Free Web NovelChapter 42: Midnight Visitor.
Liam pressed himself against the wall beside the wardrobe, his breath held tight in his chest. The amber light from the bedside lamp cast long shadows across the room, and he could see his own silhouette stretched against the wall like a guilty secret.
The bathroom door creaked open.
Steam rolled out in a thick wave, carrying the scent of floral soap and warm skin. Rachel emerged wrapped in a towel—white, tucked securely at her chest, her wet hair clinging to her shoulders and neck in dark tendrils. Water droplets still glistened on her collarbone, catching the low light.
She stood in the doorway, scanning the room.
Liam stayed perfectly still because he knew while she wouldn’t call the police if she found him, it could potentially ruin his relationship with her.
Her eyes moved slowly—over the bed, the dresser, the shadowed corners. She didn’t look panicked. Her jaw was set, her shoulders squared. She looked like a woman who had learned not to scare easily.
"I know you’re in here," she said, her voice flat. "I can smell your cologne."
Liam closed his eyes.
"Fuck."
"I’m not going to call the police," she continued, stepping further into the room. The towel shifted with her movement, riding up just slightly against her thighs. "But I will hit you with something if you don’t show yourself."
A pause followed but Rachel could handle herself in this situation rather well.
Liam considered his options. He could stay hidden and hope she gave up. He could try to slip out the way he came. Or he could—
"Three," Rachel said. "Two."
Liam stepped out from beside the wardrobe.
Rachel’s hand was already raised, clutching a porcelain lamp she’d yanked from the bedside table. She was halfway through a swing when she registered who it was, her eyes going wide, the lamp halting mid-air. freewebnovel.cσ๓
"Liam?!"
He held up both hands, palms out. "I can explain." Liam said with an awkward smile.
She stared at him, the lamp still raised, her chest heaving slightly. Then, slowly, a smile crept across her lips. She lowered the lamp back onto the table.
"You broke into my apartment," she said, incredulous. "At midnight. In a three-piece suit?"
"The door was open," Liam said quickly. "I didn’t break anything. I just—pushed." Liam tried his best to convince her but noticed the emotional meter remained unaffected.
"And then you snuck into my bedroom?"
"I was going to leave! I heard the shower, I was backing out, and then I hit something on your dresser and—"
"And what? Decided to hide instead of announcing yourself?"
Liam opened his mouth but decided that trying to defend himself in this situation wasn’t for the best. freewebnøvel.com
"That part I don’t have a good explanation for."
Rachel laughed—a low, genuine sound that filled the quiet room. She shook her head, water droplets flying from the ends of her hair.
"You’re ridiculous," she said. "Do you know that? Completely ridiculous."
"You know, people keep saying that but I don’t see it. I’m just a passionate man on the paintbrush of a cosmic force."
She walked past him, closer now, close enough that he could smell the soap on her skin—something floral, something warm. She stopped at the dresser, bending slightly to pick up the object he had knocked over. It was a small perfume bottle, now rolling lazily on its side. But Liam could see her backside, the back view made him bite his lower lips in anticipation.
"You scared me," she said, not looking at him. "I thought you were someone else."
"Who?" Liam asked because for some reason, she didn’t act surprised by the break-in.
She didn’t answer. Instead, she set the bottle upright, her fingers lingering on it for a moment before she turned to face him.
"Why are you here, Liam?"
He had prepared a dozen answers on the drive over. I was in the neighbourhood. Darren mentioned he was dropping off something. I wanted to see if you were free. But standing here, watching her in that towel, her wet hair clinging to her skin, the words felt hollow.
"I wanted to see you," he said, simply.
Rachel’s breath caught. Just slightly. A tiny hitch that she tried to mask by clearing her throat.
"It’s midnight," she said.
"I know, and that is where demons come out to play."
"You broke into my apartment."
"Fair enough,"
"You hid in my bedroom while I was in the shower."
"That part I’m particularly sorry about."
She stepped closer. Then closer still. The towel sat snug against her body, the fabric barely containing the curve of her breasts, the line of her hip. She tilted her head, studying him.
"So you drove all the way here," she said slowly, "in your fancy suit, past midnight, broke into my apartment, scared me half to death—just because you wanted to see me?"
Liam nodded. "That’s the simplified version, yes."
Rachel’s lips curved into a slow, dangerous smile. She reached up, her fingers brushing against the lapel of his suit jacket, tracing the fabric with deliberate slowness.
"You could have just knocked," she murmured.
"I realized that. Standing here. In your bedroom. At midnight but something tells me I wouldn’t have enjoyed this view,"
Her hand slid up to his collar, her fingers curling around the silk of his tie. She tugged—gently, testingly—and he stepped forward without resistance.
"You’re already here," she said, her voice dropping to a whisper. "And I’m already standing here in nothing but a towel."
Liam’s throat went dry.
"I don’t know what you want from me," she continued, her eyes searching his. "But I know what I want from you."
Her other hand came up, pressing flat against his chest. He could feel her warmth through the fabric, the subtle tremor in her fingers.
"Just tell me..." she breathed, "... that you’re not here to play games."
Liam reached up, his hand covering hers against his chest. "No games," he said, his voice rough. "I swear."
Rachel held his gaze for a long moment. Then she nodded once, a silent agreement passing between them.
"Good," she said. "Because I don’t have the patience for games tonight."
She pulled him forward by the tie, closing the remaining distance between them, and pressed her lips to his.
