Total pages in book: 123
Estimated words: 114819 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 574(@200wpm)___ 459(@250wpm)___ 383(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 114819 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 574(@200wpm)___ 459(@250wpm)___ 383(@300wpm)
Dev finally nodded one single time, giving his agreement. “So what happens with you then?”
For the first time since Dev stepped out to talk to him, his guy began to drop invisible barriers between them, growing passive, which wasn’t Dev’s way at all. Dev took another step backward then another, his ass hitting the railing. They were as far apart on the landing as they could be. Then Dev reached his hand out, wiggling his fingers, wanting Cash to clasp it. He swallowed the hopeful lump that formed and wrapped his hand tightly around Dev’s.
“You and I agreed to talk about what happens to us after the case is over, so you have a few days to process the fact that I gave my verbal resignation today. I’ll follow it up with written confirmation tonight. I have the letter ready. I agreed to stay on until all the loose ends are taken care of, but after that, I’m done,” Cash explained and rubbed the pad of his thumb across the weathered skin of Dev’s hand.
“Why’d you do that?” Dev asked, his brows knitting together.
“A lot of reasons. The most prominent one right now’s how little we were allowed to know about such a dangerous operation. I don’t like the unnecessary risks they put on you. I believe your father was framing you to take the fall for all his actions. If we hadn’t gotten you secured, you might be, most likely would be, in prison by now. The Disciples operation’s too dirty for me. I like to believe I’m doing good in the world, and there’s nothing good about any of this,” Cash explained his professional reasons as he stared directly at Dev who didn’t hold his gaze.
Joe’s apartment door opened, and he poked his head out. “Vernie’s been reassigned with no reason or destination given. She’s gone dark. Also, at least one other agent under her is MIA. No one knows where he is or if he was reassigned. Is it the confirmation we needed?” Joe asked.
Fuck Joe’s interruption at the worst possible moment. Cash let go of a frustrated sigh as Dev released his hand. He hadn’t been completely forthcoming with Dev as to his and Joe’s assumptions. It was too gruesome no matter how unaffected Dev seemed.
“Meanin’ what?” Dev shot out, his chest swelling in indignation. “That the mother fuckin’ government killed my old man?”
“We have no confirmation, but Joe and I believe it’s a possibility,” Cash said carefully.
“Well goddamn. I always fuckin’ hated the government. Now I fuckin’ love ’em. Shit. What a brain fuck. The government’s my kind of people,” Dev said. Maybe teasing, maybe not.
Dev suddenly leaned into Cash, giving him one of those unguarded chaste kisses. “Go deal with Joe then come home and lick my ass like you like to do.”
“Oh my God,” Joe said loudly. Cash cast a quick glance at his partner whose face paled. “I’m gonna have PTSD after this case. Post traumatic sex disorder. Why do you say those things in front of me?”
Dev completely ignored Joe. “The girls’ll be asleep soon, and I have a lock on my bedroom door. I miss us that way,” Dev whispered. By the way Joe’s door slammed, he didn’t want to hear more. Cash lifted a palm to the back of Dev’s head and brought him forward, kissing Dev with a bit more passion. He dipped his tongue forward, sliding it through Dev’s mouth before he pulled away.
“I’ll be over as soon as I confirm the new direction with Shanna and Diesel. I’ll do it over here so the girls can’t hear.”
Dev nodded and pulled away, reaching for his hand again. They went opposite directions, the hand hold held until they could no longer touch each other. Even then, Cash watched Dev’s ass until he closed the door behind him.
His guy wanted him. He could see it. And like every minute of every day since they started this up, that had to be enough.
Except time was running out.
Chapter 34
Cash did things like dry himself off with terrycloth bath sheets instead of using Dev’s ratty towels that he and Keyes had purchased from Goodwill like twenty years ago.
Having a soft, clean towel wasn’t a hardship though, no matter how Dev pretended it was. He slid the towel between his parted thighs, wiping away the water droplets as he stared at himself in the bathroom mirror. He wasn’t looking his best. He probably needed to eat more. If he turned a certain way, he saw the slight hint of his ribs, and his face was beginning to look gaunt. Thinner than he’d ever been before.
Actually, besides eating some seriously high-calorie foods, he needed to get out from underneath all this stress. He’d never done well with continuously unrelenting anxiety. Being pissed off all the time was more his specialty.