Alice.
I woke up to the feeling of Liam’s arm draped over me. The events of the previous night played in my mind, making me blush.
I carefully slipped out of bed, hoping not to wake him, and dressed quietly. As I was about leaving the room, I felt a hand gently grab my wrist.
“Where are you going?” Liam’s voice was still gruff with sleep, but there was a softness to it that made my heart flutter.
“Just… getting some fresh air,” I replied, trying to keep my voice steady.
He held out his hand and I slowly placed my hand in his after a split second of thought.
He pulled me back onto the bed. “Stay,” he said, his voice low. “I want to spend the day with you.”
I nodded at him, I wasn’t gonna annoy him now, I’m i?. Climbing back into the bed, I pulled the sheet up to my chin.
Liam, lying beside me, propped himself up on one elbow, a smirk playing on his lips.
“Good morning, Sleeping Beauty,” he teased, his voice low and husky.
I blushed furiously, unsure how to respond. Liam’s teasing brought back memories of last night-how he had made me lose control, how he had touched me with such intensity that I couldn’t help but moan.
“You were quite wild last night,” he commented casually, his fingers tracing patterns on my bare shoulder. Heat rushed to my cheeks as embarrassment flooded me.
“I… I’m sorry,” I stammered, feeling small under his gaze.
Liam chuckled softly, his smirk widening into a grin. “I’m not complaining,” he said, his voice dropping to a husky whisper. “In fact, it was quite… arousing.”
I bit my lip nervously, uncertain how to respond. “Why were you… different last night?” I finally managed to ask, my voice barely above a whisper.
Liam’s expression changed immediately, his demeanor turning cold again. “Don’t read too much into it,” he muttered, his tone clipped. “It was just… a moment.”
Disappointment washed over me, though I tried to hide it with a forced smile. “Right,” I replied softly, nodding in understanding.
Liam sighed, his gaze softening slightly as he looked at me. “You should go,” he said abruptly, frustration evident in his voice. My heart sank at his dismissal, hurt by his sudden change in demeanor.
Swallowing my pride, I nodded silently, pushing aside the sheet and slipping out of bed, avoiding Liam’s gaze as I left his room.
The rest of the morning passed in a flash, maybe because I wasn’t even in a mood to notice it. Liam’s abrupt dismissal echoed in my mind, leaving me questioning whether last night had meant anything to him at all.
I tried to distract myself with household chores, I couldn’t ignore the feeling of sadness that lingered within me.
When I was done with house chores, I found myself in the kitchen, preparing sandwiches. The sound of footsteps behind me made me tense, but when I turned around, it was Liam standing there.
“I’m sorry about this morning,” he said gruffly.
I blinked in surprise, caught off guard by his apology. Did he just apologize?. It was the first time he ever did!.
“It’s okay,” I murmured softly, unsure how to respond.
Liam’s jaw tightened, as if wrestling with words he couldn’t quite say. “I… I didn’t mean to push you away like that,” he admitted reluctantly.
“Why were you… different last night?” I found myself asking again, curiosity outweighing my fear of his response.
Liam hesitated, his eyes searching mine as if weighing his next words carefully. “I’m not good with… feelings,” he finally admitted, his voice rough with emotion. “But last night… it was different. You were different.”
I swallowed hard, processing his words. Could it be that Liam was beginning to feel something more for me? The thought both excited and terrified me.
“I don’t know how to do this,” he confessed quietly, his vulnerability stripping away the layers of his tough exterior.
“You don’t have to figure it out all at once,” I reassured him gently, taking a tentative step closer. “We can take it one step at a time.”
Liam’s gaze softened, a rare warmth flickering in his eyes. “You drive me crazy, you know that?” he muttered, his lips quirking into a faint smile.
A nervous giggle escaped my lips, the tension between us easing slightly. “I guess that’s a good thing,” I teased lightly, attempting to lighten the mood.
Liam’s smile widened fractionally, amusement glinting in his eyes. “Maybe,” he conceded, his tone softening.
” I’m willing to give you a chance in my life Alice, don’t make me regret it”, His voice was deep, and his eyes, it were as if they were trying to bore into my heart.
” I won’t”, I muttered softly. He nodded at me as if believing what I said. Or did he?.
“Come here.” He held out his hand, I placed my hand in his, feeling a rush of warmth at his touch. His fingers intertwined with mine, sending a shiver down my spine that had nothing to do with fear. Liam’s touch, so often rough and distant, now felt surprisingly gentle.
As we walked into the kitchen together, Liam didn’t let go of my hand. Instead, he held it firmly. The opposite of what I was expecting him to do.
I reached for a bowl on the top shelf, struggling to grab it. Liam stepped in, his chest pressing against my back as he easily retrieved the bowl. I felt a shiver run down my spine at the close contact.
“Thanks,” I mumbled, trying to hide my blush.
He smirked, his eyes twinkling with amusement. “You’re welcome.”
“I’ll make us breakfast,” Liam announced, his voice softer than usual. “And you can help me.”
Surprised by his suggestion, I nodded eagerly. Cooking together felt oddly intimate, because it had never happened in the history of us.
Liam stirred the scrambled eggs gently as I flipped the bacon just right. He seemed more like a pro when he poured it into the pan and fried it perfectly, I found myself relaxing into the rhythm of the kitchen.
“Can you grab those plates?” Liam asked, pointing to the cupboard. I fetched them, and we set the table together, side by side.
I watched Liam beginning to plate the scrambled eggs and bacon.
I suddenly felt the urge to do something, gathering my courage, I took one of the plates and started spooning food onto it.
Liam raised an eyebrow. “What are you doing?” he asked, a smile playing on his lips.
“I thought we could eat together,” I said, my voice quieter than I intended.
He studied me for a moment, as if weighing his options. Then, to my surprise, he nodded. “Alright,” he said gruffly, though I could detect a trace of warmth in his tone.
I set the plate down in front of him, sitting next to him at the kitchen island. “Here,” I said softly, pushing the plate towards him.
Liam hesitated for a moment, then picked up his fork and started eating. I watched him, feeling a rush of nervousness mingled with something else. This was new territory for us, sharing a meal in such a quiet, intimate setting.
“You cook well,” I ventured, trying to fill the silence.
He shrugged, his gaze flickering to mine briefly. “Years of practice,” he muttered, his voice gruffer than usual. I nodded, unsure of what else to say.
As we ate, Liam occasionally glanced at me, a small smile tugging at the corners of his lips. It was fleeting, but it made my heart skip a beat each time. Despite his rough exterior, there was a vulnerability in his eyes that I hadn’t seen before, as if there was something softer beneath the surface.
When we finished eating, I gathered the plates and started to clear the table. Liam stopped me with a gentle hand on my arm. “I’ll take care of this,” he said softly. “You can relax.”
I hesitated, then nodded gratefully. Liam washed the dishes. I watched him from the kitchen doorway, feeling a warmth spread through me at the sight of him, the man who was slowly revealing more of himself to me.
“Thank you,” I said quietly as he finished drying the last plate.
He glanced up, meeting my gaze with an intensity that took my breath away. “Anytime,” he replied gruffly, his voice tinged with something that sounded like affection. I’m sure I was just overthinking.
It just all in my head, I just want to believe that maybe , just maybe Liam is more than that cold man I know, maybe he would grow feelings for me and Love me.