Page 61 of Start With A Slap

“The Devil’s escort,” she said through a yawn.

“Hm?”

“L’escorte du Diable.” She was curled into fetal position, eyes closed, face serene. Falling asleep. “That’s me.”

“Hate to disappoint you, love.” Tenderly, he touched her hair. “But I don’t have that kind of power. Wish I did, though.”

“Mmhm.”

As she drifted off, looking like a yet-to-be-fallen angel, he traced her cheek and said it again. “Wish I did.”

CHAPTER 19

Devil May Care

He’d forgotten how it felt— waking up to a girl he actually liked.

First, there was a warm rush ofWon Hervictory trailed by a hot swell ofKeep Herdesire... both of which were then stabbed through the heart by an icy blade ofDon’t Be A Ruddy Fool, You Daft Wanker.

“Anyone’s the Devil in this room, it’s you,” he whispered as he slid a lock of hair out of her sleeping face. “Put me under a spell but good.”

The corners of her mouth turned up.

I’ll be damned.He’d be remiss if he didn’t announce the occasion: “There’s my smile.”

Her eyes fluttered open. She focused on him, her smile faded, and then came the inevitable face of morning-after regret he’d been hoping to delay: “Oh, god.”

He rolled his eyes.

Ivy sat up and held her head. “Oh, god!”

“Is this the part where you blame the absinthe and play at not remembering?” Sever wasn’t having it. She may have been buzzed enough to shed her inhibitions, but he’d bet his entirefortune she knew perfectly damned well what she was doing. “If so, wake me when it all comes flooding back.”

“Sever! This was easy for you. Not for me, okay?”

That... made sense. “Yeah, okay.”

“You had nothing to lose. I have... everything... Oh, god.”

She was falling apart. He sat up, touched her hair. “Ivy. He doesn’t ever have to know.”

“You don’t understand.” She swatted his hand away. “That’s not the way I am. I don’t know how I can ever face him again!”

“So don’t,” Sever said with an ever-so-casual shrug, not sure where the idea was coming from. “Stay here with me. Here in Paris.”

“Are you crazy?” She goggled at him.

“Maybe.” As he searched her eyes, he caught an interesting flicker. “But part of you likes the idea.”

She turned away with a scoff. “Everypart of me wishes to God I had never done this.”

Affronted, he thumbed her spot, made her quiver. “Every part?”

“Stop!” She spun away, covering her breasts with the sheet. “Look. I admit it, okay, you are... amazing in bed. You’re... superhumanly amazing. I can’t say I didn’t enjoy some... moments.” At his arched brow, she corrected, “Or even the whole... yeah, okay, all of it, but it’s over now. You got what you wanted from me and now I have to get out of here and face my mistakes and figure out what to do.”

“I think you misinterpreted my use of the word ‘affair’, Ivy. I want to have an affair with you. Not a fling. Not a one-night stand. Affair implies a long-term commitment and that’s what I intend to have with you.”

“You don’t get to decide these things alone! Relationships are not one-sided.”

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