I’ve been pushing the thought out of my mind ever since I stepped foot in his domain, but the question lingers in the back of my mind. What if … I do want him? What if I stopped fighting?
But then I remember why I came here.
What I’m protecting.
And what he can never find out.
“Then you can wait until we’re both dead,” I say with a stone-cold face.
His nostrils flare, and his hand leaves my skin. “I will make you regret those words.”
And he gets up and marches out of the room, slamming the door closed behind him.
My skin erupts into tiny goose bumps, so I quickly grasp the bucket of warm water and dump it all over my body.
But no amount of heat can ever get rid of this icy chill inside my heart.
Chapter 15
Liam
* * *
The moment the door closes, I stop and listen to the sounds beyond the door. First, there’s a splash of water. Then a sigh. Then nothing.
I expected yelling. Cursing. Tears.
Anything.
Not … nothing.
It’s like she doesn’t even care.
I close my eyes and let out a deep breath, planting my back against the wood. I can’t stop listening even though there is no sound. I’m waiting, always waiting for the moment when she’ll finally realize there’s no point in fighting. And when she does, I’ll be here, ready to hear her beg.
My hand clenches into a fist, and I fight the urge to punch a hole through the door.
I’m stuck between the need to prove just how badly she wants me and how good I could be for her. But I refuse to give up. Even if it takes me a lifetime to do it, she will hand me her heart on a platter.
Because this isn’t just about her fucking body.
It never was.
I want far more than she’ll ever be willing to give.
But she won’t ever give her heart to me willingly …
Not without a fight.
Lucky for her, I’m willing to fucking wait an eternity.
I already waited half a lifetime.
What’s another half?
Age 17
* * *