Page 90 of Unbroken

Rather than overthink it, I told him everything. I told him about Nick Hammond’s death. And that the police had reason to believe he wasn’t the main perpetrator.

“We’re going to find him,” he promised. “We will find him.”

I didn’t realize I was crying until Devon brushed away a stray tear. I looked up from where I was staring at the sheet beneath me, and he urged me closer. When I was on my knees in front of him, he gripped my hips and guided me until I was straddling his lap. Face-to-face, there was no hiding the sympathy etched in his features. It was in the deep line between his brows and the hard set of his mouth.

I pressed my thumb against that line between his eyebrows and traced the perimeter of his face with my fingertips. His eyes slowly closed, and I let my touch softly memorize the smooth skin of his forehead and the curve of his cheekbones. I caressed the sharp jawline hidden behind his short beard and counted every single freckle on his face before I traced his lips.

Full lips that were pillowy soft against my own.

“I wasn’t lying before when I said I am here for the good and the bad days, Blake. But I never want to see you like that again. That distant look in your eyes…” His words trailed off, and he shuddered at the memory. He lifted a hand and brushed a thumb over my cheek. “I’m glad to see it’s gone.”

I tilted my head and pressed a kiss to the center of his palm. “I know,” I agreed. “Thank you for coming to my rescue.”

“Anytime, sweetheart. But next time,” he breathed, and I tried not to stiffen. I hoped there wouldn’t be a next time, and like he was reading my mind, he added, “I hope it never happens again, but if it does, what can I do? I felt fucking helpless.”

“You did exactly what I needed. You were patient and sweet…” I swallowed and let my hands trail down his dark blue shirt. “But I can’t promise that I won’t want to isolate myself again, which I know isn’t good for me. I just don’t want my mood to rub off on anyone else. Especially when it’s all feeling heavy, and I can’t imagine carrying it much longer.”

By the time Devon cupped my cheeks, I didn’t know what I was saying anymore. My words had gotten away from me, andmy heart was bleeding out everywhere. Because that was how it felt some days—unimaginably heavy.

“You don’t have to carry it alone, Blake. Even on the hardest days, all you have to do is carry one percent. I have the other ninety-nine, if you can just give me one.”

My eyes bounced between his, and I didn’t know why I was looking for a lack of sincerity because I knew I wouldn’t find it. Never had Devon been so serious, and the weight of his words was a relief.

He wanted this just as badly as I did. The good and the really,reallybad—he didn’t care what it came with. My hands fisted in his shirt, and I choked back a sob that was threatening to break free.

“I–I lo—” Realizing what I was about to say, I bent forward and kissed him soundly. The emotions that surged to the surface were fierce and impossible to ignore. But it wasn’t the right time to voice them. I didn’t want them to be tainted.

So, I let my body speak for me, hoping that Devon could feel and taste the words that had been on the tip of my tongue.

His hands shifted until they were tangled in my slowly drying hair, and he tilted my head. I parted my lips when I felt his tongue sweep across them and moaned into the kiss. Giving myself over completely, I let my body fall on top of his, and even through the thick denim of his jeans, I could feel his erection.

An urgent sense of need made me grind down, and the groan that my movements pulled from him filled the silent room. My hands brushed through his beard and then wrapped around his neck, urging him closer. He came willingly as I continued to rub myself over his jeans-clad length.

God, it was such a tease. I knew what waited for me beneath that fabric, and I was done waiting. My hands dropped to his waist, and I began to fumble with his belt when we both stopped at the sound of the doorbell.

I reared back just enough to see his face. He showed the sameconfusion I felt, and I decided to ignore it. I was so much more interested in what was beneath me than…

The doorbell rang again, followed by urgent knocking and raised voices.

“Who—?” I began to ask when we both came to the realization at the same time. I closed my eyes and rolled off Devon’s lap. “You have very nosy friends,” I said as Devon fisted his hands in his lap and hopped off the other side of the bed. I got a kick out of watching him readjust the very proud problem he was sporting before he looked back up at me.

“They’re your friends, too,” he said, and that simple statement made me smile like a freaking idiot. Theyweremy friends, too.

As they rang the bell again, I walked past him and down the hallway. My neighbors were going to complain if I didn’t let them in quickly.

“Wait,” Devon called as we entered the living room. “Do you want me to get rid of them? If you’re not feeling up for it, I can?—”

I shook my head and pressed a kiss to his lips, effectively cutting him off. “I’ll be okay. If I’m not, I’ll let you know.”

“Okay,” he agreed and waved toward the door.

“We could come up with a code word. So, if one of us brings it up, the other knows it’s time to cut out. Or, in this case, kick everyone out.”

Devon raised his eyebrows. “Do you have one in mind?”

“Warrior,” I said without thinking, and one of those wide, un-Devon-like smiles split his face.

“Hmm, okay,” he hummed as he bent to kiss me. “My little warrior.”

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