Page 82 of Devious Truth

But the overwhelming joy that bursts through my core when he gives it is too mind-blowingly amazing to ignore.

As I stare up at him, watching me with his devil’s grin, my body coils, hot and on edge. My mouth falls open, breaths come in short bursts. My skin is electric, sending zaps and tingles in every direction.

“That’s my girl. So close.” His fingers work faster, his thrusts more powerful.

“Ivan!” I scream as another orgasm explodes within me.

He releases my wrists, grabbing my hips with both hands as he plows faster into me, chasing down his own orgasm. His expression tightens, his lips curl between his teeth.

I raise my legs higher still. His eyes roll back. He thrusts more powerfully, then again, before stilling. Releasing a roar of pleasure, his back bows and he unloads into me.

Moments pass, and he leans over me, propping himself up on his forearms. Still seated inside me, he kisses me warmly. Even with the gentleness, I sense his fierce possession.

“You were a very good girl tonight, Vee.” He runs the tip of his nose over my cheek. “I’m very proud of you.”

A balloon of joy fills my chest.

“Now, I’m going to feed you, then put you to bed.” He lines up our gazes. “And in the morning, we’ll talk about the wedding.”

Low music hums from the front speakers, a lazy soundtrack to our early afternoon commute.

Vee sulks beside me, pressed tight against her door, while I scroll through the news on my phone.

“You’re back to being a complete asshole,” she mutters, her sleepy voice finally breaking through the silence.

It was said beneath her breath, quiet enough I could pretend not to hear it. Maybe that’s what she wants. Or maybe she’s daring me to react.

She hasn’t gotten much sleep with all her raging after my announcement last night, so it could really be either one.

I pause in my scrolling, but don’t look up. “I was understanding last night when you hurled your insults, but I’m not feeling generous at the moment.”

“Generous?” She flings herself away from the window to face me head on. It’s now I realize she hasn’t put on her seatbelt.

“Yes. I let you say whatever you wanted. I let you have your attitude and your sulky behavior this morning. But it’s enough now.” I run my finger over my screen, scrolling to the next article. “And put your seatbelt on.”

There’s silence for a beat, then in my peripheral, I watch as she slowly grabs the belt and pulls it across her body. Just to be certain I’m not mistaking her obedience with acceptance, she violently snaps it in place before turning away from me again.

She’s having a tantrum. I look out my window to hide the smile tugging on my lips.

“Ivan.” Her voice is small, soft. “I don’t know if I ever want to get married again.”

I put my phone away, giving her my full attention. “Never?”

She rests her head against the tinted window. “It’s not out of some sense of loyalty to Derek. I know he’s gone, and I don’t think it’s a betrayal to move on, but…” She pauses, glances over at me with a haunted frown. “I don’t want to go through that again. Can’t you understand that?”

Her gaze slips down to my hands, to the bruises lingering on my knuckles.

She’s right. In my line of work, my death is extremely plausible. It’s still not a good enough reason for me to let her go.

Ever.

“Besides.” She takes a shuttering breath, looking down at her hands. “There’s a good chance I won’t be able to have kids. There was a lot of damage. The doctors said it would be a high-risk pregnancy if I were to get pregnant again, and there’s a high chance that I wouldn’t be able to carry it to term.”

I reach across the space between us, taking her hand from her lap as we drive through the gates of Obsidian.

“Do you really think I care about that?”

She flicks a shocked gaze up at me. “Don’t you? In your, uh, job or family or whatever, don’t you need heirs or something?”

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