Lust Meter System: Conquering Beauties-Chapter 121: Grace Confession

The phone kept ringing.

Grace turned her head toward the sound, her eyes shifting to the lit-up screen on the coffee table.

The distance was too far to make out the name, but the persistent ringing told her enough.

The ringing continued for a few more seconds, then stopped.

The room went quiet again except for their breathing and the distant hum of traffic outside.

Liam turned his head to look at her, his brow furrowing slightly. "You’re not going to get that?"

Grace shook her head, her dark hair shifting against the floor. "No."

"Someone important?"

Grace let out a small laugh, though it sounded tired. She rubbed her hand across her face. "Probably Mark. He calls like that."

Liam raised an eyebrow. "Mark?"

"Someone from work," Grace said, her jaw tightening slightly. "He’s... persistent."

"Persistent how?" Liam asked.

Grace bit her lip, then shrugged slightly. "Just... he asks me out a lot. Like, a lot. And I keep saying no, but I always feel bad about it, you know? Although he’s rude, annoying, a lot the other officers don’t like him and he’s a jerk, But..."

"But?" Liam prompted.

"But I’m just not ready for any of that right now," Grace said quietly. She looked away, her fingers playing with a loose thread on the rug beneath her. "And honestly? He’s not really my type."

Liam tilted his head slightly, studying her. "What is your type then?"

Grace’s face went red immediately. She looked down, her fingers still fidgeting with the thread. "I don’t... I don’t think I really have one."

Liam smiled at that—at how shy she looked, how her whole face was flushed. "It’s okay. You don’t have to answer that."

Grace glanced up at him, saw the smile on his face, and felt her blush deepen. She looked away again quickly.

They lay there in silence for a moment, both of them still catching their breath, still coming down from what had just happened.

Then Grace spoke again, her voice softer now. "I always feel bad saying no to him. Mark, I mean. He’s always so... Persistent. Like he really thinks one day I’ll change my mind."

"But you won’t?" Liam asked.

"No," Grace said immediately. "I mean... Maybe if things were different. But right now? No. Definitely not."

Liam nodded, not saying anything. He could hear the certainty in her voice, but also something else—something like guilt.

Grace turned her head to look at him again. "Does that make me a bad person? That I keep saying no but I feel bad about it every time?"

"No," Liam said simply. "It just means you’re not an asshole."

Grace let out a small laugh at that, the tension in her shoulders easing slightly. "I guess that’s true."

Another silence settled between them. This one felt different though—less heavy, more comfortable.

Grace shifted slightly, wincing as she felt the soreness between her legs.

She could still feel the aftermath of what they’d just done, the wetness coating her thighs, the dull ache inside her.

’I can’t believe I just did that. With him. With someone I barely know. What am I doing?’

But even as the thought crossed her mind, she didn’t regret it. Not really.

Liam sat up slowly, running a hand through his hair.

He looked down at Grace, who was still lying on the floor, her body completely bare and glistening with sweat.

"You should probably clean up," he said.

Grace nodded, but she didn’t move. She stretched her arms above her head. "Yeah. In a minute."

Liam stood up, reaching down to pull his pants back on. He fastened them, then looked around the room.

His eyes landed on Daisy, who was still lying on her side, apparently asleep.

Outside the window, the night had fully settled in, the streetlights casting orange pools of light on the pavement below.

Grace finally sat up.

She reached for her tank top, which was lying in a crumpled pile nearby, and pulled it on properly.

The fabric felt cool against her heated skin. She tugged it down over her stomach.

She didn’t bother with her shorts or panties yet.

She just sat there, her legs still spread slightly, her whole body still trembling.

She wrapped her arms around her knees.

Liam sat back down beside her. "You okay?"

Grace nodded, her chin resting on her knees. "Yeah. Just... processing."

"Processing?"

"Everything," Grace said, gesturing vaguely with one hand. "This. Us. What just happened."

Liam nodded slowly.

Grace looked at him, her eyes searching his face. She tilted her head slightly. "Do you... do you do this a lot?"

Liam raised an eyebrow. "Do what?"

"This," Grace said, gesturing between them with both hands. "Help people with their... back pain?."

’No. But maybe I should start,’ Liam thought.

He couldn’t help the small smirk that tugged at his lips. "Not exactly."

Grace’s face went red again, and she looked away quickly, her hair falling forward to partially hide her face. "Right. Stupid question."

"Not stupid," Liam said, his voice softer. "Just... complicated."

Grace nodded, not pushing further. She pressed her forehead against her knees.

They sat there for another moment, both of them quiet.

Then Grace stood up slowly, her legs shaky.

She had to place one hand on the coffee table to steady herself.

A small smirk tugged at his lips as he watched her move, the way her body swayed slightly as she was trying to steady herself.

She reached down and grabbed her shorts and panties, pulling them on carefully. She adjusted the waistband of her shorts, grimacing slightly.

She walked over to the window, her bare feet padding softly across the floor.

She looked out at the dark street below, crossing her arms over her chest.

The night air was cooler now, and she could see a few people walking on the pavement, cars passing by occasionally.

Liam watched her from where he sat on the floor.

There was something different about her now—something softer, more relaxed than when he’d first arrived.

Grace turned back to look at him, dropping her arms. "You want something to drink? Water or...?"

"Water’s good," Liam said.

Grace nodded and headed toward the kitchen, her hand trailing along the back of the couch as she walked.

Daisy lifted her head sleepily, watching Grace walk away, then settled back down with a soft huff.

Liam stood up, stretching slightly. He rolled his shoulders, then cracked his neck.

Grace returned a moment later with two glasses of water.

She handed one to Liam, her fingers brushing his briefly, and sat down on the couch. She tucked her legs underneath her, settling into the corner.

Liam sat beside her, leaving some space between them. He took a long drink.

They drank in silence for a moment, the only sound the occasional car passing by outside.

Then Liam spoke, setting his glass down on the coffee table. "So what was that about earlier? When I saw him?"

Grace looked at him, her eyebrows drawing together. "What do you mean?"

"Mark," Liam said, leaning back against the couch. "What was he doing?"

Grace bit her lip, her fingers tightening slightly around her glass. She looked down at the water. "I can’t really say. It’s confidential."

Liam stretched his arm along the back of the cushions. "You know I’m the only one who knows who he truly is, right? So what’s actually left to hide?."

Grace looked at him, her eyes widening slightly.

Her mouth opened, then closed.

Then she sighed, setting her glass down on the coffee table.

"Good point," she said quietly, pressing her palms against her thighs.

"Yeah," Liam said.

Grace was quiet for a moment, her fingers drumming against her thigh. "He’s going undercover. In one of the local gangs. The Reapers."

’Now, that’s a bad ass gang name’

Liam let out a small breath and tapped his forehead with his palm, shaking his head slightly.

Grace tilted her head, watching him. "What?"

"Nothing," Liam said, dropping his hand. "Just... yeah. Continue."

"Alright."

’So I’m right,’ Liam thought to himself.

Liam’s eyebrows rose slightly. He sat up straighter. "So undercover? As in...?"

"As in pretending to be one of them," Grace said, her voice flat and matter-of-fact. She looked at him directly. "A thug. Someone to infiltrate the group."

Liam raised an eyebrow. "Why?"

"Because we had a feeling this group would be the killer’s next target," Grace replied. "We needed someone on the inside."

Liam was quiet for a moment, processing that. He rubbed his jaw. "Wouldn’t that actually put him in more danger?"

Grace shrugged. She picked up her glass again, turning it in her hands. "Of course it would. But he already knows the risks. That’s what the job requires sometimes."

Liam leaned back, his expression thoughtful. "That won’t stop the killers from thinking he’s a gang member though."

Grace nodded, setting the glass back down. "Yeah, but that’s it. He’s a cop, so he can actually call for backup."

There was a pause.

Grace was quiet for a moment, her jaw tightening. She bit her lip, looking down at her hands. She twisted her fingers together. "I know I shouldn’t say this, but... part of me kind of hopes something happens that makes him realize he’s not invincible. Not hurt, just... humbled, you know?"

She shook her head quickly, her hair swaying. "That sounds awful. I don’t actually want him to get hurt."

Liam didn’t answer. 𝕗𝚛𝚎𝚎𝐰𝗲𝗯𝗻𝚘𝚟𝚎𝗹.𝕔𝐨𝕞

He just watched her.

Grace looked up at him, her eyes searching his face. "Does that make me a bad person?"

"No," Liam said simply.

Grace let out a breath, looking relieved. Her shoulders dropped. "I just wish he’d leave me alone".

They sat there in silence for another moment. Grace picked at a loose thread on the couch cushion.

Then Grace’s phone buzzed.

The sound cut through the quiet. Grace’s whole body tensed.

She reached for it slowly, her hand hesitating above the device. She picked it up and looked at the screen.

Her hand stopped moving.

Her breath caught.

The color drained from her face. Her eyes went wide.

Liam noticed immediately. He leaned forward. "What?"

Grace didn’t answer. She just stared at the screen, her whole body going completely still. Her fingers trembled around the phone.

Liam leaned closer, his brow furrowing. "Grace?"

On the screen, in stark black letters against the white background, was a single word.

*Mark~ Danger*