Page 6 of Salacious Devotion

“Where are you taking me?” she asks, her voice strained. Scared.

I don’t reply. I keep moving up the steps, gripping her hand so hard it must hurt. I’m so angry right now; I can’t face her. I don’t understand what the fuck is going on, but I want answers.

Three years. I’ve spent three years pining over this woman, and she’s been… She’s been what? Fucking living her life with blond hair and fucking blue eyes?

I use my code to open the door at the top of the stairs, my hand shaking so badly that I’m surprised I pushed the right numbers. When I yank it open, Drake and Easton are in the hallway.

“What’s going on?” Easton asks.

I’m seething. My nostrils flare. I march past the owners, heading for my private studio apartment.

“Dane,” Drake shouts. “What the fuck, man?”

I reach my apartment and punch in my private code, once again stunned when it works. As I open it, Drake catches up with us. He knocks my hand out of the way, causing the door to shut. “Can’t let you do this, man. Talk to me.” He shifts his gaze to Paige. “Are you okay, ma’am?”

I glance at Paige. She’s shaking. Her eyes are wide. Tears are streaming down her cheeks. “Tell him,” I scream at her. “Tell him who you are so we can go into my apartment, and you can fucking explain what the motherfucking hell is going on.”

She flinches and leans back, but she doesn’t tug her hand free. She lowers her gaze and mutters, “Fuck.”

“Yep. Fuck is the primary word on my mind. Now, are you going to come into my apartment with me on your own accord, or do I need to drag you?”

“I’ll go.” She lifts her gaze to Drake. “Please…”

Drake’s eyes widen. “You don’t have to go with him, Shannon. I don’t care if he is one of my best friends. I’ll call security and have him thrown out. Just say the word.”

I glare at her.

She slowly shakes her head. “I was going to say, please don’t tell anyone about this. It’s not…safe. Please,” she begs.

Drake frowns.

Easton is next to him now. “We won’t mention a word. I’ll call Marny now and make sure she won’t either. But she’s discreet. She would never tell a soul anything she saw here.”

Drake draws in a breath. “Is it true? Are you Paige?”

She swallows. “Don’t say that name. Paige is dead. Do not utter it again.”

Drake sighs. “Okay. There’s a red button on the wall in the bathroom and another attached to the underside of the spanking bench. If you push either of them, one of us will be inside the apartment immediately.”

She nods. She’s still shaking, but she’s slightly calmer. “Thank you.”

I’m not calmer. Not one bit. I type in my code again, open the door, and reach in to flip on the light. I’m still gripping Paige’s hand tightly, but she follows me and doesn’t try to escape.

The door shuts with a resounding click as though sealing off another part of my life.

I’ve led two lives—before Paige and after Paige. Now, I’m entering a third. The return of Paige from the dead.

Chapter 3

Paige

* * *

He finally releases me, and I’m not sure whether I’m relieved or disappointed. I’m shaking so badly as I rub my hands that it’s a wonder I’m able to stay on my feet.

This can’t be happening. It was never supposed to happen. Of course, nothing that’s happened to me in the past three years was supposed to happen, so why am I surprised about this?

Dane rubs his temples with both hands as he stares at me. He’s only standing a few feet from me. He looks so damn good. He’s slightly older, of course, but that’s only made him sexier. He’s gained muscle. He’s broader and more buff than he was three years ago. His dirty-blond hair is the same. His green eyes bore into me the way they always did.

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