Page 43 of A Promise For Tomorrow

Screaming my ecstasy into his mouth.

“Mariposita…” he sighs.

“Mariposita…”Soft, minty lips brush against mine as the feeling of his fingers register around my neck. It’s not rough. He’s ever so gentle, just enough to stir me from sleep. I open my eyes to find Diego sitting at the edge of the bed.

“Diego? What…” I look around the room in a daze. Sweat beads on my chest under my sweatshirt. I’m in Liam’s guest room bed. No one is here but the two of us. A veryclothedDiego is looking down at me with a mixture of amusement and anger. Those ocean eyes of his have me wanting to pick up right where I left off in that dream.

A dream.

Fuck. Was any of it real? What Liam said to me. He was here, I could have sworn he was here.

Knuckles caress my cheek as his gaze drops down to my busted lip and then my neck. The muscle in his jaw pulses, taking in the bruising that has started to bloom there.

“He’s going to wish Liam ended his pathetic life once I get started on him. But first… care to tell me what you were just dreaming of?” His lips twitch and heat flares in my cheeks.

“I… uhh…was I talking?” I stammer, full of embarrassment.

“I wouldn’t say you were talking…more like moaning and some names were mentioned.” Lust coats his words, making them come out raspy. Warm fingers graze the hem of my sweatpants where the sheet sits. His thumb paints invisible circles over my exposed skin.

“Is that something you would want? The both of us at once?” His voice is like gravel, rough and full of curiosity.

“I’m… I’m not sure. I think maybe it’s just the idea of it that turns me on.”

“I may be one kinky son of a bitch, but I don’t share. For you, I would be willing to make an exception. If that’s something you would want to explore.”

He stands, throwing the sheet off me, and extends a hand.

“But first, I need you to see this, see me—The Bone Breaker.You’ll witness the worst parts of me. That way, when you decide, you will know who truly lurks under this skin.”

I place my hand in his and slip on a pair of Liam’s slides.I’m not afraid of him.We head in the direction of the backyard, I’m assuming to the shed Liam had mentioned.

“Why didn’t you answer your phone? I called you a few times. Liam rang me earlier to tell me what happened and that he needed help interrogating. I was done with my assignment early.Thank fuck for that.Had the jet ready to take me right to Connecticut.”

“My purse is back at the club. I must have dropped it during the commotion,” I rasp, my voice groggy from sleep.

“Ahh. Speaking of… I heard you took that motherfucker down, knocked his lights out.” A smile is spread across his face, revealing his straight white teeth and adorable dimple. “I’m fucking proud of you,Mariposita. So fucking proud, baby. I’m sorry you got hurt. I absolutely hate seeing you like this. But trust me, theywillpay. You’ll see that,” he snarls.

It’s a promise. Without a shadow of a doubt, he’ll be serving his own version of justice.

We walk hand in hand through the woods at the back of Liam’s property. The sun is rising, the first set of rays are starting to peek through the trees.

“Thank you,Ocean Eyes.I’ll be alright. It’s only a few stitches,” I say, attempting to pacify him by downplaying my injuries.

“It’s five. And your neck? Does it hurt? I’m sure it brought back some unpleasant memories.”

“It did—briefly—but then I remembered what you told me. To not let my fears control me by spiraling out of control. This wasn’t Geraldo. I wasn’t back in that cell.”

His arm tightens around my waist as he kisses my temple. “It’s okay to have felt that way. That doesn’t make you weak, baby. I just wish I was here. Coming down from an adrenaline spike is rough. You feeling okay now?” he asks, rubbing his palm up and down my arm.

“Yeah. I actually feel much better.”

“You’re welcome,” he teases smugly.

I elbow him in the ribs. “Cocky, bastard.”

A deep laugh echoes through the woods as we approach the opening to a field. A decent sized shed sits there. It’s more like an old stable than a shed. Conor and Ryan are guarding the front. Liam is sitting by the door in a folding chair. Blood is caked all over his fingers as he sits there smoking a cigarette. His head snaps up at our approach.

“Why is she here, Diego?” he snarls.

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