Page 105 of Broken Promises

“Your lack of concern for condoms is freaking me out, and I’m considering spanking you for it. I don’t want to be a dick, but you know the consequences. I don’t want to be the reason you’re crying in a hospital bed again,” he said seriously, making me wince. “I’m saying this because I love you more than I love my dick. I was angry that day, but I was freaked out that I couldn’t fix it for you. This is me making sure you don’t go through that again.”

“If it wasn’t for the car?—”

“We’re not ready for a baby, Raven. No matter how much you wish things had turned out differently,” he said gently, making me blink back tears as the emotions hit me. “Please don’t cry when you’re naked on top of me.”

I laughed, clearing my throat. “You could always fuck me better again.”

“I’m not fucking you if you’re crying,” he said with a small smile, shifting me to move my pussy away from his cock. “And I’m not fucking you without a condom, no matter how much you beg. Assume every time you do, it could knock you up.”

“But I’m on birth control and you guys are clean, right? Most people who date don’t use condoms,” I reminded him.

“Can we discuss this another time? Right now, you’re in a sex-haze. We have things to work through still, and until we’re one hundred percent okay again, it’s not something I’ll budge on,” he explained, sitting up to wrap his arms around me. “Where’s Lavaro and Lopez?”

“They left pretty early. They were looking into Stefano some more with the Thieves,” I sighed, unsure whether to tell him about my own investigation on Josh’s murder. “Rory’s trying to track down the guy who killed Josh.”

He tensed, stroking his fingers through my tangled hair. “Why?”

“Every day I wait for him to kick the door down again,” I whispered, placing my hands on his bare chest. “I want to know if he’s still around, that’s all.”

“Anything so far?”

“Apparently, most of the wannabe gangs from back then ended up in prison or dead. No news on if he’s alive or not though. I just want to know.”

“Me too,” he answered, wincing as he moved to put both feet on the floor. “I should’ve stuck with physio.”

“Go home and rest,” I insisted, and I hated how he seemed hurt by it.

“You’re kicking me out?”

“I haven’t changed my mind or anything, I just want to talk to the guys about it and possibly figure out some sleeping arrangements. Maybe if we can organize something better, we can all stay together.”

“Promise you’re not freaking out.”

“I promise. No regrets,” I assured him, kissing him before getting to my feet and taking the ice pack back to the kitchen. When I returned, he was tugging his boxers and pants on, my clothes placed on the couch for me.

I got dressed and followed him outside, stopping him before he could walk away from the front door.

“In case I never said it enough, thank you for keeping me alive all these years. As much as we had a shit childhood, it wasn’t so bad because of you.”

His face fell, and he groaned as he scrubbed a hand over his face. “Shit, I forgot to tell you about Frank and Lara.”

“Are they okay?” I asked with worry, my stomach twisting when he winced.

“I had to step in today and get them removed from their house. It was bad, Raven. Lara was sitting in filth all night after their father had broken her arm and hit her. She was bruised, and her cries were so raspy from screaming. Frank was at Clint’s with Viktor all night after being smacked around for defending his sister.”

“You knew all that and didn’t fucking tell me?” I hissed, apology on his face.

“It got heated when I got here, and I let my dick steer the conversation. They’re at the hospital. Rory’s taking them in, they’re not being split up. Maybe call Rory tonight to ask about it?”

“I will.” I turned to head back into the house to find my phone, but Reid grabbed my elbow to pull me back for a scorching kiss, his hand cupping my face affectionately.

“I love you.”

He said it so sweetly, my heart beating faster and my cheeks warming.

“I love you too.”

He kissed me again before fishing his keys from his pocket and walking to his car, and he shooed me inside so he knew I was locked in there safely.

---