Page 68 of Dual Surrender

“Be good when you’re gone,” I said. “Just because I’m not there doesn’t mean I’m not with you always.”

His stare flickered down to his hand, resting palm up on his thigh.

“Yes, Ronan.”

“I know Colton doesn’t like me. Try not to argue with him.”

“Yes, Ronan.”

“And no getting off.”

His head snapped up, eyes wide. “What?”

“No getting off while you’re in Colorado unless I say.”

Kevin’s chest heaved and he sucked in breath after breath before he finally answered me, “Yes, Ronan.”

“I love when you agree to things you hate.”

He swallowed.

“Now kiss me, and get out of here so you don’t miss your flight.”

Kevin pushed off the ground, tackling me back onto the bed. He cradled my face in his hands. The metal band of the ring, already warmed by his skin, felt familiar against my face, like it had been there all along. His mouth pressed against mine as soft as a question until I parted my lips and gave him the answer.

I kissed Kevin until he was hard, then pulled his hand to my mouth and once again kissed the ring with all the reverence it deserved. That ring on his finger was a gift to me, and I hoped he knew it. I would make sure of it. Once he was back from Colorado. Once things were settled and back on track.

“I love you.”

“I love you,” he whispered back, untangling himself from my arms and standing up. His cock tented the front of his pants and we both looked down at it, his expression much more hopeful than mine.

“I’ll see you soon,” I said, and Kevin groaned, running his palm down the length of his hardness.

“You can touch yourself, Kevin. You just can’t come.”

He repeated the motion and huffed.

“Let me know before you take off, and let me know once you land.”

“Yes, Ronan,” he agreed, his body wavering.

He didn’t want to go. And what good was I? I didn’t want him to go either, but it was better for all of us if he was someplace safe. I didn’t want to worry about something happening to him while I was worried about something happening to me too. And hopefully Foster would reappear before too many more days had passed, and hopefully he would come with news that whatever the threat was, it was no more.

Or better yet, maybe Sage would stick to his word. Maybe he would figure it out. I didn’t know much about him, but Foster seemed to like him enough, and I hoped that meant he was a man of honor. At least as much as he could be.

“Kevin, go,” I finally said. “It’s not going to get easier.”

He dragged his tongue across the front of his teeth and took a step toward the door.

“Kevin.”

“Yes, Ronan.” He nodded and turned.

I listened to his suitcase wheel down the hall, the clatter of his keys and phone as he gathered his personal effects, the deadbolt disengaging, the door opening, then closing.

And then deafening silence.

It was Thursday, and Kevin was gone.