Page 8 of Vows of Ruin

Still, I break the silence, my voice low and a little hoarse. “So… will we always end up ruining each other in the best way possible?”

His laugh rumbles under my ear, and I feel it more than I hear it. “Only on nights that end in mutual destruction,” he teases.

I grin, eyes drifting shut. “Then I hope we destroy each other a lot.”

He shifts, just enough to tighten his arm around me. “I’ve wanted this for so long, Little Warrior. You have no idea.”

“You should’ve said something,” I murmur, tilting my face up toward him.

“I did. With my tongue.”

A surprised laugh bursts out of me, muffled by his chest. “You’re such an idiot.”

“An idiot who loves you.”

That softens me completely. I press a kiss just over his heart. “You’re still an idiot.”

His fingers stroke my back in slow, absentminded lines. “Margot is going to have things to say when she sees you tomorrow.”

“Why? Am I glowing with post-orgasmic bliss?”

“Absolutely. And walking funny.”

“Liam!”

He chuckles again, and I hide my face in his chest, equal parts mortified and amused.

The silence stretches again, comfortable and full. Eventually, his breathing evens out, mine follows. Sleep tugs at me like a tide, warm and content. I don’t fight it.

The mattress dips, a shift I feel before I even open my eyes. Muscles I didn’t know could be sore stretch deliciously as I roll onto my back, groaning quietly. Every ache is a memory from last night.

My lips tug into a sleepy smile. “Where are you going?” I mumble, eyes still closed.

His voice is rough and quiet. “Starting coffee.”

I crack one eye open. He’s standing at the edge of the bed, joggers low on his hips, hair a mess, tattoos deliciously on display. My heart does a weird little stutter.

“You’re beautiful,” I mutter.

He huffs a soft laugh. “I’m not the one glowing, remember?”

I giggle and stretch again, shameless. “Okay, I’m going to shower. I’ll meet you downstairs.”

He kneels on the bed, leaning in until his mouth brushes mine in a kiss that’s deep and unhurried, full of everything he didn’t say last night.

When he finally pulls back, his lips hover over mine. “Don’t take too long.”

“I won’t,” I whisper.

He gives me one last look before straightening up and heading for the door. Even with the soreness in my thighs and the hunger in my stomach, all I can think about is how quickly I can get through that shower to be next to him again.

The hot water hits my back in perfect cascading streams, steam curling around me like a lazy lover. My eyes are closed, head tilted up into the spray, a soft smile tugging at my lips as the ache between my thighs throbs in the most satisfying way.

Last night was…

Nope. Thinking about it too hard will have me crawling back into bed instead of facing the day. I lather shampoo into my hair, humming softly, when the shower door suddenly whips open.

“Jesus Christ!” I let out a sharp scream, slipping just slightly before catching myself on the tile wall. “Margot!”