Persona (53 page)
Hearing this, it only takes her a second to process it and when she does she is quickly on her feet. Feeling a surge of joy and hopefulness, Moira rushes at Liam with a bright smile on her face.
She has her arms around his shoulders and is leaning up into him on her tiptoes, before she even realizes what she is doing. But she is too happy to even want to care, because this is what she has wanted in the worst way the last couple of days.
And here is Liam, being her hero for the hundredth time and to help her get Marty back no less. Just thinking about Marty makes her sigh in delight, which in turn makes her sigh into Liam.
***
Startled at the first contact of her body against his, Liam tenses and is unsure of what to do. All he can smell her apple pie scent and the urge to pull her closer to him is a strong one.
As to not scare her off though, Liam slowly wraps his arms lightly around her. His hold is light, but it’s enough that he can feel the entire expanse of her soft warm body as it melts into his.
His persona hums inside him and he can feel it reaching out to hers, but before he can find out if hers will even answers his in response or what it would mean if it doesn’t, she is already leaning away from him.
His whole being aches and longs to have her back against him as the warmth of her quickly fades as soon as the contact is broken.
Moira backs up a couple paces away from him and keeps going until she reaches the edge of the bed she lept up from. Her cheeks are bright with a blush, and her eyes are just as bright as they are a very emerald green of her persona.
That answers one question for him at least; she still feels something for him.
If only it mattered, but it doesn’t go unnoticed that even though he can scent her and almost feel her persona now, she averts her eyes away from him like her body. Liam finds himself shifting away slightly and playing at the short hairs on the back of his neck, as if they could help him feel less like a fool. He coughs to clear his not scratchy throat and before he can make the moment any more awkward by talking about it, she thankfully interrupts him.
“So what are we waiting for, what do we have to do to get them back?” She says finally glances up into his eyes.
He’s not going to lie and say he did feel anything when their eyes met, because he did. The brief hug meant more to him then she’ll probably know, not that he’d ever tell her that; he does have his pride. But he knows that he did make the right choice in coming to her about this.
No one wants to get their friends back more than she does, and it makes him feel less like he’s trying to form a one man rescue mission.
“Unfortunately, we can’t really go at this very second. But only because we don’t know where they are yet; that’s where the work comes in.”
When she physically wilts, and slumps back down onto the bed, he wishes he had more to tell her. Or more importantly, more to go on. He hates to admit to himself that they are somewhat at the drawing board on this, but in no way is he about to give up though. And that is what he sees in her eyes as she gazes up at him.
Worry that they don’t have a snowballs chance in hell.
“They couldn’t have gotten very far right? I mean their leader is a psycho woman named Debbie; so I doubt they are all that bright.”
Her hopeful voice dances across his skin, and her eyes search his for the answers she wants. Not able to take it any longer, Liam turns away from her and paces over to the window that is overlooking her desk at the back wall.
It’s closed, but as he gets closer he can almost pick up the scent of all the herbs that are in the garden below it. He has never been one for picking out certain scents before, and it’s almost like since he first picked up her apple pie smell, his senses are on overdrive.
Then again, maybe it’s his imagination and his own way of stalling before figuring out his next move.
“I think you might be right about that, but it doesn’t really give us a lot to go on though.”
His back is to her, and he can hear her shift on the edge of the bed and stirring the comforter around. This is the first time he is hearing about the leader of the Purists, and he wonders how Moira would know she is a psycho.
He can feel the rage itching inside, as thoughts of her being hurt for in his mind.
Startling him out of his thoughts, Moira says, “What does your dad think we should do next?”
He turns back to her with wide eyes, and realizes he should have thought some things out before coming to her. Clearly he isn’t a mastermind and is missing some plot holes on what they should do. But how is he going to tell her that it’s just them, and no one else?
That’s what makes him glance away guiltily, while feeling his own cheeks flame in the first blush he thinks he has ever had.
“He isn’t actually completely on board with a rescue idea. Or to the fact that I, I mean we, would go ahead with it either.” He tells her hesitantly, as if anticipating a huge storm.
Like he thought, she jumps up with wide eyes. But rather than looking angry, she seems startled like she can’t believe what he just said. Honestly, he can’t believe it either, and he’s the man’s son.
“What? Why isn’t Marshall going along with his? He doesn’t want to make the trade does he?”
Seeing the fear in her bright green eyes, he gets right into shaking his head and trying to not make her so afraid. He takes a half step closer and has to refrain from the need to take her into his arms again.
“No that’s not it, don’t worry. He just doesn’t want to risk…..” He trails off.
He’s not really sure how to explain it without making his father look like an ass. So he bites his lip and remains silent.
Understanding dawns in her eyes though, and he knows that she gets where he was heading before hesitating. Now she gets angry as she crosses her arms over her chest, that he tries to keep his eyes from, and rolls her eyes away from him.
He can feel a rage rolling off of her in waves, and it feels like a stronger version of her persona, only this one has teeth and nails everywhere.
“Oh I get it; he won’t risk people that aren’t worth saving. Am I right?”
As angry as she is, and as strongly as he feels it, he knows by the tone in her voice that she is more disappointed than anything. He hates that she feels this way, but in no way is he unfamiliar with it. His father is known for making you feel hopeful and trusting in him, and then he rips it all away like it was nothing to him.
It pisses him off that he made Moira feel this way; she isn’t used to it like he is.
“Pretty much the gist of it, yeah. And I’d really hate to agree with him, but the idea of the trade is obscured. I may not want to risk you getting hurt, but at least I want to do something about it.”
Surprisingly she isn’t shocked, and says “Yeah well, I’m not worth as much as you all think I am, so there you go.”
Her eyes are downcast now as she avoids looking at him. But he doesn’t have to have her looking at him to know that she feels utterly useless; he feels the same. He wants not tell her that she is worth it, but instead keeps his mouth shut.
Things are awkward enough, without him coming across like a stalker.
So instead, they stand in silence as they both try to play out what the best thing is to do next. He could probably call Charles, but since he called his father and not him, he doubts that he’s be much help at this point. Liam is about to cave and call his friend regardless, when Moira clearly having enough of the silence, breaks it.
“We have to do the trade.”
His eyes snap to hers, and strangely, she is already watching him. Her look is a steady one for what she just suggested, but it still has him shaking his head no.
“No way in hell am I-” He starts but she stops him by grabbing his arms.
“No dummy, not really make the trade. Call to agree to the trade and get the location for it. Then instead of actually trading anything; we fight.”
He wants to say no that’s stupid, but instead he smiles and realizes he sorely underestimated her will of thought. It’s pretty apparent he’s a moron, since he didn’t think of that one himself. Then again, it’s too close to actually trading her and that is something he could let himself think about.
“That just might be the best plan ever.” Liam tells her in an excited voice, as he can’t stop the way he grins at her.
To Be Continued…
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About the Author:
Amy Lunderman is a stay at home mom, with a passion to write paranormal romantic thriller's whether they be adult or young adult. She lives in Rhode Island with her fiancé and their beautiful daughter. She enjoys writing, reading, being a mom, watching movies and television, having dance party, YouTube, and status updates on Facebook.
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Cover Art by:
Razzle Dazzle Design