Where Petals of Vengeance Bloom

Chapter 520

Her burning red lips brushed against his. Liam's pupils dilated, his entire body going rigid.

His voice came out low and hoarse. "Mandy, take it easy."

But Mandy couldn't hear him at all. Even if she did, her mind was too foggy to process anything.

She just kept nuzzling against him, rubbing her cheek along his chest.

Liam let out a heavy breath. "You're really something, you know that?" he muttered. “Lucky for you it's me. If you'd run into someone with bad intentions tonight, who knows what might've happened."

Just the thought of Mandy being at someone else's mercy sent a flare of anger through him. He didn't even understand it himself-why was he this possessive over a woman he'd only met once?

Normally, he'd never go this far for a stranger. He wouldn't have offered her a ride, shielded her from the rain, or-God forbid-held her like this. Usually, he'd brush off any woman who tried to get close.

But now, glancing down at Mandy curled up in his arms like a sleepy kitten, all her defenses dropped, he couldn't bring himself to push her away.

to himself. "When you wake up, don't even think about

room, gently laying her on the bed. She refused to let go, her arms still locked tight

so close, nose to nose, he could see every detail of her delicate features

Adam's apple bobbing as he fought to keep his

a devilish idea flickered through his mind. He realized he didn't

his lips as he stripped off his suit jacket and tossed it to the floor.

of his crisp

Still not enough-be ran a hand through his

resembled a well-bred man who'd just

placed his tie in Mandy's hand, then

Eventually, the effects of the alcohol began to fade, and Mandy slowly drifted back to consciousness, her head

she saw was a man slumped beside her

acting groggy and confused. "What's wrong?" he asked,

"What