by Ivy Clyde
A valet ushered us inside the giant elevator. Liam hit the number ‘8’ and we were soon on our way upstairs.
“You didn’t even talk to anyone in the lobby,” I said.
“I have a permanent room here,” said Liam.
“Wow…”
He chuckled. “This was the present from Gabe’s grandfather on my sixteenth birthday. It’s his hotel, so it wasn’t a big deal to give me one.”
“No big deal?” I shook my head, keeping my thoughts to myself. In my old world, people gifted frosted muffins and mall gift cards on birthdays. I wondered what he would think of that.
The elevator came to a stop.
“Have a pleasant stay, sir and ma’am,” said the valet as we stepped out into a wide corridor.
“This way,” said Liam, leading me down the hallway. I looked at the splendor all around me. There was plush red carpet under our feet and bright lights above our heads. Tall vases with fresh flowers dotted the corridor. Liam stopped outside a door and punched in a code. “We’re here,” he said, opening the door to me.
I stepped into a beautiful suite. The room was warmer than the car. Heat washed through the fabric of my uniform as I walked further inside the room.
“Go take a hot shower,” said Liam from the doorway. He hadn’t entered yet. “I’ll go get your lady stuff.”
I stared at him wide-eyed. Was this really Liam Davenport or an alien inhabiting his body? Even in my wildest imagination, I couldn’t see him getting me tampons.
“I’ll lock the door. You’ll be safe inside.”
He closed the door and I heard the beep of the lock securing itself.
All by myself, I grew relaxed.
I took off my shoes and wet socks. Next, I untied the coat from my waist and stripped out of all my clothes.
Completely naked, I looked for the bathroom in the suit. The room was so warm it was actually more comfortable to be nude than wearing those icky wet clothes.
The bathroom was as big as the one in my room in the Davenport mansion. Ignoring the large marble tub in the corner, I headed into the shower stall.
The hot water felt wonderful on my cold skin. It ran down my body, easing the cramps in my tummy as well as my legs. Within minutes, the cold was driven out of me.
After the hot bath, I picked up a robe from the neat stack in a corner. My flow wasn’t too heavy yet. If I didn’t sit anywhere, I’d protect it from getting stained.
Liam came back in another five minutes. Entering the room, he threw a large package at me.
“Did you buy me a teddy bear?” I asked with a laugh.
“Just open it,” he spat out. Looking annoyed, he dropped down on the couch.
I opened the large shopping bag and peered inside. “What the hell?” I gasped, looking at boxes of tampons and sanitary pads.
“There were so many varieties in the shop,” he said, running his fingers through the long locks of his dark hair. “I didn’t know which one to get you, so I got whatever they had on the aisle.”
An amused grin spread through my lips.
“You even got me panties,” I said in an awed whisper, taking another packet out. “Granny panties,” I said with a chuckle, tearing into the package and taking out a flesh-colored boxer. “These are actually perfect during periods!”
He stared at me with a grim expression. “So everything you need is in there?”
“Yep!” I said with a laugh.
“Good.” A long sigh escaped him as he leaned back on the plush couch, looking completely worn out. Gratitude and relief washed over me as I stared at him. He’d gotten me away from the deserted roadside, brought me to a hotel for a hot shower and bought me fresh panties and tampons. I love him, the thought echoed in my mind.
“Why are you still standing there?” he asked. “Go use that stuff.”
“Right!” I ran back to the bathroom to wear my new panties and tampon.
Once I was fitted with a tampon, I walked back into the living room area of the suite. With my period problem taken care of, I noticed the wet clothes Liam still wore.
“How about you take a shower too?”
“Yeah. I was thinking of sending our clothes to the laundry,” said Liam, getting to his feet. “Do you want you something to eat?”
I shook my head. “I want to eat dinner at home.”
“At least, order some coffee or hot chocolate,” he said, walking past me to reach the bathroom.
“Do you want one too?”
“Sure.”
Liam disappeared inside the bathroom, leaving me to make the call for room service. Even though I was in a bathrobe in a completely strange hotel room, I felt no panic or unease. Safety stole through me as I sat down on the couch to pick up the phone. Liam’s presence in the suite brought me security and comfort.
After ordering the coffees, I leaned against the couch. The warmth in the room made me stretch out luxuriously. If I wasn’t waiting for room service to arrive, I might have taken a nap there.
Liam came out after a few minutes in nothing but a towel wrapped low around his waist, giving me an eyeful of his gorgeous body. Drops of water coated his massive, muscular chest. I was glad he was distracted while toweling off his hair as my eyes drank in the contour of his perfect abs.
Heat bloomed in my cheeks. My heart wasn’t the only organ throbbing wildly in my body. The place between my legs pulsed with desire. A part of me itched to kiss every drop of water clinging to his chest. The towel around his waist got my curiosity piqued. If only I could tug it down to explore the rest of his gorgeous body…
“Stop drooling,” said Liam with a knowing smirk. He threw away the towel and sat on the couch opposite mine. “Are you that turned on, Paris? Your face is as red as a tomato.”
My cheeks burned hotter. Looking away, I tried to calm the liquid fire coursing through my veins.
He came to stand before me. My gaze slowly slid from his torso to his face. His intense blue eyes were blazing with heat. Leaning down to my level, he brushed his thumb over my bottom lip. A soft moan escaped me as his touch seared my skin. Looking into my eyes, he moved closer, brushing his lips lightly against mine.
My body leaned forward on its own accord, desperate to get a better feel of those scorching lips, but Liam moved away, making me press my mouth to empty air.
A naughty grin came upon his lips. My face burned hotter.
“Relax,” he said with a soft chuckle. “I was just teasing you.”
“Yeah…” Now I was going red with embarrassment. I had wanted a real kiss from him so badly.
Thankfully, room service arrived in time to save me from further embarrassment. Liam made the waitress collect all our clothes for laundry as well, telling the young woman to get it ready immediately. She threw a jealous stare in my direction before following his orders.
“You haven’t told Mother about your accommodations,” he said suddenly.
I took a sip of the hot coffee and shook my head. “I didn’t want to worry her.”
He stared at me with a keen gaze. “Thank you,” he said at last. “It was a low move on my part.”
“It’s all right. I like staying in the cabin.”
“I’ll get you shifted out of there next term.”
“No,” I said at once. “I like it there.”
“You’re not lying,” he said, leaning against the couch. “For what it’s worth now, I’m sorry.”
“It’s fine,” I said and meant it. His treatment did hurt me before but somehow, I realized that I forgave him a long time ago. Back then, we were strangers to each other. The more I got to know him, the better I felt about him.
Tonight was proof that Liam Davenport was more than a wealthy asshole.
Tonight, he was the sweetest guy in the whole world for me.
27
Paris
By the time we reached the Davenport mansion, both Liam and I looked fresh. Our clothes held no sign of rain, dirt or blood (in my case). Even my hair
was bouncy and shiny after blow drying it.
A scream pierced the serene surroundings of the house just as we stepped into the entrance hall. Clara ran at us, throwing her arms to draw us both to her chest.
“I missed you kids so much,” she said, rubbing her cheeks against mine. Taking a step back, she beamed at both of us. “I was expecting you to arrive hours ago,” she said with a pout. “Come on! Dad’s waiting to see you both.” Exchanging a glance with Liam, I followed after him and Clara.
She led us into one of the family parlor rooms where a middle-aged man sat on the couch, drinking from a cup of tea. Ruben hovered nearby, making sure everything was perfect for the master of the house. A strange feeling rose up in me as we got closer to him.
“Hello,” he said, meeting my gaze with a soft smile. “You must be Paris.”
“Hi.” Charles was a lean, tall man. He looked pale and tired but he had a kind smile for both me and Liam. His dark hair was receding further back from his forehead. Just by looking at him, I could guess he wasn’t well.
“How’ve you been, son?” Charles addressed Liam next. “You look like you’ve grown taller since the last time I saw you. And more handsome. Wouldn’t you agree, Paris?”
“Uhhh,” I stammered.
“Come on,” said Clara, placing her hand on my back. “Have a seat and don’t feel so nervous.”
“Thanks.”
Liam sat beside me on the couch and accepted the cup of tea Ruben gave him.
“Tell me everything,” said Clara, taking a seat opposite to us. “How has school been? Has anyone given you any trouble? Do you like any of the boys in your class?”
“Everything’s been fine,” I lied, looking down at my knees. What could I say without upsetting both Clara and her ailing husband? My gaze fell on Charles who was looking at me with a strange expression. I wondered if he was thinking of my mom, the woman who donated one of her kidneys to save his life.
A part of my mother was alive inside him. Her cells were alive within him. They breathed and functioned normally, supporting his life…the only part that didn’t burn in the flames that consumed the rest of her body.
Our eyes met across the table.
A sad look flashed through his chocolate-brown eyes before he hid it with a smile. “Has Knightswood been treating you well?” he asked.
I nodded.
“Of course, Paris is treated well there,” said Clara in a cheerful voice. “No one would dare bully her with my Liam around.” She cast a fond glance at her son. “I’m so proud of him.”
I cast my eyes down at my knees again. While I’d forgiven Liam for everything he’d done, I couldn’t sit here and watch Clara fawning over him. He had a dark side to him as well. He hid it well from his mother but I knew better. Maybe I was jealous of him. Maybe a part of me believed I deserved better.
Exhaustion overcame me and suddenly, I couldn’t wait to get out of there. They were a family. And I’m just their charity case. The bitter thought came to my mind.
Pasting a fake smile on my face, I got to my feet. “I am so tired,” I said, faking a yawn. “Is it okay if I go to bed now?”
Clara looked anxious immediately. “Are you okay?”
I nodded. “It’s nothing. Just tired from staying up late at night.”
“What about dinner?”
“I ate at school,” I lied. I fake-yawned again.
She chuckled. “All right, then. Have a good night.”
“Sleep tight,” said Charles.
“Bye, Ruben,” I said with a wave at the elderly butler. “See you guys tomorrow.”
I hurried away upstairs to my bedroom.
Closing the door behind me, I took deep breaths before sliding to the floor. Leaning against the door, I let the tears flow down my cheeks. In the cool dimness of the room, I could finally cry over the unfairness of my life. It was stupid to feel this way, but I missed my own little family and home. I missed my own mother who looked at me with love and pride.
After a while, I crawled into bed. My stomach grumbled with hunger. There was nothing to eat there. All of Ruben’s cookies were back in my cabin. With a sigh, I brought the blanket to cover me. My cramps added to my misery. It was a few days early and came with constant gnawing aches to my belly.
Groaning, I switched off the lamp beside my bed, hoping I would feel better in the morning.
Over the weekend, I kept to my room, working on assignments or reading for the upcoming lessons. Zoya texted me from time to time, moaning about the news her parents gave her. Their family would be spending Christmas in Switzerland. Her plans of going to a ski resort with Jonathan blew apart just like that. Secretly, I was relieved. While it would have been nice to hang out with my friends, I didn’t want to spend Clara’s money to do so.
On Monday, I was driven to school by Liam after an early breakfast with his parents. Clara and Charles were kind to me but it still felt a little weird to be with them. It became especially awkward every time I thought of the direction my and Liam’s relationship was moving. We’d almost kissed.
It was a relief to get back to my cabin. Even though it was chilly and would take a few hours to get thoroughly warmed up, it was my home now. It was the only place I could be myself.
Putting my things away, I rushed away to attend classes.
The teachers drove us to exhaustion with all the assignment submissions. They were all stacked up together, making it difficult to focus on a single one. They were all due on the day before the holidays started. Even someone like me who kept ahead of my schedule felt the stress.
“I can’t wait for the holidays,” groaned Zoya. We were in her dorm suite, working past midnight to complete our homework due the next day. We’d decided it was better to work together because it was easier to stay up that way.
“Dr. Lincoln is a psychopath,” bit out Lucas. The locks of his blond hair were pushed back with a floral band. He looked haggard from lack of sleep. “He knows we have these submissions but still decides to give us a test.”
“You can copy my homework,” I offered. He looked pale and stressed, making me worry he would fall sick. I felt extra protective for him these days. “Just make sure the sentences are a little different so he can’t tell you copied.”
“Really?” he looked up with an awed expression. “You’ll let me copy?”
“Just this once,” I said, sliding the printed sheets that I’d already attached to a folder over to him.
“If you let him copy your Physics homework, then you’ve got to let me have a look at your math assignment,” said Zoya. “I’ll only copy like ten of the problems so I can manage B minus or at least a C.”
“Fine,” I replied, turning around to rummage in my school bag for the notebook where I’d solved all the problems. “But just this once!” I reminded her.
It was close to one in the night and my exhausted body demanded sleep. The words on the fat Physics book blurred and I couldn’t concentrate anymore. Zoya and Lucas had eager expressions on their faces as they finished the rest of the remaining problems in their assignments. Breathing out a long breath, I placed my head on the desk and closed my eyes, hoping to rest them for a few minutes.
When I opened my eyes again, sunlight was shining through the gaps in the curtains. All three of us were still at the table in Zoya’s apartment. They’d gone to sleep there as well.
Rubbing my eyes, I checked the screen of my phone. It was ten minutes to nine A.M.
“Shit!” I muttered, proceeding to wake my friends. “Wake up! We have to get to class.” I tugged at both their arms, shouting their names. They groaned, adamantly not opening their tightly shut eyes. “You’ll get an F if you don’t submit those assignments in time,” I shouted.
“What?” Lucas’s head jerked up as he stared all around with a dazed expression. He checked his phone too. “Damn it! We’ll be late!” Getting to his feet, he gathered all his things and rushed out of the room. “See you in class, Paris,” he threw ove
r his shoulders.
“Get up, Zoya,” I said, shaking her by the shoulder to rouse her. “You can sleep for a week after we’re done today.” She yawned and blinked heavy-lidded eyes. “It’s time to go to class,” I said in a softer voice. “I’ll just use the bathroom real quick and be back.”
Rushing into the bathroom, I took care of my business first.
After that, I splashed my face with cold water. It left wet patches on my shirt but they could be hidden by pulling on the academy blazer. I brushed my hair with my fingers, desperately hoping I didn’t look as frazzled as I felt. The skirt of my uniform was wrinkled but there would be no time to change out of it.
A loud knock sounded at the door.
“Hurry up, Paris!” Zoya shouted from the other side. “I have to pee!”
I gave up the lost cause and walked out of the bathroom. The teachers could frown at the state of my clothes, but just for today, I wouldn’t care.
Zoya came out of the bathroom after a few minutes, looking as disheveled as me.
“Come on,” she said, shoving everything inside her bag. “Let’s hope we aren’t the only ones late to class today.”
We rushed through the corridors of the building, crashing with other students with muttered apologies. From the looks of it, most people would be late to classes today.
A cold wind assaulted us as soon as we stepped outside. My cheeks stung and my eyes watered.
“I hate this fucking academy,” spat Zoya, panting to keep up with me as I led the way to Math class. “Why can’t they stay open for another week like a normal school?”
I didn’t answer, too out of breath from running and the cold.
My eyes were itchy by the time we walked to the cafeteria for lunch. Now that most of the ordeal related to assignments and tests were over, my body slumped from relief, begging for a long nap. Some of the students who didn’t have classes in the afternoon were happily chatting and shouting. The less unfortunate ones like me and Zoya stared at them with open jealousy.