by Kaylee Ryan
I can’t help it, I sob harder. Liam mumbles what sounds like, “Fuck”, and pulls me close.
Turns out the father of the guy, who was restraining Aiden, owns the place. Scott is the guy’s name.
“Hey, guys, you need to leave. I can cover for you,” he motions with his head to Todd and Jason, who are now sitting up on the floor, “but you need to leave now.”
“Thanks, man,” Liam and Aiden say at the same time.
As we walk outside, Liam grabs my hand, and I wince from the tenderness. He stops me by sliding his arm around me. “Allie, baby, what’s wrong?” he asks as he wipes the tears from my cheeks.
Aiden and Hailey are at my side. “Ash, what is it?” Aiden questions me.
Liam pulls me to his chest and whispers in my ear, “You’re safe. I’m sorry you had to see that.”
I sob harder. The sobs are due to the fight I just witnessed, not the pain. Liam assumes otherwise.
Liam looks over at Aiden. “Fuck, man, he was tugging on her trying to get her away from me.”
“Ash, we need to take you to get checked out.” He’s trying to soothe me, keeping his voice calm, but it isn’t working.
“Uh, guys, if we all show up at the hospital they’re going to get suspicious. Especially since my guess is Todd and Jason both need medical attention. Aiden, you have blood all over your shirt. I don’t want you guys getting kicked off the team,” Hailey tries to reason.
Liam speaks before anyone else has the opportunity, “I’ll take her. Aiden, can you take Hales back to our place? I’ll bring Allison back once we’re done.” He looks down to check to see if he is in the same shape as Aiden. Luckily, he is wearing a black shirt.
“It’s nothing. I don’t need to go to the hospital,” I interrupt them. “He just had a tight grip and it’s a little tender, nothing a few Advil won’t cure,” I try to reason. “I’ve just never witnessed anything like that before. My emotions are all over the place.”
Liam gently pulls my hand to his lips and places a tender kiss on my palm. “Allison, I’m not taking no for an answer. I’d never be able to forgive myself if it turns up broken and I didn’t make you get checked.” He lowers my hand and wraps his arm around my waist. “Please, let’s just let me take you and make sure you’re okay,” he pleads.
Aiden looks at me for reassurance. “Allison, are you okay with that?” He uses my first name, not my nickname. I know he’s trying to make sure I’m comfortable with Liam. I am. He would never hurt me, well, not physically.
I sigh with frustration. “Yes, it’s fine. I’ll see you guys in a little while. Just know this is not necessary,” I tell them.
“Liam.” I hear Aiden say, but there’s nothing but silence that follows. I look over to see Liam nod his head, then he places his hand on the small of my back to escort me to his SUV.
Liam leads me to his SUV and opens the door. He helps me in the passenger seat, then leans over and buckles my seat belt. He looks up and our faces are mere inches from each other. He brings his hand to my cheek and caresses it with his thumb. “I am so sorry.” He kisses me on the forehead, then shuts my door.
As I watch him make his way to the driver’s side, I release a frustrated breath. Liam and Aiden are overreacting. My hand doesn’t hurt that badly, and I have a feeling the emergency room doctors are going to think I’m vying for attention. Not that I mind Liam taking care of me.
Liam climbs behind the wheel, and then once he has his seat belt on and we’re on our way to the emergency room, he reaches over and places his hand on my thigh. The drive is quiet except for the sound of my heart racing. I’m sure Liam can hear it. The minor ache in my hand fades with the feel of Liam caressing my thigh. He goes back and forth from rubbing lazy circles to splaying his long fingers, like he’s afraid I’ll get away from him. He’s driving me insane from just a simple caress.
When we arrive at the emergency room, Liam helps me from the car and wraps his arms around me possessively while he cradles my hand to his chest. We sign in at the reception desk and take a seat in the waiting room. This is crazy.
“Let me see,” he says softly. He gently picks up my hand and brings it to his lips. He lifts his eyes, meeting with mine. “Baby, I’m so sorry he hurt you.” He swallows hard and looks away. “I can’t explain what it did to me to see you and Hales being with those two, their hands on you.” He turns back to me and his lips meet my forehead. He pulls away and puts his arm around me, pulling me to his chest. I sigh and relax against him.
“Liam, how many times do I have to tell you I’m fine? It’s just a little tender. We don’t need to be here.”
He places his finger over my lips to silence my plea. “Please,” he whispers, “for my peace of mind, can we wait for the doctor to see you?”
“Fine,” I grumble. I feel him kiss the top of my head as I close my eyes.
I wake up to Liam cradling me in his arms as we walk into an exam bay. He gently lays me down on the table, as he stands beside me, running his fingers through my hair. I open my eyes to look at him. “Hey.”
“Hey, you,” Liam says as he pulls the chair up next to the bed. He continues to run his fingers through my hair. “The doctor will be in to see you soon. Do you need anything?”
“No, thank you for waiting with me. I’m sure you’d rather be anywhere but here. Sorry.” I look away from him. I can feel the tears welling up in my eyes, and I don’t want him to see me cry. The frustration with tonight’s events are playing havoc with my emotions.
“Hey,” he says and I turn to face him. Liam runs his fingers down my cheek, wiping away my tears. “Allie, I would go anywhere with you, there’s nowhere else I would rather be.”
I would go anywhere with you… What I wouldn’t give for those words to be true. The only problem is they are true for me. I want him plain and simple. I know it’s wrong to want someone who has a relationship phobia. I’m setting myself up for heartache. Even though I know the outcome, I can’t control it. I refuse to act on it until he’s ready to give me more. Deep down I know that will never happen. Liam doesn’t think he is capable of more. However, the heart wants what the heart wants, and I’m slowly losing all of mine to Liam MacCoy.
Chapter 16
Liam
Seeing her tears breaks my heart. She actually thinks I don’t want to be here. When I tell her I would go anywhere with her, it’s with those words I know I want to chance it. I want it all. I want to be hers and her be mine. She’s the one and only person who’s ever made me want more than a few hours of sex, more than meaningless. For months I’ve fought this, and I know sitting here beside her it’s not going away. This need I have for her is real.
She focuses her big green eyes on me. “Liam…”
“Shh, baby, let’s get you taken care of, we can talk later,” I say as I kiss her forehead. As I’m pulling away, the doctor comes into the room.
“Hello, Allison, I’m Dr. Lansing,” the doctor says as he sits down on the edge of the bed. “And you are?”
“Liam MacCoy, sir,” I say as I reach out and shake his hand.
“Liam MacCoy from UNC?” he questions me.
“Yes, sir, that would be me,” I reply with a wink at Allie.
“I’m a big fan, big game next week versus OSU. Season opener.”
“Yes, sir.”
“Well, then, Miss Hagan, let’s get you fixed up. We can’t have our star quarterback worrying about his girl; he needs to focus on the big game,” he says, grinning at Allison.
“Um, he’s—” Allison tries to speak, but I interrupt her. I really like the sound of someone else calling her my girl.
“He’s right, baby. Let’s get you taken care of, so we can get you home,” I tell her.
She looks a little confused, but she smiles at me and nods her head.
After examining Allison, Dr. Lansing states he thinks it is just a bad bruise. He doesn’t even ask how it happened. He talks football with me the entire time, except for a few ‘do
es this hurt’ questions to Allison. I’m relieved though, because all we need is the media to get wind of this. Dr. Lansing sends Allison for x-rays of her hand, just to be safe. I, of course, refuse to let her go to radiology without me. After about thirty minutes, Dr. Lansing informs us his prediction is correct and the hand is just bruised and swollen. He advises Allison to take Advil as needed for pain and leave the ice pack the nurse gave her on for another thirty minutes.
I help Allison out to the Pathfinder and get her buckled in. She immediately begins to grumble about how she was right and I ‘wasted my time’ taking her to the emergency room.
I smile. “Thank you, for humoring me. I’ll sleep better tonight knowing you really are okay.”
“Hmph,” is her only reply. She’s even sexy when she’s mad.
I shoot Aiden and Hales a quick text letting them know she’s okay and we’re on our way after a quick errand. Looking over to find Allison asleep, I decide to stop at the all-night pharmacy and pick up more Advil. While I’m there, I go ahead and buy a new ice pack and a few other snacks I know she likes. When I return to my Pathfinder, she’s still asleep. I find myself constantly sneaking glances at her as I drive us back to my apartment. She’s so beautiful. She pulls me in, like a moth to a flame. Smiling at my earlier admission, I’m going to try. I want all of her, and I have never been happier. Convincing her I’m ready might take me a while, but I’m determined, and I never give up on what I want.
I pull up to the apartment and shut the truck off. I lean over and kiss her on the forehead. I hate to wake her up, she looks so peaceful. I grab the bag from the pharmacy and quietly get out of the car. I send Aiden a text telling him to open the door. I make my way to the passenger side, unbuckle her seat belt, and scoop her up in my arms.
“Liam?”
“It’s me. We’re back at my apartment. Let’s get you into bed.” Allison mumbles something I can’t really make out, but it sounds like ‘safe’. I cradle her tight against my chest. Fuck, this girl has weaved a spell over me.
“You’re safe, baby, I won’t let anyone hurt you.”
When I reach the door, Aiden’s already there, holding it open.
“How is she?” he asks as his eyes take in Allison cradled against my chest.
“She’s good. Just bruised and swollen. I stopped at the pharmacy.” I motion my head toward the bag I’m holding in my hand for him to take.
“Damn, what all did you get?”
I shrug. “I picked up more Advil, plus an Ace wrap, and an ice pack. I also picked up a few snacks I know she likes.” I’ve done nothing but watch her since we met.
Aiden looks at me and smiles. “You’re hooked, aren’t you?”
“More than you know, my man, more than you know.” I continue down the hall and stop at my bedroom door.
“Liam, Hales is already in there asleep. After we got your text she was wiped out, so I convinced her to go on to bed. I had to promise if anything changed, I would wake her up.”
Fuck! I want Allison in my bed. I want to take care of her. I turn and headed back toward the living room; she can sleep on the couch, and I’ll take the chair.
“Um, Liam, Blitzen is here, remember?” Aiden smirks. He knows this is killing me, and he’s enjoying the hell out of it.
“Fine,” I mumble as I walk into his bedroom. I lay Allison down on the bed. As I do, she reaches for me.
“Liam.”
“Shh. You’re in Aiden’s room,” I tell her.
“Here,” Aiden says, handing her a shirt of his to sleep in.
I glare at Aiden, and he smirks at me, yet again. He knows what it does to me to have her in his clothes. He knows I want her in my bed with me. Asshole.
Allison starts to sit up. “Let me help you.” I lean down and place my arm around her back and gently lift her, so she’s sitting on the side of the bed.
She looks up at me with a small grin. “Are you going to help me change?” My heart stops. This beautiful amazingly sexy creature is looking at me with innocent, trusting eyes, asking me to help her remove her clothes for bed. Before I can get my brain to function, so I can respond, Aiden is protesting.
“Ash, I can go get Hales. She just laid down, I’m sure she wouldn’t mind helping you,” Aiden suggests.
Allison looks at Aiden like he’s crazy. “Why would I wake her when Liam can help me?” she says it so matter of fact, like me undressing her is as normal as breathing. My stalled heart is now thundering in my chest. It’s beating so loud, I’m sure they can both hear it. Somehow, I’m able to make myself speak above the thunder inside my chest. I cup her cheek in the palm of my hand. “I can get Hales if that would make you feel more comfortable.” Please, say you still want me to do it. Hell yes, I’m being selfish, but my protective instincts are in overdrive when it comes to Allison. I’ll always want it to be me.
Allison smiles up at me before turning her gaze on Aiden. “Can you give us a few minutes, so I can change?”
Aiden gives me a warning look before nodding his head and backing out of the room. I know he’s worried I’ll hurt her, but what he doesn’t realize is I could never, would never. I’ll protect her with everything in me. I stand here staring into her green eyes and I’m overcome with emotion. I’m going to do it. I’m going all in with this girl, and I’m excited at the concept. There are no doubts floating through my mind. I crave her unlike anything I’ve never known. Suddenly, I need to make it real. I need her to tell me that it’s me. That no other man will ever touch her again, because the next time I’m not so sure I’ll be able to stop until I kill the fucker.
I drop to my knees in front of her, so we’re eye to eye. She raises her eyebrow at me in question. I place my hands on both of her cheeks before leaning in and placing a kiss on her forehead. “Allison, I know you said you want more, that you want it all.” I swallow the lump in my throat. Just because I’m positive this is what I want doesn’t mean I’m not scared as hell that I still won’t be enough for her, be what she wants. I take a deep breath and continue. “I want you, all of you. I never want to go through what I went through tonight ever again. When I saw his hands on you...” I shake my head to attempt to erase the memory. I gently pick up her hand and cradle it against my chest, right above my heart. Her eyes soften, and I know she can feel the thunderous rhythm playing inside me. Gently I kiss her hand. “I want to be with you, only you. I want to be the one who holds you at night, the one who gets your kisses and your smiles.” I brush my fingers across her cheek.
I feel her hand tremble against my chest. She’s just as affected by me as I am by her. “Liam, you know I don’t want casual. I don’t expect you to propose, but you told me yourself, you don’t want a serious relationship. How can I be sure you’ve really changed your mind?” She places her soft hand against my cheek. “I feel such a connection with you, it would only be a matter of time before I fall head over heels. You would have the power to break me, break my heart. I’m not sure I can take that chance.”
“Baby, I’m taking a chance too. I’ve never felt this way about anyone. Never has my entire world been turned upside down because of a beautiful girl consuming my every thought, every emotion.” I take a deep breath, this is it; I’m going to let this girl in. I’m giving her the power to destroy me. “I’m taking a chance too, beautiful girl, but you have to take one on me as well. We’ll be in this together, you and me. You’re all that matters,” I whisper as I crush my mouth to hers. I need to taste her. I need her to understand this isn’t a game, not just a hookup. She is mine—I want her to be mine, need her to be mine.
Chapter 17
Allison
I’m trying to process what Liam just said. He tells me I’m all that matters, and then he crushes his mouth to mine. I moan deep in my throat. I can’t control it, even if I wanted to. The taste of his lips on mine is annihilating my common sense. I don’t want to fight this anymore. I want him and his kisses. I reach up and wrap my arms around his neck, pulling him in
as close as I can get him. He drags his lips away, and I groan at the loss. He continues his assault on my senses by placing kisses on my cheek, down my neck. He pulls away, breathing heavy, as his hands make their way to the hem of my shirt. Without question or thought, I raise my arms in the air. Liam gently raises my shirt over my head. He then takes my hand and helps me stand. I watch as he places kisses on my collarbone, down my chest, working his way down my stomach. Once he reaches the waist of my jeans, he looks up at me with hooded eyes, seeking my approval. I can only nod my head as I run my hands through his hair. Liam slowly unbuttons my jeans and slides them down as he peppers kisses on my thighs.
Once my jeans hit my ankles, I step out of them with Liam’s assistance. He stands and wraps his right arm around my waist while placing his left hand behind my neck to pull me close to him. He crashes his lips to mine and kisses me with so much passion that if he wasn’t holding onto me, I would fall to the floor in a puddle of lust. I never want him to stop. I want to spend every second of every day wrapped in his arms being consumed by his kisses.
Suddenly, there’s a knock at the door. “Ash, you guys done in there?” Aiden yells through the door.
Liam pulls away and places his forehead against mine. “He has impeccable timing. You might want to answer him, baby. I don’t think he would trust me if I said you were fine.”
“Give us a minute, Ace!” I yell back. How I’m able to find my voice and use it is beyond me. What started out as me flirting with Liam, asking him to help me change, turned into confessions and scorching kisses. I’m perfectly capable of changing on my own, my hand doesn’t even hurt. What has gotten into me?
“What are we doing, Liam? What does this mean?”
Liam stares at me intently. “I would like to think I was kissing my girlfriend while helping her change,” he sheepishly replies.
“Girlfriend?” I whisper.
“Girlfriend,” he whispers back in confirmation.
