Chapter 21 Liam
Chapter twenty-one
Liam
‘What is this?’ Isla asks, not waiting a second.
My girl has absolutely no patience. She is either lost in her head or she is impatiently questioning everything around her.
I’m not complaining though. I love those qualities about her. Those, along with her fierceness, are what drew me to her in the first place.
I lean in close to her neck, the soft scent of rhubarb filling my nostrils as I inhale deeply. I discovered she loves the stuff so I’ve made sure to feed her as many different recipes as possible.
‘I think you know exactly what it is, princess.’
The oval tub sits alone in the centre of the room, surrounded by candles.
Alright, call me a cheat, but Elsa gave me a pretty good idea that Isla has been in the mood for a bath for a while now, and just like the list of belongings she needed to get together ready for our baby's birth, I couldn’t help myself and make sure it happened.
‘No fucking way.’
‘Yes fucking way, baby.’ I chuckle, placing my palms on her hips and gently walking her forward. ‘The water should still be warm.’
Isla tips her head back, resting on my shoulder and lets out an audible moan. My fingers tighten their grip at the delicious sound, sending a bolt of arousal straight to my groin.
Oblivious Isla, fully focused on her target of the bathtub, continues walking forward only stopping at the edge of the tub.
Steam rises from the clear water, the light reflection from the flickering candles creating the perfect ambience.
‘Princess,’ I whisper into her ear, my breath fanning across her neck.
Isla hums in responses.
‘Shall I go get you a top-up of hot water whilst you get yourself comfortable?’
She hums again and I take it as my sign to leave. I want to be with her at all times, but I’ve also accepted that I do not want to be seen as a creeper, even if my entire being is screaming at me to stay and watch her undress again.
‘I’ll be right back,’ nibbling her neck I force myself to relinquish my hold of her and turn to leave the room.
The hallway lighting is almost non-existent as I walk towards the kitchen in search of a large pan of water. I’d asked Elsa to tell Pam of my plans, so I’m sure there will be one simmering away somewhere.
‘No one can accuse you of not trying,’ Pam quips as I hurry into the kitchen, spotting her perched on a stool near the pans.
‘What can I say.’ I bow in response.
None of this matters if Isla isn’t comfortable and I don’t know how hot that water was I left her to get into. Mentally, I slap myself for not remembering to check.
‘How is she?’
I place my hands on the counter, hunching over and letting out a laboured breath. ‘Honestly, I don’t know. She’s putting on a strong face for everyone else but behind it all she looks terrified. She burst into tears when watching the pigeons again.’
‘She’s full of hormones. Not to worry, you just keep looking after her the way you are.’
‘Really, that’s all the wisdom you’ve got?’
She shrugs, looking far too chirpy for this hour. ‘When I was pregnant with Elsa’s mother, I almost killed her father on multiple occasions. The slightest thing Bill did wrong I was ready to either divorce him or put him six feet under.’
‘That doesn’t make me feel any better.’ I wince.
Am I supposed to be grateful that Isla is crying instead of shouting? That doesn’t sound like the better option to me and I’d certainly rather her be annoyed at me than upset like she was earlier.
‘He ate my chocolate bar and all the shops in the town were closed.’ Pam offers like that is a perfectly valid reason for nearly murdering your husband. Well, for the world before the apocalypse, anyway. Most crazies would say they have killed for less these days.
‘Just don’t piss her off and you’re golden.’ Pam slides off her stool, clicking the hob off. ‘Now take that water to that poor girl, it sounds like she could do with a good bit of TLC.’
Pam’s not wrong.
Quickly, I grip both handles and despite the heavy weight of both pans, I hurry back to my girl, careful not to spill a drop as I go.
One big predicament I did not consider is how I would get in. I could knock but would she hear me? Or would I hear her response? But I can’t just walk in unannounced that would more than likely put me in the bad books.
I gently place the pans down and straighten.
Knocking it is.
One beat, then two and there is no response.
Fuck it, I’ve seen her naked before.
Turning the handle, I kick the door open with the toe of my boot, catching it with my ass as I turn to pick up the pans of boiling hot water.
‘Room service,’ I announce as a flame sails towards me.