Chapter 504
She had little appetite for dinner, only picking at her food.
Vivian Bennett tidied up the meal containers and walked out of the hospital room, carrying a trash bag.
The door to the emergency exit at the end of the corridor was slightly ajar.
She pushed it open, intending to toss the trash into the bin.
A faint, elusive scent of tobacco suddenly drifted past her nose.
She instinctively looked up.
In the dark corner, a single ember glowed and faded.
Vivian was startled, her hand jerking.
The trash bag fell to the floor.
The motion-activated light flickered on.
The dim, yellowish light outlined the silhouette of a man leaning against the wall.
Vivian's pupils contracted slightly.
Her lips had just parted to speak.
The man crushed his cigarette butt and strode toward her.
Her wrist was seized abruptly, a forceful pull yanking her forward.
She collided fully against his hard chest.
Her heart, already unsettled, was lodged in her throat.
The impact made it feel like it would burst from her chest.
"You—"
Before she could finish, his lips came down on hers, heavy and demanding.
Liam Sullivan was like a beast that had lain in wait for too long.
His kiss was fierce and urgent, carrying an air of undeniable conquest.
Her breath was stolen.
A muffled sound was swallowed by him.
His tongue pried her lips apart, invading deeply, tangling with her soft tongue, grinding against it with varying pressure.
The kiss was wild, without finesse, yet scorchingly hot.
It felt as if he was pouring all his pent-up emotions into it.
Vivian pressed her hands against his shoulders, pushing hard.
But she couldn't budge him an inch.
She never imagined that stepping out to throw away trash would lead to him cornering her and kissing her like this.
Her heart hammered wildly in her chest.
Fortunately, she managed to stay somewhat composed.
The man radiated an intense, primal aura.
His breathing was rough and heavy.
In the darkness, his gaze fixed on her like a starving wolf locking onto its prey.
Dangerous and burning.
He kissed her with a savage urgency.
Her lips felt bruised and sore under the assault.
Vivian's mind went blank for a moment.
Her cheek brushed against the stubble on his jaw.
The prickly sensation made her shiver slightly.
The clean, sharp scent of tobacco mixed with his masculine essence invaded her senses, robbing her of oxygen.
His large hand cupped the back of her head, his grip obsessive, nearly frantic as he nibbled and sucked.
Vivian's legs felt weak.
Yet her rationality hadn't completely shattered.
He had inexplicably gone silent, treating her with icy indifference.
He was entangled with that Crystal Evans, ambiguous and possibly even had a child with her.
He had said so many hurtful things.
Disgusting.
Who gave him permission to kiss her?
The more Vivian thought about it, the angrier she became.
Her body struggled violently in his embrace.
But the more she struggled, the tighter he held her.
His tall frame pinned her firmly against the corner.
His large hand gripped her waist, lifting her up, hoisting her clear off the ground.
The motion-activated light went out again.
In the darkness, she couldn't see his expression.
She only felt the heat of his gaze locked onto her.
Their breathing was equally ragged and uneven.
"Let go... mmm."
Her protest was once again smothered against his lips.
He kissed her again, as if possessed.
His tongue, heavy with the taste of tobacco, invaded her mouth.
She was still wearing the orange gown from the gala dinner.
His long fingers found the zipper at her back and pulled it down smoothly.
His calloused fingertips traced over her delicate skin, following the line of her spine.
After a moment of exploration, his movements halted.
His brow furrowed in the dark.
"You're not wearing a bra?"