Page 126 of Beautiful Revenge

He walks straight to the sofa and sits with me on his lap. This reminds me of our time on the plane, though Devon doesn’t look like he wants to ravish me. He looks like he wants to take a nap.

The back of his head hits the wall, and he closes his eyes, but he never lets go of my hips.

I give him a moment. He looks like he needs one ... or a couple hundred. I take a chance and slide my hands up his pecs and leave them there.

He sighs.

“Devon?” I whisper.

His hands slide around to my ass. “Hmm?”

“Did something bad happen that you didn’t tell me about other than your face?”

It looks like it takes every ounce of energy in his body tolift his head and open his eyes. “Victor Turner is in custody in London. More arrests are happening within Fusion Logic as we speak. Things are moving fast, and the situation is evolving. But it’s done. I didn’t think I’d ever see Turner pay for what I knew he was doing but couldn’t prove when I was MI6. To have it all come back to Hugh...”

I slide a hand up his neck and stroke his jaw with my thumb. His stubble is two days old. It’s sharp and scratchy on my skin, but there’s something about it that I love. It’s real and raw and heightens every emotion.

I lean in and press my lips to the corner of his mouth opposite his cut. “I can’t imagine what you’re going through. I’m sure it brings everything back.”

He pulls me in tighter. My sex fits securely against his cock, and we’re chest to chest. The only thing I see are his troubled blue eyes. “It does but it’s over. And when I say over, I mean really bloody over, baby. Dean was able to question Roman Malloy. He wouldn’t talk until we explained that his boss and boss’s boss are now under arrest. If he wanted any chance at a lesser charge, he needed to spill. As far as I can tell, he told all. He gave up the shooter who was in the mountains that day. He gave every detail about how Albert Humphries contracted Turner to have you killed on your honeymoon. And Albert is in custody in Florida.”

My stomach churns. I press tighter into Devon and rest my head on his shoulder. I can’t get close enough, and I really don’t want to think about Albert.

He rubs my back, up and down, from my neck to my ass as he continues to talk. “All of this happened because you saw that email. It’s fucking insane.”

I close my eyes and try not to think about being anywhere but here in Devon’s arms. “It is.”

“Our paths crossed, baby. Not just once, but twice.”

I nod against his chest. “Yes. It’s fate.”

His arms contract around me.

“I’m sorry, Devon. I’m sorry your friend deceived you, and I’m sorry you’re here instead of darting around the world solving crime the way you wanted to. You don’t deserve to have had your dream ripped away.”

“That’s what I haven’t been able to stop thinking about.I’ve spent the last few years grieving a fake death and a career. But now that I’m here.” His hands drop to my ass and stay there. “I find it hard to be upset the way I used to be.”

I push on his chest far enough to look at him. He doesn’t look tortured. He looks content. “You’re not?”

He shakes his head. “I thought I would be. When I heard Hugh’s voice after all these years, I about came un-fucking-done. For years, I thought losing my career was nothing compared to losing my friend. But when I found out he was alive?”

“You lost your career for nothing. I get it,” I say.

“Maybe. But I’m right here, baby. This doesn’t feel like nothing. And that’s what I need to know from you. What does this feel like?”

I wet my lips before I admit, “It doesn’t feel like nothing. And it doesn’t feel contractual.”

He ignores the nasty cut on his lips and leans in to press his mouth to mine. “There are other, more binding contracts I wouldn’t mind thinking about in the future, but you’re right. This isn’t a distraction, and I’m not willing to stop exploring it. What about you?”

When I answer, it might be a little bit too enthusiastic, but I don’t care. “I want that.”

Every muscle in his body relaxes, and he pulls me to his chest.

I snuggle my face into his neck and keep talking. “I sent off my DNA sample today. I’m sorry to say, I’m not drama free yet.”

His chest shakes with silent laughter. “That’s one drama I can handle.”

I turn my head to press my lips to his skin. “At least that’s one of us.”