Free Vengeful Love: Black Diamonds by Laura Carter

saw before tonight.”
    “What happened to your father?”
    “He was convicted of sexual assault. He was sentenced. Then Lawrence was on the scene.”
    I raise my eyebrows.
    He shrugs. “I’ve never asked. It doesn’t matter anymore and I’ll always be grateful to him.”
    “That’s when he brought you to England?”
    “Ja. He’s a good man. He loves my mother. Those are the only things I care about now.”
    I slowly draw a deep breath.
    “Heard enough?” he asks with a short, troubled laugh.
    “I think maybe for one night.”
    He takes my wine glass from me. “You’ve got work tomorrow. I’d still like you to stay...in your own room...if you want. I’d like to wake up in the same place as you.”
    I nod, biting my lip nervously, unsure whether I should stay but not wanting to leave.
    He lifts his fingertips to my temple and I close my eyes under his gentle touch. “Until tomorrow then.” He bends and I gasp as his soft lips press against my cheek.
    “Tomorrow,” I manage.

Chapter Six
    So many things make sense now that didn’t before. His violent overprotectiveness with me and with Williams’s sister. His explosive reaction to my old boss, Jack, who cornered me but never outright touched me. Gregory went out of his way to dig into Jack’s past and make sure he was put behind bars, where he couldn’t hurt women anymore. How he nearly lost his mind when I fell asleep in my office and didn’t call. That he was genuinely afraid I would have harmed myself. It seemed ridiculous then but not anymore. His fear of being loved and being in love. All he knew was that people he loved, people who loved him back, got hurt. And he blamed himself.
    There isn’t a clock in my room but I’ve been lying under the gold satin sheets for what feels like forever, a thousand thoughts spinning through my mind. Images of him as a boy. Wishing his own father would kill him and put an end to it all. Tears. Blood.
    If I’d seen those things, if I’d felt the way he must have, I’d wait for the first opportunity I had and I’d kill the bastard who dared to lay a finger on me and the people I love. As I lie here, I’m glad I killed Kevin Pearson.
    Finally, Gregory can be free and truly free. He told me. He let me in. He’s been terrified of letting someone get close to him for twenty years and now...
    What am I doing?
    I slip out of the covers, pull my hair across one shoulder and go where I should have been for the last hour.
    I bend the handle and slowly push open the door to his dark bedroom. The dim light of the moon and the twinkle of Dubai’s lights cast a low glow across the space The satin sheets of his king bed are pushed onto one side, the bed empty. I take a step into the room and notice his silhouette standing in front of the window. His arms folded across his naked chest, dark silk bottoms hanging low on his hips.
    My heart races as I move towards his back. He flinches when I slide my hands down his toned biceps. Then he sighs and unfolds his arms to his sides as my lips brush his shoulders, one then the other.
    God, I’ve missed the feel of his skin on mine.
    I press my chest against his back, my pelvis to his firm arse. With a sharp inhale, he turns, pulling me into him. Even in the dark, I feel his mesmerising stare, connecting with every nerve and every thought in my body. His fingertips stroke my temple, down my cheek, then slide to the back of my neck.
    His breath teases my lips. “Aurora.”
    My stomach flips.
    He presses his mouth to mine and my body melts into his kiss. I lunge forward, greedily taking his lip between my teeth as I groan under the touch I’ve missed so much. His tongue matches the swirling desperation of my own.
    He holds my cheeks as he whispers my name and takes my mouth again. I move my hands over the skin of his bare back then slip my fingers into his hair, pulling him to me.
    “I’ve been dreaming of this for five weeks,” I say.
    “Baby, I’ve thought about you every