**CHAPTER 5** Liam’s chest is like a fortress beneath my cheek, firm and reassuring, and as I lean in, an electric pulse of awareness courses through me. The warmth of his body envelops me, but the stark reality of my own nakedness begins to crawl into my consciousness, and awkwardness seizes me. It’s not until I feel a hard rod pressing against my lower abdomen that my mind catches up with my body. Startled, I pull back and glance down, my eyes widening at the sight of his boxer shorts, the fabric betraying the unmistakable evidence of his arousal. “Sorry,” he murmurs, shoulders lifting in an apologetic shrug. “You’re beautiful. And you’re naked. And you’re beautiful.” A flurry of disbelief fills my mind as I blink. Did he really just say that? Is he actually calling me beautiful? “No way,” I stammer, shaking my head vigorously. “Not with these bruises all over me. I really don’t think so.” He exhales a soft sigh, almost one of disappointment, before gently taking my hands and stretching my arms out wide, as if trying to absorb my very essence. The way his eyes glide down my bare form is unnervingly intimate, and I should feel violated, but instead, it’s a strange mix of vulnerability and exhilaration that keeps me rooted in place. “You’re beautiful,” he declares once more, his gaze steady, drenched in sincerity. It catches me off guard, wrapping me in a cocoon I didn’t know I wanted. The absurdity of the moment hits me like a wave. I’m a mess, a chaotic jumble of pain and confusion, yet here he stands, admiring me as if I were a gallery exhibit. And let’s not ignore the reason for my racing heart—down there, he’s still undeniably… excited. My vision falls to his groin without intent, and I gulp, heat flooding my cheeks. Stop it! Focus on anything but that! “Here, just…” Liam spins on his heel, darting into his closet. Moments later, he emerges with something draped over his arm which he tosses at me. My reflexes kick in, and I catch it, glancing down to find his hockey jersey. “Put this on. It might help calm things down. You know, encourage the little guy to chill out?” Little guy? That’s one way to describe what’s going on with him, but he’s clearly not seeing what I’m seeing. Keeping that thought under wraps, I pull the jersey over my head. It hangs down, covering my rear end, and an unexpected wave of comfort sweeps over me, as if I’ve wrapped myself in a safety blanket. I glance up at Liam, poised to ask if this makes things better, but he’s frozen, mouth slightly agape, as if he’s struggling to comprehend an unexplainable phenomenon. “Okay, that’s really not helping,” he finally manages, turning slightly and placing his hands on his hips in a feigned attempt at nonchalance. “You in my jersey is way too sexy. Like, it’s a problem.” A smile creeps onto my lips before I can halt it. This is all so surreal. I’ve never considered myself ugly, but neither would I claim to be the goddess he’s making me out to be. I’m just an average girl, yet he’s acting like I’ve just stepped off the cover of a high-fashion magazine. I tug at the hem of the jersey, reluctant to remove it but equally hesitant about wearing it when my suitcase of clothes lies just a few feet away. Clothes I’m convinced will never feel right against my skin again. A glance over my shoulder reveals Liam stealing glances at me, his eyes raking over my form with an intensity that sends shivers down my spine. He suddenly winces, turning away as if he’s battling his own resolve. He’s clearly having a difficult time processing his own reactions, and honestly, so am I. Until Theo, I had always been drawn to guys who seemed completely uninterested in me. It was my personal dilemma throughout high school—falling for the unattainable while ignoring those who showed genuine interest. I thought my luck had changed with Theo, but then he shattered everything. My stomach twists at the thought, and I involuntarily brush my fingers over the bruise on my hip, still tender and a painful reminder of the chaos I’ve escaped. “Do I need to take you to the hospital?” Liam suddenly asks, his voice tinged with concern. I gasp, not realizing he had pivoted back around. “No, I really don’t want to do that.” “But what if he broke your ribs or something? What if there’s internal damage?” “It doesn’t feel like that,” I assure him, rubbing my hand across my abdomen, as flashes of Matt’s punch invade my thoughts. I lean forward, resting my elbows on my knees, trying to cradle my head as I stare at the floor. This isn’t the conversation I want to have. I want to cling to the feeling of being desirable, basking in Liam’s admiration. Liam thinks I’m hot. Let’s dwell on that, I tell myself. It’s ridiculous, really. The guy I would have deemed light-years out of my league in high school is standing here, visibly aroused by me, telling me I’m sexy. I want to dwell in this fleeting moment and forget the reality of my situation—the possibility that Theo and his insufferable friend could have left lasting scars, both physical and emotional. “They’re just bruises,” I murmur softly. “They’ll heal.” Liam’s expression is steadfast as he sits beside me on the edge of the bed, his hand coming to rest lightly against my back. “Look, it’s your choice, and I won’t force you to go to the hospital, but… please, just… if you feel any lingering pain, promise me you’ll let me take you.” I meet his gaze, captivated by the earnestness within. Does he come from a family of doctors or something? I open my mouth to ask, but he cuts in before I can. “You should report him.” “No,” I shake my head quickly. “I just want to forget it ever happened.” He clicks his tongue, jaw tightening, but he relents, conceding without further argument. There’s an unshakeable feeling that something deeper lingers beneath his surface, something he’s not sharing. “Liam, do you—” “Does he know where you are?” we both ask simultaneously, halting our initial thoughts and leaving my question to dangle in the air, suddenly overshadowed by a fresh wave of anxiety. The reality presses in on me, and I spiral into my thoughts. Does Theo know Mikayla’s school? Did I let it slip during a conversation? Would he think I came to see her? What if he hunted me down? Fear grips me like a vice, making it hard to breathe. I leap from the bed, pacing anxiously towards the closet and spinning around, panic rising in my chest. “Hey, it’s okay,” Liam assures, his voice steady as he moves toward me, each step carefully calculated as though approaching a skittish animal. I brace my hands against my knees, trying to manage the tremors racing through my body as I lose the battle for air. His soothing touch circles my back, his presence a quiet anchor amidst my chaos. “I won’t let him near you. If he comes here looking for you, the only thing he’ll find is my fist.” I wince at his words, attempting to steal a glance at him, but fear clouds my vision. “We’ll keep you safe, okay? No one’s gonna hurt you again. I won’t let it happen. I promise.” His sincerity is palpable, a heavy weight that lingers between us. I stare into his earnest eyes, shaking my head in disbelief. “You don’t even know me. Why would you make such a promise?” “It’s what I do,” he shrugs, a boyish grin flickering his lips. “I protect all my friends.” “But we’ve only just met!” He begins to count off the reasons on his fingers, utterly unfazed. “You’re Mikayla’s best friend, which makes you one of mine. You cried on my knee last night and—you’re wearing my hockey jersey.” An unexpected giggle bubbles in my throat, and I fight to suppress it, but the amusement escapes. “And those are enough reasons to put you in harm’s way for my sake?” His eyes drink in the moment, his fingers ghosting along my cheek with a feather-light touch. “I don’t need a reason to protect someone. If an asshole tries to hurt an innocent person, I’m going to do everything in my power to stop it.” And just like that, my heart melts into a puddle. Who is this guy? He possesses the heart of a superhero—and the physique to match. My gaze travels down to his feet, large and sturdy, dwarfing my own as they peek out from beneath the hem of the jersey. “So please, trust that I won’t let Theo touch you again. If he’s stupid enough to show up at Hockey House, he’ll wish he’d never been born.” I glance up once more, the fierce determination etched across Liam’s face igniting a flicker of hope in my chest. “I’ll let you get dressed,” he says finally, stepping back from me, pulling the door open with a promise of space and respect. He pauses before stepping into the hallway, turning back with a warm, gentle smile that dances in my memory. As the door clicks shut behind him, his words resonate in my chest. I cross my arms tightly around myself, gripping the edges of his jersey, and whisper softly, “You’re safe here, Ray. It’s going to be okay.”