She’s not used to hearing me disrespect someone of authority. I’m not used to it, either.
Liam frowns. “I need to see you in my quarters.” Without another word, he turns on his heel and leaves.
I push up from the lounge. “We’ll continue this another time.”
“Is he going to hurt you?”
“No.”
“Are you sure?” Uncertainty lines her face.
I hide my own apprehension because I’m not sure what to expect from Liam. We’ve existed in this penthouse for the last couple of weeks by exchanging curt, polite conversation. But there’s more between us—so much more—and the knowledge has only festered.
Now he’s demanded my presence in his private quarters, and I don’t know whether I’m elated or intimidated.
“It’s okay, Faye. You should take the afternoon.”
I exit the sitting room before she can object, but when I reach the heavy door blocking my entrance to the place where he sleeps, I stall, fist poised to knock.
Is he going to spank me again for my attitude?
Use his belt this time?
The latter causes my stomach to cramp.
I’m not ready to discover the harsher side of Liam.
I don’t have a choice. Something has to give because he can’t kiss me the way he did then ignore me the entire month of my stay in his house. I rap on the wood, my knuckles hitting harder than I intended. He flings the door open, and I slip past him, entering his formidable domain.
“Do you know how to play chess?”
His question catches me off-guard, and I whirl to face him, eyes wide in disbelief. “Chess, as in the game?”
A smile quirks on his lips. “Yes.”
“I thought you called me in here to punish me.”
“Oh, I did.”
“I don’t understand.”
“Answer the question. Do you play?”
“Yes.” Not very well, but I don’t divulge that information. He’s already got enough advantage on me.
“Shall we?” He gestures toward the table in front of the French doors where a game of chess awaits. As we each settle into a seat across from the other, I study him, trying to figure out what his true game is.
Because there’s no way it’s chess.
Since I’m sitting on the side with the white pieces, I take the first turn by moving a pawn forward two squares. “Your move, Chancellor.”
He brings a pawn forward. “You’re craving my hand today, aren’t you, my sweet girl?”
The thought of his warm palm on my bare ass does strange things low in my belly. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.” Moving a knight, I feign innocence.
“You know exactly what I’m talking about.” He follows my lead, and his knight jumps over one of his pawns. “You’re getting mouthy with me because you’re upset over the distance I’ve put between us.”
“How intuitive of you.” I slide out another pawn.
“You feel rejected.”
“That’s not true.”
It really is true, and I hate myself for the weakness. I didn’t expect to feel this way, but I do, and it’s causing chaos in my head. We advance several more pawns, losing casualties along the way, and then I move my queen, paying no attention to strategy.
When it comes to him I have no strategy.
His castle takes my queen.
He settles back in his seat, chin resting on his fist. “Take your time.”
Letting out a sigh of frustration, I weigh my options. I could take his queen in two moves, but he’d only block it. The seconds tick past as I study the board, searching for a winning course of action I haven’t yet found.
His patience is never-ending. He sits in that chair as if he owns it—because he does, and he owns me in this game. Just as I’m about to move my bishop, he breaks the silence.