Page 254 of His Blazing Witch

"Not really," I confess. "More of a... talk."

Not a pleasant one, either, but it still left me pretty... confused. What was that, exactly? I try to explain it to Nora, or at least, to the best I remember. I feel like this short meeting with the curse inside me was like a dream, so fleeting I am already about to forget everything she said. Recounting it to Nora word for word actually helps me to remember even better, and she just nods, listening to my words carefully. She only gets up to refill our mugs with more hot cocoa, and I didn't realize how much I needed it until I felt the warmth between my hands. When I'm finally done explaining everything, I take a breath and taste it, so sweet on my tongue.

"So this is why you snuck away?"

I almost spit out my cocoa, and turn around to see an unhappy Liam standing at the entrance of the kitchen. Uh oh, I forgot I had my back to the door... He's frowning, his arms crossed, and, much to my delight, still half-naked. I exchange a glance with Nora, who looks a little sorry. This is entirely my fault anyway... I should have woken him up. I sigh and turn to him, although I don't get up; I'm afraid I'll feel dizzy.

"Hi..." I mutter, a bit embarrassed. "Sorry, how much did you... hear?"

"Pretty much everything about my girlfriend trying to provoke a witchy curse hidden inside her body with my sister-in-law's help. What were you both thinking?"

"I wasn't at risk," I sigh. "Nora's light... magic kept it at bay, the curse didn't even try approaching me."

"Mara, it doesn't need to; that thing is inside you!" he protests, walking up to me. "Why are you always so reckless?! Without telling me too!"

"I'm sorry I didn't warn you," I sigh. "I don't think I was reckless, though. Liam, I really wasn't at much risk this time, okay? I had Nora and–"

"Mara, I know I'm not grasping everything about the Light and Dark Magic stuff, the curse, and all the witch stuff. I thought I was the expert in Silver City, but since I met you, I'm just dragged behind and just hoping to understand whatever's going on before you get yourself killed. You can't..."

To my surprise, he closes his eyes, and lets out a long sigh. Before I can say a thing, Liam puts one knee down in front of me, leaving me totally speechless. I glance toward Nora, but she's leaning against her kitchen counter and smiling behind her cup. I focus again on Liam.

He takes my hands gently, and his eyes, bluer than usual, hold me hostage.

"Tiger, I know you're damn strong, but... please, please, don't do things without me."

"Liam, I just didn't want to wake you..."

"Mara, I don't care. Wake me up. Kick me if you need, but don't... do things like that again without me. I don't want to wake up and have two minutes of panic wondering where you are. I'm done seeing you in danger, half-dead, or fighting for your life and others, okay? I just–"

He interrupts himself, and glances to the side at his sister-in-law, who’s still smiling.

"Nora, can we have five minutes alone, please? I can literally feel you staring at me."

"Sorry," she chuckles, before stepping out.

We both wait until Nora has left the kitchen, a bit embarrassed. I don't know if I should find this funny or cute that he's embarrassed to be heard after what he said... and he isn't even done yet. Liam lets out another long sigh, grabbing my hand again, a bit more relaxed this time.

"Do you have to be on one knee...?" I ask, a bit awkward.

He chuckles and, taking me by surprise, suddenly lifts me off my chair as he gets up. Before I can even protest, I'm put down on the counter this time, and I even almost spill my hot cocoa. Liam chuckles and gives me a quick peck on the lips.

"Alright. Are you listening now?"

"I'm all ears..." I mutter, embarrassed.

Do we really have to be in this position, though? He's leaning forward and dangerously trapping me, my legs on either side of his hips, the wall a few inches behind me. I make myself tiny in front of him, trying to pull away, slightly intimidated by his sudden male Alpha position. ...Does he realize he's half-naked? Because I do, I really do, and his bare torso in front of me does a damn good job of grabbing all of my attention. I need to remember to breathe. He's dangerous when he makes his big bad wolf gaze like that...

"You don't leave me alone," he says.

"Okay..."

Is it me or did his voice get a bit deeper? We are so close, I don't even get to shy away from his striking blue-gray eyes. We're just a breath away too, and I really want to kiss him, but doing so while he's scolding me might not be the best idea...

"Mara, you better stop being such a reckless witch, because I'm going to get really mad at some point. I'm serious."

Just as he says he's serious, I smile nervously. I think I like serious Liam... He frowns and I have to pinch my lips together, but it doesn't really help.

"You think I'm funny?"

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