I push the answer button on my phone and no less than a second later Megan’s pretty face appears on my screen. I force a smile on my face. “Oh, hey baby, I was just about to hang up. What took you so long to answer?”“Hey sweetheart, I was in a meeting, and it only just wrapped up.” I tell her and she smiles brightly, her gorgeous green eyes glittering. “How are you?”Megan pouts her red-tinted lips, “Missing you. I wish you were here.” I smile warmly and nod, fending off the urge to look down at Mira crouched between my legs.“I miss you too. How are things over there?”Megan sighs and takes a sip of her coffee, “Fine, but everything here feels just humdrum and stale without you baby, it’s only been a week and I’m going out of my mind missing you. So how are things in London? How’s your dad? Has he started the treatments yet?”Oh hell. I can feel Mira’s heated gaze on me, and the hair on my neck starts to prickle. This is not how I wanted her to find out about my dad’s cancer.I clea
MiraI’m dreaming. This has got to be a dream or a very disturbing nightmare. Because I cannot be hiding under Devin’s desk listening to his girlfriend sensually tell him what she wants to do to him in this very office, on this same desk I am pathetically crouched under. This can’t be my life. The Vice-fucking-president of the company is hiding under the CEO’s desk like some tacky little mistress. I am literally sweeping the floor with my dignity at this point. I cover my ears with my hands, not even giving a toss that I am tugging Devin closer. I can feel his fingers brushing against my shoulder, and I have the sudden desire to bite it as hard as I can before I scream in frustration. However, the knock at the door rips me from my deliberations, and I stiffen when I hear footsteps and then my father’s voice.“Devin, my boy. Do you have a moment?” Holy crap, on a cracker. How the fuck am I going to get out of this quandary now?
Devin smiles handsomely at me and gives my chin a little squeeze when I remain silent. "Do you forgive me?" He asks softly, his thumb tracing lazy circles over my jaw. A tremor passes through me, and suddenly the anger I felt moments before drains away from me. How on earth does he manage to do that every time? Even when we were kids, and I was furious with him, he always had this way of soothing me. "Yes, I forgive you," I utter and slap his hand away from my face. "And next time, I suggest you think long and hard before you even pluck up the damn nerve to ever ask me to do something that daft because I'll be sure to respectfully tell you where to shove it." Devin laughs, "Ever the feisty little kitten, Tinks." He drawls, pressing his forehead to my temple and whispering in my ear. "I love it." I roll my eyes playfully and try to back away from him, but he throws his arm casually over my shoulder and draws me up against his side. "Oh, and it looks like we're off to Rome together. N
The rest of the afternoon went by pleasantly for Devin and me. We even managed to get a meeting booked with Wickham. We will find a way to convince her. Her book is great, and with the right marketing, it could be a real hit. I'm not much of an avid fantasy reader. I prefer romance novels to goblins and wizards. Still, nonetheless, her book is genius and could be the next Harry Potter. I mean, isn't it every author's dream to be published traditionally by a well-established, highly respected publishing company? I did hear through the grapevine that seven other smaller publishing houses rejected her book. I do wonder what they said to her to make her want to go down the indie route. All we need to do now is charm the pants off of her and prove to her that publishing with Evans and King is the best way to go for the success of her book. We had till Monday morning to prep for the pitch to sway her. That's still, however, four more days of being handcuffed to Devin, which is absolutely i
DevinHave you ever stared at a screen for so long that your eyes go square? The letters and numbers jumble up, and you see weird shapes floating around? Fucking hell, I’m getting old. I’ve been re-reading the same paragraph for the past ten minutes, unable to focus thanks to the dull ache in my head from the migraine I can feel coming. I’ve been so focused on getting these graphs and numbers right for tomorrow’s board meeting that I hadn’t even noticed that Mira had finished working and is sleeping in her chair beside me.She’s so damn stunning.Leaning back against my chair, I watch her sleep. I tell myself it’s only for a minute, but who am I kidding? I could watch her for hours and never get bored. Mira’s always had this aura about her that appeases me. Like right now, I feel a sense of tranquillity wash over me as I observe her.The more time I spend with her, the more conscious I am of how deprived I’ve felt of her vi
“How long did you bet on?” She questions, her fiery gaze on my own, one perfect shaped brow raised which inadvertently stirs up something in my nether region. “A week.” Mira’s eyes bulge and her mouth drops open as she gapes at me with a mixture of disbelief and annoyance.“A week?!” She almost shrieks and takes a step closer to me, her finger pointing in my face. “I swear to God Devin King, if you are deliberately screwing with me so we stay cuffed together just so you can win this stupid bet, I will hang you on the wall of your office like the damn Mona Lisa by those precious balls of yours.”I wince inwardly at her threat. I know she’s kidding, sort of, but that still makes my gonads want to jump back up into my body. “Now, honey, I know you have a soft spot for my boys. There’s a time and place for that kind of talk, and while I love it when you get all rough and dirty, we’re with company. I’m sure our friends don’t want to hear about our freaky foreplay.” I tease her with a grin
MiraWhy do men insist on saying one thing and doing another? What is that? Do they like, get pulled aside in school and get taught tactics on how to successfully screw up and confuse the shit out of us females? I get it, Dev and me; we have a history, so certain things do come naturally to us, it's mostly out of habit, but as a man who is supposedly so in love with his girl, he’s awfully touchy and flirty and don’t even get me started with the way he stares into my eyes.Am I reading too much into his actions here? What even are we? Are we friends again? Or are we just two people who were once friends but now are only associates? This is what he does to my head. I was getting on with my life just fine before he showed up. One measly week in, and my emotions are running amuck, and I don’t know whether I’m coming or going. I’m allowing myself to get drawn into how things used to be with us, and I don’t like it.I spend the better half of the night tossing and turning, the neurotic voic
He’s gone. Devin left, and he didn’t even say goodbye. I sink on the curb in front of the house as every broken piece of my heart falls deeper into a giant hole in my gut.“Mimi.” I lift my tear-filled gaze and see Ayla standing in front of me.“Ayla, he’s gone. Dev’s…gone.” I whimper, and she nods and sits beside me, wrapping her arms around me as I weep. “He didn’t even say goodbye.” I sob into her chest.“I’m sure he has his reasons for not saying goodbye, Mimi.”“What reason?” I cry, sitting upright and wiping away the tears streaming down my face, “Our eleven-year friendship wasn’t substantial enough to surpass his reasons to not say goodbye to me…to ME Ayla!”“Mimi—”“No!” I sob, shaking my head hastily, “I clearly meant nothing to him if I didn’t even deserve a goodbye. Especially after we…”Ayla brushes my hair away from my face when my head drops, “After you what, Mira?” When I don’t respond, she lifts my head and her eyes search mine. “You slept with him.” I choke on a sob
Two months later. Thursday afternoon, a livid Mira storms into Devin’s office. “Devin King!” Devin frowns and looks up at her, confused and a little scared, while she stomps over to his desk. “What are you full naming me for? What have I done now?” “Did you tell your dad I was moving to Singapore with you before the baby is born?” Mira questions furiously. Devin blinks and opens his mouth to speak while Mira places her hands at her waist and glares at him, waiting for a response. “I may have mentioned it.” “Oh, you did, did you? I didn’t realise agreeing to marry you would come with the consequence of you making decisions on my behalf!” Mira snaps hotly. Devin raises a brow and stands from his desk. “Mira, for God sake, I’ve been trying to have this conversation with you for two weeks straight, but you keep evading it.” Devin grouses, walking around his desk and stepping closer to his angry fiancée. “My dad asked me what our plans are if we’re going back to Singapore in a couple
EpilogueTwo weeks later.Devin King and Mira Evans stood in front of their respective families, both looking as fretful and tense as each other. Each member of the family watches and waits with the curiosity of their news.“Well…” Noah Evans— Mira’s dad urges. His brown eyes were darting from his daughter to his best friend’s son standing before him.“I’m pregnant.” Mira blurts out suddenly. Devin groans low behind her when everyone in the room, save for Ayla, goes stock-still.“Why do you keep doing that?” He utters to her quietly behind his hand. Mira shrugs helplessly and turns her attention back to everyone in the room gaping at her.“Come again?” Her father questions, his dark brows fusing together. “Did I just hear you correctly? Did you just say you’re pregnant, or am I having some sort of stroke right now?”“You’re not having a stroke, Daddy; I’m pregnant,” Mira says, chewing on her bottom lip.“Who is the father?” Kate, Mira’s mother, qu
Devin disappears inside, leaving me out on the terrace. I stood there trying to picture myself living here. I just couldn’t see it. Yes, we have a company here that I could potentially work at but living in a foreign country where you don’t speak the language, you don’t know anyone. I’ll feel lost here. I mean, it’s a beautiful place, it’s clean, and the people are kind, but I know I don’t belong here. I want our baby to be born in the same country as its parents were. I want it to grow up around family. I don’t know how Devin and I will figure this out, but I truly hope we do for the sake of our baby, if nothing else.I’m lost someplace in my mind when I feel Devin come up behind me and hear him whisper in my ear. “Come with me; I have something to show you.”I follow him through the apartment toward the elevator. “Where are we going?” I ask curiously, and he smiles, lacing his fingers with mine.“You’ll see.” Devin pushes the button to the roof terrace, and I smile. He’s got that wi
“Damn baby, it’s nice to be missed by you,” Devin murmurs against my lips, and I suck on his bottom lip.“You saying you haven’t missed me?” I question, looking up at him through my lashes.Devin cups my face in his big hands and gazes into my eyes, his lips brushing mine when he speaks. “Like you wouldn’t believe.” A wicked smile. “I hope you’re not too attached to that dress.”I match his smile, sliding my hands under his T-shirt and raking my fingertips over his abs, revelling in the feel of every bump and ridge and the way his muscles spasm under my touch. “I have two more, just like it,” I affirm, dragging my index finger up the length of his erection over his light blue jeans. “Now, are you going to keep talking or are you going to take me home?” Devin makes a slow hissing sound and rocks against my finger, his cock demanding further attention.“Keep touching me like that, and I’ll fuck you in my car.” He groans, pressing a kiss to my rosy lips. I squeeze my thighs together when
Mira“Devin?”I wander through his penthouse apartment, awe-struck. It’s stunning. Open plan living room, with gorgeous crystal chandeliers, floor to ceiling windows with an incredible view. I trail my fingers along the dark grey marble island in the kitchen as I walk through. I go up the spiral staircase to the bedroom situated on the first floor. No sign of him anywhere. With a sigh, I walk over to the window and look out at the breathtaking view of Singapore stretched out before me.“Hi.” I jump and gasp when I hear a deep voice burr in my ear. “Welcome home.” I smile and sink against him when he wraps his arms around me. By home, he means his embrace, where he claims I always belong, not the apartment itself.“Mm, it’s so good to be home.” I lament, tipping my head back when his lips descend on my neck, licking, kissing and nipping at my flesh. My clothes start to come off, one item at a time hitting the floor until I’m nake
“I beg your pardon?”“My other boyfriend. Battery Operated Boyfriend. BoB.” I explain with a giggle when his face relaxes, and he curses.“You just killed my post-orgasmic bliss with your shenanigans, Evans. If you were here, I’d take you over my knee and give you a good spanking for teasing me like that.” Devin grumbles light-heartedly and gets up out of his bed. A light goes on, and he sets me down someplace. “Wait there. I need to clean myself up.” I grin, watching him move around. His firm and muscular bum comes into view, and I sigh lustily.“I really want to bite that bum of yours, King.” Devin’s laugh echoes in the bathroom. He leans over to look at me.“I’ll bite you back, Evans,” Devin utters, and picks his phone up.“Wait, wait! Let me see that hot body; I’m going to need it for visual purposes later.” I demand, and he flips his camera to face the mirror in the bathroom and flexes his muscles for me. Oh, hello, beefcake.“Oh, by the way, how would you feel about me coming ou
Mira“Peach, what’s up with you?”I sigh, staring at myself in the full-length mirror. It’s been a week since Devin left to go back to Singapore, and I’ve been miserable every second since. I force a smile on my face and pretend I’m fine, but the truth is, I’m not. I miss him. I miss his presence in my life. I miss his touch, his kiss, his smell. We haven’t talked about what our separation meant, but he still calls me to check how I’m doing. I’ve been overly emotional lately since everything that happened with Scott. I burst into tears all hours of the day. I’m mostly healed physically; emotionally, not so much, but I’m getting there. I’ve had a couple of sessions with my mother, which has helped.“I’m fine, Wy; I just don’t feel like going out. So you guys go ahead without me.” I state, turning to face him. Wyatt walks over to me and pulls me into his arms. I sink into his warmth and close my eyes. “You miss him, don’t you?” I nod wordlessly.“He’s not going to be back for months. Me
I pace the corridors at the hospital impatiently. Waiting for them to examine Mira. Everyone’s here, both our families, Wyatt, Lexi and Logan, all waiting to get the all-clear that she’s okay and not suffering some sort of internal bleeding or head trauma. I couldn’t be there because our families don’t know about us. Ayla’s the only one with her.“I want answers!” Uncle Noah barks furiously down the phone. “That lunatic almost killed my daughter again because you failed to inform us of his early release. He was serving a sentence for attempted murder. How could you let him out notifying none of us so we can protect her!” He shouts, pacing back and forth. “We’ll see about that. You’ll be hearing from my lawyer. Don’t you worry.” He grips and hangs up the phone. “Incompetent piece of…”“Honey, please calm down.” Aunt Kate tries to soothe him by rubbing his back. He utters something back about needing air and walks off.“Sweetheart, get your hand seen, too. It’s really swollen.” My mothe
DevinI glance down at my phone for the millionth time waiting for Mira to text me back, but she doesn’t. I got no answer from her call either. I’ve got this dreadful feeling in my gut, and I can’t shake it. She always responds to my texts, so why isn’t she replying.Me:‘Baby, everything okay?’ I sigh and bite my lip anxiously. Levi walks into the kitchen, and being the spiritual person he is, picks up on my unease and frowns. “What’s up with you?”I scowl at my phone and shake my head. “Something’s wrong. Mira’s not answering my texts or calls.”Levi opens the fridge and takes out a bottle of water. “She’s probably busy, or you’ve pissed her off again.” He utters, taking a long sip and licking his lips.I pin him with a firm look, and he rolls his eyes. “I’ve not done anything; we’re perfectly fine, thank you very much. When have you known Mira not to answer texts? Even when she’s angry, she sends something scathing back.”“If