Page 69 of Puck'n Bully
No one’s ever personally made any effort to take care of me.
An intense emotion claws up my throat. I badly want to touch Liam and hold his warm body close to me. But my battered body refuses to move an inch, so I just watch him pushing a cushion under my legs.
A fierce need to protect him comes over me. I never want to see Liam hurt by me or someone else. I don’t know if I can ever gather the courage to come out to my teammates but I’ll make sure Liam never feels like he’s not important to me.
At this moment, I know I’d rather give up on playing hockey than let Liam walk away from me again. I don’t how or when I can, but someday, I’m going to give the world to Liam.
Because Liam has become my whole world.
23
Liam
Something jolts me awake.
Lying on the couch, I wonder if it’s just the distant crash of the ocean waves or the quiet creaks of the old beach house. Closing my eyes, I decide to go back to sleep but I hear it again.
A choked sob.
I sit up immediately, scanning the living room. Another gasp sounds from somewhere nearby, alerting me.
As my eyes adjust to my dim surroundings, I realize Hayden’s the one making the sounds. My pulse quickens, propelling me off the couch.
“...Please...don’t do this to me...please...” Hayden sobs, kicking his legs in his sleep. “Please...I’m sorry...I’m sorry...please, Dad...”
His body twists like he’s in deep pain. The blanket tangles around his legs, making him struggle harder in his sleep.
My heart squeezes at the sight. I switch on a table lamp, hoping the brightness will wake him up.
But Hayden remains trapped in his nightmare. Sweat glistens on his forehead, dampening his dark strands. His handsome face is strained with fear, his lips trembling with broken words as he pleads with the monster in his dream.
Hayden is the strongest guy I’ve ever known. After watching him play tonight, I doubt anyone can rival him when it comes to strength and agility.
Hayden was almost godlike during the game. His opponents kept coming at him, determined to break him but he never gave them the satisfaction to see him weak or defeated.
His willpower was stronger than their villainous greed to win.
But now, he’s shaking and twisting under the blanket like he’s terrified to death about something.
Swallowing hard, I sink on the floor. I have to wake him up and free him from his nightmares.
Reaching out, I gently shake his shoulders. “Hayden,” I call out in a gentle voice to avoid shocking him awake. “Hayden, wake up.”
Hayden flinches. His fingers dig into the blanket, like he’s trying to hold onto something.
“Hayden, it’s okay,” I say, my voice a little louder. I hold his hand in mine and squeeze. “It’s just a dream. You’re safe with me now. Just open your eyes and see that it’s me.”
A shuddering breath escapes him. His eyelids flutter before suddenly flying open. He stares at me with wide silvery eyes before lunging at me.
Hayden’s strong arms wrap around me before I can react. He pulls me against him in a desperate, almost suffocating embrace.
My world tilts as Hayden throws me onto the couch and climbs on top of me. I gasp, trying to regain my senses as he pins me underneath him. Waves of heat radiate from his hard chest, making me realize he’s suffering from a fever.
He gasps hard, his entire body radiating with heat and raw power.
Staying still, I meet his wild gaze. “Hey,” I say softly. “It’s just me.”
He stares at me, waiting.
