Page 61

"I can't imagine the pain you're in," he says huskily, his hand caressing my head, comforting me on a level I hardly even understand. It goes beyond just physical.
"I'm better now that I'm with you," I say gently. "I can't believe how good this feels, Luke, just lying here with you. There's a whole country separating me from Damien, from them." I squeeze my eyes tight when tears brim, fighting them back.
"It's okay," he whispers.
"I don't want to cry again," I say glumly.
"I'm here if you need to."
"I've been alone for so long," I mutter. "When I was a kid, I was always alone. I never felt like Mom and Dad loved or cared about me... then I found Ellie, and later, Graham. Am I an idiot for thinking they were going to be my perfect parental figures?"
"No," he says fiercely. "But people are complex. Graham thought he was doing the right thing by helping Damien... and it got out of hand."
"You sound like you're on their side."
“That’s not it. I just don’t want you to think you can’t forgive them if you’re ever ready for that. The money for her treatment won’t be an issue if you decide you want my help.”
“Thank you for the offer,” I murmur. “But I can’t even think about forgiveness tonight.”
“Of course,” he replies.
“What are you doing tomorrow?” I ask, changing the subject if only slightly. I’m tired of feeling hurt and betrayed.
“The same thing I’ve been doing every day,” he says with a sigh. “I’m sorry, Sera. I wish I could stay with you. I’d like nothing better than to spend all day holding you in my arms, forgetting about everything that’s happened, but I have to work. We’re just about keeping our heads above water… I’ve got more interviews to give.”
“How is the AI stuff going? Have you extricated the code?”
“We’re getting there,” he says. “We need to see how far the damage goes.”
“Do you need help?”
“You’ve been through so much…”
I stare up at him. “Is that really why you don’t want my to help, or is there something else? It’s okay if you’re worried. I work, worked for TechGuard – for Graham.” I probably don’t have a job anymore, not that I want it.
“Hey, listen to me. I believe everything you’ve told me. I haven’t doubted you – and I don’t doubt you – for a single moment. I just don’t want you taking on more than you can handle.”
“Honestly? I think I’d prefer to do something productive rather than sitting around an empty apartment. But I don’t want to put you in an awkward position. Your team might get angry if a TechGuard employee arrives, considering who’s responsible for all this.”
“Butyou’renot responsible,” he points out. “Forget what the team thinks.”
“You could find me a small office, out of the way. I’d rather lose myself in code… rather help to fix the problem, than sit around feeling useless.”
“You could never be useless,” he says passionately. “Even if it’s just to make a grumpy like me smile.”
“Is that a yes?”
He leans down, kissing me. “It’s a hell yes.”
The next day, I sit in a small office on the third floor, out of the way of everyone else. Luke told me I could work with the main team if I wanted, but I’d rather be alone.
I smile when my cellphone goes off.
Luke: Codebreaker sixty-nine.
That’s the safe word we came up with last night to prove it’s really us. We landed on ‘codebreaker’ first, but then we couldn’tthink of a follow-up. When he suggested sixty-nine, I told him we’d have to try it if we were going to use it as a code.
It was amazing, grinding against his face, bent over him with his length in my mouth as I worked my hand up and down his shaft. The hottest part was feeling his need in the movements of his mouth and tongue against my core. The faster I sucked and stroked my hand, the more erratic his movements became as he struggled to contain himself.