Page 111 of Shades of Loyalty
A tear slips down my cheek, and he kisses it away. “You promise?” I whisper.
He presses his forehead to mine. “I swear it on my life.”
And then, before I can process it, he shifts forward, closing the space between us. His lips brush against mine—soft, slow, uncertain.
This kiss is different from the ones before. It’s not rushed, not fueled by lust or frustration or desperation. It’s gentle. Meaningful.
I kiss him back, my fingers slipping into his hair, pulling him closer. He responds by wrapping his arms around me, pulling me onto his lap. My body presses against his, and I can feel his heartbeat, steady and strong.
Our lips move together in a slow, passionate rhythm, like we’re both savoring this moment. Like we’re both realizing that this isn’t just about wanting each other—it’s aboutneedingeach other.
Craving each other’s love, and affection.
His hands roam over my back, tracing slow, lingering patterns. There’s no urgency, no rush. Just warmth. Just the overwhelming yet beautiful feeling of love.
When I finally pull back, breathless, I rest my forehead against his. “I want this,” I whisper. “I want you. Not just for tonight. I need you to know that.”
Daniel’s hands tighten on my waist, his eyes dark with emotion. “I know, pretty. You’ve shown me. It’s time I show you, too.”
He kisses me again—deeper this time, filled with a quiet intensity. His hands slip under my sweater, fingertips trailing over my skin, making me shiver.
And when we finally let go, when our clothes are discarded, when we move together in the firelight, touching and feeling each other, it’s not just sex. It’s something else entirely.
Somethingreal.
Something we both know won’t be so easy to walk away from.
Chapter Forty-two
Daniel
The metal door slams shut behind me as I step into the room Hayden prepared. My gaze lands instantly on the man hanging from the wall, his wrists bound in chains. I don’t know his name. I don’t need to.
All that matters is what he knows about Eduardo.
I take a slow step forward. “So,” I begin, my voice calm, almost casual. “Nice day, isn’t it?”
His eyes go wide with fear, recognition dawning in them. He knows who I am. Good. The raw terror in his expression is like a shot of adrenaline straight to my system.
It’s been a while since I felt this rush—since someone looked at me like I was their worst nightmare.
Fuck,it feels good.
Most importantly, it gives me something I desperately need right now: Control.
“Alright,” I say, closing the space between us. My voice stays calm, unlike my mind. “Give me a name.”
“A name?” His voice trembles. He’s playing dumb.
That’s his first mistake which earns him a slap in his face with my right hand.
I tilt my head, amused. “Don’t act clueless now, asshole. We both know Eduardo was hired to kill me. And you? You’re his closest friend. Now tell me—who sent him?”
The man swallows hard. “I—I don’t remember the name.”
Wrong answer. I slap him once more, this time harder from the left.
If he’d claimed he hasn’t known anything from the start, maybe—just maybe—I would’ve believed him. But admitting he knew something and then pretending he forgot?
