What business did the cursebreaker have looking the way he did when all Liam wanted was to hate his guts? He had no right having arms that strong, or a chest that looked just wide enough for Liam to curl up against. There was no reason for his eyes to be so kind as they held Liam captive.
“I’m not gonna step anywhere,” he spat in frustration, trying to keep all his anger at the surface so he wouldn’t show Fix just how much he affected him. “I told you what I wanted and you…what? Decided you know what’s best and did it anyway?”
“I wanted to help,” Fix said, and no. Absolutely not. Liam was not letting that earnest voice and the safety he felt next to the cursebreaker sway him. He was angry. He had the right to be angry and no amount of the calm Fix exuded would help.
“Well, you didn’t,” Liam forced himself to snap before turning to the beautifully made-up blonde woman sitting behind the large reception desk. “Do you take credit cards?”
It would be a huge hit to his finances. He was dreading paying the debt off, but he would be damned if he’d let himself owe something to another person. He could add a few more streams to his usual schedule to try and make up for it. And there were fights announced back-to-back that he could attend with some higher paying clients, even if that was the last thing he wanted to do. He’d be fine. He’d always made it work somehow.
“We do…” the woman said at the same time as Fix said, “No, we don’t.”
Liam angled himself so his back was to the cursebreaker, fear making him stiff but spite forcing him to endure.
He didn’t like turning his back on people Fix’s size. He knew Fix wouldn’t hurt him, but the instinct was still there.
“Here.”
He pulled his credit card out and held it out to the woman.
“Taylor, do not take that,” Fix commanded.
Liam felt his hackles rise, even as his knees went weak.
“There were four curses broken at my apartment today,” Liam said to the woman, Taylor, shaking his card at her and willing her to take it. Desperate to just be away from the man who made the ground beneath him shake.
Fix wasn’t dangerous, but he was unsafe for Liam. For his sanity. His heart.
“Liam,” Fix said, and Liam could hear the warning underlying the firmness of that single word. It felt like he wasn’t going to get another one.
The hand with Liam’s card in it trembled, his body begging him to obey, but he flexed his meager muscles and kept it up. “Charge it.”
It was clear defiance, and hefeltFix react in the tiny hairs that stood up on his arms. In the disappointment he could feel like weights pressing down on his back.
Taylor looked between them like she could actually see the tension thickening the air before mercifully, she took the plastic.
A large hand grabbed it from her in the next second.
Liam looked up to meet Fix’s darkened eyes already staring down at him, his open, handsome face now an impenetrable mask. Liam trembled with emotion, with no outlet other than anger.
“What the hell do you think you’re doing?” he demanded, reaching out to snatch the card back.
Fix caught his wrist easily and held it up, the movement making Liam stumble into his chest. He caught his breath, sandalwood and musk flooding his senses, heavy breaths hitting his upturned face as Fix lowered his head until their faces were a whisper apart.
“Let me explain,” Fix said, his chest rumbling against Liam’s and making him shiver.
“This better be good,” Liam bit out as Fix started walking them toward, presumably, his office. “Might give you a chance to practice your story for the police. I’ll even give you tips on the parts that make you sound the most insane.”
He was rambling. He did that when he felt out of his depth. He walked after Fix into his office and tugged his hand away from Fix the moment the door closed behind them. He tried glaring. Based on Fix’s kind look, he failed.
“Sit.” Fix pointed to the chair tucked next to his desk and took his own seat on the other side.
“I’m fine standing,” Liam said, even as his knees buckled under pressure.
He wanted to please. He was mortified to realize he wanted to follow Fix’s direction and make him smile. Fuck that. As if that EVER ended well for him.
“I’d rather you be comfortable while we talk,” Fix said. “So please, have a seat.”
Liam walked to the chair and held eye contact as he perched himself on the armrest. There. He was sitting. Kinda. Fix chuckled at the move, and it absolutely didn’t make Liam want to melt.
