Chapter 33

The next morning,I stretch away, feeling a little different, even though I'm still the same woman I was before. But I'm married now, and that somehow changes everything.

The space beside me is empty, but the aroma of eggs and coffee fills the room. I quickly sit up and head for the dresser, grabbing one of his t-shirts to slip into.

Picking up my cell from the nightstand, I stare out the window, admiring the view of Central Park. Trees lining the street. Benches with people on them. Two runners pass a large German shepherd, his owner petting its head.

Unlocking my phone, I send Karen a quick text.

Eriu

I'm so sorry about your grandma! I feel like such a bad friend that I didn't know. Call me when you can. I love you!

It's not like her to be so quiet. Even when she's upset, she always calls me or at least texts.

There's a small banging noise coming from somewhere in the apartment, and with a sigh, I head toward it, wondering what Devlin could be doing so early.

When I head out of the room and turn toward the foyer, I find him shirtless, gray sweats hanging low as he stands on a small ladder, changing a lightbulb.

He doesn't notice me at first while I wonder if this man can get any hotter. Even something as simple as him changing a lightbulb is attractive. But I've never seen Devlin look so domesticated before. I'm gonna enjoy this marriage.

The muscles in his abdomen stretch and flex, the V lowering into the place I've become quite friendly with.

He clears his throat as his gaze flicks to mine. "Been wonderin' how long you're gonna stand there and check me out." A wicked smirk lines his mouth. "Not that I mind my wife looking at me like that."

His wife…

That sounds so good.

"It smells amazing in here. You cooked?"

He climbs down, swooping an arm around me. His lips brush against mine and my eyes fall to a close, the sensations warming me from the inside.

"Aye. I like cooking for my woman."

A dreamy sigh escapes me. "I don't think this will ever get old."

"It better not."

He grabs the back of my neck and kisses me, his soft lips molding with mine, my tongue sweeping along his as I feel this kiss in my marrow. My fingers sink into his solid back as he lifts me up and carries me to the kitchen. Breathless, he pulls back and searches my eyes deeply with unreserved passion.

"Being with you, having all this. I never thought…" He drops his forehead to mine, his breaths as warm and vulnerable as his words, aching through his soul.

"You'll never have to wonder how much I love you," I whisper. "Because my love for you is unconditional."

His exhale is sharp. "You don't know that. You don't know if I'll do something that'll make you stop loving me."

I place a palm across his nape. "Nothing you do will ever make me stop loving you, Devlin."

He shuts his eyes, his face tense.

"Look at me." I stroke his jaw with my thumb. "Devlin, please…"

With his brows furrowed, he stares up at me, and it breaks my heart to see his pain so clearly.

"I'm not them. I'm not your parents. I won't ever give up on you."

His eyes pinch closed, and he buries his face into my chest.

"Thank you," he whispers. "If anything ever happens to you, I won't survive it."

"Nothing will happen to me." My arms squeeze around him.

But promises are strange like that. We don't actually know if we can keep them.

After breakfast, we returned back to bed and he made love to me, slow this time. It was powerful the way we connected, the way our bodies and our souls moved together.

He sleeps soundly beside me, his arm heavy over my hip, my back molded into his front.

I hate to wake him, but I have a surprise of my own. I know he won't like me leaving the apartment without him, but the grocery store is only a few blocks away.

Since he cooked me breakfast, I figure I'll make us dinner. Maybe buy some fresh flowers and a nice tablecloth, make it romantic. Show him how much I appreciate him.

A smile curls on my face. I was thinking of making chicken marsala with some homemade Caesar dressing and freshly baked bread.

My father is a great cook, and he taught me a lot when I was young. One day, when Devlin and I have kids, I want to teach them too.

Gently, I lift Devlin's arm and slip out, tiptoeing to the walk-in closet to grab some clothes.

I should be gone no more than half an hour.

Slipping into a pair of sneakers he bought me, I grab my bag and phone. But before I go, I open the nightstand and take out a pen and Post-it note so I can let him know where I went. If I text him, his phone will go off.

He dismissed Rogue for today, or I know he would call Devlin and tell him I left. I can't wait until everything with those Palmer people is finished so he can stop worrying about my every move.

Heading quietly for the door, I give him one final look before I start toward the foyer and out of the apartment.

Once in the elevator, I breathe a relieved sigh. It feels like I'm escaping a prison. The doorman greets me as I head out of the building and into the chill of a spring day.

The clouds above are dark, but a little sunshine seeps out. Geez, I hope it doesn't rain. I didn't bring an umbrella.

Deciding not to go back for it in case Devlin wakes up, I rush for the store, running through the ingredients in my head. Maybe I should make him cupcakes too for dessert. He once told me he loves strawberry cupcakes.

A little girl, maybe around seven, passes by with her mom. The girl smiles at me, a big pink bow in her dark ponytail.

Thoughts of my mom suddenly jump into my head. Did she take me to stores with her? Did she put bows on my head?

I still have all my pictures of her in my room in Boston. If I'm going to live in his apartment, I want to bring all my stuff there. This wedding happened so fast, we haven't had time to talk about the future or where we plan to live. I do like the city and wouldn't mind making it my official home.

Finally at the store, I start grabbing all the things I need as fast as I can because Lord knows if that man wakes up and knows I disappeared without him, he's going to raid the city.

"Need any help?" a young man who works here asks as he stocks the shelves with pasta boxes.

"Nope." I grab two boxes of spaghetti. "Just need these. Have a great day."

With a sleazy gaze, he scans my body, and I roll my eyes as I head to pay for all my items. The line goes quick, and I throw everything into two bags, which are quite heavy. Didn't exactly think this through.

Thanking the cashier, I head out, and as I walk past the first block, thunder rolls across the sky and it starts to pour.

"Are you kidding me?! Ugh!" I groan, shaking my head as I try to run home, but with these damn bags, it's more like a jog.

"Hey!" someone calls. "Eriu? Do you need a ride?"

I blink through the drops of rain on my lashes, seeing Professor Montgomery pulling up on the corner.

"Oh my God! Please! I'm just a few blocks that way." I point north.

"Hop in. I was just getting breakfast. Do you live here now?"

I open the passenger side and place my wet bags on the floor before hopping inside.

"I guess I do." I give her Devlin's address.

"You're soaked. Take this." She reaches to the back and hands me a sweater.

"Thank you." I do my best to wipe my face and hair. "I can't believe the rain came so hard and fast."

"I know. They said it might hold off until tonight, but I guess Mother Nature had other thoughts. So, what brings you all the way up here?"

"Oh, well, I kind of have some news." I grin, extending my ring finger to show her the round diamond and matching band.

Her eyes grow as she glances at it before staring back at the road. "Wait, you're married? Please tell me it's not to that awful man."

"No." I shake my head and grin. "The one I've always liked. Loved, actually."

I breathe in and smile, unable to wait until I surprise him with dinner tonight.

"That's great." Her eyes shine as they look at me. "You deserve it."

She groans when we happen upon some traffic cones in the middle of the street, blocking our access to the next block.

A construction worker points left, indicating where we can go. Of course they're doing this in the middle of the day, in a crowded street in the city. Makes sense.

"We can head up this way," she says. "Then I can take you around to your new apartment."

"Do you live around here?"

"Oh, yeah. Only a few blocks away. It's a lovely area to live."

I nod. "I like the city, especially Central Park."

She rounds the corner to a one-way street, the rain pummeling against the hood of the car.

A vehicle behind us honks, getting closer.

"What the hell?" she snaps. "Doesn't he realize there's nowhere to go?"

She honks back, but instead of slowing down, the driver goes faster.

My skin prickles.

Professor Montgomery shakes her head, and when she reaches the corner of the street, she turns onto a two-way road. Instead of driving straight past us, the car follows right behind.

"Oh my God!" she screams as another vehicle speeds the wrong way and right toward us. "He's gonna hit us! Get out!"

But it's too late.

One moment, she's telling me to go, and the next second, there's a loud boom before my body jolts, the car flipping to its side.

Groaning, I blink past the blurriness.

"Professor?" I mutter. "Professor?"

My eyes fill with terror as I find her on the bottom, her eyes closed, a gash on her forehead, blood running down her face.

"Professor Montgomery!" I scream. "Wake up!"

Someone pries my door open, and I'm relieved that we have help. She has to be okay!

I should've listened to Devlin. I should've stayed home.

"P-please help—" But the words seize in my chest as I stare at a man whose eyes I immediately recognize, even through the ski mask. "No!"

I try to get the seat belt off. To run. To do anything I can to escape. But there's nowhere to go.

He reaches for me, something in his hand. A cloth of some kind. And as soon as he places it around my mouth and nose, my screams die.

The fight in me disappears.

And everything goes black.