Total pages in book: 88
Estimated words: 81358 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 407(@200wpm)___ 325(@250wpm)___ 271(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 81358 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 407(@200wpm)___ 325(@250wpm)___ 271(@300wpm)
“Really?” Dev moaned. “But I’m just this boring single dad with a dad bod, a dad haircut, and boring clothes.”
Kai lifted his head so he could stare into Dev’s beautiful eyes. “Of course. How could I ever want anyone else? You’re amazing. You’ve been put through hell twice now, and you’re still this sweet, compassionate, funny man. You’re stronger and more resilient than anyone I’ve ever met. I feel lucky that you even wish to be in the same room as me.” The idea of not wanting Dev just seemed silly to him. Ridiculous, even. Dev was absolutely perfect for him. He was considering turning his entire life upside down just so he could keep him.
Dev pulled one hand free and placed his palm against Kai’s cheek. “I don’t want anyone else but you.” Kai started to move in for another kiss, but Dev gasped and jerked his head away suddenly. “No! If you kiss me, we’ll end up having sex. You have to finish your story first.”
“But sex would be so much more fun,” Kai huffed in Dev’s ear. A shiver went through Dev, and Kai grinned. He loved all of Dev’s little reactions.
“Story first, and then you can fuck my brains out.”
Kai narrowed his eyes on Dev. “You are very evil.”
Dev chuckled. “Yes, I’m the evil one for withholding sex. Now, you were saying that you were training and screwing this guy who now wants to kill me.”
With a huff, Kai flopped on the mattress alongside Dev and placed his head on Dev’s shoulder. “Yes, I was training him, though we didn’t see each other often. And yes, I was fucking him, but I was very clear that it was casual. It was just sex. He was fine with that.”
“So he said,” Dev muttered under his breath. “I’m assuming something went wrong.”
“After associating for a little more than a year, I noticed that he was becoming clingy. He was demanding more of my time, more of my attention. He was becoming dangerously obsessed. I warned him to back off. I told him that we couldn’t meet or talk again.”
“I’m sure that went over real well.”
“No, it did not. I was on a job. I don’t know how he found me, but he interfered. Put my life in danger.” Kai could see it all very clearly. He’d been in Paris. The hit was supposed to be simple enough, but then Elijah had appeared, and everything went to hell. He’d barely managed to complete the contract and escape with his life. And this was only the start. Elijah would have kept appearing, kept inserting himself into his life.
“When I reached a somewhat safe location, Elijah appeared as I’d expected. He was saying something about how it had been a rush. I wasn’t listening. I just fired three rounds into the middle of his chest. I was sure if I didn’t kill him, he was going to get me killed or worse.” He sighed. “He must have been wearing Kevlar. I didn’t check to make sure he was dead. I was still too close to the contract hit. Cops were going to be swarming the area. I had to get out of there.”
“But he survived, and he’s been laying low. Keeping tabs on your life from a distance.”
“Yes. I taught him enough about how I worked, selected contracts. He’d be able to identify my kills. He also knew who my handler was. I’m guessing he’s the one who killed him after getting a list of my past hits as well.”
“What I don’t understand is, why me? Why have I pissed him off so much?”
Lifting up to balance on his forearm, Kai stared at Dev’s confused expression. His brown hair was mostly dry now and thoroughly mussed, making the man look impossibly sweet and sexy at the same time. “Because I love you, and he can see it.” The words had come out so easily. And why not? This might be his only chance to tell Dev that he’d stolen his heart away with every kindness, teasing remark, and gentle touch.
“You love me?” Dev asked in a choked whisper.
“I think I’ve been falling in love with you bit by bit for the past year. Elijah thinks you’re special because you’re the only one I’ve spared in my career, but you are so much more. You’re the only person who has ever made me want something more in my life.”
“Kai, I…I…”
Kai gently silenced him with a kiss that Dev eagerly returned. When he pulled away, he smiled at the flushed man beneath him. “You don’t have to say anything. I know your heart still has old wounds. We also have much bigger things to worry about. Elijah is determined to kill you.”
“If he can’t have you, no one can.”
Kai rolled his eyes. “Yes, something like that.”