Surrendering(85)

“Let me go.” Kate squirmed to get free, to no avail.

Dev sat them both up, her legs straddling his lap. His arms locked tightly around her. His hard cock pressed where she desired it most. Unbelievable. He was turned on. Her body involuntarily responded to his closeness. Traitorous little bitch. She was livid. With not only him, but also herself for her involuntary reaction to him. How could she be so pissed and wet at the same time? Ugh.

“I’m sorry, my love.”

“Sorry? You’re sorry? What exactly are you sorry for, Dev? Are you maybe sorry for tying your mate up without any explanation whatsoever? Or are you perhaps sorry for leaving me there for hours without coming to see me? Or maybe you’re sorry for sending in Doctor Scissorhands to cut my hair! Are you kidding me?”

She pushed on his chest, trying to dislodge herself from his lap, but he held on tight.

“Ugh! Let. Me. Go!”

“No. I won’t. Please hear me out, Kate. I’m new at this relationship stuff and that’s not an excuse, but it is the truth. I think I’m going to make a lot more mistakes before I get this mate thing right and so I’m apologizing for not only the many mistakes I’ve made over the past twenty-four hours, but also for all of the future mistakes I’m bound to make.”

Kate sighed. Why did he have to be so damn endearing? She was still angry, but it dissipated slightly with his genuine apology.

“You’ll have to apologize again for your future mistakes when you make them. An all encompassing one time apology will not be anywhere near sufficient.” Yes, her inner toddler tantrum came out.

He laughed. God, she loved that laugh. It sent chills through her entire body.

“Of course, my love. I’ll grovel as much as I need to stay in your good graces.”

“Good. At least we’re on the same page. So…what happened? What ever did I do to warrant being held like a criminal? And even criminals get due process, by the way.” Yep, she was still plenty pissed.

Dev took a deep breath before he began.

“Big D came to me yesterday with some rather shocking news and I overreacted. As I said, I’ve made a lot of mistakes in the past twenty-four hours and for that, I am deeply and truly sorry. What I did was unforgivable, but I beg for your forgiveness anyway, Kate. I didn’t trust you and I should have. That was wrong of me and mistake number one. I should have talked to you before I just took action. I shouldn’t have avoided you all day.” He sighed. “So many mistakes.”

She was silent, not giving him any quarter.

“We got the results of your blood test back and…we know who your father is.”

Kate had a sudden sick feeling rush through her body. This was not going to be good news. “Who?” she whispered. She could barely get the word past her lips. She already knew what he was about to say.

Dev looked down at their joined hands, which she hadn’t realized they’d done. Oh God. He couldn’t even look at her. This was bad.

“Dev, who is it?”

He raised his eyes to hers and she saw sympathy. And anger.

“Xavier.”

Kate’s hands flew to cover her mouth. Xavier? The vampire who wants world domination? The vampire who’s kidnapping young, innocent women and using them as baby incubators? The same vampire who wants to kidnap her too? The vile, evil creature she’d just dreamt about? She was going to be sick.

Kate jumped up and ran to the bathroom, spilling the contents of her stomach into the toilet. Dev was behind her, holding her hair, rubbing her back, whispering words of comfort. Oh my God. Now it all made sense.

Dev thought she was a traitor. Dev thought Xavier had somehow orchestrated this entire meeting with him.

She vomited again until all that was left was dry heaves; sobs racked her body. How could he possibly think she would betray him like that? She loved him so very much. She would do anything for him. Anything to protect him.

She stood up, brushed her teeth and returned to the bedroom, sitting on the loveseat at the opposite end of the room.

Dev had stood in the bathroom doorway, silently watching her. Probably trying to discern any deception on her part. Nice. Even though she had nothing to feel guilty for, she couldn’t even look at him.

She caressed the mark circling her left thumb. The one that magically appeared after their bonding. She thought about that night, how much she loved him, how grateful she was to have found such a fantastic man in her life. Her anger lessened.

“I didn’t know,” she finally voiced, turning to look him in the eye, so he would see the truth and sincerity in her words. Tears streamed unbidden down her face.

“I know, love.” He crossed the room with a tissue and knelt in front her.