He wasn’t sure how long he had been standing there, frozen.

On the other side, Kim was waiting.

He should just walk away. Pretend he wasn’t home. Ignore this like it never happened.

But his hands betrayed him.

Before he could stop himself, he unlocked the door and pulled it open.

Kim stood there, dressed in all black, a baseball cap pulled low over his face. But even in disguise, his presence was overwhelming.

For a moment, neither of them spoke.

Then Kim exhaled. “Can I come in?”

Liam’s first instinct was to slam the door in his face. But instead, he stepped aside.

Kim walked in, his movements slower than usual—hesitant. Uncertain.

Liam crossed his arms and leaned against the wall. “What do you want, Kim?”

Kim looked around the small apartment. It was nothing compared to the world he came from. But he didn’t comment on it.

Instead, he turned back to Liam. “I wanted to see you.”

Liam laughed, but it was hollow. “Now you want to see me?”

Kim winced. “Liam—”

Liam shook his head. “Save it. I don’t need an explanation.”

Kim stepped closer. “But I want to give you one.”

Liam met his gaze, arms still folded. Waiting.

Kim inhaled. “That guy at the club—he meant nothing.”

Liam’s jaw tightened. “That’s supposed to make me feel better?”

Kim shook his head. “No. But I wasn’t trying to hurt you.”

Liam scoffed. “You weren’t trying, but you did.”

Kim exhaled. “I panicked, Liam.”

That made Liam pause.

Kim took another step forward. “I saw you, sitting there, looking at me like—” He stopped himself, shaking his head. “I knew if I didn’t push you away, I’d do something stupid.”

Liam frowned. “Like what?”

Kim hesitated.

“Like kiss you,” he admitted.

Liam’s breath hitched, but he forced himself to stay calm. “And that’s a bad thing because…?”

Kim let out a short laugh. “You know why.”

Liam’s voice was quieter now. “Do I?”

Kim looked down, rubbing a hand over his face. “I can’t afford to fall for you, Liam.”

Liam’s heart ached, but he kept his expression blank.

Kim met his eyes again. “But I already have.”

Silence.

Kim stepped even closer, close enough that Liam could feel the warmth of his body.

His voice was almost a whisper. “Tell me to leave, and I will.”

Liam’s hands clenched at his sides. His chest felt tight.

Everything in him screamed that this was a bad idea.

But instead of telling Kim to leave—

He grabbed the front of his jacket and pulled him in.

Kim’s breath caught.

Then Liam crushed their lips together.

It wasn’t slow. It wasn’t soft.

It was desperate. Messy. Rough.

Kim kissed him back just as hard, pushing him against the wall, hands gripping Liam’s waist.

Liam gasped as Kim’s lips moved to his jaw, then lower, teeth scraping against his neck. His head tilted back, fingers digging into Kim’s shirt.

For a moment, Liam forgot everything—the club, the pain, the anger.

There was only this.

Only Kim.

But then—

Kim suddenly pulled back, breathing heavily.

Liam, dazed, frowned. “What—”

Kim stepped away, shaking his head. His hands were clenched.

“This is exactly why I need to stay away,” he muttered.

Liam’s stomach dropped.

“You’re fucking unbelievable,” he whispered.

Kim looked up, eyes filled with something unreadable. “Liam—”

Liam let out a bitter laugh. “You say you love me. You kiss me like you mean it. And then you run?”

Kim swallowed hard. “I can’t—”

“Bullshit!”

Kim flinched.

Liam exhaled sharply, running a hand through his hair. “I’m done, Kim.”

Kim’s body stiffened. “What?”

Liam looked him dead in the eye. “If you’re just going to keep running, then go. But don’t come back this time.”

Kim’s breath hitched.

Liam waited, heart pounding.

Then Kim turned toward the door.

And walked out.

Liam stood there, staring at the space where Kim had been.

And this time, when the door clicked shut—

He let it stay closed.