Page 89 of Deceit

He takes a step towards the door when I call out to him.

“Wait.”

Carefully, I crawl over Liam, scooting off the bed before I stand in front of Vincent.

“Stay?” I ask softly, looking at the plush couch pushed to my back wall.

He swallows roughly but doesn’t say a word before he looks down at me, those slate grey eyes illuminated by the night sky. Slowly, he nods before shutting my door and engaging the lock that Liam and I definitely didn’t use before bed. Oops.

When Vincent comes to stand beside me again, I tentatively reach for his hand. I’m surprised when he doesn’t swat me away or brush me off, but instead, laces our fingers together. My stomach flips at the feeling, as I look up to see him staring at me intently.

I pull him towards me as I slowly walk us to my couch, before gesturing for him to lay down. He releases my hand, shrugging off his jacket and setting his gun on the floor beside him before laying flat on his back. I smile softly at him when his hand reaches up, catching my hip and gently pulling me towards him. I don’t know why I let him pull me. I’m even more unsure why when I get to the edge of the couch, I crawl on top of him, settling my body to lay on his.

My head rests against his chest, where I can hear his heart beating like a drum as I feel his arms wrap around me like a cocoon. The feeling of safety that washes over me isindescribable. I’ve never felt anything like it in my entire life. Like absolutely nothing could hurt me. Like I’m invincible.

I feel his chest heave up as he inhales the top of my head, releasing that same breath with a content sounding sigh that sounds very uncharacteristic for this broody, grumpy man.

“How did you get into my room?” I ask softly.

“Made a duplicate of the one Liam made,” he answers easily.

I frown, turning my head up to find him already watching me.

“How did you know he made one?”

“I study people, Siren. I watch them. I follow them. It’s what I do.”

“Why?” I ask.

“No better way to beat your opponent than to memorize their every move.”

“Liam is your opponent?” I laugh lightly, though my laughter dies at the seriousness of his voice.

“Yes.”

Those piercing eyes are staring at me so heavily, his sharp features painting him more like a warrior in this midnight lighting. I’ve never realized just how gorgeous he is before now. I knew he was good looking, obviously, but god. He’s seriously beautiful.

I want to ask him why Liam is his opponent. What they would even be fighting over. What the prize would be. Before I can though, he leans down and presses his lips against my forehead, sending a flurry of confusing butterflies rushing through me as he does.

“Sleep, Siren. I’ve got you.”

I feel my eyes shut of their own accord, as if they answer only to him and I fall asleep to the rhythmic beat of his heart beneath my head.

Sunlight warms my face and like a sunflower, I smile into it. Slowly, I blink my eyes open disoriented at first when I realize I’m not in my bed. I’m even more confused when I see Liam standing over me shirtless, with just his sweats on, smiling at me with a mischievous smirk. The thing that throws me completely though, is when I hear a voice I was definitely not expecting come from beneath me.

“Good morning, Siren.”

My head turns to find Vincent staring at me, that same impassive look on his face, though I could swear his eyes look lighter today somehow. His arms are still wrapped around me, and my body is on top of his.

Turning to face Liam again, he’s still watching me with that damn smirk.

“I’ve got to be honest, this is not what I expected to wake up to,” he says.

I push away from Vincent quickly, standing to my feet before faltering for a moment. Vincent’s large hand reaches out to my hip, stabilizing me until I’m balanced. Liam’s eyes flick down at the move, intrigue filling his green gaze as he looks back up to me.

“Vincent heard me yell last night. I was having a nightmare, and you didn’t wake up and I didn’t want him to sleep in the hall or anything so I told him he could stay and—”

“And you thought you’d be a good host and snuggle up with him instead of offering a blanket?” Liam asks, his amusement clear in his tone.

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