Page 51 of Tomorrow's Never Promised

“What’s this for?” She looks down at our bodies touching. Her sweaty breasts are rising and falling in her sports bra.Fuck, this woman is gorgeous. My cock stirs with her in my arms, her seductive scent now mixed with sweat. Her cheeks are stained red from her workout.

“Congratulations on your last day of University, Maddy. I’m so fucking proud of you and the nurse you will become. I mean, I won’t be able to trust anyone else butyouto tend to my wounds from this moment on,” I laugh, tapping her nose.

She picks up on our little game of push and pull and disengages her body from my embrace. I let her, not wanting to push her too hard. Quite frankly, I don’t even know why I am trying to make things better between us. She’s notmine. I just have a hard time being anything but absolutely batshit crazy for her. It comes naturally, this pull she has on me. I tried, I really did, to keep my distance and to be respectful, but it’s becoming harder and harder. Especially when I see how sad she is. All I want to do is hold her, comfort her, andloveher.

That’s all I’ve ever wanted since the day we met. To give Madison everything she deserves. To provide her a safe place to come home to. To protect her in my arms when all the energy she exerts on everyone around her is depleted.Because that’s Madison. Always caring for everyone else until she is exhausted. And she’ll never stop. That’s her.That’s my girl. But who’s there to replenish her?It should be me, damn it. It should be me.

Madison places a straw in her plastic cup and turns to me. “Thank you, Liam. I appreciate that.” A genuine smile appears on her face.I would do anything to get it to stay there.

She spins around, about to go to her room for a shower, when I grab her arm. Her eyebrow raises—one of my favorite expressions of hers. It’s a precursor to her sarcasm and fire that I love.

“Ya gotta stop this bullshit, baby.” She pulls her arm away and keeps walking towards the stairs. I capture her again, and she places a hand on my chest, warning me to back off.

“Liam. Stop. I’m fine, and we shouldn’t be doing this.”

I tilt my head. “What?Talking?”

A small smile appears on her face before it hardens with disapproval. Her luscious lips wrap around the straw of her drink. This woman knows exactly how to drive me mad. She knows how her actions affect me. She's saying one thing but doing another. Her heart and mind are at war with one another.

“Classes are over. You are officially done with school. All you do is mope around here, a shell of a woman you used to be. It’s because ofhim. I know that. I get it. But you need to shake it off, Maddy. There is so much to celebrate and be happy about.” I reach a hand out to run my thumb over her cheek, which has a single teardrop dripping over it. “Let me celebrate you tonight.”

She brushes my hand off her face, gently placing it on my side. “Onedrink and acigarette,” she sighs, holding her index finger up. “We can sit by the fire if you want.”

“How about we get out of thisfortressand have a drink and a cigarette in Connecticut? I have to head to the Triskelion for business tonight. We can grab a drink after.”

She sips her tea, buying herself time to answer.

I can see the wheels turning. She’s contemplating.

“Okay.”

“Okay,” I say definitively.

“What time do I need to be ready?”

“Colin and Kieran are going to be driving us. I’ll come get you from your room at eight.”

I leave her with her thoughts, walking to the patio for a smoke.

* * *

I knock twiceon her door and push my hands into the pockets of my black dress pants. The door swings open, and my jaw drops with an inaudible gasp.She is stunning.

A tight black, strapless, leather dress clings to her sexy curves. She has thigh-high black boots on and her favorite studded leather jacket. Her makeup is dark and sultry, emphasizing those dark chocolate eyes. The biggest shock of all—her hair is pin straight anddyed black.

She’s making a statement, and you’d be blind not to notice.Damn. My hands itch to reach out and pull her to me. I ball them into fists in my pockets.

“You look absolutely stunning, love.”

A shy smile creeps across her face as she steps into the hallway, closing her door behind her. What she does next surprises me.She hugs me.Her arms circle around my body, through my open sports jacket, and she lays her head on my chest.

“Thank you.” Her body relaxes against mine.

I wrap my arms around her small frame and rest my cheek on her head. She sighs and drags her hands back in retreat but stops over my gun in its holster—her eyes widen. “What the hell, Liam?”

I laugh at her innocence. “Sweetheart, Ialwayshave one with me. You just haven’t ever seen it on my body. It’s to keep us safe tonight—if we should need it. You’ll be protected, I promise you.” I clasp her face in my hands, forcing her to look at me. “Just try and have a good time, will ya?”

She nods, and I place my hand on her back, guiding her to the elevator.

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