She knew he could tell she wasafraid. She hated that fear was taking her over because she was pretty sure hereveled in it. He liked to see her cower and back away. He liked to havecontrol. She was giving him what he wanted, and she couldn’t do anything tokeep herself in check.
A few minutes later, Reid pulledup to the valet of a tall skyscraper, and the valet helped her out of the car. She then realized where they were. She hadn’t thought that she could feelsicker, but he had proven her wrong.
A hotel. Really? A hotel? She couldn’t believe this was where he was taking her. Okay, yes, shecould. It made perfect sense. She almost made a smart-aleck comment aboutwhether the place charged by the hour. Luckily, she restrained herself. Shedidn’t even want to think about what happened in hotels by the hour. Thatmight actually break her character.
The valet zoomed off with hiscar, leaving Reid alone with Devon.
He smiled brightly at her. “Nicesurprise, right?” He wrapped his arms around her waist and pulled her inclose. “I missed you so much, Dev.”
Devon stepped out of hisembrace. “I can’t go upstairs with you, Reid.”
“Why?” he asked, his eyeshardening.
“I don’t think it’s a good idea,”she said, trying to remain strong.
Waiting for Reid’s reaction waslike turning the handle to a jack-in-the-box, knowing it was going to pop inyour face.
“You haven’t seen me intwo-and-a-half months. I get us a nice hotel room in the city, and I’m excitedto see you. And you don’t want to go up with me?” he asked. “What’s wrongwith you, Devon? What’s changed since you left?”
Devon sighed and looked down atthe ground. What was wrong with her? Maybe it wouldn’t be that bad. They had a lot of stuff to talk about, and it’s not like they could standoutside the hotel all night.
“Are you seeing someone else? Isthat what this is about?” he asked.
She heard the tension in hisvoice, and she tried to remain perfectly calm. If she reacted at all to herthoughts of Brennan, it would be bad. She couldn’t let Reid know. She had tokeep that one thing from him. She was safe as long as Brennan’s identity waskept safe.
“No, I’m not seeing anyone,” shesaid softly, staying as calm as possible. “I just feel like we’re rushing.”
“We’ve been together for threeyears. How could we possibly rush this?” he asked, reaching out for her.
“You know what I mean,” she saidwith a shrug.
“Just hear me out, Dev,” Reidsaid softly. He cupped her chin and lifted her face to his. “I love you somuch. I’ve missed you something fierce. If you feel like I’m rushing you,then I’m rushing you. I want to talk. I want to spend time with you. It’sbeen too long since I’ve gotten to be with you. Just come upstairs with me.”
Devon bit her lip and stared upinto the face of the man that she had thought for years was her greatness, hertrue love. Something in his pleading seemed to weaken her resolve. Maybeit would be different. If he loved her, maybe it would be different.
“Please come with me, Dev. I’vebeen a mess without you.” He planted a tender kiss on her lips.
“Alright,” she said softly,breaking the kiss. “We’ll go upstairs and talk.”
He smiled like he had won aprize, and then he took her hand and walked her into the hotel. They took theelevator, and after they reached the floor and found their room, Reid slid theroom key into the slot. Devon walked in before him and heard him push the lockover to bar entrance. She swallowed and looked around. It was nice enoughwith a small living area and a king-size bed. She didn’t even bother lookingin the bathroom. The last thing she wanted was to see another one of hernightmares.
Devon decided to take a seat onthe chair in the living space. It faced the door and away from the bed. Shewanted a clear view of the exit, and she wanted to avoid the bed at all costs. That was the way she wanted to handle this, focusing on a clear escape route.
“Okay…” Reid walked up behind herand began to massage her shoulders.
When he touched her, she tensedup, and he just rubbed harder. She was so on edge. She didn’t know what wasgoing to happen.
“You said you wanted to talk, solet’s talk.”
“Um…alright,” she began.
“Let’s talk about how you lied tome. Or we could talk about how you ran away to Chicago. How about we talkabout how you’ve been acting all night or how scared you looked when I foundout that you were lying? Maybe we should just talk about the bartender,” hesaid, his voice thick with venom.
Devon felt like she had stoppedbreathing. Not Brennan. They couldn’t talk about Brennan.
“Ah, so it is the bartenderthen,” he said like he had stumbled upon something.
“Reid,” she gasped out, trying tofind air.
“You said you wanted to talk. Ithink we can talk about him first. Did you fuck him?”
He pushed into the muscles of hershoulders so hard that she tried to jump away from him, but he held her tightlyin place.
“Reid, that’s not why I’m here,”she cried. “Stop! You’re hurting me!”
He only held her more firmly. “Sometimes, I don’t think you listen to me unless I force you, Devon.”
“I’m listening!” she spat infrustration, trying to wrench herself away from his grasp.
“I don’t think you are becauseyou haven’t answered my question yet. Did you fuck him? It’s a yes or noquestion, Devon.”
She swallowed. She couldn’t talkabout Brennan. How did Reid know? She had done everything shecould to keep Reid from finding out, yet he had still figured it all out. Shewanted to break down and cry, but Reid didn’t deserve her tears.
“No answer, Devon? You lost yourvoice somewhere? I’ll just assume that means yes.” He let go of her shouldersand walked around to the front of the chair.
She tried to stand, but he pushedher back down to a sitting position.
“You were here acting like awhore while I was in St. Louis missing you. Doesn’t really seem fair to me, doesit?”
He was acting completely insane. She needed to get out of
