Awakened (Vampire Awakenings) (4 page)

“Hey,” Sera said. “What are you guys up to?”

“Nothing,” Danielle answered, her eyes latched onto Liam.

“Want a beer?” Kathleen asked.

“Isn’t it against the rules for you to have alcohol in the dorm rooms?” Liam asked teasingly.

“It’s also against the rules for you to be here,” she replied happily.

He smiled at her as she dug beneath her bed to pull out a cooler. Liam grabbed two beers from it, popped the top on one, and handed it to Sera. He watched her intently for a moment as she took a sip.

“How do you like this school so far?” Danielle asked unusually shy and hesitant.

“Seems nice, so far.”

“You have to watch out for some of the people,” Kathleen said. “They can be funny.” Her eyes settled intently on Sera. “It takes some people longer to realize that than others.”

Liam looked over at her, his gaze just as intense as Kathleen’s. “I figured that,” he said.

A soft knock on the door made them all jump. “Shit,” Danielle said, ditching her beer under the bed. Sera grabbed Liam’s can and shoved both of them into her desk drawer. It was bad enough there was a man in their room, but being caught with alcohol would surely get them expelled.

Heart hammering, she walked slowly over to the door and cracked it a little. Michelle stood impatiently outside, her eyes narrowed, and her long auburn hair spilling around her beautiful face. “Can I come in?” she asked.

“Oh damn!” Kathleen cried angrily.

Sera nodded and stepped back, a tight knot of anxiety formed in her stomach. She wasn’t in the mood for an intense encounter. Michelle swept into the room and froze when she spotted Liam sitting elegantly on Sera’s bed, beers back in hand. He stared back at her with open disdain before standing slowly and walking over to hand Sera her beer. She chanced a glance at him to find the hard, cold look back on his face. He managed a small smile for her as he leaned casually against the wall, his shoulder brushing against hers as he crossed his legs before him.

She didn’t quite understand what was going on, but she knew that he was trying to tell her and everyone in the room, something. Michelle stared at him, her dark eyes filled with anger. “Hello everyone,” she said coldly.

“Hey,” Danielle said nervously. “What’s up?”

“I just wanted to apologize for what I said earlier.” The apology was meant for Sera but Michelle’s eyes remained locked on Liam.

Sera shifted uncomfortably as Liam stood straighter. She still didn’t understand what was going on, but she could feel anger radiating from him. He took a swig of beer and stepped away to place it on her desk. He headed back to her and rested his hands lightly upon her shoulders. Her eyes widened in surprise as he gently stroked her cheek with his thumb.

“I’d better get going,” he said.

“All right.”

Unbelievable disappointment welled up inside of her. She hardly knew him, and yet she felt as if something would be missing when he left. She took a deep breath in an attempt to get her irrational emotions under control. She hadn’t had that much to drink, but maybe the alcohol was affecting her.

“I’ll see you tomorrow.”

He leaned down and kissed her gently. Warmth instantly spread through her whole body. She had to clench her hand around her beer in order to keep herself from grabbing him, and deepening the kiss. When he pulled away from her there was a wealth of confusion in his darkened eyes.

Liam studied her intently. He hadn’t meant to tell her that he would see her tomorrow. He’d had every intention of walking out of this room, and never seeing her again. She was too dangerous. She made him feel things that he had never felt before. Things that he wasn’t supposed to feel, wasn’t allowed to feel.

Yet, he found himself wanting to protect her, shelter her, and to ease the hurt that he had seen in her eyes earlier. He wanted her with an intensity that was even now heating, and hardening him. She was the most delectable, entrancing woman that he had ever met.

Sera managed to nod a response before he turned away from her. He brushed by Michelle, not even looking at her as he opened the door. “Nice to meet you guys,” he said to Kathleen and Danielle, pointedly ignoring Michelle.

“Bye,” they said in unison.

He shut the door behind him, and they all remained silent for a few moments. “Oh my God,” Danielle gushed. “He is so hot.”

“You had better spill!” Kathleen said, excitedly bouncing on her bed.

“Oh yes!” Danielle cried. “Where did you guys go? How was that kiss!?”

Sera stared at them for a moment before she turned to Michelle. She was leaning casually against the door, but the set of her jaw, and the anger in her eyes, belied her cool composure. “I’d better go too,” she said as she stepped away from the wall. “I’ll see you later, and I am sorry about earlier.”

“It’s all right,” Sera replied dully.

Michelle swung the door open and closed it loudly behind her. “What is her problem?” Danielle asked in surprise.

“Bet you ten she tries to catch up with him.” Kathleen scrambled off her bed and raced to the window.

“Kathleen...” Sera started.

“Never seen her walk that fast before,” Kathleen commented.

Sera was unable to resist looking. Michelle was hurrying down the front walk, Liam just ahead of her. He suddenly turned around as Michelle walked quickly over to him. Sera’s heart began to pound painfully as they stood together beneath the street light.

“That bitch!” Kathleen cried, angrily slamming her hands on the sill. “That rotten bitch!”

“I can’t believe it,” Danielle whispered.

Sera felt as if someone had socked her in the stomach as the two continued to talk. She could barely even breathe. “Well if he wants her...” she barely choked out.

“Screw that!” Kathleen snapped.

Michelle reached out to touch Liam’s shoulder flirtatiously, but he took a step back from her. Sera watched in amazement as he turned and walked away from her. Michelle stood for a moment before turning and walking the other way. “Good for him,” Kathleen muttered. “I knew I liked him for a reason!”

Sera turned away from the window and sat on her bed, shock rolled through her. “I can’t believe her,” Danielle declared. “She’s got a set of balls.”

“No, she’s just a back stabbing bitch! Now I hope you realize what she is.” Sera stared up at Kathleen in confusion and shock. “She’s not worth being upset over.”

Sera blinked and shook her head. “I’m not upset about her.”

“Then what’s the matter?”

“I don’t know, I guess I’m just confused.”

“About what?” Danielle asked, sitting next to her, and handing Sera her beer.

Sera took a long swallow and began to twirl the beer in her hand. “I don’t know what just happened.”

“What do you mean?” Kathleen demanded, hands on her hips.

Sera stood and walked back to the window. The street was empty now. “I don’t know. I just don’t know.”

“Sera,” Danielle said gently. “You’re not making any sense.”

“I’ve never met anyone like him,” she said softly. “No one has ever made me feel that way. He looks at me, and I melt. He touches me, and shivers run up and down my spine. He kisses me, and the whole world disappears, and I feel... well I don’t know how to explain what I feel. All I know is that I feel more for him in the past hour than anyone I’ve ever met. How is that possible?”

“I don’t know, maybe it’s the alcohol,” Kathleen joked.

Sera put her beer down. “Maybe you’re right, but I don’t think so.”

“That’s a good thing,” Danielle said forcefully. “Why are you questioning it?”

“I don’t know; have you ever felt like that?”

“No.”

“Then there’s Michelle...”

“Don’t tell me you’re worried about that tramp!” Kathleen cried.

“No, it’s not that. I just don’t understand what in the world he could want with me, when he could have her?”

Danielle’s eyebrows rose as she stared at her in surprise, well Kathleen’s mouth dropped open. She slowly closed her mouth. “Because he has good taste,” she answered dryly. “It’s obvious to the rest of us what Michelle is; you’re the one that refuses to see it.”

“I see it now,” she whispered.

But too late. She always saw things too late. She had truly thought that Michelle was her friend, she had trusted her. But, after everything that had happened tonight she knew that her trust had been misplaced, yet again. Just like it always was.

And now there was Liam. She didn’t know what to make of him, or the way that he made her feel. She didn’t even want to feel this way. It only led to hurt, and pain. She found herself torn between wanting to see him again, and hoping that she never would. She closed her eyes and wrapped her arms around herself as her body trembled with her torn emotions.

***

Liam walked back into the frat house. The music had been turned down; the lights were dimmed to give the house a more romantic atmosphere. Although, how anyone could feel romantic in the jumbled mess of garbage, and the stench of beer, he didn’t know. However, some people obviously did. He could hear more than one couple having sex in the dance room, and knew that the thumps over his head weren’t drunks falling down.

“Hey, how’d it go?”

Liam turned as Mike came strolling in from the back room with a cute brunette tucked under his arm. She grinned drunkenly up at Liam as she leaned heavily against Mike’s side. Jack and Doug followed behind him; a redhead was under Jack’s arm, and a brunette under Doug’s. “Fine,” he replied absently.

Mike smirked brightly as he leaned drunkenly against the banister. “Told you so.”

Liam raised an eyebrow as he scowled at him. “Told him what?” Jack asked happily.

“About Sera.”

“Oh,” Jack replied, his forehead furrowed. “You shouldn’t have even bothered to try, she doesn’t give it up.”

“I didn’t try!” Liam snapped. “And don’t talk about her like that.”

He was even more surprised than they were by the hostility in his voice, and the sudden tenseness that filled him. Mike lifted a blond brow questioningly, but didn’t say anything. Jack and Doug both stared at him with expressions of surprise.

“Well,” Doug was the first to recover. “There are some girls back there who are more than willing.”

The brunette giggled as she wrapped her arm around Doug’s waist. Liam couldn’t help the sneer of disgust that curled his upper lip. He looked away from her, his gaze darting down the hall to the back living room. He could hear voices coming from there, most of them female. For a moment he was tempted. He was still slightly hard from his time with Sera and he wouldn’t mind having someone relieve him.

Growing hard again just at the thought of Sera, he took a step toward them, and then stopped. He suddenly realized that he wasn’t in the mood for one of those girls, that he didn’t want them. Frowning, and suddenly very angry, he turned back around and headed for the stairs. His emotions were a rioting mess that he couldn’t even begin to fathom at the moment.

“Where ya going?” Jack slurred.

“To bed,” he muttered.

“Are you serious man? There are plenty of girls back there!”

“Hey,” Mike seized Liam’s arm before he could escape. “You all right?”

Liam’s jaw clenched as he gazed at his friend. Mike’s eyes were dark as they searched his face in bewilderment. “No,” Liam responded as he pulled his arm free. “I’m not.”

He turned away and stalked up the stairs.  

CHAPTER 3

Sera had slept in later than she’d intended, and now she was in a rush. She had to do research for her history report before meeting Kathleen and Danielle for lunch. Kathleen had still been sound asleep when she’d left the room; Sera silently envied her lackadaisical lifestyle, and carefree attitude. For once, she wished that she could be more like Kathleen, and still buried beneath her blankets.

She shrugged off thoughts of Kathleen sleeping comfortably as she climbed the stairs to the library. She walked through the maze of hallways until she came to another set of stairs and climbed them quickly. There were only a handful of people in the large room. Most students were still sleeping off Friday night, and it was only the truly uptight ones, like her, that were here.

She smiled at the librarian, who was used to seeing her, and headed for the back. The history books took up the last twelve rows, and she quickly lost herself within them. Pulling down an armful of books on the bubonic plague she headed for the bean bag chair in the corner. Slipping into the comfy chair, she opened one of the books, and began to read.

“How’s the book?”

She jumped in surprise as someone slid onto the bag beside her. Her eyes widened in amazement as Liam smiled at her and leaned over her shoulder to look at the pages. Instantly her heartbeat sped up as she gazed at his bent, dark head. “Interesting topic to read first thing on a Saturday morning.”

“I always like a reality check in the morning,” she said, smiling happily and still slightly dazed by his sudden presence. “What are you doing here?”

He sprawled out, crossing his long legs in front of him as he placed his hands behind his head. “I thought I’d prowl for good looking girls who come to the library at ten o’clock on a Saturday morning.”

“You must be disappointed then.”

He grinned as he reached over to gently touch a strand of her hair. “Nah, I think I’ve found one.”

She smiled shyly as she leaned back in the bag. “Do you have a report to do?”

He laughed and dropped his arm around her shoulders. “Oh no, I don’t make it a habit to come to the library. I went to your room to see if you wanted to go to breakfast. A very disgruntled, barely discernible, and extremely sleepy Kathleen informed me, and I quote, “Are you nuts? Mumble, mumble, mumble, nine thirty, mumble, mumble, mumble. She’s probably in the library, she’s nuts. Like you!” and slammed the door in my face.”

Sera laughed. “You woke Kathleen up? That’s never good!”

“So I noticed. I won’t do it again.”

His hand began to gently stroke her hair. She leaned her head against his shoulder. Closing her eyes, she allowed herself to drift into his gentle caress. To her surprise, she didn’t feel any fear, or revulsion. She hadn’t felt it last night, well at least not the revulsion, but she had attributed that to the alcohol in her system. She was even more surprised to realize that her lack of fear had nothing to do with the fact that they were in the library, but everything to do with him. She could have stayed there forever.

“Don’t let me interrupt you,” he whispered, laying his chin against her head. “Continue reading.”

“I can’t read, you’re distracting me.”

“Do you want me to leave?”

That was the last thing that she wanted to happen. “No.”

He rubbed his hand along her hair and tilted the book so that he could see it too. “Then we’ll read it together. Nothing like a little death to start the day off right.”

She laughed softly and looked down at the book, but she couldn’t seem to focus upon the words. Her heart was pounding rapidly in her chest, and her body tingled everywhere that it touched against his. “You know what,” he whispered in her ear. “You’re distracting me too.”

She turned to look at him as he began to gently stroke her cheek. His eyes were a dark, volatile green as they burned into hers. She shivered in excitement as he leaned down and kissed her softly. Instantly, she began to melt into his warm embrace, and the gentle pressure of his lips against hers. His tongue lightly brushed against her lips, and she instinctively opened her mouth to his soft caress. He entered her mouth slowly, gently stroking against her as he sent sparks of passion throughout her whole body. He pressed her gently back, slowly lowering himself over her, and enclosing her within the warmth of his embrace.

Something deep inside of her began to stir as she encircled her arms around his back. She felt as if she was losing control, as if there was no one in the world but them, and the fierce emotions he arose in her. His kisses became deeper, more urgent. She met each of his thrusts eagerly, her fingers curling into his back as her whole body responded to his.

  “Uh hum.” Sera jumped in surprise and Liam moved quickly aside. She sat up quickly to find Ms. Krinkle, the librarian, staring disapprovingly at them. “I think it would be better if you checked those books out Sera.”

“I’m sorry Ms. Krinkle,” she mumbled. She quickly scooped up the books as her face burned with embarrassment. “I’ll do that right now.”

Unable to bear looking at Liam, she hurried down the long row of books. She walked up to the counter, handed over her college ID, and waited impatiently as a student worker quietly checked her out. She turned to leave and realized that Liam had disappeared. A sense of loss enveloped her, but she was in too much of a rush, and too humiliated, to really think about it. She just wanted to get out of there as fast as she could.

She burst through the doors, grateful for the cool air that helped to ease the burning in her cheeks as she turned to head back to her dorm. Liam was sitting on a bench by the doors, a huge grin on his face. Dark sunglasses covered his eyes, adding an air of sensuality to him that was both thrilling, and disturbing.

“Glad you think it’s funny.”

“Sorry, I didn’t mean to embarrass you.” He stood and began to walk beside her.

“It’s my fault.”

“You were quite content until I showed up.”

“It’s all right.”

Her head was spinning with the overwhelming confusion she felt. She had never lost control like this. Although she was enjoying it, she was also angry at herself for it. She knew better than to let herself get wrapped up with someone, knew better than to believe that she could trust someone. But she couldn’t seem to stop herself when it came to him. She needed to get away from him so that she could try to sort out her confusing emotions.

“Have you talked to Michelle today?” he inquired.

“No, why?”

He remained silent for a moment and then looked over at her. “We had a nice chat last night after I left.”

“Really?” she inquired innocently. “About what?”

“She just wanted to apologize about the way that she acted.”

“That was nice of her,” she said more casually than she felt.

“I suppose.”

Sera looked up at him, noting that his jaw was set firmly in anger. “You really don’t like her, do you?”

He shrugged as he shoved his hands into the pockets of his leather bomber jacket. “No, I don’t.”

She wasn’t paying any attention to where they were going until she realized that they were at the frat house. The lawn was littered with trash, empty beer cans, bottles, and plastic cups. The front door was open and two kegs had been tossed onto the sidewalk. “Looks nice,” she commented dryly.

“The cleanup crew will be by later.”

“Cleanup crew?”

“We paid some guys to come by at twelve to clean up the yard, and first floor.”

“I hope you paid them a lot.” She sure as hell wouldn’t want to be the one that had to clean up this mess.

He chuckled softly and took hold of her hand. Sera almost jumped in surprise as a bolt of electricity sizzled through her. “Want to come in?”

She stood silently, staring at the trashed house as she tried to calm her racing heart. Just moments ago she had wanted to get away from him, now she wanted nothing more than to go in there with him. “I don’t know if I should.”

“You won’t get into trouble. Girls are allowed in here,” he teased.

“That’s not it.”

“Then what is it?” he inquired gently.

She chewed on her bottom lip as she turned to look at him. She couldn’t see his eyes, but she knew that he was staring intently at her. “I don’t think I can control myself around you,” she blurted before she could stop herself. As soon as the words were out of her mouth, she hated herself for saying them, and wished that she could kick herself in the ass.

He stood silently for a minute and then gently took hold of her arm. “Come on, I won’t bite.”

“Liam, that’s not it, I mean... oh I don’t know what I mean,” she finished lamely.

His hand on her chin was gentle as he lifted her face. The sunglasses were now resting on top of his head, his eyes were intense, but there was a softness in them that touched her and melted some of her reserve. “I know what you mean Sera. It will be all right, I promise.”

The last of her defenses crumbled at his soft words. She nodded slowly and followed him into the house. More beer bottles, cups, and piles of garbage were tossed across the floors, and the stairs. The furniture was scattered around the house, holes had been punched into some of the walls, and the entire place reeked of beer, and something even less pleasant that she didn’t want to identify. She picked her way carefully around the trash, and the guy passed out at the top of the stairs.

They reached the hallway, and the trail of trash continued to flow. A few people were lying on the floor, but all of the doors were firmly closed. They moved around the clutter as he led her to another set of stairs. The stairway was dark, and narrow, but unlike the others it was completely clean, making it obvious that the party hadn’t been allowed to spread past the second floor. They reached the third floor where he led her to the third door on the right.

She hesitated for a moment before stepping inside. She was instantly surprised by how neat and uncluttered the room was. A full size bed was pushed against the right wall with a black comforter spread over it. A small nightstand was next to it with a lamp and an alarm clock perched on top. There was a desk in the corner with a computer and phone. On the other side of the desk was a small green recliner. There was a small wooden entertainment center against the wall by the door. A TV and DVD player were set up on it.

“Nice room,” she said softly.

“Have a seat.”

She set her books on his desk and stood silently next to it, a little too nervous to sit down. He smiled at her wryly and walked over to the closet. Opening the door he knelt down in front of a small refrigerator. “Want something to drink?”

“No, I’m fine.”

He pulled out a bottle of water and shut the door. He turned to stare at her as he leaned casually against the door. She began to feel incredibly uncomfortable, and foolish. She shouldn’t be here. She didn’t belong here. And she had no idea what he expected of her. Swallowing heavily, she fully realized the situation that she had just put herself in. Her glance darted anxiously toward the door. It was only ten feet away, but it seemed like miles. Would she be able to make it there in time if something happened? Her gaze darted anxiously back to him. He was still staring at her, but he was frowning slightly, and his eyes were dark and questioning as they studied her.

Sera swallowed nervously as her hands began to tremble. He straightened away from the door and walked across the room to sit on the bed. “Do you want to go to a party tonight?” he inquired.

“Where?”

“The Phi Beta house.”

Sera shrugged as she nodded slowly. Her gaze involuntarily shot back to the door. She swallowed heavily as she forced herself to calm down. He was doing nothing wrong, nothing at all. She was acting like an idiot, and if she didn’t stop he was going to notice. The thought mortified her brain into action. “How did you manage to get into the frat house so soon?” she asked in a desperate attempt to distract herself.

He smiled softly, and for a moment she had the distinct feeling that he knew what she was trying to do. “I was in the same frat at my old college. Before I transferred I arranged it so I’d be able to move in here right away. Besides, I’ve known Mike, Jack, and Doug since we were kids.”

Sera smiled softly. “Mike’s a nice guy, not so good at math though.”

“He never has been,” he agreed with a chuckle. “Jack and Doug are good guys too.”

She had seen them at parties over the years, even shared a couple of classes with them, but she’d never really spoken to them. Although, they were among the few frat guys who had never really bothered her, or stared at her like she was a piece of meat. They had always been polite, and distant. To her, that alone made them likable. “I don’t really know them,” she admitted. “But they seem nice. Where did you go to school before?”

“Buffalo.”

“What made you move to Massachusetts?”

He shrugged as he twirled the water in his long, elegant fingers. A shudder tore through her as she recalled those fingers on her body. She tore her gaze away from them and forced herself to look at him. Again, there was a knowing gleam in his eyes as he smiled at her. “I grew up near here, and I thought it would be nice to come home again. I know a couple of guys in this house, and Phi Beta, from high school.”