Page 125 of Toxic Salvation
“Someone’s going to see us.”
“Then they’ll see how much I worship you.”
I work her with my fingers until she’s trembling, until she’s forgotten all about propriety and reputation and is focused only on what I’m doing to her. When she comes apart in my arms, I swallow her moans with my mouth, keeping her quiet even as her body shakes.
“Fuck,” she pants against my lips as she comes down. “You’re going to get us arrested.”
“Worth it.”
She straightens her clothes while I watch, already planning round two back at the hotel.
“You know what?” she says as she smooths her hair back into place. “We should definitely come to more conferences.”
I grin and pull her back into my arms. “I was thinking the exact same thing.”
That night, back in our hotel suite, I watch Vesper prepare for the evening reception. She’s changed into a black cocktail dress that shows off her new curves, and I can’t decide if I want to show her off or hide her away from all the doctors who’ve been eyefucking her all day.
“Stop looking at me like that,” she teases when she catches my reflection in the mirror as she puts on earrings.
“Like what?”
“Like you want to devour me.”
“Idowant to devour you.”
She turns around, and there’s something fresh in her posture. More confident. More… certain.
“Kovan,” she says, “I need to tell you something.”
I go still. “What is it?”
“Today, listening to all those doctors talk about my work, watching you watch me…” She takes a step closer. “I realized something.”
“Yeah?” I prod.
“I love my job. I love saving lives, I love pushing the boundaries of what’s possible. But none of it means anything without you and Luka there to celebrate with me.”
“Vesper…”
“I’m not done.” She reaches for my hands. “I know we haven’t talked about the future much. I know there are still things we need to figure out. But I need you to know—whatever comes next, I want us to face it together. All of us. As a family.”
Her words find a home somewhere deep in my chest, right next to all the other things I refuse to examine too closely.
“What are you saying?”
“I’m saying yes,” she says simply. “To whatever question you’re too scared to ask me. Yes to everything. Yes to us.”
I stare at her, this brilliant, brave woman who just offered me everything without asking for guarantees in return.
“Vesper Fairfax,” I say finally, “you’re going to be the death of me.”
“Is that so?”
Instead of answering, I kiss her. And in that kiss, I try to tell her everything I’m not ready to say out loud yet.
That she’s saved me in every way a person can be saved.
That I’m going to spend the rest of my life making sure she never regrets choosing me.
