Chapter Thirteen
"I'm going to shower," I mumbled.
"Okay. Let me help you unwrap. And call me when you're out so I can bandage you again, alright?" Liam said, taking my empty bowl of cereal and setting it in the dishwasher.
I nodded, waiting for him to follow me into the bathroom. Liam took my hand, squeezing it gently before pulling me forward. I felt dead tired, my forehead pressed against his back as we walked.
Once in the bathroom, Liam dropped to his knees behind me, undoing the wrap. I leaned forward, pressing myself against the wall whilst he did this, yawning.
Once the wrap was gone, he tossed the bloody things away. He stood behind me and kissed my cheek. "It looks good. I think you'll survive."
I gave him a weak smile. "Thanks." I started to push him out of the bathroom, but he caught my arms, shaking his head.
"No. I want to make sure you don't hurt yourself. I'm going to shower with you."
•Flashback•
"Arianne," Liam called. "Turn that off."
I was sitting in front of his tv, watching some movie I didn't recognize. "Why?"
"It's about to get inappropriate," he said. "You should not watch something like that."
I pouted. "I'm not five."
"I know. But still."
Just then there was two people on top of each other, rolling across the bed, naked. I shrieked, covering my eyes and ears.
"I told you," he grumbled. I heard him stomping over to me. He picked the remote from my lap and shut it off.
"I made dinner," he said.
I glanced over at the kitchen, where a new table had been placed. Liam had gone out and bought it, along with two chairs.
A plate was set in front of each, the chairs facing each other. I swallowed deeply and looked up at Liam.
"When can I go?" I whispered.
Liam sighed, rubbing his face. "When I know you have a safe place to stay," he replied. "Come eat."
"I want to leave. Now."
Liam pulled me to my feet, pulling me towards the small table. "I'm taking care of you. Sit and eat," he growled.
"No! I have to leave!" I shouted, shoving him off.
Liam gripped my wrist tightly, painfully. With my free hand, I slapped him as hard as I could, his head barely moving with the impact.
"Leave me alone!" I cried, tears filling my eyes.
Liam was staring stonily down at me, seemingly frozen. I booked it to the door, now adorned with an extra lock. He really did want to keep me here. For a long time too. I had caught him entering the apartment with multiple bags of girls clothing.
I flicked open the locks as quick as possible, and threw open the door. A gust of wet wind blew inside, revealing the rainy landscape. It was cold and I didn't have any shoes, but I didn't care.
"Arianne, stop!" Liam called.
Before I could even leap down the stairs, Liam gripped my waist and yanked me back in.
"No, no, please!" I whimpered, clawing at his hands.
Liam scooped me up with one arm, and with the other he grabbed my plate of dinner. My last tantrum he had done the same.
"Liam, please! Don't make me stay!" I sobbed.
He opened the door to his bedroom, setting me on the bed, putting the plate on the bedside table, and plopping beside me.
I attempted to scramble off the bed, but Liam cradled me into his lap.
Tears were falling down my cheeks as he rocked back and forth. "It's okay, it's okay. Shhh," he murmured, stroking my hair.
"Stop," I hissed. "Why can't you let me go?"
He kissed the top of my head, pushing my face into his chest, the other hand now stroking my back. "I'm going to protect you. You're my thing to look after now," he cooed. "Nothing is ever going to hurt you or scare you again."
•Flashback End•
Liam had me get in first, and then take off my underwear and turn on the water.
"I'll leave my boxers on again, just to make sure you don't freak," Liam explained when I tossed my underwear to the bathroom floor.
The curtain opened, letting in a burst of cold air. Liam didn't waste any time in wrapping his arms around me and turning up the dial for the shower.
"Hi," I greeted sheepishly, looking up at him.
He smiled down at me, rubbing his nose against mine. "Hello, beautiful."
"I am not beautiful," I stated. "Especially right now."
Liam chuckled, shaking his head. "False. You're just as beautiful as always."
I buried my head in his chest. "Oh lord."
His hands pressed into my lower back, pulling me closer. "Oh, hush. You know what I meant. Now, let's take a look at your legs. Turn around."
I sucked in a sharp breath, spinning around slowly, heat rising to my cheeks. I felt his hands gently moving over the wound.
"Looks good to me. You'll be just fine," Liam confirmed, standing back up and spinning me around. "By the way, you have the cutest bum."
I blushed, pushing my head in his wet chest shyly. "Am I making you blush?" he teased, squeezing my sides.
"No..."
I giggled as he tickled me, burying his head in my neck affectionately as he did so.
"Liam!" I laughed. "Stop!"
Forgetting for a moment I was naked, I turned in his grip, my bum rubbing against his clothed manhood. Both of us froze, his hands tight around me. He breathed out harshly in my ear, sounding as if he was trying to control himself.
"She's injured, don't do anything drastic," he muttered to himself placing a kiss on the back of my neck.
I lifted and turned my head, our eyes catching. His eyes glanced at my lips, and I did the same, chewing on my bottom lip nervously.
"You're so beautiful, Arianne."
The way he said my full name gave me chills. It was as if every syllable, every letter, ever consonant mattered as much as the rest. He practically purred it, his voice coaxing my eyes to close and my head to tilt back.
His lips found mine, gently pressing together. "I'm glad you're okay," he mumbled. I turned around again, wrapping my arms around his neck and resting my cheek against his shoulder. His hands connected at my lower back, holding me in place.
"If he had taken you... I don't know what I'd do," Liam said. "I'd tear the whole town down. I'd never stop looking, baby, I wouldn't rest until I found you. And until I killed him."
I played with the wet hair at the back of his neck, yawning tiredly. "Violence is never the answer."
"I promised a long time ago that I'd keep you safe, Arianna, and I'm never going to break that promise."
And for the first time, I felt truly safe in his embrace.
****A/N: Short update, I know. I think this story will be a bit shorter, only because I've been sort of... blocked with ideas, maybe? But I'm going to finish it, for sure. :) ****
