After examining Allison, Dr. Lansing states he thinks it is just a bad bruise. He doesn’t even ask how it happened. He talks football with me the entire time, except for a few ‘does this hurt’ questions to Allison. I’m relieved though, because all we need is the media to get wind of this. Dr. Lansing sends Allison for x-rays of her hand, just to be safe. I, of course, refuse to let her go to radiology without me. After about thirty minutes, Dr. Lansing informs us his prediction is correct and the hand is just bruised and swollen. He advises Allison to take Advil as needed for pain and leave the ice pack the nurse gave her on for another thirty minutes.
I help Allison out to the Pathfinder and get her buckled in. She immediately begins to grumble about how she was right and I ‘wasted my time’ taking her to the emergency room.
I smile. “Thank you, for humoring me. I’ll sleep better tonight knowing you really are okay.”
“Hmph,” is her only reply. She’s even sexy when she’s mad.
I shoot Aiden and Hales a quick text letting them know she’s okay and we’re on our way after a quick errand. Looking over to find Allison asleep, I decide to stop at the all-night pharmacy and pick up more Advil. While I’m there, I go ahead and buy a new ice pack and a few other snacks I know she likes. When I return to my Pathfinder, she’s still asleep. I find myself constantly sneaking glances at her as I drive us back to my apartment. She’s so beautiful. She pulls me in, like a moth to a flame. Smiling at my earlier admission, I’m going to try. I want all of her, and I have never been happier. Convincing her I’m ready might take me a while, but I’m determined, and I never give up on what I want.
I pull up to the apartment and shut the truck off. I lean over and kiss her on the forehead. I hate to wake her up, she looks so peaceful. I grab the bag from the pharmacy and quietly get out of the car. I send Aiden a text telling him to open the door. I make my way to the passenger side, unbuckle her seat belt, and scoop her up in my arms.
“Liam?”
“It’s me. We’re back at my apartment. Let’s get you into bed.” Allison mumbles something I can’t really make out, but it sounds like ‘safe’. I cradle her tight against my chest. Fuck, this girl has weaved a spell over me.
“You’re safe, baby, I won’t let anyone hurt you.”
When I reach the door, Aiden’s already there, holding it open.
“How is she?” he asks as his eyes take in Allison cradled against my chest.
“She’s good. Just bruised and swollen. I stopped at the pharmacy.” I motion my head toward the bag I’m holding in my hand for him to take.
“Damn, what all did you get?”
I shrug. “I picked up more Advil, plus an Ace wrap, and an ice pack. I also picked up a few snacks I know she likes.” I’ve done nothing but watch her since we met.
Aiden looks at me and smiles. “You’re hooked, aren’t you?”
“More than you know, my man, more than you know.” I continue down the hall and stop at my bedroom door.
“Liam, Hales is already in there asleep. After we got your text she was wiped out, so I convinced her to go on to bed. I had to promise if anything changed, I would wake her up.”
Fuck! I want Allison in my bed. I want to take care of her. I turn and headed back toward the living room; she can sleep on the couch, and I’ll take the chair.
“Um, Liam, Blitzen is here, remember?” Aiden smirks. He knows this is killing me, and he’s enjoying the hell out of it.
“Fine,” I mumble as I walk into his bedroom. I lay Allison down on the bed. As I do, she reaches for me.
“Liam.”
“Shh. You’re in Aiden’s room,” I tell her.
“Here,” Aiden says, handing her a shirt of his to sleep in.
I glare at Aiden, and he smirks at me, yet again. He knows what it does to me to have her in his clothes. He knows I want her in my bed with me. Asshole.
Allison starts to sit up. “Let me help you.” I lean down and place my arm around her back and gently lift her, so she’s sitting on the side of the bed.
She looks up at me with a small grin. “Are you going to help me change?” My heart stops. This beautiful amazingly sexy creature is looking at me with innocent, trusting eyes, asking me to help her remove her clothes for bed. Before I can get my brain to function, so I can respond, Aiden is protesting.
“Ash, I can go get Hales. She just laid down, I’m sure she wouldn’t mind helping you,” Aiden suggests.
Allison looks at Aiden like he’s crazy. “Why would I wake her when Liam can help me?” she says it so matter of fact, like me undressing her is as normal as breathing. My stalled heart is now thundering in my chest. It’s beating so loud, I’m sure they can both hear it. Somehow, I’m able to make myself speak above the thunder inside my chest. I cup her cheek in the palm of my hand. “I can get Hales if that would make you feel more comfortable.” Please, say you still want me to do it. Hell yes, I’m being selfish, but my protective instincts are in overdrive when it comes to Allison. I’ll always want it to be me.
Allison smiles up at me before turning her gaze on Aiden. “Can you give us a few minutes, so I can change?”
Aiden gives me a warning look before nodding his head and backing out of the room. I know he’s worried I’ll hurt her, but what he doesn’t realize is I could never, would never. I’ll protect her with everything in me. I stand here staring into her green eyes and I’m overcome with emotion. I’m going to do it. I’m going all in with this girl, and I’m excited at the concept. There are no doubts floating through my mind. I crave her unlike anything I’ve never known. Suddenly, I need to make it real. I need her to tell me that it’s me. That no other man will ever touch her again, because the next time I’m not so sure I’ll be able to stop until I kill the fucker.
I drop to my knees in front of her, so we’re eye to eye. She raises her eyebrow at me in question. I place my hands on both of her cheeks before leaning in and placing a kiss on her forehead. “Allison, I know you said you want more, that you want it all.” I swallow the lump in my throat. Just because I’m positive this is what I want doesn’t mean I’m not scared as hell that I still won’t be enough for her, be what she wants. I take a deep breath and continue. “I want you, all of you. I never want to go through what I went through tonight ever again. When I saw his hands on you...” I shake my head to attempt to erase the memory. I gently pick up her hand and cradle it against my chest, right above my heart. Her eyes soften, and I know she can feel the thunderous rhythm playing inside me. Gently I kiss her hand. “I want to be with you, only you. I want to be the one who holds you at night, the one who gets your kisses and your smiles.” I brush my fingers across her cheek.
I feel her hand tremble against my chest. She’s just as affected by me as I am by her. “Liam, you know I don’t want casual. I don’t expect you to propose, but you told me yourself, you don’t want a serious relationship. How can I be sure you’ve really changed your mind?” She places her soft hand against my cheek. “I feel such a connection with you, it would only be a matter of time before I fall head over heels. You would have the power to break me, break my heart. I’m not sure I can take that chance.”