Page 73 of Devilish

“I never thought about using secrets as currency,” Kai said slowly, like he was thinking it over. With the way he’d mentioned being with rich men, it made me wonder if there were things he knew that he could use to his advantage.

But that would be for him to decide.

“Only when necessary, andonlyif it’s well deserved.”

“Like with bad guys?”

“Exactly like that.”

He gnawed at his lower lip. “Rupert?”

I leaned back in my chair and went back to massaging his foot. “I don’t have all that much on him.”

He eyed me for a beat, his mind working overtime as he absorbed everything I’d just told him. “What if I do?”

I’d never push Kai into giving up information he had on someone else. But at the same time, I wouldn’t stop hunting down whatever I could find on that motherfucker Rupert.

I was coming for him, one way or another.

“I have my secrets, and you have yours. But you should know, Iamlooking. What he did, it needs to be answered for. He could’ve hurt my patrons, my staff?—”

“You.” Kai’s voice was soft as his eyes fell to the lingering reminder of that night on my chin. “I can’t even begin to imagine a world that you aren’t a part of…”

My chest tightened at the emotions swimming in his blue-grey eyes, and before I could help myself, I sat up and reached for his hand, urging him to his feet.

“Hey,” I said, taking his hips and drawing him between my legs. “I’m right here. Nothing’s going to take me away from you.”

Kai ran his hands through my hair and tipped my head back to look up at him. “You promise?”

“I promise.” And fuck, in that moment I would’ve promised him anything just to keep his hands on me.

Kai’s eyes searched my face as he ran his fingers along my cheek and around my lips. Emotion swirled deep in those cloudy depths of his, and then he whispered, “What about when others try?”

“Others?” Was he worried someone else might be out to hurt me? It was true that I came into contact with some unsavory characters in my line of work and through Libertine, but nothing he needed to be concerned with.

“I…I can’t be the only one who wants tobewith you.”

Ah, so he wanted to know our situation. What our relationship was. I’d been careful not to push him in any way, wanting him to make the decision, and it seemed he finally had.

“But what if you’re the only oneIwant to be with?”

Hope and desire flashed across his face as I turned my head and pressed a kiss to his palm.

“That painting behind me,” I said, and Kai’s eyes shifted back to the scene he’d been looking at earlier. “It’s all about loveand acceptance. Of themselves and each other. That’s the kind of relationship I’ve always wanted. The kind of love I’ve been looking for.”

Kai swallowed as he examined the scene more closely. “The sub… He’s collared.”

“Yes, a symbol of the dom’s ownership, his love. He’s claimed him and wants the world to know whom he belongs to.”

“And the dom?” Kai’s fingers twisted in the back of my hair, and I wasn’t even sure he realized he was doing it. “How does the world know whom he belongs to?”

“Because he shows everyone they meet. In the way he talks, touches, and respects his sub. His every move is designed to please his partner. His entire world revolves around making sure his sub is taken care of. Anyone that meets them will instantly see the connection if it’s real.”

I could see the question hovering on Kai’s lips, the burning desire to ask me what it waswehad. But I needed to hear the words.

“Ask me, Kai.”

I could see his nerves starting to kick in as he tried to navigate this unfamiliar territory, so I took hold of his hand and laced my fingers in his.

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