Contentions(A Liam Payne AU)

Chapter 4-Stay Away

The familiar scent of alcohol and sweat flooded my nose as I wove through the men, trying to hide my discomfort at the lustful glances I was receiving. I silently wished I didn’t leave my jacket in the car, my exposed shoulders now seeming like way to much skin. I tugged up the front of my tanktop and continued to make my way to the cluster of boxers warming up in a sectioned off area. My thoughts jumped to what I was going to say. I didn’t exactly have a plan or even a reason to be in the warehouse, but there was no going back now.

When I was in the more secluded area filled with men clad in gym shorts and trainers, I held my breath, trying to find the guy who had caught my interest.

“Well, well, well. What do we have here?” someone suddenly growled, fingers weaving through my hair and yanking harshly. I yelped, tears stinging my eyes as panic slammed into me; I recognized that voice.

“Let go,” I pleaded, reaching up to grab his wrist, trying to get him to release me.

“You’re Payne’s new toy, aren’t you, babe?” he breathed, his mouth coming to rest right beside my ear. “He wouldn’t mind sharing with an old friend.” His lips attached to my neck, sucking and biting harshly making me whimper as pain blossomed in the skin.

“Stop it! Y-you’re hurting me!” I shrieked, thrashing in his grip. It was of no use though, a rough hand sliding down my body, squeezing as it did so. His thumb yanked at one of my belt loops and I stomped on his toes, only drawing a chuckle from him. Nothing I did was working. Why wouldn’t he stop?!

That was when I caught sight of a familiar body, sweat sliding down his biceps as he hit the weighted bag in front of him repeatedly. In a desperate attempt, the feeling of blood sliding down my neck pushing me to extremes, I screamed.

“Liam!” I cried out, relief flooding over me as he tensed, his punches ceasing as he turned to look in my direction. His gaze darkened and he strode over, anyone standing in his way knowingly stepping out of the way.

“What the hell do you think you’re doing, Randy?!” Liam roared, gripping Randy’s wrist in a bone crushing grip. I felt the male holding me captive flinch at the pain being inflicted on him, his fingers in my hair loosening slightly.

“I’m just having a little fun with her, mate,” he defended himself.

“She doesn’t look like she’s having much fun, you little prick,” my rescuer spat, gripping his wrist tighter. “Now let her go.” Randy snickered, shoving my body forward so I painfully fell to my knees with a small cry.

“I’ll deal with you later,” Liam hissed at him in a deadly promise, kneeling in front of my trembling body.

“Get up, kid,” he said, his tone firm but holding an underlying sympathy, almost pity. I bit my lip to keep from sobbing and on shaky legs, forced myself up to my feet, a large hand cupping my elbow and aiding me.

“Come with me,” he said quietly, aware of the numerous stares focused on us. His palm pressed against the small of my back, guiding me outside just like before. I tried not to seem like a child, frightened by the man who had so blatantly and so harshly threw himself on me, but my attempts were feeble. My limbs shook, tears slipping down my cheeks and small sniffles betraying me. As soon as the door shut, he gently grabbed my upper arm, holding me still. I refused to turn around though, ashamed at my weakness. I wanted to prove I was strong, yet here I was on the verge of hysteria.

“Listen, kid-,” he began but I cut him off.

“My name’s not kid,” I retorted, my voice cracking slightly. He sighed slightly, his thumb rubbing small circles into the small patch of skin it rested on.

“What IS your name then?” he asked me. I cleared my throat, trying to steady my voice but knowing it would be of no use.

“Brinlee, but everyone calls me Brin,” I whispered, pinching my eyes shut as pain washed over my neck, the wind irritating the broken skin. My mind wandered to the man being so rough and I whimpered slightly, terrified.

“Alright then, Brin,” he said softly, his tone surprising me. “How about you turn around and look at me?” I slowly complied, my eyes raising to meet his own. He smiled slightly, letting his hand release my arm and in turn rest on my shoulder.

“Are you okay?” he murmured, almost as if speaking to a child who had just awoken from a horrid nightmare. “He didn’t hurt you at all did he?”

“I-I’ll be fine,” I managed, but he didn’t seem convinced in the slightest. His gaze drifted to my neck and he skimmed his fingers across the sensitive skin drawing a pain laced noise from my mouth.

“Bloody dick,” he muttered under his breath before turning his attention back to me.

“He scared you quite a bit, didn’t he,” he stated, not even really asking. Nonetheless, I nodded, another tremble racking my body.

“I’m sorry,” I apologized, finally breaking down and letting a sob rise in my throat.

“Don’t apologize,” he said softly, his next movements surprising me. He drew me into a strong hug, his sweaty arms slightly sticking to my skin but I couldn’t have cared less. My face buried into his black tanktop so similar to the previous night’s, but the smell said otherwise. The scent of fresh laundry and cologne reached my nose, a bit odd for a hard core boxer.

“You shouldn’t have come here, love,” he sighed, squeezing my body a bit tighter before pushing back on my shoulders and leaning so that our gazes were level.

“Brinlee, I never want to see you around here again,” he said sternly, but this time, it was different than before. He was almost desperate, pleading. “Please.”

“I want to be here, Liam,” I whispered, not really even know why I meant those words so full heartedly even after what I had experienced. His hand slid to firmly hold the back of my neck in his grip, the gesture not threatening, but almost reproachful.

“You don’t know what you want,” he said quietly. “But let me tell you what you need.You need to leave and never look back. You don’t belong in my world, darling. You belong at home with your happy family and perfect grades.” The word darling sent a shiver up my spine but the sentence following caused my eyes to narrow, nostrils flaring. What did he know about my ‘happy’ family? How did he know what I needed?

“You don’t know anything, Payne,” I hissed, using his last name for good measure. He seemed a bit taken back with my sudden change in attitude, his brow furrowing.

“Brinl-,”he began, stepping forward and moving to grab my hand but I pulled away.

“You don’t know anything about me. So why don’t you stop telling me what I need,” I growled.

“I’m just trying to protect you,” he retorted, anger slowly becoming evident on his face. “Since you’re honestly too hardheaded to make rational choices, let me make this perfectly clear for you.” He stepped forward, our noses brushes and the scent of peppermint breath flitting over my face.

“I want you to take your pretty little arse and drive back home,” he breathed, tilting his head so his forehead rested on mine. “I’ve saved you two times already, darling…let’s not try for three.”

“Payne, you’re up,” a man suddenly spoke, peeking his head outside the door. Liam tensed, his eyes clouding over with coldness. He stepped back, stripping off his shirt in one smooth movement. I couldn’t help but marvel at the prominent muscles in his shoulders in torso that flexed with even the smallest movements. Among the tan skin though, lay bruises and cuts. I didn’t have much time to dwell on it, the material being pressed against my still bleeding neck. He leaned down, his stubble rubbing against my cheek.

“You don’t belong in my world, Brin,” he whispered in my ear, repeating the words he had so many times before. “Get out while you still have the choice.”

And for the second time, Liam Payne left me standing outside, staring after him with only one thought in mind; seeing him again…