Page 78 of Torched

“A good night’s sleep, or a good night’s fuck?”

“Hmm, definitely both.”

Liam places an open-mouthed kiss in the crook of my neck that makes my toes curl. “I’m glad you feel good, baby.”

“You know what makes me feel even better?”

“Tell me.”

“Breakfast on the beach.”

Liam exhales heavily. “I like this whole new attitude, but we don’t have time for a date today, baby.”

I spin in his arms, showing him a fierce expression with a hint of mocking. “I know that, smartass—”

“Who are you calling smartass?” He starts to tickle me, and I scramble myself out of the bed with a playful screech to escape his grasp.

“Stop!” I hold a finger up while he tries to launch for me. “Stop, Liam!” I chuckle. He holds still, though there is a haunt in his gaze that wakes my pussy up from her nightly slumber. “What I was gonna say… I want you to take me out for breakfasttomorrow. This ends today. Do you hear me?”

He cocks an eyebrow at my commanding tone.

“We’re going to see Loranne, get that diamond, get Babushka, and then you and I are having a holiday on this tropical island.” I plant my hands on my hips.

“Scratch that, Ilovethis whole new attitude.” He jumps out of bed, and I take a step back just to watch the lust in his eyes a little while longer before he reaches me and snakes his arms around my waist.

“I mean it, though. This endstoday. And then we will start our lives together.”

“Sounds like a plan, baby.”

We’re sitting on the terrace in the center of South Reef Bay. The wind gushes through every section of the colorful restaurant that’s nothing more than an open floor plan at the end of the dock, only supported by beams when the floor-to-ceiling shutters are up and they’re open for business. I’m nursing an early cocktail with my sunglasses firmly on my nose, my eyes shut behind them. It’s only eleven in the morning, but I need something to make me tolerate Cristina for a little while longer. The sun warms my cheeks, and I suck in a deep breath, taking in the scents that are making their way to me all the way from the kitchen. I smell some bacon, a little bit of beef, and the delicious aroma of garlic. Everything has my stomach roaring like a dino baby, thinking about the fact that I had to settle with some leftover Pop-tarts I found in the empty cabinets.

“I’m hungry.” I pout, popping my eyes open to look at Liam.

He’s looking sexy as hell in his navy t-shirt, his hair still messy and shining underneath the flickering of the sun. I can feel his eyes finding mine from underneath his sunglasses while a boyish grin lifts the corner of his mouth.

“You’re always hungry.”

This is true.

Liam leans over the table, lowering his head to get closer to me.

“I’ll feed you when we get home, baby.” He smirks with a sultry voice, then leans back against his plastic chair. “And myself.”

The suggestion in his tone makes my organs flutter, and I snap my mouth shut to prevent myself from drooling. I keep my lips firmly planted together, but really, I feel content staring at the perfect setting in front of me. South Reef Bay Liam, the sun gracing my skin. It’s almost paradise.

“I’m surprised Callie didn’t want to come. She’s not the kind of girl that would skip an adventure.”

Almost.

I roll my eyes at Cristina. “She probably didn’t want to look at your deceitful face.”

Just count on this chick to kill the mood, though I do feel different. I’d still like to see her swim with sharks while her foot is cut off, but she will not be able to wipe this grin off my cheeks today. Or ever again.

“Seems like a plausible reason,” Liam chimes in.

Cristina moves her glaring eyes back and forth between the two of us, the corner of her lip raised in a snarl. “Aren’t you two chipper this morning, tag-teaming and all? You know I don’t have to be the enemy, right?”

“Yeah, you do.” I chuckle. “I mean, you got the looks for it. Dark hair. Dark eyes. Shit style.” I let my eyes roam over her black jeans and a trashy halter top that seems to barely hold her boobs together. “A mouth that only produces bullshit. You really fit the entire description.”

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