Treasured (Embracing Series Book 1) Read Online Free Page A

always come out of nowhere? Is he a damn vampire?
    “Okay, thanks, but I’m a big girl. I can walk alone,” I say, not looking at him. His eyes do something to me. It isn’t a bad something. He makes me feel warm inside.
    “I know you are and can, but I don’t want you to. Lila, look at me. Why are you with Ashton? He doesn’t deserve you.”
    “Stop it. Why do you always say that?” I yell as I face him. Fuck, that’s exactly why I didn’t want to look at him. His eyes burn into me.
    “Because I know,” he says.
    “You know what?” I yell. He keeps saying that, but he isn’t explaining himself.
    “I know you deserve someone better than him. He doesn’t respect you at all. I see how he treats you,” he says, wrapping his arm around me. I back away from his embrace. “Don’t you get it? Are you that clueless?”
    “Stop, just stop. You’re jealous,” I blurt.
    “You’re right, I am. I am so fucking jealous that he has you and doesn’t even deserve the air that you breathe, let alone your trust.”
    “Liam…” I whisper. “Why now? You want me now? I chased after you my entire freshman year. Now you decide to want me?”
    I wipe a tear away from my cheek and turn around so he can’t see the rest of them. I all but threw myself at him years ago. I start walking a little faster, but he is right on my heels.
    “Wait, just wait Lila. I’ve always wanted you. Hell, the first day I saw you, I…Just know that, I’ve always had a thing for you. I just didn’t know how to deal with it.” He runs his hands over his face. “But now…now I am going to be fucking honest. I want you.”
    I let out a sarcastic laugh. “Well, you’re about three years too late buddy, but let me get this straight. You see I'm with your cousin and then you decide you want me. Just go; I’m going inside,” I say as we reach my lawn.
    “Please remember what I told you. You are better than him.” He leans in for a hug. Oh my God, those arms feel great.
    “Yeah, you’ve made that clear,” I say.
    “Call me tomorrow and we can finish this conversation with clear minds. Yeah?”
    “Yeah. “
    I kiss his cheek and go inside. Did I really just kiss his cheek? What was all that shit about Ashton? Does Liam know something I don't?
    I can’t believe him. Three years later, three fucking years later, and he wants to acknowledge me.
     
    ***
     
    Lying in bed, I toss and turn, struggling to go to sleep. All I can think about is Liam. A couple weeks ago, we were all at the beach and I noticed how great his arms looked. Though he doesn't have as many tattoos as Ashton, he has just enough to look perfect. I've dreamt about him many nights, how his lips would feel on mine, how his arms would feel around me. I pranced around him for months, but he never seemed to care. Until now?
    I have to admit, he is more attractive than Ashton. I’m not sure if it's his personality or those damn eyes he has, but something makes me feel all warm inside…
    What am I saying? He's my boyfriend’s cousin! Still, I fall asleep and dream of him again.
     
    ***
     
    Liam
     
    That kiss on my cheek is the best damn thing that’s happened to me in months. Holding her in my arms felt right; it’s as if she was made for my arms. She was hurting tonight. I could see the pain in her eyes when Ashton talked to her the way he did. I wanted to punch his ass. I don’t get how the hell he can treat her the way he does, but that’s just him and she has allowed him to do so.
    Once again, I didn’t come out and tell her exactly what the fuck is going on. She has to see it. I’ve basically spelled it out for her more than once. Tonight, she got to see a little of how my cousin Ashton works. Now if she could just see the whole picture…
    I feel like an ass, but I want her to see him for the dog he really is so I can have her. She was right, I knew she liked me. I was scared. I’d just moved here, I was seeing a shrink because of all the changes that I’d