Chapter 248 A Kick To The Groin

5:00 AM

Liam’s eyes opened slowly.

The ceiling above him was familiar. Too familiar. His mind was still hazy, the last tendrils of sleep refusing to let go. But the weight in his chest was immediate, and not from exhaustion. He lay there in silence for a moment, letting the early morning light filter through the curtains and paint long shadows across the walls.

Then it hit him.

Kelly.

He ran a hand over his face, rubbing his temples as the full memory of last night came flooding back—her body, her voice, her taste, the way she screamed his name like it was the only thing she knew.

"What did I do that for..." he muttered to himself.

There was no guilt in his tone—no regret. But there was tension. Frustration. A slight clench in his jaw as he sat up and looked around the room.

He didn’t regret sleeping with her. Not one bit. But it also wasn’t a calculated move. It wasn’t planned. And that... was a problem.

ZK.

If that bastard found out? There’d be more than just screaming. That man had a violent streak. And despite Liam’s growing strength, the last thing he needed right now was another war. His plate was already full—Lilith’s missions, the gang politics, his evolution, the Crimson Hand, the system notifications that kept appearing without explanation.

He glanced at the bed.

There—just beside where Kelly had been lying—was a faint smear of red on the sheets. Small, but unmistakable. His brows furrowed.

Her virginity.

He sat there, still for a while. Thinking.

Then he shook it off. No use staring at bloodstained sheets.

He got up, stripped the bed, and began cleaning.

For the next few hours, Liam threw himself into the mundane. The room was a mess—sheets soaked in sweat and cum, pillows flung, the scent of sex still heavy in the air. He washed everything. Bleached the sheets. Cleaned the floor. Scrubbed the bathroom after his shower like he was trying to erase every trace of last night.

Not because he was ashamed.

But because he didn’t want anyone asking the wrong questions.

By the time the clock hit 7:00 AM, Liam was back to himself.

Showered. Dressed. Room clean. Hair damp but tamed. He wore a black T-shirt that clung slightly to his frame, and a pair of grey joggers that hung low on his hips, casual but comfortable.

Then came the knock.

It was soft. Three taps. Barely there.

He didn’t bother with the stairs.

With a single step, Liam jumped from the top floor to the ground—landing like a shadow, soundless, his body controlled and light. His agility stat had grown so much that even a jump like that felt like nothing now.

He moved to the door and pulled it open.

And there she was.

Lana.

Even in a wrinkled nightgown, hair tousled from sleep, she looked like something out of a dream. Her long, dark brown hair was a beautiful mess, falling around her shoulders in waves. Her green eyes blinked once as they met his—and then lit up for a second, surprised and warm.

"Liam," she breathed.

He smiled without meaning to.

But then her expression shifted—those same bright eyes narrowed slightly, mouth curling into a light scowl.

"Where did you put your phone?"

Liam raised an eyebrow. "What?"

She crossed her arms under her chest, pushing her breasts up without even realizing it and Liam’s eyes flicked down for half a second—just long enough to notice the faint outline of her nipples pressing softly through the cloth.

Lana didn’t notice.

Or maybe she did and didn’t care.

"Lilith’s been trying to reach you since," she said flatly.

Liam exhaled through his nose, more amused than annoyed. "Relax," he said. "Let’s talk inside."

He didn’t wait for a response.

He reached out, gently but firmly pulling her in by the wrist. She didn’t resist. Maybe it was the way he moved. Maybe it was the tone in his voice. Or maybe she just didn’t feel like fighting.

The door shut behind her with a solid click.

And before she could say another word, Liam moved—fast, confident, smooth.

Her back hit the wall.

Not rough. Not harsh. Just firm. Like he was claiming space without needing permission.

He planted both hands against the wall, on either side of her head, caging her in. Not threatening. Not aggressive. But close. Very close.

She looked up at him, eyes slightly wide. Her breath hitched, but she didn’t pull away.

Liam leaned in, just enough for his voice to be a whisper.

"You were saying?"

His eyes locked on hers—deep blue, steady, unreadable. Lana swallowed. Hard. Her lips parted slightly, like her next words got caught in her throat.

The tension hung thick between them.

And Lana—half-dressed, sleepy, disarmed by the proximity of him—suddenly couldn’t remember what she was about to say.

Lana coughed lightly.

It was the kind of cough meant to pull someone back to reality. "Lilith," she began, her voice steady despite her pulse racing, "she called me. Said she’s been trying to reach you all morning."

Liam didn’t respond.

She blinked, slightly confused.

"Liam?"

Still nothing.

He was close—far too close—and his eyes hadn’t left her for even a second. But not her eyes. Not her face.

Her lips.

He’d been staring at her mouth this entire time. Watching the way it moved. The way her bottom lip curved naturally, soft and faintly pink. The way she unconsciously licked it between sentences. It was subtle, but Liam saw it all.

"Liam, Lilith called, she said we need to get over her place. " she said again, this time placing her palm against his chest.

She tried to push him back. Just an inch. Enough to breathe.

But he didn’t budge.

Instead, he caught her wrist.

Then the other.

And gently, but firmly, pinned them both above her head, trapping her completely between the wall and his body. His grip was strong, but not rough. There was no pain—only heat. His touch was fire. Slow, burning heat against her skin.

Her eyes widened. "Didn’t you hear what I just said?"

Liam didn’t answer.

He lowered his head—so close she could feel the brush of his breath on her neck.

Then his lips touched her skin.

Soft. Careful. Testing.

She shivered.

He kissed her neck again—slightly higher. Then again. His lips found that sensitive spot just beneath her ear, and a tiny, helpless sound escaped her throat. It wasn’t loud. It wasn’t intentional. But it betrayed everything.

Her body arched slightly toward him, hips shifting, knees threatening to give out. The more he kissed her, the more she lost grip on her thoughts. Her brain said stop, but her body? Her body begged for more.

He trailed up slowly—neck, jawline, her chin. Until he was at her lips.

And then he kissed her.

It wasn’t rough. It wasn’t rushed.

It was gentle. Focused. Deep.

Lana’s breath caught in her chest. Her head tilted automatically, eyes fluttering closed. Her lips opened under his as she kissed him back, hard and hot, letting herself drown in the moment.

For a second, the world didn’t exist.

But then reality slammed back in like a hammer.

Lilith.

Lana’s eyes shot open. She gasped.

"No—wait—" she stammered, but Liam was already leaning in again.

She didn’t even think.

Her knee came up, fast and sharp—right between his legs.

The contact was perfect.

Liam’s eyes widened as the pain hit him like a lightning bolt.

His breath left his lungs in a sudden gasp as he collapsed to one knee, groaning low in his throat. Every muscle in his body tensed, and for a second, all the strength in his stats meant nothing. This was a different kind of pain.

Lana clapped her hand over her mouth.

"Oh my God—sorry!" she blurted, already backing away. "I didn’t mean to—I just—! I need to get dressed!"

She turned and bolted out, her footsteps echoing behind her.

Liam stayed there for a moment—eyes shut, one hand braced against the floor as he sucked in a slow, cold breath through his teeth.

"Damn brat..." he muttered, his voice low and cracked with pain.

He rose unsteadily to his feet. His legs still trembled slightly, but he forced himself to walk. There was no way he was going to sit there like a broken idiot.

He made his way up to his room, ignoring the dull throbbing in his groin. He didn’t even bother to change. He grabbed his phone off the table and finally took a look at the screen.

Seven missed calls.

All from Lilith.

He groaned again—not from pain this time, but from the headache that was now forming.

No wonder Lana had shown up at his place like that. While he was busy cleaning up the aftermath of his night with Kelly, Lilith had been trying to reach him since dawn. And he’d ignored every single attempt.

He tapped the screen but didn’t call back. Not yet.

Lana was still her house, probably dressing. And knowing her, she’d take her time. The girl didn’t rush for anyone, even if Lilith was the one waiting. And Liam? He hated standing around with nothing to do.

So he made a decision.

Instead of pacing or pretending to care about breakfast, he headed out.

He stepped out into the morning sun. The air was still cool, and the breeze brushed past his skin like fingers. He walked the few blocks toward Lana’s house, not in a hurry but not slow either. His body was still slightly sore, but the pain was already fading—replaced by a weird sense of amusement.

He’d been kneed in the balls by one of the most beautiful girls he knew.

And somehow, he didn’t even blame her.

He reached her doorstep and raised his hand to knock.

Knock knock knock.

Silence.

He waited a few seconds.

No reply.

He frowned slightly and knocked again—harder this time. Still nothing.

His eyes narrowed.

He tried the door handle out of instinct. It turned. The door creaked slightly as it opened inward, just enough to reveal the dimly lit interior.

It hadn’t been locked properly..