And if I’m honest with myself, maybe I’m hoping to see him since a meeting at Zodiac Headquarters detained him all morning. He’s been in his office ever since he came back, clinging to the distance growing between us.

“You’re too critical of yourself,” Faye says. “You could start a clothing line with these.”

It’s a subject we’ve talked about before. No doubt, it’ll arise again because Faye is loyal and supportive. Bold and opinionated. Where I capitulate, she forges ahead, refusing to let anyone stand in her way.

She wants the same for me, as one of my ladies and a lifelong friend.

“She’s right,” Liam says, his deep voice startling me. I drop my pencil and turn around to find him standing in the archway that leads into the formal dining room. He saunters to the table and picks up a drawing. “You’ve got natural talent. You should pursue it.”

“Maybe I would if the twelve of you weren’t passing me around.”

Faye gasps. “Novalee…”

She’s not used to hearing me disrespect someone of authority. I’m not used to it, either.

Liam frowns. “I need to see you in my quarters.” Without another word, he turns on his heel and leaves.

I push up from the lounge. “We’ll continue this another time.”

“Is he going to hurt you?”

“No.”

“Are you sure?” Uncertainty lines her face.

I hide my own apprehension because I’m not sure what to expect from Liam. We’ve existed in this penthouse for the last couple of weeks by exchanging curt, polite conversation. But there’s more between us—so much more—and the knowledge has only festered.

Now he’s demanded my presence in his private quarters, and I don’t know whether I’m elated or intimidated.

“It’s okay, Faye. You should take the afternoon.”

I exit the sitting room before she can object, but when I reach the heavy door blocking my entrance to the place where he sleeps, I stall, fist poised to knock.

Is he going to spank me again for my attitude?

Use his belt this time?

The latter causes my stomach to cramp.

I’m not ready to discover the harsher side of Liam.

I don’t have a choice. Something has to give because he can’t kiss me the way he did then ignore me the entire month of my stay in his house. I rap on the wood, my knuckles hitting harder than I intended. He flings the door open, and I slip past him, entering his formidable domain.

“Do you know how to play chess?”

His question catches me off-guard, and I whirl to face him, eyes wide in disbelief. “Chess, as in the game?”

A smile quirks on his lips. “Yes.”

“I thought you called me in here to punish me.”

“Oh, I did.”

“I don’t understand.”

“Answer the question. Do you play?”