“Don’t. He’s all over me.”

“What do you mean?”

“He came on my face.”

With a shaky breath, Liam slides a hand along my cheek, unmindful of another man’s claim on my skin. “It’s no secret I have to share you.” He runs a thumb across my lower lip. “Are you okay?”

“I’m fine.”

“There’s that phrase again.” His fingers graze the leftover stickiness on my cheek. “Did he hurt you?”

Only my pride.

“He humiliated me,” I say instead, remembering how he hauled me through the estate by the chain latched to my tongue. My only comfort is that no one else witnessed the degrading parade.

“Are you going to tell me why he punished you?”

I shake my head. “I can’t.”

He frowns. “Is this an issue of futility?”

It’s an issue of me wanting to keep my tongue.

“Tattling will only get me into more trouble. It’s over now.”

A tick goes off in Liam’s jaw. “Do you believe you deserved what he did?”

“He’s not like you, Liam. When you punish, you do it with compassion. What he did…no one deserves that.”

“Then don’t let shame rule your emotions, Novalee. You have no control over how the Brotherhood treats you.” Slowly, he backs me toward the door until my spine meets the wood. “Just like you can’t stop me from kissing the hell out of you right now.” Stepping forward, he closes the last few inches, bringing our bodies flush with each other.

“Isn’t this against the rules?” I meet his gaze, reeled in by the lure of those deep umber depths.

“He gave me permission to kiss you, so that’s what I’m going to do.”

I lift a finger to his descending mouth. “Please don’t.”

“Why, my sweet girl?”

“Because I’m a mess.”

“His scent isn’t a claim on you, but my mouth will be, and I’ll be damned if I let him ruin this moment.” His lips silence any further protest, his tongue seeking entrance, and I forget all about Mr. Bordeaux and his rules. The monster’s ejaculation on my face ceases to matter when Liam kisses me like this—with ardent urgency, his lips possessive and tongue combative, pummeling me into sweet surrender.

Clutching the lapels of his jacket, I groan into his mouth. “Please,” I breathe against his lips.

“What are you pleading for?”

“Don’t make me go back to him.” Inching away, I meet his eyes. “Let’s run away. I know you have the means, and I have money in a trust my uncle can’t touch. It’s mine when I turn twenty-one. We can have a life together.”