Page 34 of Spiralling Skywards
Coz I felt like a fucking burglar, that was why I was whispering. I took a step inside and stopped. It was as far as I was prepared to go.
Liam had other ideas, he yanked me by his scarf and pulled me forward, switching on lights as he went.
The place was small but airy. Two bedrooms, one looking like it had an en suit. There were also a main bathroom, separate toilet, and then a large, open-plan kitchen, dining, and living area. Aside from some boxes sitting on the kitchen worktop, the place was empty.
“Why are we here?”
“Why are you still whispering? We’re not robbing the place.”
“Good, coz it looks like someone got here before us.”
He finally turned around and looked at me, his blue eyes were shining as a mischievous grin lit up his face.
“It’s mine. I’ve taken out a six-month lease on it, just while the other place goes through and we decide what to do with it.”
“Here? You’re renting a placehere, right oppositeme?”
He nodded, still grinning.
“Yep, in fact, come and look at this.” Once again grabbing his scarf and dragging me behind him, he moved into the main bedroom and stopped in front of the window.
“That’s my bedroom!” I almost shouted. How the fuck was I supposed to sleep at night knowing he’d be lying here while I was lying there?
“Yes it is. Just think, you can flash your boobs to me before I climb into bed each night, and I can go to sleep happy.” I looked at him with my eyebrows raised. “Or not, if that’s not your thing.”
I looked around the room and realised there was a bed, which was already made. I pointed at it, but before I could speak, he added, “I picked up the keys Wednesday and had this delivered yesterday morning. I bought the doona and Manchester to put on it from the bed shop and brought them back here, washed and dried them, and then put them on the bed after it was delivered and made up yesterday.”
“What’s a doona? Manchester is bedding, right? You already have a washing machine and drier?”
He smiled before pulling me into him and wrapping his arms around me.
“A doona is a quilt or duvet. Yes, Manchester is bedding, and yes I have a washer and a dryer, they’re built into the kitchen, hidden by the cupboards, there’s no separate laundry. Next question?”
I scratched my head and gave a small laugh. “Well, don’t ever let anyone tell you you’re not a man of action, babe.”
He kissed up the side of my neck, along my jaw, and over my chin until his lips found mine.
“Never had any complaints yet, pretty girl, and I don’t plan on getting them from you, ever.”
“What about your creepy stalkerish tendencies? You ever had any complaints about them?”
He stopped exploring my throat with his tongue and looked at me. He licked his lips, and for the first time since meeting him, I swore I glimpsed a moment of self-doubt flash across his face. I felt bad for it, although really, itwasall a little bit too much, too fast. How was I not supposed to be overwhelmed?
“Too much?” he questioned.
“Which bit?”
“Everything. All of it. Me, the house, renting this place?”
I was silent for a few moments. Itwastoo much, but itwasexciting too. So far we’d gotten along great, but we’d still not even had sex. What if I was shit at it? What if I dove into this and it all fell apart? I’d never had my heart broken, simply because I’d never allowed anyone to get close enough to break it.
Until him.
Until Liam Delaney.
“I’m just a little overwhelmed. You’ve given me a lot to think about in a very short few hours.”
He stepped back and leant against the bedroom wall, crossing his arms over his chest. He was wearing a chunky cardigan and a beanie on his head, which was a bit different and refreshing from what blokes normally wore around here. It wasn’t quirky, just different, and it was just another thing I added to the list of things that I found attractive about him. It was a growing list. A rapidly growing list.
