What? An undercover policeman?

Could it be true? Is it really possible that Enzo is actually on our side?

"Prove it," I demand.

"I will. I promise you I've been trying to bring Kieran down. I've been gathering evidence against him for months. Just give me a chance to explain," Enzo blurts it all out, breathless and puppy-eyed.

I hesitate, my mind racing. Is he for real? Or could this be some kind of elaborate ploy to gain my trust?

"Undercover policeman my arse." A familiar husky voice melts me on the inside as my nostrils are enveloped in that briny scent I know and I love.

Liam.

I steal a quick glance at my mother, and the panicked look on her face says it all. She didn't call him.

"I was sitting in the car, waiting for Zerina to come out," he explains, his voice low. "Then I saw Enzo approaching the building. I had to intervene. I had to tell ye..."

"Tell her what, huh?" Enzo grabs Liam's coat lapels. "Tell her what? What were you going to say? Everyone seems to think they can come in here and have their way with her. Well, you can't now. It's my turn to talk."

"Save yer breath." Liam scoffs, brushing Enzo off. "And do behave in the presence of the lady, ye oaf. Talk, ye shall, but there is no need for ye to open yer mouth. There's a recording of you speaking that will be much more... Truthful."

Enzo's mouth forms an "o." "What recording?" He hisses at Liam, his fists once again at the ready.

"A little birdie just sent me a voice message. It migh' just as well explain everything. Ye see... En-zo Vol-pe," Liam accentuates every syllable in Enzo's name and surname. "Ye shouldn't have stopped by yer office at Policlinico before coming here. Your entire conversation with Kieran? The one ye had just now? It was recorded."

My mind races, trying to anticipate what he could possibly reveal.

Enzo just stands there, gawking awkwardly at Liam, frozen like a deer caught in headlights.

"Let me just press play here fer a second." Liam smirks knowingly.

Sound of a phone ringing

Enzo: Kieran, it's Enzo. We have a problem.

Kieran: What is it, boy? I told ye not to call me unless it's absolutely urgent. Don't waste my time.

Enzo: That's just the thing, boss, it is absolutely urgent. It's about your daughter, Alexandra. She knows. She knows about us.

Kieran: Impossible. How could she?

Enzo: I don't have a clue, but she does. She's figured it out. All of it. This could ruin everything.

Kieran: Damn it, boy. Think. What do we do?

Enzo: I don't know. Maybe I should tell her I'm undercover.

Kieran: Do it. Tell 'er ye're a cop. That's the only way to save this.

As the recording comes to an end, Liam slow-claps. "And there ye have it, ladies and gentleman. The whole thing is a ruse."

My hand instinctively flies towards Enzo's cheek.

"A ruse! How dare you?! It wasn't enough for you to lie to me for over two years, to pretend that you loved me... Now you keep piling falsehood upon falsehood, just to get me back into your web of deceit? You're dead to me, Enzo! Do you understand? Dead!"

He just stands there stupidly, clutching the cheek I so fiercely slapped.

"I can't bear being in your presence for a moment longer! I'd like to leave, please." I nod in my mother's general direction and she gets it.

I'm killing two birds with one stone - getting away from Enzo, and getting Liam away from Sofia.

"Take me back to Castel Gandolfo with you," I command Liam.

His eyes shine with a newfound appreciation and a hint of... arousal at my direct order. "Why of course, yer highness. I am but yer humble lackey. This way, princess. Yer chariot awaits." He winks at me.

The city streets are still bathed in the soft glow of dawn as we abandon Rome once more. While we are driving away, I steal a glance at the rearview mirror, my heart heavy with worry.

I feel like Enzo won't give up easily. This is just the beginning.

***

"Still believe I am decent, sweetheart? I fight dirty." Liam purrs once we are safely inside Il Serpente's mansion walls.

Sweetheart. I huff. I both hate it and love it when he calls me like that.

Liam Cavanaugh is one hundred percent focused on me when he hugs me from behind, and I wish for it to stay that way.

I don't want Liam to ask too many questions or to... um... chat too much about our experience at my best friend's apartment.

Luckily, Zerina is already off to Luciano's study, reporting on everything that just happened at Ri's place.

I don't want my mother to see what I'm about to do.

Time for the best distraction I can muster.

His hug becoming more intimate causes me to press into the wall of the foyer, desperately trying to put some semblance of distance between us.

My autonomic system goes into overdrive and the spike of adrenaline heightens every sensation. I am hyper-focused on this man, my blood rushing into my ears.

His hips met mine, and I can feel the heft of his groin against my pelvis. Then that heft begins to grow and take shape and I suck in a sharp breath. Is he becoming erect?

Yup. Liam is now hard. His erection is digging into my stomach. He rocks his hips once and I swallow.

I sense his hot breath on my skin as he says: "Ye feel that, Alexandra? A decent man would not get hard thinking of thrusting his cock inside ye. A decent man would not get hard thinking of all the ways he could defile yer pussy, ravish ye right here. Right now."

Another thrust. My limbs are heavy and loose, uncoordinated, while a steady throb pulses between my legs. I haven't experienced desire this strongly before. It's as if I have no control over what is happening, and I find the sensation both thrilling and disconcerting.

"A decent man," Liam continues in my ear, "would not get hard thinking about shooting his load inside you."

Oh ... .. god.

Why is he saying these things? I don't want to find them arousing. Except I do. The combination of his proximity, his body rutting into mine, and the low rumble of his voice are more powerful than my common sense.

Mmm... So this is my attempt to distract him? More like, he is distracting me!

Closing my eyes, I inhale deeply through my nose, but that only sends more of his scent-sweat and some briny sea smell rushing forth —flooding through my head.

I melt, my knees no longer capable of functioning. All that holds me up is the foyer wall behind me and the mountain in front of me.

When I lift my eyelids I find him looking at me strangely. "You like that idea, no? I can see the truth written all over your face."

"Don't be ridiculous," I croak. "Get off me."

The words hold no force, probably because I don't really want him to move.

Without warning he grinds his erection into me once more and we both gasp. Moisture pools between my thighs, my sex organs swelling with desire. I long to rub my clit against him, to seek relief for the ache building in that tiny bundle of nerves.

"That's it," he croons. "Eager for yer taste of my cock after so many years? All you have to do is ask for it."

Wait, what? Was he implying?

No, no, no. This is all wrong.

I promised myself I wouldn't get hooked on the drug that is Liam Cavanaugh. Somehow I gather enough strength to shove him away. He steps back and I hurry upstairs, my knees not steady in the least.

It was a mistake, coming back here to Castel Gandolfo. But had I not done so... I was risking Sofia simply running out the front door to see what the commotion was, the curious little girl she is.

I was risking Liam seeing his daughter.

I gulp, sensing how wet I am from his mere presence.

I wasn't a regular masturbator. I had sex with Enzo every now and then, I gave myself orgasms maybe twice a week. My libido has been almost non-existent, with the pressures of work and my bringing up Sofia.

After Liam Cavanaugh came back to my life?

I was obsessed. I masturbated at least twice a day, sometimes more. It was like his body and words had unleashed the sexual side of my brain, a torrent of insatiable lust. I craved satisfaction, yet no amount of self-gratification fully satisfied the itch.

I just had a mind blowing orgasm in a bathtub less than ten hours ago, god dammit.

Liam catches me just as I'm about to enter one of the rooms.

"Let's explore it together," he murmurs, his bulging erection all too visible between his legs, and pushes the door forth.

As my luck would have it, it's a bedroom.

The grand four-poster bed dominates the space, with its ornate wooden frame, draped in crisp crimson linens.

My gaze is undeniably drawn to this exquisite piece of furniture. It's a far cry from the modest beds I'm accustomed to, yet there's something oh-so-alluring about it.

Liam's arms wrap around my waist in a comforting embrace. He rests his chin on my shoulder, his breath warm against my neck. "Impressive, isn't it?" he murmurs.

I can't help but nod, turning in his arms, allowing our lips to meet.

Liam works fast - he rolls me over so I'm lying on my belly, all that while still devouring my mouth with his, without breaking the kiss. "Lift that sweet ass."

1 do as he says and he pushes a pillow under my hips.

"What a sweet sight."

I glance over my shoulder and immediately wish I didn't. Liam stands behind me, now completely naked, with his cock standing at attention.

He isn't about to let me off the hook again. He smiles knowingly at the horny look on my face and climbs on the bed, kneeling behind me. He pushes my legs slightly apart and props my ass up even higher.

I am still wet, still aroused, and I know how good this can feel. Liam is huge.

His fingers slide into my opening, two at first, then three, and I exhale at the pressure. It's almost too much.

"This is nothing," he growls. "Soon, I'll fill ye completely, sweetheart. I've waited five years for this."

Something presses against my opening. Definitely not Liam's fingers this time. I hold my breath, my own fingers digging into the mattress to hungrily prepare for what is to come.

"Shite, sweetheart. Your pussy is going to welcome my cock readily."

Liam rubs his tip over my pussy lips, coating it with my juices, before he increases the pressure at my opening. Then he makes me turn around, longing look in his eyes. I nod almost imperceptibly, giving him permission to fill me up. He does just that.

His tip breaches me and I gasp out loud at how full this part of Liam's cock already made me feel.

It's infinitely better than any dildo in the world, than Enzo, than any man I'd ever had sex with.

Liam lets out a low hum, almost like a lion purring, and I can feel it all the way between my legs. His large hands grip my hips as he slides another inch into me.

I exhale sharply, trying to relax even as I feel like I'm splitting in half.

"Very good," Liam praises me as he slides deeper. The pressure is almost unbearable, and I can't believe my body's tight hold could be pleasurable for him. His low moan, however, suggests he enjoys the sensation.

When I am sure I can't take any more, Liam bends forward and places one hand under me, palming my breasts.

"You'll take every inch of me, sweetheart," he murmurs, pushing deeper. My fingers grip the mattress, and I dig my teeth into my lower lip until the tang of metal explodes on my tongue. I begin to tremble.

Finally, Liam's pubic bone presses against my ass cheeks as he fills me completely. "There you go," he rasps. "Yer pussy's perfect for my cock."

I close my eyes, acknowledging that truth fully.

Liam Cavanaugh, despite everything, has always been the one who set my body aflame.

"I hope ye're ready because I'm going to fuck you now." His chest presses into my back, bracing himself on his forearms to either side of me and forcing his cock inside even deeper.

I shudder, nod and close my eyes in anticipation.

His breath fans over my neck as he begins to slide out of me excruciatingly slowly, only to claim my body again. His strokes are slow and hard, filling me so deeply I feel a strange connection to him.

The bed shakes under Liam's thrusts, which become faster, and soon the pain dulls, but I am still far from release.

"Look at me," he growls, closing his fingers around my throat as his lips press to my ear. "Look at me, Alexandra."

I twist my neck until my eyes meet his. He thrusts faster into me, his hand still around my throat as his face contorted with lust and concentration. "Your pussy takes my cock so well" Liam rasps. "Such a good girl."

My mind revolts against the praise, but my body actually flushes with excitement.

"Feck it, this is paradise," Liam says as his eyes close with utter pleasure. The ache intensifies and he explodes inside of me, his face pressed against my hair.

Then he bites the crook of my neck, making me gasp and clench around him.

"Mmmn," he hums, his voice almost drowsy with pleasure. He remains on top of me, but his weight isn't crushing since he uses his legs and arms to brace himself.

I can feel his cock pulsating inside of me as he breathes heavily into my neck.

Behind the intense soreness, I can detect a subtle desire for more.

I am too exhausted, mentally and physically.

Without a word, Liam climbs back on the bed, grips my thighs, and pushes them apart widely.

I watch him out of the corner of my eye, wondering what else he has in store for me.

Maybe another round?