Page 98 of Ruthless Savage

“It’s okay,” I whisper, slipping off my mask and dropping it at my feet. “I was going to do this anyway. It’s better that it’s with you.”

My limbs tremble, and I fight to keep a brave face.

“I’m gonna do everything I can to shield you from the crowd. I promise.” His knuckles dust over my cheek so tenderly, tears ache behind my eyes.

The room remains silent, and when I glance at the audience behind him, I find Konstantin sitting front and center. His arms are crossed over his well-built chest, his expression cunning as his eyes land on us.

Devlin drags me to the sofa, and I lower onto it, moving the box of condoms to the corner.

With a strain of his breath, his hands go to the mask, and he finally rips it off. And once I’m able to look into his eyes, tears fill mine.

I’ve waited for this moment for years, and now it’s ruined.

“Don’t cry, love. Your tears are enough to kill me.” He tosses the mask onto the floor, his thumbs gently swiping under my eyes.

I nod as his lips fall to my forehead, remaining there, causing me to cry silently even more.

“You don’t know how sorry I am.” He holds my face between his palms. “But we don’t have another option. He will kill us both.”

“I know that. It’s okay, Devlin.”

He closes his eyes for a moment, kissing me on the forehead one last time before he pushes my body down and settles his large one over it. My legs instinctively circle his hips.

“This is not how your first time should be, mo stoirín.”

My heart skips a beat.

He drags his knuckles across my jaw, dropping his mouth so close to mine, I can almost feel it. “But I promise to make it special for you. And I swear I won’t let any of those bastards see an inch of you.”

I nod, unable to fight my emotions, fight the tears, the humiliation of it all. Yet in my despair, there’s some semblance of joy because I’m with Devlin, the man I’ve loved since forever.

He rips open the box of condoms and removes one, handing it to me while he reaches between our bodies and undoes his belt, his eyes never leaving mine.

“I don’t deserve this,” he whispers, groaning before he kisses me, like he can’t stand the thought of not doing it.

Sharp palpitations grow in my chest. This is happening. This is finally happening.

“I don’t deserve you.” Raw emotions embed into the depths of his gaze. “I never have and I never will. And I’ll always be sorry I’m taking this away from you. That you’re not willingly giving it to me.”

I shake my head, the back of my nose stinging as I place a hand over the stubble riding across his cheek.

“Don’t you get it, Devlin?” My words are hushed, hoping that this conversation is solely between us. “You’re the one I’ve always wanted to give myself to. I’ve hoped for this moment for so long, and now that it’s here, I don’t care how we got here. I just see you.”

I push my mouth up to his, and I’m the one kissing him. And he lets me, staying still as I do, like he wants to feel it.

“You were always the one for me, Devlin McHale.”

A low and approving growl vibrates against my mouth as he kisses me so hungrily, so full of passion and want, that I forget where we are. I forget what I did to get us there. All I know and want and feel is this man, the sensation of his touch, the embers that burn when we shine brightly together.

And in the end, isn’t that what matters? Isn’t that what people dream their whole lives to feel just once? And here I am, feeling it all.

He pitches back, heaving and breathless, his gaze a liquid pool of desire, of need, of unspoken longing. He’s wanted this as much as I have.

“I’m scared,” I confess on a throaty whisper.

“I know you are.” He drops his lips to my forehead and drags a deep breath. “Don’t be. You’re always safe with me.”

“I know that,” I breathe. “I’ve always known that.”

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