Didn't Mean It

Didn't Mean It - Chapter 15

  I woke up the next morning in bed laying next to Liam. The sun was shining through the blinds but I was warned not to open them. I rolled over in bed facing Liam who was still sound asleep on the bed next to me. I ran my finger lightly over his cheek not disturbing his sleep. I sighed as I rose from the bed and quietly walked out of the room. I listened to the waves crashing on the beach outside and heard the sound of tropical birds flying high in the distance.

     I walked into the kitchen looking in the cabinets searching for pans and food. Liam told me there was extra food downstairs but the fridge was packed full. I pulled out a carton of eggs and a container of bacon and placed them both on the counter. I pulled out to pans and placed them on the stove, turning it on. I pulled matches from a drawer lighting candles around the kitchen as the pans heated. The fragrance of tropical scented candles filled the air as I cracked eggs into a silver mixing bowl. I poured the scrambled eggs into one pan and placed bacon in another. I pulled out apples and oranges slicing them into pieces. I made coffee in the coffee maker sitting on the counter.

     “Good morning.” Liam said and I turned to see he was walking in the room.

     “Good morning.” I said turning back to the stove. Seconds later I felt his hands wrap around my waist and his breathe on my neck as he whispered in my ear.

     “What are you making?” He whispered sending chills down my body.

     “Breakfast.” I said as I scrambled the eggs in the frying pan.

     “Yum.” He said and I felt his lips peck me on the cheek.

     “Liam let me cook.” I whined struggling to get out of his tight grip.

     “Fine.” He said rolling his eyes and letting go of my waist. I flipped the bacon and it finished cooking on the other side as I put the eggs onto a serving bowl with a large spoon. I placed it on the table where Liam sat patiently followed by a pot of coffee, the fruit, and then the bacon. I sat down across from Liam and we ate breakfast together.

     “Are you going to tell me where we are yet?” I said taking a sip of coffee.

      “Nope.” He said looking over at me and I sighed.

      “Why not?” I whined.

     “You got us into this mess.” He said reminding me of my past.

      “It wasn’t my fault.” I claimed.

      “Ashley, he’s in a gang and you knew and didn’t tell anyone.” He said annoyed.

     “It’s not my fault though.” I claimed.

     “I know. You didn’t know he was going to come after us.” He said and I looked down at the ground.

      “Ashley. Look at me.” He said and I refused to look him in the eye as I avoided his gaze. “Ashley.” He snapped.

      “What? What Liam? I know this is all my fault. If anything happens, if they show up here, it’s my fault. I’m the one to blame because I was forced to break up with him and go to the police. Why do you think I never left him?” I yelled across the table at him. He sat there in silence as he realized what I’ve known all along. “He swore if I ever left him he’d kill me.” I felt a hot tears spill over my eyes

     “I won’t let him kill you.” Liam said getting up from where he sat across from me and sitting down next to me pulling me into his arms.

     “I can’t go home Liam. I can’t go back to my mother who will probably be dead by tomorrow. I can’t go back to school. I can’t go back there because anyone in his gang will kill me.” I sobbed as he held me tight.

     “You don’t have to go home. You can stay here. I’m sure your mother will be fine.” He said trying to calm me down.

     “How can you be so sure? We’re all targets now. Especially me and you. That onstage kiss pushed him to this. Those pictures leaked on the internet. I know he saw them.” I looked up into Liam’s eyes. “I can’t fix this.” I said with tear filled eyes.

      “You don’t have to fix this by yourself. I’m here for you and right now my main priority is to keep you safe.” He said wiping tears from my face.

     “He’ll kill you too.” I said looking him straight in the eye. The room filled with silence as he thought about my recent words.

      “He won’t kill anyone.” Liam said trying to soothe me.

     “Yes he-” I felt Liam’s lips press against mine. He kiss was rough but his lips were gentle. I felt his fingers run through my hair and I put my hand on his cheek. I felt sparks fly around me as the electricity from our kiss vibrated through my body leaving me with goose bumps covering my arms and legs. I felt his lips leave my mouth and trail down my neck. My breathing became heavy as he gave me chills. I felt his lips reach my mouth once again and his lips met mine. I felt myself open my mouth as my hormones got the better of me. He pushed his tongue between my lips, playing with mine. I pulled away slowly knowing the moment ended far too soon.

     “We should stop.” I said looking into his eyes.

     “If you want.” He said before pecking my lips and standing up to put the dishes into the dishwasher.

     “How long are we going to have to stay here?” I asked him impatiently.

      “Until Jared is locked up.” Liam said closing the dishwasher and turning it on.

     “What if they don’t find him?” I asked him quietly.

     “Dammit Ashley! I don’t know.” Liam yelled banging his fist on the counter which made me jump. “Stop fucking asking so many questions.” I winced at the tone of his voice remembering what Jared would do to me when he sounded like that. “Wait, Ashley I’m sorry.” Liam said as I got up and walked into the other room.

     “It’s not your fault.” I said sitting down on the bed in the bedroom which I walked into.

     “I forgot. I didn’t mean to scare you.” He said sitting down next to me and pulling me into his arms. I felt tears flood from my eyes.

     “What are we going to do? He’s going to find us because they won’t find him first.” I said crying into Liam’s chest.

     “Ashley, they will find him. Trust me on this one. His picture is every where in the world. There’s no where for him to hide. We will be okay.” Liam said trying to soothe me.

     “They won’t find him Liam. Trust me and even if they do there will always be someone else coming for us. One of his friends, his family, anyone. There will always be someone out there plotting my death for Jared.” I said pulling away from Liam and looking into his eyes.

     “Don’t say that Ashley.” He said trying to calm me down.

     “He will kill me Liam. I know it and deep down you know it too.”