Chapter 2 Lord of the Puck 1

Liam

There was a pain in my ankle, but yet again there was always pain these days. It was just that I was already out of the scotch that I used to help dumb it down.

Well, almost out anyway. Lifting the bottle to my lips I sucked down the rest. Letting it burn its way down my throat and enjoying every second of it.

Should I be drinking at- I glanced at my watch and frowned. Well it had to be five o clock somewhere right and anyway why shouldn’t I drink? Being back in this hellhole, away from everything I fucking loved and surrounded by everything I hated was enough to drive anyone to drink.

Letting my eyes dart around the room that had always been mine but never felt like it, I scowled. It was all nonsense. The heavy velvet drapes hid the winter sun , the walls were dark as well. Wood and old fashioned wallpaper. Even the furniture was dark.

Just like my mood.

I didn’t belong here even though I was born in a room just down the hallway., I belonged back in the states. With my team, my feet on the ice and the roar of a crowd deafening my ears. 

And I god damn ankle hurt.

Dropping the bottle , I stood up so suddenly that my ankle rolled and I let out a hissing curse. 

Damn stupid thing was going to ruin my career if I wasn’t careful and then I would be back here for good with no escape. Honestly I couldn’t think of anything worse.

And the old man whose balls I had come out with refused to sell, even to me. Probably because I would have bulldozed the ancient monstrosity to the ground on day one.

Even now I was tempted to take a lighter to the antique drapes and let it all burn down. I probably would have if the place hadn’t been full of tourists.

Fucking tourists, that’s what the Lord family estate had come to. A fucking hotel, full of protensious wanna be aristocrats. 

Limping towards the door, I threw it open and peered out. This wing was family only but that didn’t stop people snooping and the last thing I wanted was to run into some crazed fan that had tracked me down.

Not that I really thought they would. Lord was a pretty common name and half way across the world where I’d schooled, trained and finally been signed up I’d just been another guy.

An incredibly talented and gorgeous one, sure but still a normal person.

Oh and modest too.

A wry smile curved up my mouth. Yeah that was me Liam

Lord, the epitome of modest.

Not bothering to turn towards the study where my father , kept his good whisky I headed towards the hotel bar. I already knew the study was drank dry, because the last bottle of single malt was currently laying empty on my bed.

And honestly it didn’t matter what I drank, as long as I could drink. It was the only thing that would help the pain of my shattered ankle.

My shattered possibly career ending ankle.

If I’d had something to throw I would have.

Unlocking the wings door , I was half way towards the stairs when a half open door caught my attention. Now the room behind it was little more than a dark closet filled with screens. The security heart of my fathers little mine making hotel idea and it rarely open but today it was and I could see the uniformed back of one of the security guys as he leaned forward and whistled through his teeth.

“Someone interesting?” Leaning against the doorframe, I chuckled and somehow my voice came out normal with only a hint of a slur.

“If it isn’t the might Liam Lordell. Or should I say Lord ” He didn’t even turn, but I did. Throwing a glance behind me to make sure none of the guests hadn’t heard. Not that I thought any person who decided to holiday here would know who I was. 

“Wish you would keep your voice down asshole.” I slipped inside and closed the door. Leaning against it to stop rhe world from spinning on its axis again.

“You’re not the famous Lord. Not here anyway. And yeah new group just arrived. You’re father-“ he threw a glance behind him and grinned. “Is hosting some charity event for stalking or some such nonsense and their guest of honour just arrived from the states. Don’t know her do you?”

I rolled my eyes. “It’s a massive county I don’t know-“ the words died on my lips and soft sigh escaped me.

Because I did know her.

Everything line of her body was familiar to me, even though all I could see was her back. The blonde hair was lighter and cut slightly shorter than she had worn it when I had last seen her but I knew that ass anywhere.

It fucking haunted my dreams.

“The front is even better than-“

I moved on instinct , fisting his shirt I screwed it up under his chin and span the chair around. “Don’t even think about finishing that sentence.”

Blue eyes widened in shock. “Sure sir, I didn’t mean any disrespect. She’s just beautiful. I didn’t realise you knew her.”

My gaze locked on the screen, knew her? That was an understatement. I didn’t just know Bree Calloway I fucking loved her. Always had, always would.

She was the one who got away, the one who I could never forget. The one who fucking hated my guts for a crime I didn’t commit.

“No I don’t. You just shouldn’t say shit like that about guests.”

“You say worse Liam, what’s going on?”

I shrugged my eyes glued on to the screen, she had turned now and the face was even more beautiful that I remembered from last night when I had stalked her insta and fisted my cock until I had exploded.

She was always the star of my late night fantasies and she always made me cum.

Hell even the memory of the way she said my name with a smile on her full lips was enough to make me hard.

And she was here. 

Fuck.

All the old feelings came back. I had spent the last ten years locking away came rushing back because she was here for some reason and it felt like a sign.

The overwhelming need, the inability to breathe properly because she was so damn close and I wasn’t in her orbit.

“It’s nothing. I’m gonna go back to my -“

How the hell could I go back to my room now , knowing full well she was under the same roof as me?

“So you’re not planning to go down and get another bottle?”

“Nah, I’ve suddenly lost the urge.”

He continued to stare at me like I had grown another head. It didn’t take a genius to know why?

. I had been drinking pretty heavily since I had arrived home last week.

But who had time to drink now, Bree Calloway was right here. For some kind of stalking charity gala. It couldn’t have been more perfect.

Ten years ago she had blamed me for her twin brother's death and almost ruined my reputation. She had built up her entire platform telling stories about her stalker being to blame for that tragedy.

And she had always believed that person was me.

It was time she realised the truth, once and for all and if I had to be the monster she had labelled me as to do it.

Then so be it.