She should have known. Scotch was his preferred poison.

One long finger crooked at her direction. "Come closer."

His voice was dangerously low and s.e.xy as h.e.l.l. Liliana had been in situations where Adam had been slightly drunk before and at times both had been tipsy. Those nights always ended with an all-nighter until her body ached. Just the thought made that delicate spot between her thighs tremble. And she so didn't want to go there. Well, maybe one more time. She shook the temptation out of her head. She needed to be strong and maintain a firm grip of her treacherous heart. She stepped closer.

"Are you drunk?"

He let out a low laugh. "No."

Lily had a feeling it wasn't for a lack of trying.

He looked at her, his eyes twinkled and his mouth smirked in this smile that made Lily know he was thinking something. And whatever it was probably meant trouble for her.

"Come inside, Liliana, it's a cool night."

"I shouldn't."

"Then why did you come to me?"

Good question. Oh yes, to return that beautiful engagement ring he'd given her. She almost forgot. She lowered her gaze to her finger then at Adam. "To return..." But she hesitated and he took note of that.

His free hand pushed the door wide. "Come inside."

"I shouldn't," she repeated, this time in a less convincing tone.

"Yeah, you should." His free hand pulled her gently inside the house. He kicked the door closed, and finished the last drop of his scotch before setting the cup on a nearby table. For a beat neither spoke, the air crackled with desire. A yearning that Lily knew no matter how hard she tried, she'd never get over.

"The ring," she breathed, but couldn't finish since her throat was tight with emotion.

He stepped closer and erased whatever s.p.a.ce left between them, crowding her. Holding her gaze, Adam slid his hand around the nape of her neck and pulled her to him. Caught in the trance, her eyes stayed on his as he lowered his mouth to hers, oh so close but not quite touching. "The ring is yours, Liliana, forever."

Then he kissed her and the reason she found herself at Adam's doorstep slipped out of her mind. Things went out of control from there. His hands were on her, everywhere, blending them together.

Her clothes were removed quickly, her bra, then her panties, leaving her in a pair of wild copper ballet flats. She kicked them off and reached for Adam, desperately needing to feel his skin on hers. "I came here to say goodbye."

His gaze lowered to her b.r.e.a.s.t.s pressed against his chest. "Never goodbye, Liliana, we are forever linked." He smiled then sucked on her bottom lip. "Besides, this is much better."

With one quick motion, he swept her in his arms and carried her up the stairs into his bedroom. His lips leaving warm trail of kisses on her neck, her shoulder, and when his mouth found one of her b.r.e.a.s.t.s and ran his tongue over her hardened nipple, she cried out.

They tumbled on the bed, seeking each other out like wild creatures. Hands everywhere, their shadows shifted and she rolled over him, straddling him. She kissed him then, his face, mouth, and throat. Any piece of flesh she could find. It was a hungry kiss, restless and desperate. Her heart ached and wanted at the same time with an urgency she couldn't control even if she tried.

"Your pants," she panted against his lips, "off." Her fingers were already working on the waist of his sweats. His hands brushed hers aside as he worked off their last barrier until he kicked them off. She felt him grab his length and ran the tip of his erection against her entrance.

"Tell me this is where you want to be, Liliana."

Their eyes met, his looked wild, reflecting the hungry desire she felt inside. "Yes."

He rubbed against her again. "Tell me."

Dominated by the hunger inside her, she stubbornly tried to lower herself to his length but his hands clutched her hips and held her still, silently demanding she answer. "I want."

His head lifted and his mouth found one of her b.r.e.a.s.t.s. He sucked it between his teeth. "Me."

Oh, G.o.d yes. Forever. "You."

He let out a low laugh, satisfied with her answer. Then he was inside her. She cried out at the firm, smooth entry. In typical Adam form he took control then, holding her hips as he thrust up into her. "This is where you belong, Liliana, always."

He reared up, held her against him and rolled over her until and pinned her under him. And then he was giving her what she craved for. He pummeled inside her, expanding her walls with brutal strength and an urgency she knew wasn't his style.

Fast. G.o.d, yes. She wanted fast.

"You're so f.u.c.king delicious," he murmured and crushed his mouth to hers.

Madness took over then. Adam used his teeth, tongue and lips to pleasure her. Common sense tried to sneak back and reminded her she was here to officially break things off and say goodbye, but she quickly buried all logical thoughts and lost herself to Adam, to their wild animal s.e.x, until her system exploded.

Eyes closed, Adam reached over and pressed the snooze b.u.t.ton on his cell phone's alarm. Ten more minutes with Lily before leaving for his flight. He rolled over, reached for her, and was greeted by emptiness. He opened his eyes and stared at the unoccupied s.p.a.ce. He listened for the water running in the shower, nothing. His gut tightened.

His immediate reaction was to shut down. His body didn't know how to react. Adam fell back on his side of the bed, scrubbed a hand over his face. For years he suffered with insomnia and the one night he shouldn't have slept, he managed to sleep so hard that he didn't even know when she walked out of his house. A bad feeling boiled in his stomach. s.h.i.t. He shifted his weight and when he was unable to get comfortable, he sat up.

Adam reached for his phone and his eyes landed on the engagement ring he had slipped on her finger. Yeah, this was bad. Rubbing the back of his neck, he picked up the ring and rolled it between his fingers. He sat silently, a searing pain shot through his heart.

She wanted love, the whole idea of love. He should have known she would never settle for less. He was an idiot for thinking he'd won that battle.

A deep sense of numbness. .h.i.t the pit of his stomach, catapulting him. Last night she came over with the intent to break things off, somehow he'd managed to sway her decision, at least delayed it. He'd thought he succeeded in convincing her. In the end, she still walked away. He'd overestimated their connection and underestimated her strength.

He was an idiot.

After a beat, he carefully placed the ring back on the nightstand, cracked his knuckles and rose to his feet. He had a commitment in Russia; sitting in his room wasn't going to take care of that. A nice warm shower would clear his mind. But halfway towards the bathroom, he stopped and hurtled to his phone. He tapped the name of the airline on his contact list and pressed the dial b.u.t.ton. Minutes later, his flight was moved to the early afternoon, which meant he'd arrive in Russia with enough time to go straight to the track. The good news, now he had time to stop at Martha's Way for the brunch Jason and Minka were hosting before leaving for their honeymoon. He knew Lily would be there. She wasn't due to leave the island until later in the afternoon.

Two hours later, Adam walked into the rustic atmosphere of the smaller dining area of Martha's Way. Fresh grilled breakfast flatbread woke up his palates. He ignored it and scanned the room and spotted Forrest and Charles Montgomery stood with b.l.o.o.d.y Marys in hand, talking casually. Everyone was in attendance but one. Lily was nowhere to be seen.

Not too far of a distance away, Minka waved at him, said something to Jason then came to Adam.

"I thought you were leaving for Russia."

"I changed my flight." Because I needed to see her and make things right. "Where's Liliana?"

A sad smile touched Minka's lips. "She caught the first ferry out this morning." She reached into her purse and produced a fuchsia envelope with his name written on it. "She left this for you."

Adam took the envelope. "She knew I'd come after her."

Minka touched his shoulder. "I asked her to stay but she wouldn't." With another small smile, she walked back to her table and sat by Jason.

Envelope in hand, Adam slipped out of the room. He'd stop by later and make small talk. Right now he needed to read her note. He pushed the door and walked into the garden and carefully opened the envelope and read the handwritten note.

Adam, I can't remember the last time I walked away from something or someone in my life. I wanted us to work so badly that I convinced myself I saw things that you don't feel. You see, my heart got the best of me for a while. In reality, the heart cannot, should not govern over logic. It's not the wisest tool, therefore, should not control every decision or everything we feel.

I hate to admit Rafa was partially right. You might have dealt with your past in order for us to have a future, but not enough for you to love me. Your birth parents relationship still weighs heavily on how you view love. The funny thing is you are surrounded by love. Your parents, your friends. Me.

Today, I say goodbye. It breaks my heart to do so because I love you and everything that you are. But I need for your feelings to mirror mine. Oh, you care, and love me even, but not enough.

...Always, Liliana P.S. You are right. We are fovever linked. I'll let you know when our baby is born. Goodbye Adam. I love you.

Heart thudding in his chest, Adam carefully folded the note and buried it in his pants pocket. She thought he didn't love her enough. That's where she was wrong. He loved her too much, so much that it scared the s.h.i.t out of him. Just thinking about it made him shudder from his feet to his head.

Chapter Thirty.

"In all the word, there is no heart for me like yours.

In all the world, there is no love for you, like mine."

Maya Angelou Lily stood in her condo and waited for that wonderful feeling that always washed over her whenever she returned home after a long time away. Two days since she returned home, the feeling of home sweet home hadn't come. Instead, she ached. Her body and mind yearned for Adam. His face, smile, and touch haunted her. During the night she reached for him, only to find an empty s.p.a.ce. Twice today in cla.s.s, she slipped and called two little boys Adam. They looked at her as if she was crazy.

Absently, she placed her messenger bag on the living room sofa. She had papers to grade and a.s.signments to prepare. Enough to occupy her mind for the next few hours. As she made her way to the kitchen, her phone buzzed. She reached in her bag and read Claire's message.

Adam's interview will be on tonight. Check it out. Hugs.

She quickly responded to the text and went to the kitchen. It was also the night of his final race for the year. She had set her DVR to record it, but she knew she'd be wide awake. The DVR was a just in case.

"Food. We need food," she said to her belly and ran a hand over her shirt. Officially nine weeks pregnant, and due for her next doctor visit tomorrow; aside from a sad, aching heart, she felt great. She couldn't blame her lack of energy on the pregnancy, nope. It was all due to a broken heart. She stared down at her naked finger, swallowed away the pain, and tried to focus her attention on her long list of to dos.

Hours later, she graded the last paper and was getting ready to start working on next week's cla.s.s a.s.signment when the sound of the doorbell startled her. She made her way down the stairs and looked through the peephole. Rafa. The two had not spoken much since the big fiasco at Martha's Way. Lily had told herself, they needed time. She opened the door.

"Hey," Rafa greeted and walked past her.

Lily closed the door and followed. In her living room, they stood facing each other. She had hurt him by bringing up Lea and she hadn't meant to, but she was hurting, desperate.

"I'm sorry about Adam," he said. "I went too far, but something about him I didn't trust."

She walked over to the sofa and sat down. "You didn't trust me," she corrected. "You didn't trust me to make my own decision after Nate."

"I didn't want you to get hurt."

"You went about that the wrong way."

He let out a breath. "I know, and I'm sorry for that." He sat next to her. "Will you forgive me?"

It wasn't often big brothers apologized to their little sister. The best thing for her to do of course was to torture him, make him grovel, make him sweat. But a part of being the best little sister in the whole world was to know when to let go, forgive, and recognize, because of her brothers, she'd always have a friend. "I'm sorry I brought up Lea."

"It's okay."

But everything in the tone of his voice told Lily the Lea topic was still in the do-not-touch file. "You're leaving again," she noted. Her brother had been running away for the past year.

He nodded. "At the end of the week, I'm going to Haiti for a few months to help engineer their water supply. Four years after Sandy, the devastation is still grave."

She could have told her brother he didn't need to travel for months out of the year to help. Instead, she pulled up against him and put her head on his shoulder. "I love you."

He chuckled. "Yeah, I love you too."

After a comfortable silence pa.s.sed between them, Lily reached for the remote and turned the channel to the major network Claire had mentioned Adam's interview would be aired.

"What's on TV?" Rafa asked.

She didn't need to answer, Adam's face appeared on the screen and her heart skipped at the sight of him. His face carved in stone and everything about his vibe was saying, I'm p.i.s.sed off.

"When are you marrying him?"

"I'm not," she answered, eyes glued to the television screen.

Rafa reached for her left hand. "Did you throw that one in the ocean too?"

She pulled her hand away and managed a chuckle. See, that was why she loved her brothers. They always managed to make her laugh, broken heart and all. "I returned it."

"And he let you go?" he asked, surprise in his voice.

"Well, I snuck out while he was sleeping."

"Coward."

"No, it's knowing if I didn't do that I'd never be able to walk away."

He slid her a look. "He does love you."

She chuckled. "Oh, now you tell me." Rafa laughed. A rich sound of easy laughter that reminded them things were once again okay between them. A deep, masculine voice announced Adam Aquilani was here to set the record straight about his past and no questions were off the table.

"Sshh, Adam is getting ready to talk."

"He's not a bad guy, sis. He deserves you. I just don't like his arrogance."

"Because you should be the only arrogant alpha around."

He laughed again. "Something like that. How are you and my little niece or nephew doing?"

"Besides the obvious, great."

He kissed her temple, sat back and watched the interview with her. Nothing new was revealed, but Lily was glad to hear Adam openly talk about his past, the many organizations he and his friends have established on the island to help abused children and people with eating disorders.

Somewhere in the night, Lily opened her eyes, surprised to find herself nicely tucked in on the sofa. Rafa had stayed and kept her company well after the interview ended. They talked and laughed like old times. She must have drifted. She caught the red blinking light on her DVR indicating Adam's race was going on. She turned on the TV and caught Adam cross the finish line. He won the race, finishing the season as the top F1 driver. This time when he stepped out of the car with champagne splashing over him, he scrubbed his face and laughed as he accepted accolades from his teammates, but there was no scantily clad woman in his arms or kissing him.

"Adam," the pretty Russian reporter said with a smile. "Are you going by Cooper now?"