Page 25 of If Tomorrow Never Comes

I’mnice and snuggly in Liam’s oversized clothes. They smell like him—cedarwoodand lavender. I inhale deeply, my eyes practically rolling to the back of my head at how intoxicating that smell is. He notices and chuckles.

“I did the same thing our first night without you. After destroying half the house in a rage, chain-smoking, and splitting a bottle of whiskey with Killian…I went to our room and grabbed your university sweatshirt you left on the desk chair. Like a goddamn safety blanket, I slept with it that night and every night thereafter—not that I got much sleep.” His eyes are softer now, less guilt and vexation plague them.

Liam tugs me closer by the sweatshirt, planting a gentle kiss on my lips. It’s innocent enough to prove he’s sated—for now—but the undertones of it hold a promise of making up for lost time. The corners of my mouth raise and my cheeks flush with thoughts of just exactlyhowwe will be making up for that lost time.

“That smile looks so fucking lovely on you, Madison. I’ll do anything just to keep it there.” A delectable smile of his own creeps onto his face. He wraps his burly arms around me and holds me tight against his chest.This is home.

“You have two options, baby. Sleep or grab some dessert and see what everyone else is up to.Hmm. Perhaps we can add a third option…dessert in bed…” he trails off, his greedy fingertips sliding down my waist.

I pinch his nose between my fingers. “As much as I’dloveto be persuaded into option three…I think we need to see what everyone else is up to first. There are still a lot of plans to be made. Plans that I can help with.”

A moment of trepidation carves his features before he grabs my hand and leads me down the hall to the kitchen.

Aaand there goes our postcoital bliss.

Everyone is talking in hushed tones as we enter the space. All eyes are directed at us as Liam and I make our approach. One particular set of eyes narrow as they graze over me from head to toe, lingering on my hand wrapped around Liam’s. His teeth clench and the muscle in his jaw pulses before Liam speaks.

“I offered her sleep,” he shrugs. “You know Maddy. She wanted to be here.”

“Seems you offered her a lot more than that,”Ocean Eyesspits. “The entire house could hear you two.” His eyes lock with mine, making me feel a moment of guilt.

Wait. Guilt for what? Fucking my boyfriend?

And why should I care? It’s not likeOcean Eyesmeans anything to me. We share a trauma bond.

That’s all.

Killian purses his lips, evidentlybotheredby our loud reunion as well. Selena covers her mouth with her hand, suppressing a giggle. And Declan just stares down into his teacup like it’s telling his goddamnfortune.

Liam’s hand squeezes mine possessively, a low growl rumbles in his chest. “We’re just getting started,” he clucks his tongue. “Perhaps it’s time for you to fuck off to your yacht if silence is what you require.”

“I could use a coffee and maybe a little snack,” I cut in,slowing the buildup of testosterone that’s threatening to decimate the entire room.

“And I could use a fucking cigarette,” Liam grumbles. “Want one, love?” He pulls the pack of menthols out of his pocket and wiggles them in my face.

“As tempting as that sounds, I’ll pass. Iseriouslyneed some more caffeine.” The smile I shoot him is meant to be reassuring. “Go, babe. I’m perfectly capable of putting a K-cup into that Keurig over there.” I plant a kiss on his cheek before making my way to the machine.

His eyes dart over to where Diego is sitting and then back to me again. Without another word, he opens the sliding door and slams it shut. All you can see is the silhouette of his large frame and the glow of his cigarette in the night. Declan has kept the lights surrounding the property to a minimum, preventing Liam from being seen.

Killian breezes by me, heading in the same direction as his brother. I’m sure they would like to discuss a few things away from Selena and Diego. My back is turned to them as I load a coffee pod into the machine.

“I need to take a leak,” Declan announces, his chair scraping against the tile. “Selena, I trust that you will keep your brother in check while I’m gone.”

She huffs, “Haven’t you all decided he is no longer a threat?”

“He may not be aphysicalthreat to anyone here…but I see the way he looks at Madison.”

“I’m right here,asshole,” Diego retorts.

Dude, same.

“And that’s where I’ll find you when I get back.Entiendes?” he sneers.

There’s a heated moment of silence. I’m tempted to turn around to diffuse it when I hear Declan’s retreating footsteps followed by Selena whisper-shouting.

“Es suficiente, Diego! Youare the reason everyone is in thissituation in the first place. Even if they understand, it doesn’t mean they forgive you for what happened to Madison. And seriously,hermano, if you know what’s good for you…stop looking at her like that.”

Once again. Right here, Sel.

---