Page 31 of Beautiful Liar

“Ilied. You know everything there is to know about me.”

“And Morgan?”

Who the fuck… Then it dawned on me. Morgan. I gave fucking Morgan my brand.

He poked my forehead. “There it is. Right there.” Then he spun away from me and started walking faster.

I should’ve left his ass alone. I should’ve just let him go. He wasn’t my fucking boyfriend. He was a fucking pain in my ass. But I didn’t know any better. And fuck Dasher. I tried to be nice. That shit didn’t work with Tomás.

I followed as he walked. I was pretty sure Tomás wanted to run. But unless he planned on tossing his bookbag, he wouldn’t be able to run from me. We didn’t need this kind of attention. Not here with Luca around. The astute motherfucker would see right through me. I never chased anything that wasn’t a kill.

We made it to the house and because the gods hated me, Morgan was there. Bags on the floor in the foyer. He looked up at Tomás with panic in his eyes.

“Where the fuck are you going?” Tomás asked.

“Arcas,” Morgan said, watching me carefully and stretching the answer.

“Perfect,” Tomás whispered and took off up the stairs.

“Wait at Arcas,” I ordered Morgan who was happy to get the fuck out. I locked the door behind him and followed my prey.

Tomás had dropped his bag outside his bedroom door, and I did the same with the notebook. He stood as far away as he could while still being inside the room, arms crossed in front of him, probably to keep from swinging at me.

“You branded Morgan.”

“Morgan is an acolyte. He wears all of our brands, or did he not show you those.”

Tomás opened and closed his mouth. “Bullshit.”

Fuck me if Tomás jealous wasn’t giving me a boner. I hadn’t realized this side of him turned me on. But I had to put him in his place. Quick. Because running wasn’t an option for him. And he had to learn. “Are you jealous?”

“Are you fucking him?”

“No.”

“Why did you come back?”

Fuck. Of course Tomás would ask. “I came to keep you safe.”

“How does branding Morgan keep me safe?”

I pressed my lips together. “Morgan knows Jack had something that could ruin the families. He lied during his interrogation, was afraid, and asked for my protection.”

“And you gave it to him, just like that. Out of the kindness of your heart.”

I started toward him. “I can be nice when I have motivation.”

“And what motivation did Morgan give you?”

I stood just inches from Tomás. There was a touch of fear in his eyes that I’d never seen before. I knew he always doubted my feelings for him. I didn’t blame him. Mine were all over the place. But I didn’t know how to fix whatever kept pushing us apart. I narrowed the remaining gap. He didn’t cower, he didn’tflinch. He stood his ground. I could never hurt him physically, though I’d already made trash of his heart. He lowered his hands to his sides. His pupils blown. Lust replaced fear as I crowded his space, my thigh pressed between his legs, digging into his thickening cock.

“You should go,” he breathed.

“Are you sure you want me to leave?”

“This isn’t right.”

“Why can’t this be right?” I cupped his throat and squeezed, feeling his cock like a prod against my thigh. “This feels fucking right to me.”

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