Chapter 15

15

The midday sun cast a warm glow over the ranch as Rip and Devyn found themselves out in the secluded corner of the barn, away from prying eyes and curious ears, while he let her work out her frustrations and feelings on a punching bag. They'd gotten in the habit of spending time together this way over the past weeks, where Rip would teach Devyn self-defense and how to defend herself properly. Or sometimes, get in a good workout together. More often than not, the workouts would end with them romantically entwined in each other's embrace for a different kind of workout… an intimate one.

"You ready?" Rip asked, adjusting to a sparring position.

Devyn nodded eagerly, her eyes shining with determination. She had always prided herself on her independence, but the idea of being able to defend herself against potential threats was both empowering and exhilarating. But today, it was about more than that. It was about working out her grievances. Fear and frustration consumed her, as did a sense of uncertainty about the disorder in her life and the truth that she'd just been made aware of.

The two began to spar, Devyn landing heavier fists, taking their engagement beyond the level of tame and to pure fight. Fully aware of her demeanor as tears ran down her face, Rip let her whale on him, punch after punch, kick after kick, because he knew she needed it. It was the only way he knew how to help her through such a turbulent moment. Finding out who she really was couldn't have been easy. Especially since the events of late already had her on edge, and she was questioning who she was within the family and beyond. It all started because her mother secretly had her will redone –– the will Devyn had already prepared months before. That shook her confidence and left her questioning… everything, especially why her mother didn't seem to trust her.

Finding out who she really was couldn't have made those challenges any easier to face. They cast a darker looming cloud over everyone as the truth began to unravel. They'd been through a lot, specifically Devyn, and it pained him to see her like this.

As the sun began to dip below the horizon, casting long shadows across the landscape, Rip decided to put Devyn's newfound skills to the test.

Devyn rose to the challenge, her instincts taking over as she blocked Rip's punches and countered with moves of her own. She felt a surge of adrenaline coursing through her veins, her senses heightened as she focused on the task at hand.

Their movements became a blur of motion as they sparred with increasing intensity, each one pushing the other to their limits. Devyn felt a sense of exhilaration, unlike anything she had ever experienced before, her body moving with a grace and precision she never knew she possessed. Rip knew she needed this.

Devyn's tears turned to sobs and her grunts to cries of frustration. She was working it out, feeling the pain, letting it course through her veins while healing her mind, body, and soul. This was good because they were all in danger, and it was no time to let up. Devyn needed to get over the emotional bridge she was currently dancing on and turn her fury into a fight.

Their training sessions had always been intense, but tonight was different. Tonight, Rip seemed more focused and determined than ever to teach Devyn the skills she needed to defend herself while pushing her harder. As they moved through the drills, with each strike and block, she felt herself letting go ––of what, she wasn't sure.

But as the night wore on and exhaustion began to set in, Devyn found herself growing more distracted by Rip's proximity. The way his muscles rippled with each movement, the way his eyes locked with hers in silent understanding – it was all too much for her to ignore.

Their movements grew more fluid, more synchronized, as they danced around each other in a delicate balance of strength and grace. Devyn felt a thrill coursing through her veins as Rip's hands guided her through the motions, his touch igniting a fire within her that she couldn't extinguish. He was a welcome distraction.

As the training session drew to a close, Rip stepped back and regarded Devyn with a mixture of pride and admiration. "You did great, Devyn," he said, his voice filled with genuine warmth. "You're a natural."

As they stood there, catching their breath and basking in the afterglow of their session, Devyn felt a sudden rush of emotion wash over her. She looked at Rip, her heart pounding in her chest, and before she could stop herself, she leaned in and pressed her lips to his. The kiss was electric, sending shockwaves of desire coursing through Devyn's body. She felt Rip respond eagerly, his arms wrapping around her as he pulled her closer, deepening the kiss with a passion that took her breath away.

In an instant, everything suddenly changed. Devyn found herself pinned against the wall, Rip's body pressed against hers in a tantalizing position. Their eyes locked in a silent exchange of desire as they teetered on the edge of something forbidden, something dangerous.

With a hunger that bordered on desperation, Devyn reached up to capture Rip's lips again in a searing kiss, her heart pounding in her chest as he responded with equal fervor. Their bodies moved as one, their movements fueled by a fervent and passionate need that demanded to be satisfied. In that moment, there was no past, no future, only the here and now as they surrendered themselves completely to each other.

"I need you," Devyn whispered, her voice barely above a breath.

Rip's eyes softened, a tender smile playing at his lips. "You have me, Devyn," he murmured, his voice filled with primal emotion.

At that moment, all that mattered was the raw, unbridled passion that pulsed between them, threatening to consume them both in its fiery grip as they tumbled into the depths of passion. Devyn knew that she had found something truly special in Rip's arms.

All thoughts of self-defense and training were suddenly forgotten as Devyn lost herself in the heat of the moment. She melted into Rip's tantalizing embrace. Their bodies pressed together as they explored each other with a hunger that bordered on desperation. As they tumbled to the ground in a tangle of limbs and desire, Devyn knew that this was only the beginning of their journey and exactly how she needed to work out her feelings. All of them.

Their hold on one another was electrifying, a culmination of pent-up tension and unspoken desire that had been building between them for far too long. Devyn's senses were overwhelmed as she lost herself in the heat of the moment, her hands trailing over Rip's strong, muscular frame as he explored every inch of her with a reverence that left her breathless.

Their kisses grew more urgent, more desperate, as they sought to convey the depth of their feelings without words. Devyn felt a fire igniting within her, a primal need that demanded to be sated as Rip's touch sent shivers down her spine.

Their passion ignited like wildfire, consuming them both in a blaze of ecstasy as they surrendered to the undeniable pull of their desires. Devyn felt herself melting into Rip's touch, her heart pounding in her chest as he worshipped her with a fervor that left her trembling with need. Devyn felt herself teetering on the edge of oblivion, her senses ablaze with pleasure as Rip brought her to the brink of ecstasy again and again.

As they lay entwined beneath the stars, their bodies still humming with the aftershocks of their passion, Devyn couldn't help but feel a sense of contentment wash over her. In Rip's arms, she had found a kind of peace she had never known before, a sense of belonging that transcended words, and she didn't care why or how because they didn't make sense together in any other way, other way. Their bond was a force to be reckoned with. It defied logic and reason as they surrendered themselves completely to each other.

The distraction was over, and it was time to face the truth she'd been avoiding all afternoon. Devyn sat in stunned silence, the words echoing in her mind like a relentless beat of a drum. The revelation had hit her like a freight train, shattering the already fragile semblance of her current reality. She had always felt different from her siblings, but she never could have imagined that the truth of her identity would be so profoundly devastating.

Rip watched her closely, angry over the turmoil she was experiencing. He reached out, tentatively placing a hand on her shoulder, offering what little comfort he could in the face of such overwhelming news.

"I'm sorry, Devyn." His voice was soft and empathic. I can't imagine what you must be feeling."

Devyn's emotions were like a tumultuous storm furiously coursing through her. Anger, sadness, confusion – they all warred for dominance as she struggled to process the truth that barreled in like a wrecking ball, set to destroy her life. She had spent her entire life believing herself to be one person, only to discover that she was someone entirely different.

"I just don't understand," she whispered, her voice trembling with emotion. "Why didn't they tell me? Why keep it a secret for so long?"

Rip sighed, his own frustration mirroring hers. "I wish I had the answers, Devyn. But sometimes, parents do things with the best intentions, even if they don't realize the pain it may cause."

Devyn nodded slowly, the weight of his words sinking in. She couldn't fault her family for wanting to protect her, even if it meant keeping painful truths hidden. But it didn't make the revelation any easier to bear.

"I feel so…" her voice barely above a whisper. "I don't know, like I don't belong. I mean, it all makes sense in a way –– why I'm so different from them. It isn't just because I'm the youngest, after all."

Rip's grip on her shoulder tightened slightly, his expression softening with understanding. "You'll always belong, Devyn," he assured her gently. "They don't see you any differently, and this doesn't change who you are. When everyone thought Nash was Lucy's child, did you think of him any differently?"

"Not even a little bit. He's my brother in every way that counts." Devyn shrugged. "Nothing could change that."

"Then why do you think they would think any different of you?" Rip asked. "If anything, I'd think it'll make them more protective of you than they already are. You're the one they protect, with everything in them, more than anything else."

"Maybe." With a weak smile, she said, "I guess it's just me –– I need to wrap my mind around all of this. Perhaps I should talk to Nash. He seemed to handle all this better than I am when he thought he was the outlier."

"You're not an outlier. You're still their sister, Dev."

Devyn met his gaze, her eyes searching his for solace. In that moment, she found a kindred spirit, someone who understood her in a way no one else could, despite their vast differences. She felt a surge of gratitude for his unwavering support, his presence shedding light in a moment of darkness.

"What about you, Rip?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper. "What will you do when this case is over?"

Rip hesitated, his gaze flickering with uncertainty. "I'm not sure yet," he admitted. "But whatever happens, I'm here for now. I'm just taking it one day at a time."

Their eyes locked in a silent exchange of understanding, the weight of their shared burdens easing ever so slightly in the comfort of each other's presence. Somehow, amidst the chaos, Devyn and Rip found themselves drawn closer together, and as the night stretched on, they found comfort in each other's embrace, their hearts beating in unison against the backdrop of uncertainty and upheaval.

"I knew nothing would be the same after Mama died, especially given all that's transpired since," Devyn confessed, her voice tinged with sorrow. "But I never expected this. It was a shock when we thought it was Nash, to find out it's me––"

Rip nodded sympathetically, his gaze filled with empathy. "It doesn't change anything, at least, it doesn't have to, and you were in the same room with your family as I was, and it's pretty clear they feel that way too," he murmured. "I get it, though. It's still a lot to take in, so take your time figuring it out, but keep in mind, the only one wavering here is you."

Devyn smiled weakly, gratitude shining in her eyes. "Thank you, Rip," she said softly. "I don't know what I'd do without your voice of reason telling me to get over myself and get it together."

"Dev, I don't mean it like that. I meant…"

She giggled, "I'm just giving you a hard time. I know that's not how you meant it, but it's certainly the truth. I suppose there's no better time to find out you were basically stolen and raised by the people who did away with your biological parents."

"Dev…"

"I know, I know. I'm kidding." She admitted, "Bad joke. Too soon."

"You like dark humor, got it." Rip chuckled.

"Truth is, it really is good timing. I think given all the soul searching and learning about Mama I've been doing through all of the chaos, reacquainting myself with her through her words… it makes the blow a little softer. I know she loved me as fiercely as my brothers and sister. That means something." Devyn paused, "I guess I'm lucky, in a way. Knowing how I could have grown up versus how I did grow up. They didn't have to take me in, either. They chose me."

"That's a great perspective to have. I don't think many people would think of it that way this soon." Rip offered.

"Truth is, that's the pep talk I was planning to give Nash when we thought this was his fate –– little did I know, those words of wisdom I pulled together were for myself. Go figure."

"I think as long as you stay focused on that, you'll be just fine, Dev." He hugged her a little tighter. "Just… fine."

Their conversation drifted into quieter, more intimate moments, each sharing their deepest fears and hopes with the other. Devyn spoke of her fear of never finding her place in the world, of being forever haunted by the ghosts of her past. Rip, in turn, revealed his own struggles with identity and belonging, admitting that he, too, felt a sense of uncertainty, albeit vague.

But amidst that uncertainty, there was a glimmer of something else—a shared understanding, a connection that transcended the chaos of their circumstances. As they lay together beneath the stars, their bodies entwined in a silent embrace, they found solace in the knowledge that they were not alone.

"I'm scared, Rip," Devyn whispered, her voice barely above a breath. "Scared of what the future holds, of what might happen next."

Rip pressed a gentle kiss to her forehead, his touch a soothing balm against her fears. "I know you are, but you don't have to be, darlin'. I won't let anything happen to you. Not a damn thing, okay?"

She nodded.

"I… I couldn't live with myself if anything did." He went on. "I'll take care of you, protect you, okay? This guy, Steele, and whoever else he has in his back pocket can try all they want, and they won't get any closer. I won't let them anywhere near you, honey."

A shared bond echoed in the stillness of the night as she drifted off to sleep, exhausted by the day's revelations, wrapped in Rip's protective embrace. It didn't matter what the future held at that moment because the only future Rip saw ahead was one with her in it, and he'd lay down his life to make sure of it.