Page 24 of His Blazing Witch (The Silver City #3)

"I don't know, that came up first."

Well... I don't hate it. Although I'm still a bit mad, I give him another peck on the lips, just to have the last one, and run off to his bathroom. It's a nice bathroom... and I'm in a hurry to close the door behind me. Moon Goddess, what's going on with me? The mirror takes up half of the wall, and I see my reflection, all flustered and a bit out of breath. Is it still me, acting boldly like this? I touch my cheeks, they feel hotter than ever. I'm going a bit crazy, aren't I? Is it the bond thing making me like this, or just half-naked Liam playing on my twenty-year-old hormones? I need a cold shower...

I leave my clothes on the floor and hop in the shower. I'm dirty as hell, now that I think about it. Sweat, mud, plus the smell of gasoline and cheeseburger... How the hell does he feel like kissing me? I don't go easy on the shampoo and soap, but damn, it feels so good to take a cold shower... I think my temperature is crazier than usual because of that idiot. No matter what, I can't calm down. Easy, Mara. But still, I'm taking a shower at Liam Black's place! Moreover, about to sleep with him as well. How the hell did I even get here...?

I step out of the shower, only to realize I have nothing to change into. A bit embarrassing... I grab the largest towel I can find, noticing it smells like him... not that it bothers me. Quickly putting just my panties back on, I wrap myself in the towel, take a deep breath, and leave the bathroom, trying to not look like I'm panicking about walking around half-naked...

The main room is empty, and our cups are gone from the kitchen counter too. I look around. This place is big, but there aren't that many rooms, actually. I finally find him in the master bedroom, looking in his wardrobe. And he's still half-naked, of course. Is that a werewolf thing? I barely step inside before I have to open my arms to receive some clothes.

"Here."

I look at what he just threw at me, and frown. The top is a simple short-sleeved shirt, but he also gave me a large sweater, and the dark pants look like some huge sweatpants.

"I'm going to be too hot in this," I shake my head.

"Maybe, but if you don't put those on, I'm probably going to be the one who is too hot..." he sighs.

His eyes are on me, and go down to check out my exposed legs, then back up again to my cleavage. Alright, the towel is definitely still too freaking short on both ends. I gulp. Okay, I guess that means I'd better get dressed quickly now before the beast takes over...

I let out a long sigh. It's only been a couple of minutes since I put on the oversized gym clothes or whatever this is, and I'm too hot already. I shake my head.

"This is ridiculous."

"Agreed," he mutters, checking me out from head to toe. "How is it that this looks cute on you?"

I roll my eyes, but I know he's joking a bit. I walk over to push him, a bit annoyed, and he plays back, pushing me so I fall on his bed.

"Good girl," he says, pointing a finger at me. "Stay."

"Seriously?" I raise an eyebrow.

He laughs.

"Don't worry, I'll take a shower, and turn the heat down so you don't get sick or whatever."

"Fine... Can I borrow your phone? I just want to text Kelsi."

"Oh, you can take this one."

He throws the latest smartphone at me. Seriously? He's got such a good phone and he just leaves it in a drawer in an apartment he barely uses? Liam quickly leaves the room, but I don't even have to ask for his password, there isn't one. This thing looks brand new, he really mustn't use it often... I guess their whole mind-linking thing is much simpler to use from one wolf to another, but still. Thankfully, Kelsi's number is super easy to remember... I quickly text her about sleeping elsewhere, that I'm fine, but I don't give any more details. For all I know, my sister could very well be paying for her phone too...

I wonder what Amy would say about me staying at a boy's place, sleeping in his... bed. Now I've just realized I'm already lying in Liam Black's bed. Not that he seems to use it often. I turn to lie on my back, looking around. There isn't much. A super large wardrobe, a mirror, and two bedside tables. Plus this very large bed, all in a dark blue. It's comfortable, but it seems a bit big, even for two. It's like twice the size of my hospital bed.

I hear the shower running, meaning Liam just got in. I'm feeling strangely calm, being in here alone. Perhaps the sound of the rain against the windows soothes me, instead of giving me a headache for once... A bit curious and bored, I quietly check inside the drawer of his bedside table. There's a magazine, but nothing too spicy, just some luxury magazine with only brand items. It feels like this could have been left here as part of the home staging or something. I turn the pages, not really understanding how some people can be that beautiful. Liam could be in these pages... while I'm just here, with my half-wet, messy hair and boring proportions.

I pause on a page for some perfume. I don't care much about the brand or the picture, but the Asian model feels strangely familiar. Yeah, that girl looks a lot like... Kelsi...

I sit up, staring at the page until my eyes hurt. It can't be Kelsi, can it? Seriously, it looks a lot like her, but that girl has a ton of makeup on, bold colors too. I can't tell. I grab the page and take a picture of it, sending it to Kelsi's number, asking if that's her. I know it sounds silly, but I'm starting to know the face of my only supposed friend. This has to be her, but why the hell would she be featured in some high-end magazine? She reads the text but doesn't respond. Seriously, Kelsi? More secrets? I click my tongue, grab the page, and tear it out to take with me. I hope Liam won't mind, but anyway, I don't want him to have a picture of my friend in his drawer, it's a bit... disturbing to think about.

I check more pages, but that's the only interesting thing, so I put it back. Liam sure is taking his time in the shower... I sigh. I grab his phone to play with, but there really isn't even an app I can play with. A bit bored, I decide to look for that restaurant we ate at today. I could leave a good review, I've never done such a thing. Plus, I want to go there again someday. Maybe we could have a proper date there... I put in the name of the restaurant, but they don't even have a website.

As I scroll down, something else catches my attention.

Associated with the name of the street, some news headlines are popping up, from... a few months ago. I frown. The sixteenth hanger disappears in a fire? A miraculous victim taken out, three bodies found...?

A shiver crawls down my spine, as I open the article. I had no idea it had happened there, on the docks. What was I doing there? I check more of the news. It made so many headlines because of how violent and sudden the fire was. It happened on the same street as the restaurant, farther down... yet, in a place where there were no inhabitants. Who were those three bodies...? Why has no one been identified yet? There should have been at least a witness, or a family member calling in if it was a disappearance. Yet, it looks like no one cared about what happened to those people. Who the hell could it have been?

"Hey, what are you reading?"

I glance up from the phone. Liam just came out, with only a towel around his hips, trying to dry his hair with another one. I let out a long sigh.

"Why am I the only one who needs to wear clothes while you get to hang around half-naked?"

He chuckles.

"I'm the big bad wolf around here."

"And I'm going to be the big bad witch if you don't put something on."

"Oh, really?" he mutters, coming closer.

He puts his hands down on the bed, coming very close with those dangerous eyes of his getting a bit darker. Moon Goddess, help me deal with this kind of demon... He smiles and leans closer until we can exchange a quick kiss. Gosh, he smells like fresh mint shampoo, I might get used to this. Our kiss stays reasonably innocent, but I know I'm not trouble-free yet. He retreats and opens his wardrobe, hopefully to put on something I can bear to look at.

"So? What were you doing? Checking on my secret texts?"

"There were secret texts to find?" I ask. "Thank Moon Goddess, your life looks incredibly boring if I believe this phone."

He laughs.

"Yeah, I think Damian gifted it to me last Christmas, but I really haven't used it much."

Out of curiosity, I open up the call history, but indeed, the most recent one was six months ago from his brother. Missed call too. I guess they gave up after a while. He's definitely more wolf than human, technology-wise. I play with the phone.

"I... found some articles. About the fire."

"Which fire?" he asks, glancing over his shoulder.

"Mine. I mean, the one they... found me half-dead in."

"Oh..."

I see him take out some pants, and I only have a second to look away as the towel slides down his legs. Oh gosh, I thought his butt was fine under the jeans, guess it wasn't just the jeans... I clear my throat loudly, but I am pretty sure he's doing this on purpose. I focus on the phone, ignoring that childish demi-god a few steps away.

"Alright, what about those articles, then?"

"I didn't know it had happened on the docks," I say.

"Yeah... Seaver was pretty crazy about it."

"Seaver?"

Liam nods, and turns to me, finally wearing some sweatpants. I guess he really has a thing against T-shirts, because he's half-naked once again. He comes to sit next to me on the bed, and I'm torn between getting away and appreciating the view... I try to tame my hormones and hand him his phone back.

"Yeah, he's the Alpha who watches over the docks..."

"How many Alphas are there? I'm confused, I thought it was just your brothers and Selena."

"No, they’ve got the biggest packs, the Blood Moon and White Moon Clans, and Nora is kind of temporarily looking out for the Pearl Moon while their... Alpha is still too young. I mean, she could take over the Pearl Moon, but it's complicated. Then, we have Jones who still has her Purple Clan, the fighters. Seaver's family has always been on the docks, so he's still in charge there."

I nod, but I wish I could take notes, I'm never going to remember all that. I sigh.

"...Can I meet him? That Seaver guy?"

Liam frowns.

"I'm not enough already?"

"No, you idiot. I want to ask him about the incident."

"Oh. Well, I thought you might want to ask Jones instead."

"Jones? ...The Purple Moon Alpha?"

"Yeah, she was there also."

I pause, a bit confused.

"Also? So that Seaver guy was there too at the time of the fire, right? Can't I just ask him?"

Liam makes a grouchy face, and it takes me a full minute to get it. I smile.