Page 31 of Wraith
Long after Liam was gone, Amelia stewed in her silent loneliness. She eyed her purse. It was the only thing she had time to grab back at the hotel from hell. She’d kill for a warm bath, a change of clothes, a hot plate of food and a glass of wine. It didn’t even have to be expensive wine—maybe one of those cheap bottles they put in the discount bins at the wine store. Truth be told, those were the best in her opinion anyway.
Amelia sighed.
This entire situation was costing her too much.
Dejected, she stared at the back. There was no need to check the inside because she knew the precise contents—a passport belonging to someone else with her face, cash from her father, a cell phone from the Save By The Bell, her fake driver’s license, a half stick of gum, a tube of lotion which had been squeezed too many times and somewhere in a corner was a few quarters she gotten back when she bought all her new clothes. Her mind fixated on the phone. Perhaps she could call Lisa—just once. She only needed to hear Lisa say hello to know Amelia wasn’t completely alone in the world.
Instead of reaching for the bag, however, Amelia used the beautiful blankets from the large bed to make a makeshift bed on the floor in front of the heaters. She settled on a few pillows and curled herself into a C, facing the heat sources.
No, she couldn’t call Lisa. Her father and Liam had gone through so much to make sure she was safe. Cuzo gave his life. There was no way she could put all they’d sacrificed in jeopardy.
Every sound she heard, sent her heart racing and caused her to sit up. And after a while of paranoia, she got up, wrapped a sheet about her shoulders and wandered the home. It was beautiful, something she’d only seen in the movies. She went from one room to another, wondering which room she’d pick to be the master bedroom. Which bed was comfortable enough for Liam to hold her through the night again.
Amelia cleared her throat. He did it because they were both cold and body heat helped. He had no interest in her other than saving her life and Amelia supposed she should be grateful. Most other men would leave her to rot.
Frustrated, Amelia stomped her foot. It wasn’t fair. She’d been good. Then why would the fates bring Liam into her life if she couldn’t have him?
“Oh my god shut up brain!” Amelia muttered.
Rounding a corner, she was heading back to the bedroom Liam had set the heaters in when she heard a sound. Amelia froze, stopped breathing and waited. The noise was familiar—footsteps moving carefully through the downstairs. Tiptoeing back to the room, she dropped the sheet and picked up her shoe. Hefting it above her head, she slowly went down the stairs, trying to be as quiet as possible. But the horrible steps creaked something fiercely. Nearing the bottom, her heart slamming into her chest when a shadow filled the doorway.
“Amelia?”
She blinked and Liam filled her vision. The shoe slipped from her fingers and without being able to stop herself, she flung her body into his arms. “Thank god it’s you!”
“Who else would it be?” He hugged her back.
“I don’t know.” She stepped back and put some distance between them. Having his arms around her was dangerous. Her body was doing all sort of heated, embarrassing things.
“I—uh—I got you something to eat,” he said. “And a new jacket. The one you have will not do much good against the weather here. And I found some t-shirts, a couple of sweaters and two pairs of jeans. They aren’t designer or anything but it’s the best I could do given the situation.”
“You bought me clothes?” She arched a brow. “You don’t even know my size.”
“I guess-timated.”
“Right…”
“Come. You must be hungry.” He walked away from her.
“Liam?”
He glanced at her over a muscular shoulder. His beautiful eyes held a darkness that should unnerve her but didn’t.
“Thank you.”
He offered her a curt nod and continued on his way.
Amelia wrapped her arms around herself and followed. She wondered what he could have found that was remotely better than the horrible slush they served on the plane rides over to the frozen Tundra. But when she sat and he handed her a bag, it had sandwiches—ham sandwiches. Thankfully, she pulled one out, unwrap it and sunk her teeth in. Perhaps it was because she hadn’t eaten in a while, or because her mouth was frozen, but the silly little sandwich was the most delicious thing she’d ever put in her mouth.
She ate.
He fussed around on his laptop.
Then she was alone again. Liam had disappeared to another part of the massive place. Alone, she ate a second sandwich, washed it down with a bottle of water then gathered the garbage. She singled out one of the plastic bags with the clothes he’d gotten her, and used it to stash all the trash to be thrown out. After she put away the clothes, she wandered through the place until she found him doing burpees in a vacant room. Standing by the door with her shoulder resting into the frame, Amelia watched silently. His muscles twisted and contorted under the movements almost as if he was doing a dance. His muscular thighs were steady under the weight of his body each time he shifted from a push-up into a squat then pushed to his feet. Sweat glistened off his body, running down his abs. She chewed on her bottom lip.
Liam turned to look at her then and stopped to grab a towel. He kept eye contact, wiping the back of his neck, down his arms then his abs. Amelia didn’t realize he was moving until he was standing directly in front of her. The scent of his body intoxicated her, pulled her away from her resting place and looking up into his beautiful eyes. His breath was hot against her face, a soft lullaby she hadn’t felt all her life. No other man made her think the things Liam did. They hadn’t managed to titillate her body by merely being in their presence. Amelia closed her eyes and tilted her head.
He took her chin in his thumb and forefinger, lifting her lips higher. The heat of his breath burned hotter against her cheeks and it was almost as if her heart stopped. Liam’s mouth descended on hers so powerful, she whimpered. Her knees buckled but he caught her into his damp chest, wrapped a strong arm around her as he backed her into the wall. Their tongues mingled, sending shocks of electricity to every tip of her body. Helpless, Amelia tangled her arms around his neck.
