AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Go back to the house and stay out of my way,” he ordered, lowering his head and trying to intimidate me.
I’d spent the last few years scared of every hard look and harsh word sent my way, but the last two weeks I’d begun to come into my own, and I was learning that inside me lay a fighter.
“No.” The word came out clipped.
“No?” His lips lifted on one side in a smirk.
“That’s what I said. And if you don’t mind, there’s a party, and I’d like to have fun. Excuse me.” I brushed past him and felt his body move with mine as he turned to follow me. I did my best to pretend that his oppressive form wasn’t leering behind me.
“Stay away from my friends, Ari.” His voice stopped me cold.
I whipped back around and nearly collided with his chest. “You are so un-fucking-believable.” I glared, hoping I looked half as menacing as he did. “You don’t own the world, Liam. You can’t tell me who I can and cannot speak to. And you are so fucking hot and cold that I get whiplash. You need to get your shit together.”
He narrowed his eyes on me and grasped my wrist. I gasped at the contact and the warmth that slid up my arm. Liam never touched me unless he had to, or in this case, apparently wanted to.
He lowered until his lips brushed my ear. Another involuntary gasp passed through my lips and he chuckled. “Just remember who’s the reason you have a roof over your head.”
I broke out of whatever haze had clouded my brain and pushed against his hard chest, shoving him away. He moved, but only because he wanted to. My strength was no match to his size.
He merely laughed at me. I shook my head roughly and stormed away.
I didn’t know where I was heading, but as long as it was away from Liam then that was great.
I’d thought there were a lot of people in Liam’s backyard, but that amount in no way compared to the people on the beach. I didn’t know how someone actually knew so many people. I doubted that he really did, but still.
I passed a table set up and grabbed a plate, piling it high with food before walking on down the beach where the crowd cleared.
I found an empty spot and sat down.
I was alone in the middle of a raging party, and maybe I should have cared about that fact, but I didn’t.
I’d spent a lot of time in solitude, so, unlike a lot of people, I found comfort in being alone.
While I ate, I thought.
And what I thought about was Liam, and how much I wished I could hate him, but I couldn’t, even though I should have. I’d never before felt such an intense pull to someone before, and I was helpless to deny it, but I had to. If I got too close to him, I’d only hurt him.
And if Blaise found me I’d do more than hurt him.
I’d kill him.
Liam
I stood on the beach with a beer in my hand, watching the fireworks explode above the ocean in colors of red, white, and blue.
Around me people cheered and conversed, but I’d removed myself from the crowd, lurking in the back where I could watch Ari.
I didn’t know why I loved fighting with her so much. I wasn’t sure it was even about the fight, but more about getting a reaction from her. She could be so flat with her emotions, and too quiet, but when I pushed the right buttons, her Tiger side came out, and I selfishly loved it.
I’d vowed not to get close to her, telling myself her living with me was only a temporary thing, and I didn’t want a relationship anyway. Not after what I’d been put through the last time.
But Ari was managing to get under my skin, and it’d only been a little over two weeks that she’d been there.
I knew Ollie had definitely arranged it on purpose in the hopes that I would finally fall for a girl. I really ought to punch him, but I knew the guy wanted me to be as happy as he was. What he didn’t realize was there was no chance of happiness for someone like me.
I was poison.
I lifted the beer to my lips and eyed Ari where she sat a few yards in front of me. She didn’t know I was there, because if she did I was sure she’d tell me off for earlier.
