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✦ 𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝟒 – 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐇𝐮𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫’𝐬 𝐆𝐚𝐦𝐞 ✦

— Liam’s POV —

She walked away.

Without a word.

No final snarky remark, no fiery comeback. Just a sharp turn and a retreat, as if leaving first meant she had won.

I exhaled, shaking my head.

She really thought this was a fight.

Sweetheart, this isn’t a battle you can win.

I leaned back in my chair, letting the moment settle. The way she had gritted her teeth, the way her hands had curled into fists when I had thrown her own words back at her—she had wanted me to break, to snap, to groan in frustration and storm away.

But I wasn’t built like that.

She didn’t understand yet.

I didn’t run. I didn’t back down.

And when I wanted something, I never let go.

And I wanted her.

A slow grin stretched across my face. This was going to be fun.

I took my time finishing my coffee before standing up and following her. She couldn’t have gone far.

Sure enough, I found her pacing near the window in our bedroom, muttering under her breath.

Her back was to me, her arms crossed, her lips pressed into a thin line of frustration. I could hear her grumbling, words spilling out rapidly.

“…why is he like this? No, seriously, why? What kind of man listens to all that and just—just agrees? It makes no sense! He should’ve gotten mad, left the room, refused to entertain my nonsense! But no, he has to go and—ugh!”

I leaned against the doorframe, arms crossed. “Talking about me, angel?”

She spun around so fast she nearly lost balance. “Don’t do that!”

I smirked. "Do what?"

“Appear out of nowhere,” she huffed, placing a hand on her hip. "You're too quiet for someone so—" She gestured at me vaguely, then scowled. "Big."

I arched a brow. "You think I’m big?"

Her eyes narrowed, realizing her mistake. “Not like that, you—ugh! That’s not the point!"

I chuckled, stepping further into the room. "Then what is the point, princess?"

She inhaled sharply, taking a step back. “The point is, I need space.”

I tilted my head. “Do you?”

“Yes.”

"Alright," I said easily, watching the flicker of surprise in her expression.

She blinked. “Wait, really?”

I shrugged. “Sure. If that’s what you want.”

She hesitated, clearly thrown off by my sudden agreement. Then she huffed, brushing past me toward the bookshelf in the corner.

I watched, amused, as she ran her fingers over the spines of the books stacked there.

“What are you doing?” I asked.

She didn’t look at me. “Finding something to read.”

A slow grin tugged at my lips.

“Something dark?” I guessed.

She stiffened for half a second before scowling. “None of your business.”

“Oh, but it is,” I mused, stepping closer. “Considering you seem to think I don’t fit your ‘book boyfriend’ criteria.”

She turned sharply. “Because you don’t.”

I placed a hand on the shelf beside her, effectively caging her in.

“Is that so?”

She refused to look at me, her fingers tightening around the book she had just pulled out.

“Yes,” she said firmly. “Book men are different.”

“How?”

“They—they’re cold.”

I smirked. “You really want me to be cold to you, sweetheart?”

Her lips parted, but she quickly pressed them into a line.

I leaned in, lowering my voice to a murmur. “Would you prefer it if I ignored you all day? Spoke to you with indifference? Acted like you weren’t mine?”

She swallowed, but her chin lifted stubbornly. “That’s not—”

“And yet,” I interrupted smoothly, “you’d also want me to be secretly obsessed with you. To stare at you across the room when you aren’t looking. To crave your attention but never admit it.”

She exhaled sharply. “I hate you.”

I chuckled. “Sure, princess.”

I reached past her, plucking the book from her hands before she could react.

She gasped. “Hey!”

I turned it over, reading the title. ‘A Deal with the Devil.’

I raised an eyebrow. “Interesting choice.”

“Give it back.”

I ignored her, flipping to a random page. The passage I landed on made me smirk.

I read aloud: “‘You are mine now,’ he murmured against her skin, his voice dark with possession. ‘No one else will ever have you.’”

She snatched the book from my hands. “That’s enough.”

I grinned. “See? I could’ve said that.”

She glared. “You’re ridiculous.”

I shrugged, stepping back just slightly. “And you’re avoiding the real problem.”

She crossed her arms. “Which is?”

“You keep running.”

She stiffened.

I tilted my head. “But I don’t chase, sweetheart.”

She scoffed. “That’s a lie.”

I chuckled. “Is it?”

She stared at me, her brows furrowing slightly, as if trying to figure out what game I was playing.

I let the silence stretch, enjoying the way she fidgeted under my gaze.

Then I leaned in just slightly, my voice dropping low.

“I don’t chase,” I murmured, “because I already have you.”

Her breath hitched.

I smiled. “And I always keep what’s mine.”

She turned abruptly, gripping the book tightly. “I’m going to read.”

I smirked, stepping back. “Enjoy, angel.”

She shot me one last glare before storming toward the bed, flipping the book open aggressively as she sat down.

I watched her for a moment longer, then turned and walked away, satisfied.

She could fight it all she wanted.

But she had already lost.

🔥 To Be Continued… 🔥

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