Desire (Desire, Book 1) - By Missy Johnson Page 0,46

the very last minute he entered me and we both exploded simultaneously.

“Wow.” I sighed “You’re pretty amazing, Detective Walkerson.” I muttered softly, tiredness overpowering all my senses. The last thing I remembered before falling asleep was Devon, lying beside me, smiling as he stroked my arm.

Chapter Twenty

I woke up disorientated. I hadn’t woken in someone else’s apartment in years. Not since I’d first moved to Seattle. My wild days, where nights were spent with various men, and days sleeping off my hangover.

The bed next to me was empty. Cold.

I sat up, remembering that I was at his house. Wrapping the sheet around my naked body, I climbed out of the bed. I could see the light on in the living room. I crept down the hall.

Devon sat at the table, folders stacked high and papers strewn everywhere. He looked up and smiled when he saw me.

“Hello.” He murmured. He stood up and walked over to me, his eyebrows raised at the sheet I held tightly around my body. “I didn’t want to wake you, you looked so sweet, snoring and all.” He whispered softly.

“I don’t snore!” I retorted hotly. Honestly, I had no idea if I snored or not. My face colored. Devon laughed and shook his head.

“You do.” He repeated, “But it’s cute. It makes you seem real.” He chuckled as I moved the sheet up to cover my face. What, did I talk in my sleep too? And why not throw in some farting? You can’t get more real than that.

“What are you doing?” I nudged my head toward the table.

“Work.” He replied, “When I can’t sleep, I go over cases. See if there is anything I’ve missed.”

I wandered over to the table, running my hands over the folders. Then I saw it.

“Kaitlin, please don’t.” I stopped, feeling Devon’s hand on my shoulder. I didn’t turn around, my eyes stayed focused on the manila folder that was labelled ‘Kathrine Delancy’.

Mom.

I let Devon turn me around until we were eye to eye.

“I can’t let you look at that. Please.”

I nodded, not completely sure why this was having such an effect on me right now. I sat down, on the verge of tears.

“She didn’t believe me.” I mumbled. Devon knelt beside me, not saying anything. Just listening.

“I told her what he was doing to me, and she didn’t believe me.” Devon touched my arm, down my elbow, eventually entangling my hand in his. “I put up with it for two years, Devon. When I saw the way he was beginning to look at Neri, I...” A sob escaped my mouth. I bit down on my lip, hard. I was not going to cry.

“You stopped him from hurting Neri, and that took great courage.” Devon pulled me into his arms.

“They blamed me. Mom and Neri. They blamed me for putting him in prison.”

“I’m sure that’s not true, Kait. Neri wouldn’t have understood-“

“And mom? What was her excuse? She said I ‘encouraged’ him. I led him on.” Devon didn’t reply. His eyes never left mine as he waited for me to let it all out.

“I knew it would be my word against his. I brought one of those teddy bear cameras. You know, where the camera is hidden inside a toy?” I asked. He nodded.

“Genius right? It took two nights for him to rape me again. I caught the whole thing on camera.” I shook my head, my hands balling up handfuls of my jacket.

“I had fucking proof and she still chose not to believe me.” The tears were flowing thick and fast now. I was a blubbering mess. Wiping my eyes, I managed a smile.

“I’m so sorry. You didn’t ask for all this.” I took the tissue he handed me gratefully.

“Kait. What you did was so brave. Neri understands that now, I can see that from the way she looks at you. She respects you. Your mom, I don’t know. I don’t know what to say. I don’t want to say anything because I might end up regretting it later.” He sighed.

Standing up, he paced the short length that was the table. Running both hands through his hair, he turned, extending his hand. I took it, letting him bring me to my feet. I cried out as I overbalanced, sending both of us tumbling to the ground.

“Ouch.” He laughed, shaking his head. In spite of myself, I giggled. I’d landed almost right on top of him, and frankly, I didn’t want to move. The awkwardness of the moment had passed, when