I pull myself from Liam and stare at Renee, who's eyes are still jumping from Liam to me.

"Well?" she continues to question as we stand there, shell-shocked. Renee's eyes have landed on Liam again, but this time she lingers, giving him a dirty look.

"I'm going to go. Have a good night, Ly," Liam says before placing a gentle kiss on my forehead and making his way down the hall.

I look at Renee, who is still standing in the doorway with a puzzled look on her face. "Are you alright?" I ask her as I force my way into the room.

"I didn't know you two were...a thing."

"I, uh, wouldn't call us a thing; we're just hanging out."

"Well, I haven't seen many guys suck the face of women they're hanging out with," she air-quotes as she sits on her bed.

I take my cello off my back and place it in the corner. "I'm sorry, but who are you to judge? The last time I checked, you have a boyfriend."

"Oh, girl, I'm not jealous! I'm just surprised, that's all."

I cock my head. "Surprised at what?"

"Look, I'm just warning you; Liam isn't as sweet and kind as he makes himself seem. He's a player."

It's not as if the thought hasn't crossed my mind. Of course, Liam has a past, and it might be one he's not happy with; but who's to say he can't change?

"I know that look, Lyla," Renee interrupts my thoughts, "I don't want to scare you; I just want you to be careful, that's all."

"Thanks for the head's up," I brush off as my phone vibrates in my back pocket. Liam's name appears across the screen with a small message.

"I'm sorry."

The words linger in my mind. Could he sense that Renee was going to tell me something about him, or that she would bring up his past? I learned from the best that people could be more than what they seem, and I want to give that same benefit to Liam.

"Sorry for what?" I type.

"For whatever Renee told you about me."

"What should she be telling me?"

"About who I used to be..."

"Everyone has a past, Liam, but that doesn't define them. I have a past too."

Part of me regrets mentioning my past, but another part wants Liam to grasp onto it.

"Are you okay? Do you want to talk about it?"

"Not now, no. It's not something I want to delve into over text."

"Okay. I don't want to pressure you into saying anything. If you want to tell me you will.

"Thanks.

"When can I see you again? :) "

"Soon."

"Okay, soon."

***

The cold morning air whips against my cheeks as I make my way to the practice studios.

Over this past week, I have discovered that hardly anyone practices in the mornings, so I have decided to practice each morning while it's quiet.

As I round the corner into the practice wing, Liam's familiar figure falls into view. I haven't spoken to him since the other night, but we did share a soft glance at orchestra rehearsal last night.

My heartbeat accelerates when I feel my phone vibrate in my back pocket. I can already sense that Liam is the one who has texted me, and sure enough, when I look at the screen, his contact appears with two small words: "practice room?"

"How did you know?" I ask as I approach him.

Liam turns around slowly. His features visibly soften when he meets my gaze, and I watch as a small grin cracks his hardened aura. "Because I know you," he says, holding the door open for me.

"I'm not the only reason you're here this early, am I?" I ask when I hear the door click shut. I'm not facing him, but I can sense Liam's stare as I place my cello case safely on the tile floor.

When I turn around, he's still standing at the door, a few meters from me. "What would you do if I said it was?" Liam asks as he makes his way toward me.

My lips part as I silently gasp to myself. I should know by now that Liam has intentions, but for the life of me, I cannot figure out what they are. From what Renee was saying the other night, he's not one to mess around with, but I can't get over how genuine he is with me. Granted, I have seen a snippet of his dark side, but it's not enough to scare me away. He's been nothing but gentle with me, soft, caring, protective – actions you don't expect from someone cast as a "player."

Liam stands inches from me as his eyes explore my features. "It's been too long," he says, placing his hand to my cheek.

"You saw me yesterday-"

"That's not what I mean," he says, cutting me off.

Liam's soft caress soothes my wandering thoughts. His thumb plays with my bottom lip as he stares into me as if he's waiting for me to melt under his touch.

"I don't want to go that long without speaking to you," he says, before placing his free hand on my other cheek and lowering his lips to mine, "or touching you."

He kisses me once, softly; it's over before I can even enjoy it. I'm left lingering, waiting for more. Liam doesn't realize that he's given me the touch, I didn't know I was craving, igniting the fire deep within my being.

His hands begin to loosen on my cheeks, but I grab onto them and reapply his pressure before he can stray too far away. I want him to touch me, to feel me, to hold me. I'm not ready to let that feeling go.

"Ly," Liam starts.

"Shh," I hiss as I place my forehead against his. I hold him there for a moment, not wanting to break contact. But after a few silent seconds, Liam begins pulling away again. I must look devastated because he gives me an odd look.

"What's wrong?" he asks, gliding one of his hands down my arm.

"It's nothing," I trail off.

"Tell me," he pleads, tightening his soft grip on my wrist.

"It's just... I wasn't ready for that to be over," I admit.

Liam chuckles under his breath. "Oh," he says, grabbing at my hips. "It doesn't have to be."

He lingers just over my mouth, torturing me. I watch as his emotionless lips form into a small grin, replacing the resting hardness that resides there.

Unable to resist, I grab hold of his cheek and bring his skin against mine. My mouth gently devours his while his fingers work wonders on my hips, tracing small circles that coat my body in goosebumps.

I pull away from him and rest my cheek against his. Liam's hands wander as I linger there, gently groping my backside with the occasional squeeze.

"Come to me, baby," he whispers.

Unsure of what he means, I part from him, bringing his firm exterior back into my sightline. His lips hang there slightly parted, plump from sucking against mine.

Liam doesn't flinch as he scoops me up, bringing my body into his. I wrap my legs around his torso as he positions our bodies against the wall of the practice room.

I'm not really doing this, am I?

Liam's mouth roughly collides with my neck, bringing a sharp breath into my lungs. He's caught me off guard; I was not expecting a make-out session this morning, but I'm not overtly against it. 

The pressure of his lips and tongue against my skin makes my body hum, ignoring the fact that I can feel the heat radiating beneath his touch. I'm sure that leaving a mark is his plan, claiming me for all to see. He's lucky I'm so distracted by his motions that I don't call him out on it.

Liam meets my gaze when his mouth releases my neck.

"Liam," I hum.

He furrows his brow. "Lyla?"

"Don't think I don't know what you did," I say, straining my neck to catch a glimpse of the forming bruise.

The wide grin is still present on Liam's face when my eyes meet his again. He's cocky yet vulnerable, a mixture I haven't openly seen on any guy I've ever met.

"What is it?" he pries when I don't say anything.

I watch his brow, and facial muscles relax as I break a smile, allowing his actions to cascade from my thoughts. A hickey isn't the end of the world. If anything, Renee will most likely be the only one who brings it up.

Liam is my only anchor to joy in life. Since Laura, I've struggled to find anything to make me happy, and right now, Liam makes me happy. I am willing to grasp onto anything that can make me happy.