She searched his face before nodding her consent. "What about the body?"
"I'm going to take care of that," Mike answered. "Speaking of which, it's getting pretty late. I'd better go."
"Thanks, Mike," Liam said.
"No problem. I'll let you know how everything goes."
He climbed to his feet and left. Sera turned to look at Liam; her hopelessness radiated from her body. He pulled her down onto the bed with him. "Things will be all right," he assured her. "I promise."
She lifted her head to look at him. Her eyes burned into his as she leaned down and kissed him. "I don't want to think about it anymore," she whispered. "I don't want to think about anything right now."
She kissed him again, her mouth warm and lush against his as she opened to him. His passion built as she melted against him. He rolled her over, resting himself on top of her as his mouth ravaged hers. He needed her with a nearly consuming hunger. His hands roamed over her body, relishing in the feel of her warm skin as he shoved her shirt up.
Sera pulled eagerly at his shirt in her craving to feel his skin, to feel his solid body flush against hers. He sat up and ripped his shirt and jeans off. Sitting beside him, she pulled off her clothing to expose her splendid body. He studied her before pulling her against him.
He was wild with need, desperate to feel her, to be inside of her. Frantic to have her ease the torment of the past day and wash away the horrible memory of blood on his hands. He pushed her back on the bed, kissing her savagely, as his hands explored every inch of her satin skin. She moaned and lifted herself against him, her body begging him for more.
He drove himself into her with such force he was afraid he’d hurt her. But she showed no signs of discomfort as she arched beneath him and her hands dug into his back. Her moans and furious movements urged him to a faster pace as he drove in and out of her. He forgot everything as he was swept up in her body, in her movements, in the pleasure she gave him. Her hands grasped his buttocks, begging him for more, bringing him closer against her.
She cried out as the orgasm ripped through her. Her muscles tightened around him as her body shook. He drove forcefully into her, emptying himself with a loud groan of pleasure.
She collapsed on the bed, her body still trembling from the waves of pleasure racking her. She smiled sleepily at him as she caressed his face. Sweat beaded along his brow, matted his black hair, and made him look even sexier. She shivered as he nibbled on her lower lip.
His heart swelled with love as he rolled her onto her side. How he had ever gotten so lucky to find her, to have her, he didn't know. She should have run screaming from him, from everything he was, from everything he had done, and could do.
Instead, she gave him her heart, her body, and her soul. Even before he became a monster, he hadn't been a good man. There was nothing in his life to explain the kind of wholehearted love she gave him.
"I'll always love you," she whispered. Liam's heart skipped a beat as his arms convulsed around her. "But you have to promise me, no more lies, no more secrets."
"I promise I will never lie to you or keep another secret from you."
"Good."
"I love you too," he whispered.
Sera glanced up from her history book as Mike slid into the seat across from her. "Hey," she greeted.
He smiled as he leaned back in his seat and draped an arm casually over the back of it. "Cafeteria food will kill you."
Sera grinned as she pushed the remains of her salad aside. "Not all of us are lucky enough not to have to eat it."
He snorted a chuckle. "True."
"So to what do I owe the pleasure of your company?"
He glanced around the crowded cafeteria. Sera had been there for so long she had tuned out the noise level; it now penetrated her ears again. "Not much. Just saw you sitting here and thought you might like some company."
"Keeping tabs on me?"
He frowned as his arm dropped from the back of the booth. "No. I don't understand why you're taking this so well, but I do trust, Liam, which means I trust you."
"I didn't take it well at first," she admitted.
"I know, Liam told me." She bit her bottom lip as her gaze fell to the table. "Do you love him?"
Sera's eyes flew up to his. "With all my heart and soul," she said fervently.
Mike's eyes clouded as he leaned across the table. "You do realize he won't age; he won't—"
"I know, Mike," she interrupted briskly. "I know everything."
"Then what do you plan to do?"
She scanned the cafeteria. "I don't think this is the best place to be talking about this."
"They're not listening to us," he replied flippantly. "Besides, I doubt they could figure out what we were talking about anyway. So, what do you intend to do?"
"I don't know."
Her eyes flew to his as he took hold of her hand. "I trust you, Sera, I do. But you need to think about this. This way only leads to unhappiness."
"I know that," she whispered. "I do. I tried to leave, Mike. I was at the door. He would have let me go, but I couldn't. I just couldn't. I know what I did when I went back to him. I can't let him go."
"And he can't let you go."
"He would have let me go yesterday."
Mike opened his eyes to stare at her. "I don't think he would have, Sera."
"You didn't see him," she whispered. "He would have let me go."
"I honestly don't think he would have.
