Liam's POV.
I tried acting as cool as possible, as she lay next to me, but I was stiff as a rock, and my heart sped up as if I was going on a roller coaster ride. I felt like I was back to being 14 again when my hormones were high.
Her scent was the only thing I could focus on. Madeline's scent was exactly like her personality: sweet and salty, a mixture of vanilla and soil. I didn't even know what I was thinking.
'When did I start becoming an expert when it came to scents?'
I was curious to know if Madeline was asleep, but if I turned around and if by any chance her eyes were wide open, it would make things awkward; it's not like I have never shared a bed with a woman, heck with it.
I was nervous because it was her. After all, it was Madeline.
That pissed me off the most, I never understood why she signed the contract papers.
I am no husband material.
'Was her taste so bad in men?'
'How many bad people had she dated before me?'
The idea of Madeline dating men worse than me fueled my anger, I wanted to know her reason for signing the papers because all I wanted was for her to live a happy life.
That is why I never approached her because I knew I couldn't give it to her.
I watched her from far because I knew she would be better off and happier without me in her life.
And that fateful day when she saw me in the library, those shocked brown eyes.
The day she had to witness me making out with Alexandra, the day we legally got married.
She didn't have to go through all that.
Which is why I tried pushing her away, I had no problem, changing the women I got intimate with every few weeks.
But ever since this brown eyed woman has entered my life, that is the last thing I can bring myself to do.
'Damn those innocent doe like eyes.'
It was time that I admitted to myself that Madeline always had a special place in my heart.
Was it love?I don't know.
Was it because we used to know each other when we were kids?I don't know.
But I knew I felt something for her, always.
I barely came to college due to my busy schedule, but whenever I did, my feet would involuntarily move towards that old library where I could clearly see the class Madeline was sitting in.
Lucky for me, she would always sit by the window.
Like a creepy stalker, I even took the same elective course as her to catch a glimpse of her whenever I could.
It was by accident that I knew she was going to choose print and media as her elective course.
I remember the day very clearly.
Flashback.
A few months ago.
I was standing at our college grounds, since the campus was pretty big, this was the far end of the grounds where people rarely came.
And college students were too lazy to walk to their own classrooms why would they even come here for no reason?
But unexpectedly, Madeline, Evan and their model friend were walking towards the place I was standing, so like a coward I decided to hide behind a tree.
I could hear Evan say, ''Let's all choose the same course, guys, it would be boring to attend without the two of you.''
Madeline enthusiastically jumped as she said, ''Ok then, let's choose print media.''
''Maddie, just so you know, there are better choices.''
Madeline stomped her feet, and I almost laughed, I never knew she could be so childish.
''C'mon, Vicky, then you tell me, what do we choose?''
And the model remained quiet, I watched as Madeine's face bloomed into a big grin, she looked like a happy sunflower.
And somehow, after a few hours, I found myself submitting my open elective course as print media. I tried to make myself believe that it was just because the media plays an important role in the showbiz.
'But who was I lying to?''Myself?'
End of flashback.
I sighed and tried to relax my body but then...
A hand wrapped around my torso, and my breath hitched. I was too afraid to turn, but I did, and it felt like my heart stopped beating for a moment.
Because Madeline, with her eyes closed and face relaxed, looked like the most ethereal being on Earth.
I wanted to return the embrace, tightly hug her as if an apology for what I did a week ago.
But I couldn't bring myself to do it, not without her permission.
And mostly importantly, it was better this way, because I was afraid that if I knew what it's like to have her in my arms, I would never want to let go.