Page 35 of Devoted

She shivers from the chill in the room. How often I felt her tremble in my arms but for entirely different reasons than thecold.

"I'll close that glass door." My voice is heavier, strained with the memories of having her naked in my arms. I walk to the door and stand there for a few seconds, allowing the cool night air in, using it like a cold shower. But it's hardly enough. An ice bath wouldn't do enough to chill my endless desire forher.

Angie returns to the couch and to her blanket. She pulls it around her shoulders. I sit on the opposite end. The story of my childhood is behind us. It's something that I can talk about in short spurts. Then I have to tuck it back into the dead spot where it will lay dormant until something brings it outagain.

"How long will you be here? Are you going back to your job soon?" Iask.

"Like I said, I'm at the mercy of the experts. And yes, I'm being totally sarcastic by using that term. I have to get through this grueling debriefing, then some therapy to see if I'm stable enough to get back towork."

"I'm sorry, Angie." It's time to drop the nickname, I decide suddenly. It only adds to the ache in my chest knowing she'll never be my Sweet Sin again. "Tell them I held you prisoner. Tell them I drugged you mercilessly and forced myself uponyou."

"Except none of that is true. Well maybe the drug part. I don't really give a shit what they think of me, but I have to deal with that reality internally. I knew the drug was addictive and had narcotic qualities the first time I drank it in the champagne. I spent the last three years of my career fighting the drug crisis, but I fell instantly for the nectar's charms. And yours. Although charm might be too fairy tale of a word for it. Dark charms. That's a better way to describeit."

She yawns and curls tighter into her blanket. "Can you ever forgive me for what happened?" Her eyes driftshut.

"Already have, my sweet angel," I say quietly. I tuck the blanket tightly around her. Her nose twitches but she's already soundasleep.

I stare at her for a few more minutes, taking in the sight of her, even though my photographic memory is already filled with permanent images. If I'd been born into a real family and a normal childhood, things would be different. I might even have found a happily ever after with the woman who captured a soul I was sure I'd lost back in that ugly, cramped storageroom.

20

Angie

I'm shakenawake but it takes me a second to clear away thewooziness.

"Ten, hey, it's me. I've been texting all morning." Maddox is standing over the couch looking more angry thanworried.

I push away my blanket cocoon and crack my neck. "I must have fallen asleep out here. What time isit?"

"Nine. I've been texting you like a fucking madman. I was worried something happened to you." His voice is agitated and I can't figure out what the hell I'vedone.

"Shit, lose the attitude. I left my phone in the bedroom so I didn't hear the text. I'm sure you've done thesame."

The tender ache in my head floats the night gently back to me. But the sight of a wine bottle and two glasses jars me wide awake. "Fuck." I mutter as I drop back and curl myself into myblanket.

"Yeah fuck." Maddox rakes his hair back. His shoulders are stretched as tight as I've ever seen as he walks to the glass door. He stares out at thebeach.

"It was Silvana," I say quickly. "He came byto—'

He puts up his hand to stop me without lookingback.

"Silvana had a date with Sheila lastnight."

"Crap," Imutter.

He swings around and lumbers back in long, angry strides. "Besides, Silvana is more of a generic beer type of guy." He picks up the wine bottle and spins it to look at the label. "Looks like the good stuff." He places the bottle down hard enough to shake the two juice glasses. "I'm trying to think of just how many people you know who might be rich enough to polish off really expensive wine just for kicks on a Monday night. And only one comes to mind. Where is he? So help me if you're hiding him,Ten—"

I toss away the blanket and stand up to face him. Unfortunately, eye to eye is not possible because he's a head taller, but I stretch up really tall to give it my best shot. "And what if I am? Just what the hell are you going to do about it? Arrestme?"

"Maybe that's just what you fuckingneed."

"Well, you can cool your jets, big shot. He's nothere."

"Why would you even let him in? Unless maybeyou—"

I shove him hard in the chest and am aggravated at how little he budges. "Unless maybe what? That I'm still fucking him? Is that what your fragile male ego iswondering?"

"Well, there's wine on the table. Which you're not supposed to be drinking, by theway."

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