Seducing Liam

chapter 5

"Hello, Angel," Patrick said.

His voice was like smooth velvet. My heart stopped. For two years, I had been a ghost to him, and now, he was finally looking at me. He extended his hand, his eyes focused entirely on my face.

"Oh... h-hi, Patrick," I stammered, reaching out to shake his hand. His skin was soft, and for a second, I felt like I was in a dream.

But the dream was interrupted by the heavy, warm arm still wrapped tightly around my waist. Liam wasn't letting go. In fact, he pulled me slightly closer to his side, his thumb brushing against my hip in a way that made my skin tingle.

I leaned in and hissed into Liam’s ear, "What are you doing? Let go of me!"

"Calm down," Liam whispered back, his breath tickling my neck. "I’m the only reason he even knows you exist right now."

I gritted my teeth. "Just leave me alone!"

I wrenched myself away from him, ignoring the curious look on Patrick’s face. I couldn't let Liam ruin this. If Patrick thought I was Liam’s girlfriend, he would never look at me as a romantic option. I turned and ran toward the library, my heart pounding in my chest.

I found a quiet corner in the back of the library, hoping for some peace. But the heavy thud of footsteps followed me. I didn't even have to look up to know it was him.

"Look, Liam," I said, spinning around in frustration. "I appreciate that you saved me from the pond. I really do. But we can never be friends. You and I... we just don't work. We are from two different worlds."

Liam didn't look angry. He looked remarkably calm. He leaned against a bookshelf, looking like a rebel in a place full of rules. "Can you just hear me out for one minute? We don't need to be friends. I'm not asking for your heart, Angel. I'm asking for a deal."

I threw my hands up in the air. "Do I need to say 'no' a hundred more times? I don't want to make a deal with the devil."

"And they say you're the smartest student in school," Liam teased, a small smirk playing on his lips. "How can you be so smart but so bad at listening? You haven't even heard the terms yet. This isn't a favor. It’s an exchange of services."

I crossed my arms. "There is no service you can offer me that I don't already have."

Liam stepped closer, his blue eyes locking onto mine. "Is that so? How about Patrick Wilder?"

I froze. The name hung in the air between us. I hated that he knew my weakness. But I also knew he was right—today was the first time Patrick had ever said my name, and it was only because of Liam.

"What about him?" I asked, my voice barely a whisper.

"I know you want him," Liam said, his voice dropping an octave. "But to get a guy like Patrick, you can't just talk to him. You’re invisible to him because you’re at the bottom of the social ladder. I can change that. I can boost your status so high that he won't be able to look away."

He paused, a flicker of something—dislike?—crossing his face. "I don't know why you even like the guy. Personally, I think he’s a weird jerk and a threat to my captaincy. But I’m willing to help you get him."

I narrowed my eyes. "And what do you get in return?"

"You tutor me in math," Liam said simply. "You help me get that 'A' so I can stay as Captain and graduate. In return, I’ll be your fake boyfriend. We’ll make Patrick so jealous he’ll be begging for a chance with you. You know how competitive he is with me—anything I have, he wants."

I bit my lip, thinking. It was a perfect plan. A dangerous, crazy, perfect plan. "But... even if it works, what then? I’ve never dated anyone. I don't know how to act, or how to... you know."

Liam let out a low, husky laugh. He stepped into my personal space, his scent—pine and adrenaline—filling my senses. "Don't worry about that, Angel. You have the best teacher in the school right here. I can teach you everything you need to know. How to walk, how to have s*x .. how to kiss."

My eyes went wide, and I felt a cough catch in my throat. "You’re crazy! I’m not 'hooking up' with you!"

I turned to leave, but Liam was faster. He reached out and grabbed my wrist, gently but firmly, pulling me back until my back hit the bookshelf. He leaned in, his face inches from mine.

"I see you need some convincing," he whispered, his eyes dropping to my lips. "How about we start our first lesson right now?"

Before I could breathe, he brought his lips closer, his shadow falling over me. My heart was thundering against my ribs—not for Patrick, but for the boy who was currently pinning me to the shelf.