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It was 1996 and liam was at some event that patsy had dragged him to. “some actor event for daft cunts and tossers” he complained under his breath when he first walked in with his and patsy’s arms interlinked, camera’s flashing the popular couple from every angle.
Once inside he quickly lost sight patsy as she quickly told him she saw one of her old friends from a movie she did when she was first starting out, he waved her off and went on a hunt to find the nearest pint of lager he could get his hands on, trying to make this night bearable.
And so he did, he ordered a pint and took a seat on one of the barstools, closing his eyes as he sighed out through his nose when the cold, refreshing beer touched his tongue. He chugged down a few more sips before setting the pint glass back on the bar and wiping his mouth with the back of his hand.
He scanned the area, scowling with every “pretentious fucker” he had read about in the newspaper. he thought they were a waste of space to write about in the papers, of course only wanting to read about what people thought about him and his band. Not that he cares, but because he always laughed at the infinitely dumb remarks and theories on him and the latest blur rumors.
He kept blanking letting his eyes travel the room until he spotted that familiar blonde messy quiff, his eyebrows furrowing in annoyance but also confusion.
“Why would that blur hippy dippy cunt be here?” He mumbled to himself. Liam had been pretty sure damon wasn’t dating some bird actor, he even thought damon must’ve been gay by the way the papers never mentioned him with any actual romantic partner.
He groaned as he caught himself staring at damon while he had been thinking that, which then made damon catch his gaze. He saw those dark blonde eyebrows raise in surprise and then that thin but plump lipped mouth smile as he walked away from some small group of people liam bother recognize, and towards liam.
Liam rolled his eyes and then picked up his pint, quickly chugging the rest, praying his tolerance suddenly lowered to nothing and that he could be drunk, because he hates that blur singer, even if he did sometimes admired his looks, he’d never admit to that.
Damon stalled at the barstool on liam’s right side and propped his elbow on the bar, leaning against it.
“Fancy seein’ you here, liam.”
“Mhm..great ‘ta see ya as-well damon..” liam mumbled, acting deliberately disinterested.
He wasn’t even sure why damon wanted to talk to him, they’re rivals for god’s sake, and liam wanted to desperately keep it that way, for the press and the sales of course.
“You here because of your misses?” Damon said, strangely enough, sounding actually interested.
Liam glared at him with the same scowl as before. “Not my missus..” he mumbled under his breath before sharply inhaling and turning his head towards damon this time. Liam didn’t really know why he felt the need to comment that patsy wasn’t his wife yet.
“‘Ere with patsy, yeah.” He responded, not bothering to wanna continue the conversation. He looked into his pint glass.
“Makes sense..” damon responded and glanced away into the event room.
“I got invited here, don’t really know why.” Damon kept talking like it was casual conversation.
“Maybe ‘s because you are also here.”
Damon commented with a chuckle and looked back at liam, his smile dropping into an awkward one when he saw liam’s unamused face.
A slight silence fell between the two men before damon continued, needing to fill it.
“Press are always fishing for something between us ey?”
Liam looked back up at damon.
“Yeah well, gives you guys publicity hm? when we’re mentioned..” liam remarked, and it was obvious to damon that that was a dig at his band
Damon’s eyebrows furrowed slightly, but his smirk widened a little, he always laughed at the gallagher’s bluntness. Another pause fell before damon turned around, stomach leaned against the bar when he called the bartender over.
“Two beer please” he said to the bartender and then turned to liam again as the bartender walked away to get him his drinks. Liam looked at damon a bit puzzled.
“What’re you after?” Liam said, looking damon up and down, suspicious of him.
Damon chuckled and shook his head slightly. “Can’t order a pint for my fellow musician?” Damon said jokingly. Liam’s chest got a bit warm with annoyance, why did damon necessarily need to talk to him?
“Hardly consider you a musician mate..” liam mumbled and looked down in his pint, trying to seem disinterested although he was a little grateful that damon ordered him another beer. Liam was secretly dying for a buzz.
The two pints arrived and damon slid one towards liam. After a moment of liam inspecting it, not moving to pick it up at first, he reluctantly grabbed the handle and brought it to his mouth. Sighing as he out the pint down after swallowing 1/3 in one go.
Damon watched him, a bit close if you asked liam. He took a sip of his own, but not quite the amount liam had.
“So how are you guys doin’? Y’know, with the album sellin’ good and all..” damon asked.
Liam looked at him, suspicion still on his face, but he shrugged. “Doin’ great i guess, paid millions, tour was a fuckin’ hit..” liam responded and took another sip from his pint.
Damon nodded along to his answer, humming softly. “Yeah i read about it, knebworth pictures looked great.” Damon said, tilted his head slightly to the side.
Liam paused a moment, looked at damon’s face and posture. Was that a fucking compliment? Did damon take something or even slip something into liam’s pint? He must’ve been hallucinating.
Liam’s eyebrows furrowed slightly, even more confused than before. “Uh..well- yeah it was. ‘Was Buzzin’..” liam responded, a bit thrown off by damon’s behavior.
“Why’re you so interested?” Liam asked bluntly, which made damon smile more.
“Just wanted to actually talk y’know, we always complain about eachother to press, but i never actually talk to you..” damon said, sounding the most sincere he had yet.
Liam paused again, a slight shiver running down his spine as he looked damon in the eyes, almost still waiting for the joke he thought was coming. Liam also felt his mouth hanging open slightly and his heart beating a tinge faster. He glanced away for a moment before sharply inhaling and looked back at damon.
“Uhm, okay..s’pose that’s..fine..” he mumbled and then turned his head down towards his pint, he then lifted it and took a couple more chugs, the glass almost empty. Damon smiled seeing liam’s reaction, secretly loving seeing liam in anything but his usual attitude.
Suddenly, liam felt a hand graze his lower thigh, and he set his pint down at an alarming rate, it making a banging sound as it hit the bar. He looked down and then up at damon, realizing it was him.
Damon was closer to him than before.
“You look good in that outfit y’know..” damon said in a lower tone. Liams shivered again, his breath hitching, his eyes wide with shock but his pupils bigger than before.
“W- i-..” liam stammered, not being used to being stumped like this. Ofcourse he looked good, patsy picked it out for him. Liam had no idea why he hadn’t shoved the london boy back into the bar and punched his head in yet, he just froze.
Damon’s smirk widened and he wiggled his fingers slightly on liam’s lower thigh, which caused liam’s breath to shudder ever so slightly, but damon picked it up. He also noticed the slight tent that was forming in liam’s baggy pants.
“D’you wanna get out of here..?” Damon whispered, glancing down at liam’s crotch and then back at liam, signaling to liam that damon *knew* about his pants-situation. Liam looked between damons eyes and smirk, absolutely stunned.
After a moment he sighed out shallowly, nodding. He glanced around quickly, seeing that nobody was staring at the two of them. Damon smiled and took his hand off of liam’s thigh. He grabbed his pint snd chugged the rest of it.
Liam watched damon’s Adam’s apple bob up and down as Damon drank, liam’s mouth still slightly agape, his pupils abnormally blown. He quickly then remembered he had some beer left too and he quickly polished it off before damon could set his glass down.
Damon set his glass down and then nodded towards a direction, suggesting that liam follow him.
As liam did he couldn’t keep his eyes off of damon’s jeans and the way they were just the right amount of tightness around his arse. And liam instinctively put his hands into his front pockets, pulling the front of his jeans away from his crotch so it was less obvious how ridiculously hard he suddenly was.
Damon walked around, eventually finding a “staff only” door, barging in, liam following closely behind. They walked down a long hallway, luckily empty, until damon found something of a storage closet.
“I fuckin’ knew you were gay, i even bet on it with rkid.”
Damon glanced back as they walked into the room. “If i’m gay, then what does that make you?” He answered back. Liam just scoffed at his retort and decided to ignore the question.
They walked in, and when liam also walked inside damon turned around and closed the door. The first thing damon did was kick off his shoes, and liam followed.
Damon then grabbed a broom that was there, conveniently enough, and wedged it between the door handle and a metal closet that was full of random cleaning materials and other shite he didn’t care for.
It was a spacious enough room, the only light shining in there being that that was leaking through the door window, which was marbled so you couldn’t exactly see who or what was in there. So it was dimly lit.
Liam turned around just as damon stepped up to him, damon’s left hand on liam’s face and his right immediately moving to liam’s crotch, grabbing a handfull of what was a half hard prick. Liam gasped into damon’s mouth as damon stuck it on him with passion.
Liam’s hands flew to damon’s hand that was on liam’s crotch and damon’s shoulders. He pressed damon’s hand into his crotch with his own hand, needing friction.
“P-please..” liam whimpered, already sounding desperate, which damon did not expect from him. He’d thought liam would’ve acted just as tough in his sex life as he did in his day to day life. Damon smirked against liams lips and opened his mouth slightly, licking liam’s bottom lip.
Liam gladly opened his mouth and sucked on damon’s tongue, sighing through his nose. Damon’s pants also started tenting at this point.
Damon then removed his hand from liam’s crotch and moved both his hands into liam’s outgrown mop top hair. Liam whined a bit at the loss of friction, but then moved his hands to the sides of damon’s face, needing stimulation.
Damon hummed into liam’s mouth as the made out, saliva spreading around and in each other’s mouths. Liam whimpering every now and then.
Damon moved his hands from liam’s hair onto liam’s hips, and slowly turned them around, trying not to break their kissing. He walked liam backwards to the wall next to the door, pressing their crotches together which elicited a sound from both the men.
Damon broke their kiss after a moment, a string of salive connecting their lips even though they were apart. Damon softly tugged at liam’s shirt, and liam responded by quickly moving to remove it. Damon took a step back and also removed his.
After liam abandoned his shirt in the floor and grabbed damon’s face again and resumed their kissing, breath shuddering from the contact. Now they were chest to chest for a moment, and it wasn’t anything like liam had felt before.
Usually there would be a pair of tits attached to the other person’s chest, but that wasn’t what felt that different. He felt slightly fueled by hatred, and revenge, even if he was really turned on right now. Liam grinded his hips into damon’s. Damon’s mouth hung open for a moment when he did that, breath catching. “Jesus..” damon’s sighed as liam bit as his bottom lip as well now.
Damon moved his hands to liam’s pants, fingers edging by his zipper. He looked at liam, silently asking for permission. Liam bucked into his hands, nodding more frantically now. Damon smiled and quickly worked at liam’s pants to remove them, tossing them aside. He the took a step back and took his own off as well.
Liam watched in his boxers as damon’s let his pants drop, liam’s hands fondling with his prick through his underwear, pupils blown. Damon kicked his pants aside and then pressed their crotches together again as he pinned liam against the wall, which made liam let out a groan. They both closed their eyes, making out for a minute or two again.
“Mmm..d’you..” damon started between kisses. “D’you wanna do this..?” He asked in a low tone against liam’s lips, opening his eyes to look into liam’s. Liam looked back at him, pausing for the first time since the bar. He nodded.
“Yeah..” he said in a rough voice. Damon nodded and moved his hands to liam’s boxers, tugging them down. Liam hissed as his cock felt the cold air. He stepped out of his underwear and then palmed himself, looking at damon as he took his off aswell.
Liam gave himself a few lazy strokes, his breath hitching because his hands were cold. Damon kicked his boxers away and then moved his hands to liam’s hips, moving them from his hips to liam’s arse, cupping it. Liam whimpered.
“‘S that good genes..or just you..?” Damon whispered against liam’s ear, his lips ghosting over the shell of liam’s ear. Liam’s breath shuddered, but he answered.
“‘S me..” he got out. Damon smiled against his neck and planted a kiss there before he turned his head to look into the storage room. He was shelves, a few fold up chairs, and a table. He then looked back at liam, smirking. He nodded behind him.
“Get on that table..” he whispered. Liam’s cheeks couldn’t have turned more red. He nodded, suppressing the raging excitement and adrenaline liam felt. Liam walked past damon and to the table, turned around and sitting on it, his legs dangling off the side. Damon looked at him as he walked over to it, giving his half hard cock a few strokes.
He then walked over to liam, putting his hands on liams hips.
“Go back a bit..” he whispered and liam did as he was told to. The insides of liam’s knees touching the edge of the table. Damons thumbs rubbed circles over liam’s hips as he looked him up and down.
“Hmm..we don’t have any lube here, do we..?” Damon said as he turned his head to look around the room, his eyes searching the shelves for any lube, not that he expected to find any. Liam kept his eyes on damon, his heart skipping a beat when liam heard damon wanted to use lube.
That meant that damon wanted to fuck him, but liam hadn’t ever done that before. was it too late to say anything though? Did damon think liam had experience? Did that twat assume liam was gay as well? Liam’s heart rate spiked at the rush of sudden thoughts.
Damon eventually turned back to liam and saw the slightly panicked look on his face. Damon furrowed his eyebrows and then moved his hands up to liam’s face, cupping his face with both hands.
“What’s wrong..?” Damon asked softly.
Liam’s eyes looked away, while his head was still turned towards damon. “Nothing.” He quickly answered.
Damon tilted his head slightly, doubting that was actually it. Liam caught the head tilt and then looked back at damon, quickly coming up with an excuse because he didn’t wanna say he was inexperienced when it came to this type of sex.
“Just don’t wanna get caught, y’know? If we’re actually gonna do this.. a-and i’m not exactly quiet so that adds risk and we-“
Damon pressed a kiss against liam’s lips, shutting his anxious rambling down. Liam was more sensitive than damon ever expected. After a moment damon moved his head back again, their noses touching.
“We’ll be fine...you can..” damon trailed off, thinking of something before getting an idea.
“You can bite my shoulder if you think you can’t hold back, alright? As hard as you can, i’ll be fine.” Damon suggested.
Liam raised his eyebrows in slight surprise. Damon actually bought that excuse? Nevertheless he nodded and liam slightly, finding that a nice compromise. Liam tried his best to suppress his nerves, if he just told damon to move a bit slower, surely he’d be fine?
Damon kissed and smiled against liam’s lips, a final kiss before actually getting started on this. damon moved his head to liam’s neck, pressed a soft kiss against it. Then he moved his left hand to behind liam’s neck, and his right pressed with his pointer and middle finger against liam’s lips.
“Warm those up for me, hm..?” Damon mumbled against liam’s neck before opening his mouth and started to suck on the soft skin there. Liam’s breath shuttered at the feeling. Liam’s eyes fluttered shut as he parted his lips slightly and took damon’s fingers into his mouth.
Liam moved his hand to hold onto damon’s shoulders, the other holding damon’s wrist in place. He moved his tongue over damon’s fingers, making out with them like it was damon’s lips, humming slightly.
Damon kept at liam’s neck, sucking and nibbling at one spot under liam’s ear. His cock throbbing at the sound of the soft hitches liam would make when he flicked his tongue just right at that sensitive spot in his neck.
When damon finished marking liam he removed his mouth from liam’s neck with a little pop sound and moved his face just in-front of liam’s, taking his fingers out of his mouth. His finger’s drenched in liam’s spit. He smiled and then kissed liam, one hand on liam’s shoulder and the other one that had two finger’s coated in saliva, moved down.
“On your back..” damon whispered against liam’s lips, and liam did as he was told, Their lips disconnecting. Damon stood between liam’s legs, with his clean hand he grabbed Liam’s left ankle, bending down a bit to pick it up, and set liam’s foot on the edge of the table.
Liam then moved his other foot on the edge as well, knowing damon was probably gonna do that next anyway. He had propped himself up on his elbows, his head tilted up so he could watch damon. As damon then moved his fingers between liam’s arse cheeks liam’s breath hitched snd then reached out with one of his hands, now propped up on one elbow.
“Damon wait-“ liam said, sounding panicked again. Damon stopped and looked at liam. “What?” Damon said softly, moved his hands back slightly.
Liam hesitated for a moment before sighing, his breathing shaking a little. “Just- just go slow..alright?” He said honestly. Damon nodded, understanding. “Ofcourse, yeah..” he answered.
Damon waited for a moment before moving his two coated fingers back between liam’s arsecheeks. “You can tell me when to stop yeah?” Damon said softly, and liam nodded in response, having laid back down and looking up at the ceiling.
Damon lightly circled liam’s arse before slowly dipping in his first finger. Liam gasped, his eyes rolling back as he closed his eyes, his mouth hanging agape slightly.
Damon inched his finger in slowly, bit by bit. Pausing when liam gasped and continuing as he felt liam move his hips into his finger. He soon added a second, which made liam actually moan, it made damon rock hard.
“Please~..” mumbled liam, he was always more talkative. And damon reciprocated, he moved his second finger in more, gradually starting to pump them in and out.
“Oh god…oh- mm~..” liam rambled, his hips bucking with damon’s movement. Damon then curled his fingers, and liam gasped loudly. He didn’t think it would feel this good, he thought it would hurt, even if the biggest part was yet to come.
“Fuck! P-please..~” liam mumbled and moved his hand to his cock, needing more. But damon moved his hands away.
“Shhh, Be patient..” damon whispered and then took out his fingers, leaving liam feeling empty. Liam moved onto his elbows and tilted his head up to look at damon, who held eye contact with him as he spit into his own hand and coated his cock, preparing it for liam. Liam’s jaw was dropped, never having been this turned on and desperate before.
Damon stroked himself a couple more times, spitting again, before steadying his feet and lining himself up. He looked at liam, who was still looking back at him. Liam nodded before damon could ask his question.
Damon then slowly pushed in, the head first, pausing to let liam adjust. Liam sighed out, tilting his head back against the table, his hands clenched into fists. He was still nervous, that much was obvious, but he couldn’t ignore how good damon felt.
Damon pushed in a little more, up until halfway down his prick, and then he stopped again, letting liam adjust. Liam had closed his eyes, taking deep breaths as he took a moment to relax again. Once damon felt liam relax around him he slowly pushed in more.
Liam bit his bottom lip, trying to stay quiet when damon pushed himself fully in, pausing again for liam. Liam let out a shuddering breath as he felt damon move slightly because he adjusted his stance a little. Damon leaned forward between liam’s knees with his upper body, trying to not push in any harder.
“You alright?” He checked in with liam.
Liam opened his eyes, not lifting his head but seeing damon in his lower vision if he looked past his upright cock, he nodded in response.
“Okay, i can start then, yeah..?” Damon asked, to which liam nodded again, taking a deep breaths in.
Damon pulled out a few centimeters and then moved back in, liam’s jaw dropped and he barely held back a moan, it coming out as a strangled whisper. Damon’s breath grew heavier as he closed his eyes, his hands on liam’s knees to stabilize himself.
Damon then kept slowly moving in and out, a little bit more each time, gradually building up a faster pace. With each bigger pump liam’s face scrunched up more, the air he tried to breathe getting caught in his throat.
“Oh- oh..god ffff-“ liam mumbled under his breath when damon sped up, his hands grasping at the table but not being after to hold onto anything. Damon opened his eyes to look at liam, both their pupils blown out.
“God you’re beautiful..” damon sighed out, keeping quiet, but liam moaned in response which revealed his slight praise kink. Damon remember his promise and leaned forward, grasping liam by his shoulders and pulling his back off of the table, putting one of his arms on liam’s back while his other hand laid flat on the table, trying to keep stability as he tried to keep up the same pace.
“Cmon liam, i won’t mind..” he whispered in liam’s ear as he brought liam closer to him, their chests just ghosting over each other.
Liam whined at the new angle and immediately leaned forward, his left hand grasping at damon’s other shoulder while his right was on the table, keeping him upright. Liam latched onto damon’s shoulder, stifling his moan just about.
“Mmm!” Liam almost shrieker against damon’s shoulder as damon pounced into him rougher than the last time.
“God..fuck you’re gorgeous..” damon sighed as he tilted his head back slightly, barely aware of the rambles he was letting out. They both clearly had forgotten that they were “sworn enemies”.
Damon bit his lower lip as he felt liam’s teeth really dig into his shoulder, he would be lying if he said he didn’t like it.
Liam then moved his hands that was on damon’s other shoulder (the one he wasn’t biting) and moved it to his prick, wanting- no, needing more. He stroked his cock as a faster pace than that damon was following.
“Oh god- i’m gonna..” liam mumbled against damon’s shoulder. Damons eyes immediately went to liam. He sure thought that was quicker than expected. He then took liam’s hand off of his prick and pinned it down on the table, damon’s hand on top of liam’s. His other arm still holding liam up behind his back.
“You think you can come on just me? Think you can do that, liam?” Damon teased, liam fully opened his eyes, looking back at damon as he moved his head from damon’s shoulder and into damon’s face, kissing him hungrily.
“P-p-please~..please damon-nnn~..” liam whined against damon’s lips, which made damon’s jaw drop.
He sped up inside liam, feeling himself get closer too now. Liam shrieked and bit hard onto damon’s shoulder again, and damon moaned at the feeling of liam’s teeth digging into his shoulder.
“Fuckin’ beautifull- you sound gorgeous.” Damon rambled, out of breath, as his thrusts grew rigorous, his hips beginning to stutter a bit.
“Fuck!” Liam yelled out as he had latched off of damon, wanting to take a breath of air, but having timed it wrongly. damon quickly snapped his hand off of Liam’s and onto liam’s mouth.
“S-shutup!” He quickly reminded liam as he kept thrusting, closing his eyes as he reached his peak. Liam moaned and whined and thrashed under damon’s hand, his tongue touching damon’s palm.
Liam’s body shook as he came, feeling damon’s warm cum fill him, the pretty consistent praise damon gave him and the hand on top of his mouth, it was all too much.
Damon came as he felt liam tense around him, his head falling forward, his forehead against liam, damon’s hand the only thing between their lips. His hips slowly stilled as he caught his breath, still coming down.
“Fuck yeah..f-fuck- mmm~” liam rambled muffled as he came down from his high, his hips still bucking a little.
A minute after they were still like that, except it was quiet now, their breathing finally evened out, and damon now took his hand off of liam’s mouth, crashing their lips together. They kissed for a moment before pulling back.
Damon pulled his now limp cock out of liam, and liam whined a little as he felt the change. Damon stepped back, his hands now off of liam. Liam’s back felt onto the table and he let his legs drop down the table edge as well, completely spilled, his cum slowly dripping down the side of his stomach.
Damon quickly looked around the room for paper towels, and luckily there was a roll on a shelf. The convenience of a storage closet, am i right? He grabbed the roll and tore off a few sheets, moving to liam, standing next to him now, beside the table.
He wiped the cum from liam’s stomach, liam wincing slightly at the touch, but he appreciated it. Liam smiled up at damon, and damon smiled back.
“You did great..” damon whispered and gave liam a kiss on his cheek. Liam smiled warmly.
“Thanks..’s not so bad after all i guess..” liam commented, still a bit dazed.
Damon chuckled slightly at that comment, as he turned his back and threw the paper towels in a trashcan. “After all? What? You thought i was gonna be bad or something?” Damon retorted jokingly.
Liam then froze, he forgot he hadn’t told damon this was his first time. Damon turned back around and saw liam’s sudden expression.
“What?” Damon quickly asked and walked up to liam again. Liam moved to sit upright on the table.
“no ‘s not- not that big a deal, don’t worry..” liam quickly shrugged it off and then stood up, hissing slightly as he felt the aftereffects in his legs. Still he persisted and walked over to where his boxers had been thrown, picking them up.
Damon trailed after him. “Tell me, did i hurt you? Did you not like it?” Damon kept asking. He grabbed liam’s shoulder and turned him around to face him. “Say it” damon said soft but firm.
Liam hesitated for a second before blurting it out, looking into damon’s eyes.
“This was my first time- not like- ever but, with a man..” he said and then quickly shoved his underwear on, ignoring the feeling of damon’s cum still sliding around, leaking even.
Damon’s eyebrows furrowed and his jaw dropped. “And you didn’t think to tell me?!” He said, whispering but still sounding very upset now.
Liam turned away, walking towards his shirt and pants. “Well i was fine anyway, so what’s the point?” He mumbled as he dressed himself up again.
Damon just stood there, still at the spot he first followed liam to.
“That info’s important! That- oh my god that’s why you looked scared! I thought you had done this before liam!” He said, clearly not happy with liam.
Liam sighed and shook his head, then pulled his shirt over his head and turned towards damon. “Doesn’t matter now does it? We’ll pretend like this never happened anyways..” liam that, immediately crawling back into his nonchalant, i don’t give a fuck attitude again.
Damon scoffed and crossed his arms. “You really are actually a dick..” he mumbled, looking at liam for a moment before turning around, picking up his clothes as well now and dressing himself up again.
Liam furrowed his eyebrow’s slightly, somehow hurt by that comment. He then sighed and turned towards the door, moving the broom back to lean against the shelves, unlocking the door. After a moment of silence between them, liam looked at damon, everything but his shirt on.
“See you, yeah?” He said, softer now. Damon quickly pulled his shirt over his head, looking at liam. He sighed through his nose.
“Yeah, alright..” he responded, sounding upset and defeated. And with that, liam opened the door and quickly closed it behind him, leaving damon alone in the storage room to contemplate for a moment, since walking out at the same time would’ve been suspicious.
