Page 98 of Heartbeat Girl

Heat engulfed me all over again when Liam’s blood touched my tongue and slid down my throat. My aches and pains faded away, and then his presence spread through me. The hurt returned after Liam dropped me off at the apartment. The memory faded, but the knowledge didn’t. Tears wouldn’t stop for so many reasons—the pain, the shame, the confusion.

That explained why I didn’t have too many memories of my time with Dean. He wasn’t a cheater, but an abuser. Our relationship had been about physical and mental cruelty. In order for me to forget all the things Liam wanted me to, he almost had to lock awayallthe memories.

“Shh,” Liam said against my ear, and I leaned into his touch.

Tears ran down my cheeks as I whispered, “Did you kill Dean?”

“What do you think?”

“I think you saved me more than you realized,” I said through hiccups. The woman he met dangled at the edge, ready to fall. If I hadn’t stumbled into Liam, I wouldn’t have gotten close to Ruth. I wouldn’t have learned how to smile again. I might not have lived.

“Dean can’t hurt you. He can’t hurt anyone,” Liam told me.

“Good.”

I turned around and let Liam wipe my face with his hands before I nose-dived against his shirt. His hand was in my hair when the door opened and Steve and Pete walked in. They sat on the bed and rubbed my back. I felt their affection and cried harder because of it.

I found something I never could with all the people in my life. Acceptance. For all my foolish choices, all my mistakes, they still saw me. The woman Liam saved and brought into their lives.

Those vampires were my people. I wouldn’t lose them to some stupid sire bond. I already knew that, but now I was more determined. I wouldn’t let anyone take them.

Even if I had to kill her myself.

Chapter Thirty-Three

JAYNE

Pete and Steve weren’t in the room when I woke the next morning when Liam kissed me awake. He murmured sweet words in my ear before letting me get up. One of the guys brought me food, and I gobbled it down.

After my memories returned, I was surprisingly at ease. Even my steps seemed lighter. My nonstop smile rubbed off on the backstage workers throughout the day as everyone geared up for The Oppressors concert. Another band performed first. My heart swelled with pride at how Liam and the guys helped the other performers, giving feedback and advice.

How could the past define or hurt me when the present was so bright and happy? Liam saved me before he knew me. I had a hunch that he, Steve, and Pete silently looked out for others like they did for Ruth, too. They were good guys, slash vampires. And for some reason, Liam gifted me with his affections. Little old me, and I wouldn’t waste them.

“You’re happy for someone that’s canceling a summer tour.” Rupert grinned with his arms folded.

Ignoring him, I ogled Liam, adjusting the strap on his guitar before slinging it over his shoulder. Liam had long, elegant fingers. I loved watching him play. I remembered what those felt like tightened against my hips as he thrust upward. The strength he carried in every angle he moved me. A web of desire spread inside my stomach. I glanced toward the wall and my mind was already there before I could make it stop.

I pictured Liam guiding my palms against the wall until I was bent over. Would he drop to his knees and take care of me with his mouth? Or would he take me right there, too desperate for me to wait? My knees nearly buckled as I sucked in a shaky breath.

That night of blood and sex with him, he had me in every position but that one. A delightful shiver ran up my thighs as I thought about his fangs piercing the side of my neck as he thrust inside me from behind.

“Jayne?” Rupert called out.

It was at that second I realized I drifted into a sexual haze, just by looking at Liam’s hands, in a room full of people.

Liam stiffened and turned his head. That dark stare pulled me from my erotic mind.Oh, fuck.His eyes were a breath away from going vampy on me. They devoured me at a distance. Why was he giving me a I’m-gonna-eat-you-up look? Could he guess what I’d been imagining? Did my arousal travel across the room to him? Or did my heart give me away?

A tap on my shoulder had me glancing up at Rupert’s face, whose grin stretched wider than it was a minute ago.

“Sorry,” I blurted.

“Mm-hmm.” Rupert snorted.

I laughed. “What?” Then I remembered what he said earlier, and my voice died out. I forgot to consider what Rupert must be feeling. He would be out of a job. “I’ll make sure you’re compensated for the entire summer despite the canceled tour.”

Liam gave me full access to all their money when I took the job. He might not know about Rupert’s family like I did, but I couldn’t see Liam or the others saying no to this. I watched Liam as I spoke, knowing he eavesdropped. His eyes became wide as he lifted a single brow, then smiled when I glared at him. He turned away, shaking his head.Yeah, what I thought.

“You can’t do that,” Rupert muttered. “It wouldn’t be right. What you can do is call me up if you have any more work for me.”