Seducing Liam

My name is Angel Bendel, and for the past month, I have been living in a literal hell. Most girls at Rainbow High would give their right arm to live next door to Liam Neche. He’s the star of the hockey team, a walking god with messy dark hair and a smile that could melt ice. But to me? He’s just the loud, arrogant jerk who is ruining my GPA. While I’m trying to study for the most important test of the semester, Liam is busy throwing another one of his legendary parties. I sat at my desk, the walls of my room literally shaking from the bass of the music next door. I took a sip of my lukewarm coffee, trying to focus on the math notes in front of me. Suddenly, the volume spiked. A massive thud hit the wall, making my desk vibrate so hard that my cup tipped over. "No!" I gasped. The brown liquid splashed right across my favorite white shirt. It was soaked. Without thinking, I stood up and ripped the wet fabric off, tossing it into the laundry basket. I was standing there in just my bra, fuming with rage. "That’s it," I snapped. "I’m done." I grabbed a heavy wooden ruler from my floor and whacked it against the shared wall with everything I had. Bang! Bang! Bang! Surprisingly, the music died instantly. Silence fell over the apartment complex. I let out a breath of relief, finally feeling like I had won. I sat back down, ready to get back to work. But then, my bedroom door flew open without a knock. I froze. Liam Neche was standing in my doorway, looking flushed and smelling like expensive cologne and trouble. "What are you doing here?" I shrieked, grabbing a fleece blanket from my chair and clutching it against my chest. My heart was hammering against my ribs. "Get out!" "I’m sorry, Aria," he said, his voice husky. "It’s Angel! My name is Angel!" I yelled. "And you can't just barge in here!" "Look, I’ve got a dare to win, and I’m not losing," he muttered, stepping further into my room. Before I could scream, a crowd of people from the party pushed in behind him. At the front was Mia, the school’s most notorious bully. She looked at me, then at Liam, and a wicked smirk crossed her face. "Damn, Liam," Mia laughed, crossing her arms. "You’re faster than we thought. You already got the nerd’s shirt off? She must really have a thing for the Captain." My face burned with humiliation. I clutched the blanket tighter, feeling small under their judging eyes. Liam didn't look at them. He looked straight at me, his blue eyes intense. "Can you just trust me?" he whispered softly, reaching out to grab my arm to pull me toward the bathroom. "Wait a minute!" Mia stepped forward, blocking us. "The dare was for you to make out with the weirdo in front of everyone. No hiding in corners, Liam." Liam didn't miss a beat. He leaned in, his shadow towering over me. "She’s shy, Mia. She likes her privacy. We’re going to do this private, or the deal is off." Without waiting for an answer, he dragged me into my small bathroom and slammed the door, locking it. "Explain yourself!" I hissed the second we were alone. "You brought those people into my house! You’re insane!" "Calm down ," he said, rubbing his face. "I won't calm down! I’m going to scream for help in three... two..." Soft, warm fingers suddenly pressed against my lips, silencing me. Liam was so close I could feel the heat radiating off his body. "Fine," he whispered, his eyes searching mine. "I just need your underwear." I went rigid. I bit his hand hard, and he pulled back with a hiss. "Are you crazy?" I demanded. "Is this what you do when you're drunk, Mr. Hockey Star? You go around collecting girls' clothes?" "I’m trying to make this easy for you!" Liam groaned. "The dare was to hook up with you in front of the whole school. If I show them your... lace... they’ll think we did it and they'll leave. I don't want to hook up with you, and I know you definitely don't want to touch me." "In your dreams, Liam," I snapped. "I'm not giving you anything. Get out of my bathroom." "Fine. We can stay here all night," he said, leaning casually against my sink. He started poking through a box I had tucked under the counter. "I’ll just enjoy that 'I hate you' look you give me. Besides, I'm curious. What does the quiet girl hide in her bathroom? Is this a box of... books? Who keeps textbooks in the sink?" "Stop it!" I cried. I couldn't have him seeing my private notes or the nerdy things I liked. "Anything to get you away from me. Just... turn around." "Okay, Miss Aria," he smirked, turning his back to me. "It’s Angel!" I corrected him again, my heart aching slightly. Of course he didn't remember my name. To him, I was just the quiet virgin who was obsessed with books. I was invisible. I quickly reached under my blanket, unhooked my bra, and pulled it out. My face was a deep shade of crimson as I handed the small piece of fabric to him. "You owe me one, big head," I muttered. Liam took it, but he didn't leave. Instead, he stepped closer, trapping me between his body and the cold bathroom tiles. He leaned down until his nose almost touched mine. "And what do I owe you, strange girl?" he whispered, his eyes dropping to my lips. "A kiss?" My breath hitched. For a split second, I forgot I hated him. "You wish," I managed to say. "I just want you to keep the noise down. Turn the volume off and never disturb me again. Deal?" "Deal," he said, a strange flash of something—was it disappointment?—crossing his face. He turned to the door, but just as he reached the handle, he stopped. "Oh, wait. I almost forgot." He reached up and grabbed the hem of his own shirt. In one smooth motion, he pulled it over his head. I gasped, my eyes widening. I couldn't help it. His chest was broad, his stomach rippling with a perfect six-pack. He looked like a masterpiece of muscle and tan skin. I tried to look away, reminding myself he was my nemesis, but I was paralyzed. He tossed his shirt at me, hitting me in the face with it. It smelled like him—warm, masculine, and dangerous. "There's one more thing," he said, his voice dropping to a low growl that sent shivers down my spine.