Once Upon a Steamy Night
Chapter Seventeen

Claire smiled in her sleep as she felt a hot breath fanning her cheeks. She opened her eyes and saw Liam staring at her.

"Good morning, princess," he whispered huskily sucking on her earlobe.

She moaned softly. "I could get used to waking up like this."

"I don't mind always being here each morning," he murmured.

"How did you get in?" she asked.

"You left your windows open remember? I texted you last night," he replied.

"Oh yeah, I dozed off because I couldn't stay awake again," she sighed. as "Yeah, I snuggled in and cuddled you just like you asked," he chuckled.

The truth was that she had been awake when Liam had arrived in her room, but she hadn't wanted to let him know.

She's been avoiding him especially now that his birthday was tomorrow. She didn't want to get too attached to him so she would be able to walk away if he doesn't choose her.

She had no female shoulder to cry on as the entire female population her age hated her for being with Liam. The weird way her life had taken a new turn still left her in shock.

It went from her being a quiet shy girl to a murderer and a weirdo, top psycho to the list, and now suddenly, she was Liam Hudson's girlfriend and friends with Scot, another hot guy in town. Who would have thought?

She rolled her eyes at her stupid thoughts as something suddenly occurred to her. She hadn't woken up like all other nights screaming and drenched in sweat and having her father sing her a lullaby. She had slept peacefully for once since she came out of the morgue room and it wasn't because she was with Liam, there was no way he was taking that credit.

It was actually because she had cocooned herself with the sweet scent and thoughts of Liam.

Okay, so maybe he deserved a little credit.

"What's on your mind, princess?"

Calling her princess made her feel weird because she was a princess except he wasn't going to like her kingdom.

"Claire?"

His worried voice interrupted her thoughts again and she smiled.

"Nothing, Liam."

"I'm going to get an early birthday gift from you today, Claire," he said.

"And what might that be?"

His green eyes twinkled mischievously. "Just me and you today. No interruptions."

"There will be interruptions in my room and my house once my dad realizes you're here," she mumbled.

Somehow he heard her, and she blamed it on his Hunter's genes. They had enhanced speed, eyesight, hearing, and strength-courtesy of her father's teachings.

As his birthday draws nearer his powers grow stronger. They weren't immortal like faeries, but they had a long life span...

"And she zoned out on me again!"

She wrapped her arms around his waist when he attempted to stand up. She was enjoying his warmth and the things he was doing to her neck.

"I'm sorry, Liam. I've got a lot of things on my mind."

"You can always tell me, Claire," he said.

She nodded. "I know and I'm super sorry."

"I get the feeling that you're trying to stay away from me, but the problem is I don't know what I've done to you," he shrugged.

Claire sighed. If she was going to lose him after tomorrow she had better spend the rest of her time with him.

"Alright, I'll go with you. Where do you want us to go?"

"It's a surprise. It's my secret spot," he smiled kissing her cheeks.

"Alright. Lemme get ready."

He kissed her gently on the lips. A kiss that was meant to be soft deepened and she moaned in his mouth, her lips parted slightly, and he plunged in as their tongues danced in perfect sync. His hands slipped under her nightdress and he flicked a finger across her hard nipples when the door flew open.

They pulled apart immediately and her face flushed as she stared at the floor.

"Good morning, dad," she mumbled.

"Lilian called the house, Claire. She said she needs your help preparing for Liam's birthday. She's been calling your phone, but you aren't picking up."

She nodded.

"Go speak to her in the sitting room she's still on the phone and also please hold yourself till you're eighteen at least."

Claire's ears reddened as she magically got the phone and saw there was no one on the phone. Just as she thought, her dad had spoken to Lilian already and made up an excuse as to why she couldn't come maybe.

All he just wanted was to have a word with Liam and she wasn't going to eavesdrop.

Or maybe not...

Her feet patted softly on the tiles and she placed her ears in the door.

"Listen, Liam. I love Claire like my own daughter, and I don't want anything to happen to her. First, she's not old enough to have sex so don't pressure her, second, wait till after your eighteen years birthday then you can know the course of your life. Don't hurt my princess, Liam. You aren't going to like my reaction," her dad said.

She facepalmed and listened to Liam's reply.

"Sir, I love Claire. I've not told her this yet, but I intend to and I'm not going to pressure her into anything especially sex we were just fooling around nothing serious, I'm sorry."

"It's fine, kiddo."

"Thirdly, Sir I have my whole life planned out myself. I'm going to college after high school graduation next year to study engineering and I still want to be with Claire. My age has got nothing to do with it."

She heard her dad mutter something about, "young, naive generation" then the door opened, and she melted into the wall, a new magic trick she learned during one of her air element classes.

Her father stared directly at the spot she had melted away and said, "Claire, where are you? I told Mrs. Hudson that you and Liam had plans to go out already so don't bother going there."

Then he walked downstairs with Liam trailing behind him. She slipped out of the wall and headed downstairs.

"Thanks, Dad," she winked at him.

***

"Take one step at a time, princess."

Claire smirked at the blindfold Liam had tied around her eyes. She had taken lessons in blindfolding when she was training with the water element and it was so cool.

Walking with a blindfold around her eyes was a piece of cake but she didn't want to arouse his suspicions, so she pretended to be having difficulties walking.

Finally, she got to the spot where he set out for them and he removed the blindfold. She gasped at the sight before her.

She was tempted to play with the water there, but she resisted it

She was standing on a mountain overlooking a waterfall flowing from a rock. There was a small garden of different flowers on her left-hand side filled with varieties of wild beautiful butterflies sucking nectar from the flowers. On her right side was another mountain overlooking the entire Rutherford Town. She was in a very beautiful place.

She could hear the birds chirping and flying, the water flowing, the earth humming in serene peace. There was absolute tranquility in this place.

She could feel it.

"Where is this place?" She asked.

He shrugged. "I just found it, princess and it became my favorite spot, so I decided to share it with you."

She smiled. "Thank you. This place is peaceful and amazing."

"That's what I thought too, it's a perfect place for my confession."

Her eyes widened when he plucked a white rose and handed it to her. She remembered his words to her father as wondered...

"I love you, Claire," he said.

Tears filled her eyes and she stared at him.

"I don't know how or when or why but I love you and I know you don't feel the same way about me, but I hope with time you can love me too," he concluded kissing her forehead.

Claire wiped a tear from her cheeks and smiled at him.

"I can't understand my feelings, Liam, until you're sure of what you're feeling."

"What do you mean?"

"After your birthday on Saturday, everything is going to change on Sunday night. The whole truth you have always known about the world will be revealed to you is nothing compared to what you're going to find out." "You're starting to sound like my dad and it's creeping me out."

She smiled. "Just wait, Liam. After Sunday, bring me here on Monday and tell me you still have feelings for me."

"Is that a test? You think I'll go through a kind of phase and forget about you?"

"In human life, it's a phase but in your life, it's who you are."

"Claire, can we just enjoy this amazing view without you reminding me of my dad?"

Claire chuckled and opened her mouth to say something when warm lips locked on it. He kissed her breathlessness and she kissed him back with so much passion and affection.

It was too early to use the L-word.

But when he pulled away she saw the rainbow shaped in the sky, it wasn't its normal half of a circle, it was heart-shaped and the butterflies in the garden were surrounding them. Everything was so magical and beautiful, and deep down, Claire knew she hadn't done anything. The magic had come from here.

Where is this place? She wondered.

"I love you, Princess Claire Ryes!" Liam yelled excitedly.

Claire chuckled at how he had called her full name unknowingly.

"I love you, Liam Hudson," she whispered.

The winds carried her whisper to Liam's ears and for the remainder of that day, they were locked in eternal bliss each one savoring the little moment left until the cold reality hit again.