“Seriously, Ash, I doubt I’m going to catch it. I never get sick, you know that.”
“Just don’t risk it. Ok? I’m fine…really.”
She didn’t sound fine. “Well, if you need anything, just let me know. Otherwise, call me tomorrow. I hope you feel better. Bye, Ash.”
Olivia hung up the phone and walked into the living room, her face pinched into a worried frown. Something just didn’t feel right. “Ashley’s sick. She had to cancel our plans today. I hope she’s okay, cuz she sounded like crap.”
“You should go get ready for class, before you’re late. I’ll drive you. You know Ronnie hates it when you’re late.” Liam’s reserved tone made her pause.
She glanced up at the clock hanging on the wall above the couch. Shit, she was going to be late. “Liam, we’ve got to talk.”
“We will.”
“I’m scared.”
He reached out and took her hand, pulling her down to sit beside him. “I know you are, but nothing’s changed. I’m here for you, just like I always have been.”
“I don’t even know if what I’m seeing is real. I feel like I’m losing my mind!” She choked back a sob.
He gently brushed her tears away with his thumbs and cradled her face in his hands. “It’s real,” he whispered.
Olivia closed her eyes and let her tears flow, no longer trying to hold them back. She drew on the calming strength his touch provided. Wow, an angel…her angel. The connection she felt to him stirred desires in her she ought not to have. But it was already too late, she was falling in love with him.
It’s too soon, she rationalized, but the ache in her heart and the heat stirring in the pit of her stomach spoke a truth that no words proved otherwise. More than anything now, she desired to feel his spicy rich lips against hers again, to revel in the heat of his embrace. She wet her bottom lip with the tip of her tongue, remembering the kiss they shared yesterday. Already, it felt like a lifetime ago.
She opened her eyes to see him staring down at her with a pained expression on his handsome face. Looking into his eyes was like watching a beautiful violent storm of dark blue clouds come rolling in. She knew that color—she loved that color. She sensed he wanted to kiss her, but yet he resisted. Why?
Olivia leaned forward, but stopped before her lips touched his, desperately needing to understand what she was feeling. He overwhelmed her senses. Her heart raced, and the heat in the pit of her stomach burned like it’d been doused with lighter fluid. Still, he did not kiss her. The tension between them was tactile, slowly driving her mad.
“Don’t you want to kiss me?” she whispered, so close to his mouth, she could feel the heat of his short, panting breaths against her parted lips.
“Olivia…” Her name sounded as rough as sandpaper. She barely recognized the tight, strangled rasp of his voice.
“Liam, I want you to kiss me.”
A dark, tortured growl tore from his throat as he pressed his lips to hers. Her arms circled his corded, muscular neck as he crawled over her, moving with a speed and fluid grace that sent a rush of desire surging through her veins. She felt his kiss all the way to her toes, and moaned softly, parting her lips in an invitation for him to go deeper. He did. His tongue tasted every crevice of her mouth, and his hips pressed against her, leaving no mistake about his need.
Her hands shook as she worked to unfasten the buttons of his shirt. He tore his mouth from hers and gasped when she ran her hands over the hard, defined muscles of his bare chest.
“Olivia,” he groaned painfully, burying his face into the side of her neck, hips pressing forward, pushing her deeper into the cushions of the couch. His hands fisted into her hair, pulling her head to the side as his tongue brushed against the rapid pulse beating in her throat.
“Liam…” she whispered his name as her hands slid down his ridged stomach, heading lower. He suddenly tensed beneath her fingertips, his lips stilled against her neck.
“We can’t do this,” he rasped. “We just can’t. You’re not mine to have.”
Her heart ached from the pain and regret in his voice. She was tempted to hang on when he pulled away from her. He shrugged his wide, muscular shoulders into his shirt and turned his back to her as he quickly refastened the buttons. He sighed heavily, reaching up to run his fingers through his hair.
“Liam?” She gently placed her hand on his shoulder, trying to get him to turn back and look at her.
“Olivia, please…” He sounded like he was in physical pain. “Just go get ready for work and I’ll take you.”
She sat there another minute, hoping he’d turn back around and look her—talk to her. He said she wasn’t his, but she was. Couldn’t he see that? Couldn’t he feel it? Or maybe he didn’t want her. Why should he? Why would he? He was an angel. An amazing creature that was so much more than she could ever hope to be. A design of perfection, and here she was, practically throwing herself at him. Heat rose to her cheeks, colored by shame and embarrassment because she knew deep down, at that moment, she would have given herself to him. And he knew it too. How could she be so stupid?
“You’ve done nothing wrong, Olivia.”
She barely heard his whispered words, spoken softly to her living room wall. A fresh wave of humiliation shot through her, fueled by a surge of indignant anger. “Stay out of my head, Liam!” Olivia shot up from the couch and ran upstairs as fast as her legs could carry her.
***
They pulled up to the fitness center, and Olivia grabbed the door handle, getting ready to launch herself out of the car the second it stopped. She was upset, not that he could blame her. What the hell was he thinking, taking advantage of her like that? She was scared—vulnerable. How could she understand that it really wasn’t him she wanted, rather it was the soothing, comfort his gifted touch provided. Yeah, well, he’d touched her all right.
She hadn’t said more than two words to him since she’d flown off the couch like a bat out of hell. She almost refused to let him drive her, but that would involve speaking to him, so she opted to sit there, silently, torturing him with her brooding emotions that made him feel like a real piece of shit for what he’d done to her. With his hands twisted in her hair, his lips devouring her neck, and his need pressing… Oh shit, he couldn’t believe he’d lost it like that, and to make matters worse, he’d almost told her he loved her. Now, if that wasn’t taking a difficult situation and turning it totally FUBAR. The words had been so close to the tip of his tongue. If her bold touch hadn’t jolted him back to his senses, who in the hell knows what he would have said or done.
Right on cue, the car stopped, and Olivia flung the door open, bolting out of the car. He grabbed her wrist and caught her before she could get away. She turned back to look at him, her emerald green eyes mirroring her anger and confusion. He didn’t want her to leave like this, but he didn’t know what else to say. So he sat there, looking like a complete fool, staring at her.
“What?”
“I’m sorry.” God, was he sorry…on so many levels.
“What are you apologizing to me for? I’m the idiot who threw herself at you. If anyone should be apologizing, it should be me. I shouldn’t have assumed the feeling was mutual. I misunderstood your interest.”
“You can’t be serious! Olivia, is that really what you think? That I don’t want you?”
“It’s pretty obvious you don’t. You know what? I don’t have time for this right now. I’m going to be late.”
“I’ll pick you up at four.”
“Don’t bother. I’ll catch a ride home with Clay.”
Jealousy flooded his veins and he looked away before she could see the certain color change in his eyes. If she looked at him now, his eyes would shine as green as hers.
Olivia took the opportunity to pull her hand out of his grasp. He let her go. Maybe it was better this way, better to let her believe she was just an assignment, when nothing could be farther from the truth. She slammed the door closed and ran up to the
building. He sighed heavily and ran his fingers through his hair, a mortal-like habit of frustration he found himself doing a lot lately.
Balen opened the passenger door and climbed inside. He didn’t wait for an invitation, and in the mood Liam was in, he wouldn’t have gotten one either. “You’re going to be bald if you keep doing that, you know.” He shot Balen a “don’t even start with me” glare.
“She knows.”
“And…”
“And there’s a chance she may love me.”
“Of course she does! That’s like saying there may be a chance it may rain in the Rain Forest. You’re angelic! Humans are drawn to us, they can’t help it! I know you don’t need me to remind you of the consequences here, Liam, but the girl isn’t worth losing your wings. Eternity is a long damn time!”
“I know! Don’t you think I remind myself of that a hundred times a day?”
“If you cross the line with her, you know she’ll die. If your energy doesn’t kill her first, Max surely will. You’ll be pulled as her guardian and you can bet they won’t be assigning another Ronnin to protect her. All of this will have been for nothing. How long do you think a normal guardian will be able to keep her alive?”
“Balen, you’re my best friend, but I am NOT having this discussion with you. Now I’d like to be alone, please—if you don’t mind.”
“You’re heading down a bad road here, and things are going to get bumpy—fast. Let’s just deal with Max and be done with it. Then things can go back to the way they were, the way they’re supposed to be. She’ll be safer now that she knows the truth. They won’t be able to manipulate her free will so easily anymore.”
“I’d like to be alone now, if you don’t mind. Please…” Liam repeated the words slow and clear, enunciating the word “please.” He sent Balen a warning glare, telling him if he didn’t leave soon, he’d see a side of Liam he wouldn’t appreciate very much.
Balen gave his friend one last concerned glance before sighing heavily. He climbed out of the car and shut the door. Liam watched him walk around to the side of the building and then disappear in thin air.
He couldn’t deny the truth behind Balen’s words, and hearing them coming from his best friend’s mouth didn’t make them any easier to swallow. Olivia thought she knew the truth, but in reality, she didn’t even know the half of it. She had no idea how much he loved her, how much it killed him to resist touching her, being with her…How could she think he didn’t want her? She was the only thing he’d ever really wanted in his entire existence. The thought of being with her tempted him to walk away from everything he’d ever been or ever known, just to have the chance at a life with her. But he couldn’t, no matter how much he wanted to, because he was the only thing standing between her and death.
If he followed his heart, he’d fail her, and there would be no second chances. Balen was right, he had to end this. The sooner he found Max, the sooner he could kill him, and the sooner he could go home. The only problem was, his heart belonged here, to the woman he’d given everything to protect.
Chapter Twenty
Liam backed the Mustang out of the parking lot and drove over to Karen’s Bagels. It was close enough to lunch, they’d be serving up soup and sandwiches by now. He bought a bowl of chicken noodle soup and a whole grain turkey bagel with tomato and sprouts. The woman behind the counter bagged the items and gave him a polite smile, thanking him for coming by. Her eyes were burdened with sadness. Flyers for the missing girl sat piled on the counter beside the cash register.
Liam took the bag from her outstretched hand and left the little bagel shop. He drove over to Ashley’s house. When he pulled into the driveway, the center seam of the living room curtains parted, and then fell shut again. He climbed out of the car, and with bag in hand, knocked on her kitchen door.
“Ashley?” he called when she didn’t answer. A few more minutes passed before he saw her walk into the kitchen through the sheer lace window cover. She opened the door, looking surprised to see him standing there. He held up the bag and offered it to her.
“Liam?”
“Olivia was worried about you,” he said, handing her the soup and bagel sandwich. “She said you cancelled your plans with her today. You told her you were ill?” His questioning gaze roamed over her, taking in the bruises and marks on her neck. Ashley turned away from him, setting the food on the counter.
“I’m fine,” she said coolly, keeping her back to him. “I’m just not feeling well, that’s all. You didn’t have to stop by.”
He took a hesitant step inside the kitchen. “You don’t look fine.”
“I just don’t want to talk to anyone right now, okay?” she snapped.
His heart ached with pity for the poor girl. He reached out his hand to touch her shoulder, but stopped. “It’s not your fault, Ashley.”
“You know???”
“I do.”
“…Olivia?”
“No.” He turned to walk out the door, and froze mid-step when Ashley’s sob filled the small kitchen. He turned back to see the girl hunched over with her face buried in her hands, her shoulders shaking uncontrollably.
Liam walked back over to her. “Come here,” he said, gently pulling her into his arms. He’d never touched another human before, other than Olivia, and he wasn’t prepared for the emptiness and grief that flooded into him. Her sorrow was nearly enough to make him pull away. He physically forced himself to hold on to her.
Ashley buried her face into his chest and sobbed. Her tears burned his flesh—her heartache was almost more than he could bear this close.
“Ashley, you have to talk to Olivia.”
“I can’t.” Her words came out in a muffled cry.
“She won’t blame you. It wasn’t your fault.”
“How can she not? I blame myself!”
“That’s the thing about guilt and blame, it’s often misguided. We’re always the hardest on ourselves.” He let Ashley go and took a step back, relieved to put some distance between them.
“I’ll bring Olivia by tonight. It’s never too late for a second chance, Ashley. We all make mistakes, and you’re not ever going to heal unless you forgive yourself for this one.”
Liam turned to leave and pulled the kitchen door closed behind him. He could hear her sobbing all the way back to his car. As he drove home, he couldn’t shake the overwhelming ache in his chest. He wasn’t sure if it was from touching Ashley or if it was his own conflicted conscience gnawing at him.
Liam walked into the old Victorian house and tossed his keys on the counter. Balen was sitting at the kitchen table, drinking a cup of coffee. He didn’t bother to look up. If the scowl he wore was any indication of his mood, this wasn’t going to go well.
“I need your help,” Liam stated matter-of-factly, sitting down at the kitchen table across from his friend.
Balen shot Liam a spiteful glare. “I hate to break it to you, Buddy, but you need more than my help.”
“Come on, I’m serious. I wouldn’t ask unless there wasn’t any other option.”
Balen watched him silently. He was obviously still upset over their conversation this afternoon in the car. Liam pointedly returned his stare, waiting for him to speak. They’d been through too much together—spilt too much blood together, for either one of them to let an argument drive a wedge between them. Liam owed Balen his life, and vice versa.
The heat in his glare dimmed slightly as he spoke. “What do you want?”
“I need you to guard Ashley Collins…”
“What? No way. You’ve got to be kidding me? I’m here to help you, not to be some rebellious woman’s babysitter.”
Liam weathered the outburst before saying anything more. He knew Balen would have no more interest in becoming a guardian than Liam had. Balen was a warrior through and through. He was playing dirty, using their friendship to get him to agree to Ashley’s guardianship. But at the moment, Liam didn’t feel he had any other alternative.
“T
his is helping me. The girl is in danger. Max is up to something, and I can’t protect them both.”
“Assign the girl a guardian—a real one,” Balen stated flatly. “Just don’t ask me to play Mary Poppins.”
“I can’t, or I would have. The girl’s not saved.”
Balen sighed heavily in defeat. “I can’t be with her all the time, you know. I have other responsibilities in addition to watching over your love-sick ass.”
“Thanks, Balen. The girl’s a mess. Max is using her in a bad way. I’m not sure how he’s planning to play this out, but I have a feeling this isn’t going to end well.” Liam stood up from the table and started to walk away. “Oh yeah, and whatever you do, don’t touch her.” He’d learned that lesson the hard way.
“I wasn’t planning on it,” Balen said dryly.
Liam glanced up at the clock that hung on the wall. He had just enough time to jump in the shower before picking Olivia up. Ashley’s grief still clung to him, and he couldn’t get it washed off soon enough. He walked into the living room and turned back, staring at Balen expectantly.
“Now? You want me to go right now?”
“Yeah, Max is going to go back there, it’s just a matter of when.”
Balen muttered a curse and stood up from the table. “You owe me one, you know that.”
“I owe you more than one,” Liam replied, shooting his friend a grateful smile.
***
Stepping into Ashley’s house was like crossing into another world. The air was thick and balmy—heavy with grief. Even from his dimension, the suffocating oppression was tactile. Balen sat down at the kitchen table and looked over at the shell of a young woman sitting in the living room.
A cream chenille blanket wrapped over her hunched shoulders. She sat statue still, curled up on the recliner, staring out the picture window. Her hazel-colored eyes shone like prisms through her tears.
He stood up and walked into the living room, curious to get a closer look at the female he was now charged with protecting. He towered over her, no farther than an arm’s length away. She was very beautiful. Her delicate features reminded him of a porcelain doll, fragile and easily broken. And by the looks of her, Max had done a pretty good job of it already.
The Redemption Series Page 17