Page 77 of Inheriting Miss Fortune

“For what? Jesus, Dev. Today was fucking rough. I’m amazed you held it in this long.” I could hear the clog in my own throat as I tried to stay strong for him and failed. Tears stung my eyes. “I’m the one who’s sorry.”

He pulled back a little and met my eyes. His were red-rimmed and wet, his lashes dark and spiky. “What for?”

“For the bad hand you were dealt by your parents. You deserve better. I mean… I understand their grief and that losscan have devastating effects on people, but you deserve parents who love you unconditionally.”

“We all do,” he murmured. “That’s just not reality.”

He leaned in to kiss me. It wasn’t sexy and provoking but loving… comfort-seeking. We kissed for a long time, simply holding each other in the middle of the room. Finally, Dev pulled away again. “Thank you for being there. Not just for Lellie… I can never thank you enough for that… but for me. For supporting me and just… for being there.”

Where you go, I will follow.

My mother had taken advantage of the childcare program at our local church when I was growing up, and I remembered a colorful Bible verse on the wall. Little cardboard sheep pranced around the quote in a way that frequently drew my eye. It wasn’t until much later in my life that I’d learned it was Ruth speaking to Naomi, one woman offering fierce, unconditional love to another, that was behind the simple words.

Where you go, I will follow.

I felt the words in my stomach. In my solar plexus. Down to the soles of my feet. For the first time in my life, I understood the desperate need to attach myself to someone, forsaking all others.

It was shocking, this realization. Because there was so much I still didn’t know about Dev. How could I feel this soul-deep need to be with him, to comfort and love him, when I’d barely scratched the surface of knowing him?

“Dev,” I breathed against his mouth. Emotion clogged my throat again, leaving my words shaky and unsure, exactly the same way I was feeling. “You deserve to be loved. You… I… I…”

I couldn’t say it. I couldn’t risk scaring him off this soon with words he couldn’t possibly be ready to hear. His life was a jumbled mess, and there was already way too much pressure on him from other directions. I didn’t dare add to it by giving him one more monumental thing to deal with right now.

“I’m glad you have your friends, too,” I finished lamely.

But there was something knowing in Dev’s eyes. Something soft and accepting, affectionate and sweet. But he was also exhausted. I could see the effort it was taking him to remain standing.

“You should lie down,” I said, pulling back a little. “Rest before the beast emerges from her cave and wreaks havoc over our evening.”

“We’re screwed, aren’t we?” Dev smiled, but I could see the reminder of Lellie’s sleep situation had tired him out even more.

“Remember the day I arrived? That was a late-day nap…” I leaned in to peck him on the cheek before whispering in his ear. “But this time, I promise I won’t pretend to sleep.”

He grabbed the back of my head to keep me from pulling away and turned his face to kiss me hard on the mouth. “I knew you weren’t asleep, but I’m glad you kept your eyes closed so you didn’t see me staring at the bulge in your shorts.”

I walked him closer to the bed and nudged him down on it before following him and pressing him into the mattress. His arms came around me and held me firmly against him. I could feel the length of his hardening cock against mine and arched into him.

“I want you,” I murmured against the skin of his neck. “But you need to sleep.”

Dev’s hands made their way into my hair. “Sleep with me.”

Just the words made my dick harder. “Pfft. That’s the best way to guarantee neither of us will sleep.”

“Fuck me, then.”

I wanted to. Desperately. But I knew we would be interrupted. “After we get Lellie to bed tonight,” I promised.

He rolled his eyes. “At 3:00 a.m.?”

“At 3:00 a.m.” I grinned at him before kissing him long and hard on the lips. “And not a minute sooner.”

I forced myself off him, reached out to give his cock a nice firm stroke over his pants, and groaned before walking out of the room.

After taking a moment to calm down, I made my way back downstairs in time to hear a familiar voice in the kitchen.

“Renata,” I said with a big grin when I saw Lellie’s beloved nanny. She came over and gave me a tight hug. Her dark hair was in oversized Bantu knots, and her giant gold earrings pressed coolly against my warm skin. I was overwhelmed with nostalgia and loss, wishing Katie was here with us.

“I saw activity over here and got excited. Hope it’s okay I came unannounced. Mom and Dad sent dinner.”

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