I held up a hand.“No, not this time. You gave me a pretty song and dance in there, then the first time she whispered in your ear, it was the same old thing. Stay away from me until you learn how to separate her opinions from your own.”
I didn’t wait for a response, walking slowly down the hall. I had no idea if I was going the right way. I just needed to leave, to not be around the people who shared my blood, who were supposed to love me unconditionally and have my back against the world.
I guess those things only applied when you weren’t a vampire.
Liam didn’t say anything as we made our way out of the hospital, letting me lean on him when I got too tired to stand straight, eventually taking me into his arms when it became clear I wasn’t going to make it out of there under my own steam.
His handsome face above me was the last thing I saw before I let my exhaustion and grief carry me off.
CHAPTERSIXTEEN
I woke facedown in a strange bed, my legs pinned and a warm weight against my back.
Awareness returned in spurts. Gradual, as I drifted out of slumber-land only to fall back into it again. Eventually I forced myself awake, the unfamiliar feeling of another person wrapped around me tugging me from sleep.
A leg pushed between mine from behind as I became aware the firm shape under my head wasn’t a pillow but was in fact a nicely muscled arm. One I recognized.
I lifted myself up, or tried to anyway. The arm around my waist tightened, flattening me down again.
Unable to escape, I twisted my head and stared blearily at a sleeping Liam.
His face was relaxed, peaceful even. It was the first timeI’d seen him so unguarded. I wouldn’t go so far to call him innocent or childlike, there was too much masculinity, too much potential for sin even when sleeping, but he looked softer.
I allowed myself to stare, my eyes running over him as I lay my head back down. Like this, his beauty was even more evident. For once, I didn’t immediately want to punch him in the throat.
The events of last night came back to me. The trip to the hospital had changed things between us, but I still couldn’t determine the extent.
He’d been an unwavering support at my back, doing what even my family seemed incapable of. I still didn’t know if I trusted him, not entirely, but in certain things, I knew he wouldn’t let me down.
It was enough. For now.
His eyes blinked open. He stared at me, desire in his gaze, his arms tightening.
Intent was there. Passion too. He looked like a man who was about to take what he wanted. He dragged me over him and hesitated, giving me a chance to say no for one endless slice of time.
The denial hovered on my lips. This was a bad idea on so many levels. We argued as easily as we breathed. He had secrets wrapped in secrets. I doubtedI’d ever know the real Liam. This would likely be a brief interlude that flamed out as fast as it burned.
Somehow, I couldn’t voice the word that would end all this as he put slight pressure on my neck, his eyes never leaving mine.
For the first time in a long time, I felt like I was right where I was supposed to be. Warm and safe. I couldn’t explain it, and I didn’t want to question it. The normally banked fire that flared to life anytime we got within feet of each other turned into an inferno.
For just one night, I wanted to forget the differences between us. I wanted to forget we were on two sides of a divide, forget all of the reasons this wouldn’t work.
Instead, I wanted to feel, to throw myself over the edge and not come up until I had sated myself.
It was a purely selfish desire. I was okay with that if it meant getting what I wanted.
He seemed to sense the change in me, one hand coming up to tuck a strand of hair behind my ear, his eyes questioning.
We didn’t speak, each of us afraid to break the moment for fear of it disappearing, of it turning as ephemeral and fleeting as a ghost light.
His hand tightened on the back of my neck as he drew me down, his eyes never leaving mine.
Our lips touched and thought disappeared. The desire we’d been denying rose up, swamping any remaining semblance of thought.
We became two creatures intent on glutting ourselves on the other. It was raw and violent, as if we didn’t consume the other right this second, we would die from the lack.
He was a cool spring lake, stealing my breath and stopping my heart.
