“Not worth it.”
Air caught in my lungs like ss.
And then… the tears came. Unstoppable. Hot, fast, blinding.
I didn’t sob. I didn’t make a sound. I just stood there as the ache slipped from my chest and down my cheeks.
Liam turned.
And froze.
“Shit,” he muttered, rushing toward me. “Emily. No. Don’t cry. Please don’t be like that.”
I turned away, wiping my face, but it didn’t stop the shaking.
“Don’t say things like that,” I whispered.
His voice softened, filled with regret. “I didn’t mean it. I was angry.
I faced him, eyes burning. “Then why did ite out so easily?”
<i>“</i><i>1 </i>
His jaw tensed. I could see him struggling. With what–his pride? His guilt? I didn’t know.
“I didn’te here to fight,” I whispered. “I came because… because not talking to you hurts more than anything.”
Silence again.
He reached for me, slowly this time.
And I didn’t step back.
I fell into him.
Melted into his arms like they were the only ce that ever made sense.
He held me like he was terrified to let go. Like maybe he finally understood I wasn’t trying to
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break him, I was just trying to reach him.
And for once, he didn’t push me away.
I stayed in his arms longer than I should have. Maybe minutes. Maybe hours. I didn’t care.
My cheek rested against Liam’s chest, his heartbeat finally matching the rhythm of mine- steady, real, calming after the chaos.
His chin rested on my head, and he pressed the softest kiss into my hair.
Another.
And another.
I hadn’t realized how much I missed this, being near him, wrapped in his gravity. I could’ve stayed like that forever.
“I should go,” I whispered after a long silence, my voice barely a breath.
“No,” he murmured, his arm tightening around me. “Don’t move. Stay right here.”
I teased, “Is that your way of begging me to stay the night?”
He pulled back slightly and looked down at me, a small smirk tugging at the corner of his lips.
“Do you know how badly I’ve wanted to hold you like this again?”
My heart flipped. “Then why didn’t youe looking for me?”
He exhaled sharply. “Because I was mad. Of course I waited. Monday morning, I kept checking the time like a maniac. Every sound made me look up. And when you didn’t show… that was it. The anger tripled. I thought you didn’t care.”
“I nearly called you,” I said softly.
His brows lifted. “What stopped you?”
I hesitated, embarrassed. “I realized… I didn’t even have your number.
He stared at me, then scoffed. “Seriously?”
<i>” </i>
I nodded, cringing. “Yeah.
<i>” </i>
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“How’d that feel?”
“Kinda sad.” I admitted.
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He tilted his head, amused. “So what do you intend to do about that?”
I looked up at him, trying not to smile. “Get it from you before I leave.”
Liam leaned in, teasing. “That’s not happening.”
My eyes widened. “What? Why not?”
“I already have your number. I expected you to have mine.”
“Oh, so now it’s my fault?” Iughed. “I don’t even remember giving you mine.”
“Even better. I got it regardless. What’s your excuse?” he asked with a shrug.
“Well then, I’ll get yours from Jay or Sophia.”
Liam smirked knowingly. “Good luck exining to either of them why you never had it in the first ce, and why you suddenly need it now.”
I groaned. “Ugh. They’ll never let it go. I’ll have to answer a million questions.<i>” </i>
He leaned closer. “Exactly.”
I narrowed my eyes on him. “Well, I’ll get it from you before I leave. Just watch.
“Oh yeah? How?”
“Maybe… by being nice.”
His gaze darkened slightly. “How nice?”
<i>” </i>
I didn’t look away. “Veryyy nice. The kind of nice you’ll remember tomorrow morning.”
He studied my face, eyes lingering on my lips. The air around us shifted.
Slowed.
Tightened.
Then his voice dropped, low and lethal. “Did you enjoy it?”
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My lungs stilled.
I didn’t need to ask what he meant.
“No.” I said immediately.
“Do you regret it?”
“Yes.”
“Will you ever let that happen again?”
“No.”
“Did you feel this,” he said, brushing the back of his fingers along my jawline, “when he leaned close to you?”
I swallowed hard. “No.”
“Do you know why?”
I shook my head slowly, even though I already knew. <fn4ab3> Discover more novels at find[?]ovel</fn4ab3>
“Because you belong to me,” he said, voice like velvet and smoke. “Your soul. Your body. Everything.”
My lips parted. My breath faltered. I was a trembling mess.
He didn’t wait.
He kissed me.
And just like that, everything shattered.
Every wall. Every doubt. Every moment I spent trying not to miss him.
His mouth was urgent. His hands, hungry. My fingers knotted in his shirt, pulling him closer like gravity had a grip on us both.
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