“Okay, wow,” Kate said excitedly. “I think we’re getting somewhere here. Tell me more.”
When Devlin looked away and sighed, Kate was afraid that she’d gone too far and he was locking himself up again. When he cleared his throat and looked up at her, she saw even deeper emotion in his eyes.
“The thing I’ve never admitted to anyone, not even myself, is that I do want a mate … a partner. Children. I could never admit to myself that I wanted it because it was so far out of my reach. It was easier to put it aside and say I wanted more money and more success instead.”
“But you don’t keep all the money,” Kate said. “You give it all away. All you want is to help people.”
Devlin nodded. “I like the challenge of coming up with a new venture and applying it. The money that rolls in is directed straight to those people who are in need.”
“I can’t believe I’m seeing this side of you,” Kate said, shaking her head. “I really believed that you wanted to push me away or take my love and never give up anything of yourself.”
“Kate,” Devlin said, leaning close. “I would tear out my heart for you. It never really occurred to me that I was shutting you out. I thought I was making an effort.”
“You’re making an effort now,” she whispered, smiling. “Your deepest, darkest desire really is a family?”
“Yes,” he said, looking into her eyes with a very serious expression. “The only reason I couldn’t admit it before is because I knew that it would have to be with my mate, and I was sure I would never find her.”
“But you did,” she murmured.
“I did,” he responded, kissing her.
Kate’s heart pounded so hard that her head swam. Devlin pulled her into his lap, and they wound their arms around each other as they deepened the kiss. Her entire universe had narrowed down to Devlin’s touch, the press of his hot lips, and the warmth of his body throbbing against her.
"I’ve never done this before," he whispered between kisses.
Kate laughed. "What, kissed?"
Devlin chuckled. “I mean being in a serious relationship. Living together, sleeping together … I’ve never had a partner.”
He looked so lost and forlorn that Kate snuggled up to him and kissed him, then ruffled his hair. “We’ll figure it out together,” she said.
“I want to make you feel special,” he said. “I want to let you in so you feel close to me. I will try my absolute hardest to make this work because I never want to let you go.”
The words rang through Kate’s entire being. She’d been so afraid that she would be abandoned again … rootless, drifting, without a home or any love to anchor her. Now she knew that Devlin was someone she could depend on.
He’s going to show me all his fears and trust me enough to hold him at his worst. He will never leave me, never give up on me. Just like I’ll never give up on him.
“I felt like you didn’t really care for me,” she said. “That it was all about the mate bond, not about me. You don’t understand how many times I’ve been hurt.”
“No, I don’t,” Devlin said firmly. “But I can tell you it will never happen again, not while I’m in your life. I want to discover you, a detail at a time, every day for the rest of our lives.”
Kate kissed him, feeling excitement growing in her. She had never known a feeling like this … thrilled and giddy, on a knife’s edge of ecstasy as if heaven waited one step away and all she had to do was accept it.
“I love you,” Devlin said. “I love you with my entire being, and I will never stop.”
“I love you too,” she answered, almost sobbing now. The depth of emotion flowing through her was too much. Kate trembled in his arms as she tried to understand the sharp turns her life had just taken.
Devlin pulled her close for another kiss, and Kate melted into his embrace. She let everything fall away … the theater, the lights, even the noises of people below as they slowly headed to the lobby. There was nothing in the world except Devlin, the passion of his kiss, and the power of his hands.
And the gift of his promise. Made from his heart to mine, never to be broken.
Us. Forever.
EIGHTEEN
DEVLIN
It had taken some time for the two of them to finally move from the balcony. Neither of them had noticed as the guests all disappeared to the lobby, and cleaners began to move through the rows.