here. Right here. It's where all the good things happen."
Chance leaned back and grabbed both sides of her face. "Forever and always," he swore. "Right here, we'll make everything possible, and there will be no more almosts. Forever and always, Sugar."
Then he kissed her. She didn't see it coming, but for once she didn't flinch at his touch. Her arms wrapped around his neck and she kissed back, parting her lips to let him all the way in. She was done being broken. That didn't mean she'd ever be normal, but now, for the first time in far too long, she felt like she had the chance to start healing.
Chapter 24
That night, Deviant celebrated. Amy sent out a text that there was an important meeting at the warehouse. Everyone came back to hear the good news. Adam bought enough pizza to feed an army, Chance purchased enough alcohol to make sure no one tried to work in the morning, and Dez? She didn't hide in her corner.
Even Bradley ended up drinking too much. Zara kept refilling Jason's glass until he had a problem keeping his hands off her. And then, at some point, he picked her up and carried her into one of those guest rooms. Yes, she ended up naked, and no, he didn't answer the door when someone banged on it to ask if they were having fun yet.
But the next morning, he woke up with one hell of a headache and his woman sprawled across him naked. That made it all worthwhile. Forcing his eyes open, he reached for his phone only to see a mass of messages. Checking it, he realized that he'd sent a text to Riley at some point, telling her the good news. She'd told the rest, and it seemed everyone had wanted to show their appreciation.
As he read them, he scooted up in bed. That woke Zara, but Jason couldn't stop. One after the other, the people who'd helped him the most gave him all the credit. They made it clear they were not only proud of him but thankful for him caring about this. Quite a few made it clear that he had better still make it to Vegas - but that was a given. After all, he had a wedding that he would not miss.
One hot shower later - with company - and it was time to go. Jason and Zara headed into the main warehouse to find the lights dimmed and no one home. It felt almost surreal. Confused, he sent a text to Bradley, who said he was on his way, had picked up Jason's things from Braden's place, and that if anyone talked too loud, he was going to kill them. Jason let him know that they'd be waiting on the loading dock.
Together, he and Zara headed that way. Crysis was dancing just a little too much, so as soon as they were outside, Jason took him off the leash. Immediately, his dog hurried over to the grass to relieve himself. A soft chuckle by the door proved they weren't alone.
"Was wondering how soon you'd bail," Dez said.
Jason turned to find her and Chance sitting on Dez's bench. Both of them held a large cup of coffee. Both had cigarettes dangling from their fingers, although Chance's was mostly burning itself out instead of being smoked. The best part, though, was how Dez leaned into her man as Chance's arm rested against the top of the bench.
"Have a guy to question," Jason told her.
Dez just held out her pack of smokes, offering him one. "Doesn't really feel real, you know?" she asked.
Jason accepted the pack, pulled one out, lit it, then offered them to Zara. "You know I was trying to quit," he told Dez.
She laughed. Not a weak chuckle, but a real, honest laugh. "Yeah, I hear I'm an enabler. But hey, it's better than Vicodin, right?" She lifted her hand and took a drag. "Who knows, maybe I'll even end up normal one day."
"Please don't," Jason said. "I think we all kinda like the crazy woman who makes miracles happen."
Dez just pushed herself off the bench. "There's just one more thing I want." And then she wrapped her arms around Jason's waist.
For a split second, he tensed, but then he curled into her, hugging her back. Neither Chance nor Zara said a thing, so he stood there for a moment, just letting himself hold this amazing woman, trying to convince his mind to accept that this