The Game of Hearts

24. Thoughtful

The ceiling dimmed as Liam turned off the lights. I took this moment to glance out the window where slight moonlight glimpsed through the shutters. It felt weird not being in my own place... or Rowan's. I wasn't ready to go back, though. Bringing the blanket up to my chin, I turned to my side which faced outward. There was a feeling in my gut that told me to watch my back. Rowan was dangerous. And that made me angry. Of course! Of course I'd sleep with a dangerous person. However, like Alaric had mentioned prior to his death, it was in their blood. That shouldn't make a person who they are, right?

It took hours for me to wrap my head around an answer for what I should do and what should be said to Rowan if I ever find myself approaching him. It wasn't like he ever hurt me in our complicated relationship. He never laid a finger on me that wasn't consentual or harmful in any way. It was around that moment of thought that my eyes finally began to heavy, and my mind became numb to any thoughts or feelings. Relief washed over my tired body, which was suddenly very exhausted. Rowan wouldn't hurt me... he was protecting me... despite what the images that haunt me might tell me. I just needed to keep saying that in my mind, right up until I fell asleep.

I was surprised I didn't have any nightmares, and if I did- I didn't remember them. I slowly sat up to the smell of bacon, which was my favorite breakfast food. I turned my head to the smell and saw a shirtless Liam. His back was turned to me, giving me some morning chills I didn't expect. I found myself staring, and so did Liam. He turned his body to dump something into the sink, suddenly making eye contact with me. Then he jumped, and chuckled. "God, you scared me. I'm not used to people in here," he smiled, dumping whatever he was dumping.

I smiled a bit too, standing and looking over the kitchen which was behind the couch. It was an open kitchen with a breakfast counter as one of the walls. I rubbed my eyes and walked over to the kitchen cautiously to follow the smell. Bacon and eggs, basic. But sweet. "So you usually make eggs and bacon like this?" Since he wasn't used to people around.

He stared up at me for a moment seeming off guard. Liam then glanced at the stove and smirked. "No, not always, just thought you'd appreciate it," he said then went back to work on the eggs. I couldn't help another glance at his torso. I was in a mid life crisis and I was checking a guy out? I quickly looked away and took a deep breathe before leaning again the counter. "You seem to be feeling better," he said softly.

I nodded, but obviously he couldn't see that. "Yeah... I feel a lot better..." I murmured, eyes finding the floor.

He turned to me again and looked me up and down. "We were protecting you. I would've done the same if I was capable, Aria," he said straightforwardly, taking a step toward me.

"I realize that but... I just can't stop thinking about how he did it," I looked up at him cautiously. His nude upper body was a bit intimidating, making me want to back up.

"You can't blame him, okay? You can't be scared of him, either," for a moment I wondered why he was defending Rowan. He killed his dad and murdered so many people, and just in general the fact that Liam hated vampires. "If he suddenly gets his heart broken... he could go ballistic," he sighed. There it was. The reason. Liam didn't want him killing a bunch of people.

"Get his heart broken? Are you kidding me? You'd have to be in love for that and I bet he's everything but," I scoffed. Liam looked confused.

"Aria, he cares about you. More than I'd like to admit," he came closer, leaving only an inch or two between our bodies. "You're his humanity... you can keep him a bay."

I took a slow breath so Liam wouldn't hear it. I felt trapped, but not in a terribly bad way. The closeness Liam was pushing onto me felt nice. Instantaneously, I wanted him to hug me and tell me things would he alright. I wanted to feel that warm skin against mine. I wondered how different it would be if I met Liam before I met Rowan. I probably still would've been stuck in the middle of vampire shit anyway, but it would've been different. I wouldn't have been kidnapped by Alaric. He wouldn't be dead, possibly. "I doubt that..." I finally said, my eyes finding his again after I had glanced away a few times. "It was a fling... we were a fling... there wasn't anything there..."

"I doubt that too," he shook his head before bringing up a hand to my face, slightly brushing back hair that poked out at weird places. "He's a vampire. If he didn't care, he would've left you to Alaric. Instead he called me and brought me along. That's saying something..." he whispered, resting his other hand next to me on the counter. "You're something special, Aria," the way he used my name made me smile and lean into his hand. Was something like this too fictional? It felt like something out of a book. Things like that don't happen. I closed my eyes as I felt his hand grab my waist, sucking in a breath at the touch. "It would be wrong to say I'm a bit jealous," I flashed my eyes open at him. He was closer, almost pressing his body against mine.

"Jealous?" I mumbled.

"A bit..." I caught his glance down at my lips, making me shudder. Was he going to kiss me? Oh god... I hoped so.

I leaned in a little, and so did he. Out of no where, though, he pulled away and cleared his throat. "Sorry I shouldn't have done that..." he shook his head again, running his fingers through his hair and going back to the eggs.

At first I was just really confused and in shock. But then... I felt mad. "What the hell was that?!" I grabbed his arm and twisted him around to see me. "Do you always lure girls in just to kick them away? I was really looking forward to kissing you, y'know!" I growled. He looked a little shocked for a moment. He wasn't expecting me to say all of that. I was in a mood though, I didn't want to be teased or roped along.

"Aria... no of course not!" He grabbed both my hands. "You're territory. You're Rowan's as of right now. Until he either kills you or let's you go, I canwe do all of the things I wish I could do!"

I shrunk back out of that anger and scoffed. "Territory? You believe that too?!"

"Yes. If I did anything to you... he'd know. Then he'd kill me," Liam sighed and growled out of frustration. "Trust me,.. you have no idea how much I like you. I just can't..."

"But I can," I murmured before throwing myself into Liam, lips finding his. He grabbed me and acted as though he were going to pull me off, but the more I kissed him. The more he relaxed and kissed me back. He leaned me against the counter, hands traveling to my back.

We pulled away when our breaths became rigged. I smiled and he returned it. "Do you not care about my potential death?" He asked with a smirk.

"You'll be fine. You're a vampire hunter, aren't you?" I asked, his arms still cradling my back.

"Yeah, I guess so."

We stood there for a solid minute, just looking at each other with admiration. Then he said, "So, what are you going to do now?"

That was a good question...