“Open your legs,” he says, swallowing hard as I comply. Leaning down onto the bed he dips his head and licks my core, stopping to pay special attention to my clit.

“Devon,” I call out, wanting him inside me. Gripping my hips, he tastes me again, until he finally pulls away, pushes my thighs with his hands and slides into me with one long, quick thrust. I let out a strangled breath at the slight discomfort, but then pleasure takes over.

“Fuck, I'm sorry,” he grits out as he enters me, his eyes on where both of us are now joined. Slowly he pulls out, then just as slowly thrusts in again, driving me crazy. I sink my nails into his back, urging him to go faster, lifting my hips up to meet him thrust for thrust, until he leans over me, pulling my hands above my head and threading our fingers together. Pushing our joint hands into the mattress, he grinds his hips into mine over and over again. I close my eyes shut, getting lost in the feeling, the pleasure. I feel his hot, wet mouth on my nipple, teasing, biting, sucking, heightening my pleasure, making it almost unbearable to withstand.

“Leighton,” he rasps out, and I open my eyes, staring back into the ones of the man I love. The man I’m leaving. Knowing this is the last time I’ll ever be with Devon makes me want to break down, but I don’t. Instead, I hold his penetrating gaze, panting as he gives me what I want, makes love to me for the last time. I wrap my legs around his hips, a sound escaping my lips as I erupt with pleasure. I hear Devon curse as my thighs tremble, and he brings his lips to mine, kissing me hungrily as wave after wave of ecstasy has me moaning into his mouth and gripping onto him for dear life.

“You’re perfect for me, you know that?” he whispers as he pulls his mouth from mine. And in this moment, in this bed, we are perfect for each other. In our own little world, where no one else exists, where nothing else matters, we are perfect for each other in each and every way possible. He thrusts again deeply, pulling me from my thoughts. I gasp as he pulls me up into a sitting position, and lifts me so I’m sitting on his thighs while he is in a kneeling position. He lifts his hips, bouncing me on his cock. His eyes are glued to my breasts as they bounce with the motion each time he pushes into me. His fingers dig into my hips, trying to pull me closer, trying to get himself deeper, probably leaving bruises. He bites on my nipple as he comes inside of me, thrusting furiously. He calls out my name, saying it reverently, like a caress. He pulls away and lifts his head up, his eyes unguarded.

“I love you. Whatever happens, I just want you to remember that,” he says, lifting his hand to push away the damp hair from my face. It sounds like a promise—or maybe an apology.

“I love you, too,” I tell him, putting my hand over his chest, feeling his heart slow to a steady, sure beat. Mourning what we had, as sweet and short as it was. I've never loved anyone as much as I love him.

“It's snowing,” Devon says, looking out the window. He's only in his boxers, his every muscle sharper, harder under the moonlight filtering in. He checks his phone again, probably for the fifteenth time since he got out of bed. The screen illuminates his frown as he reads whatever is on it.

I lick the chocolate filling off my fingers, then take another donut and bite into it. I don’t really feel like eating, but I’ll need the energy tonight.

He looks up from the phone and looks at me. “Enjoying those?”

“My favorite,” I say, giving him a fake smile.

A slow grin pulls at his lips. “Yeah,” he says softly, still smiling. “If you want some fresh air, you're going to have to get out of that bed, you know,” Devon says with a satisfied smirk, turning his attention back to the window. I roll over onto my stomach and smile sadly. I wish I never had to get out of his bed.

When he sees my expression, he walks back to me, and leans down, kissing me on the nose, then on my lips. “Leighton—”

His phone beeps and he exhales deeply, pulling away from me and looking at the screen again. “Come on, get dressed,” he says suddenly. “Fresh air.”

My smile fades as I realize that my time has run out. This is it. I sit up and grab some fresh clothes out of the closet, a pair of jeans and a black V-neck sweater. Devon dresses, and I feel his eyes on me as I walk to the bathroom to get his jacket, but pretend I don’t notice.

“You ready?” he asks, putting his own jacket on.

“Yeah,” I say, but I'm not. I don't want to do this.

DEVON

I take her hand and descend the stairs, dragging her behind me. She walks slowly, hesitantly, as if she doesn't want to leave. As soon as we're out of here, I'm going to clue her in on what exactly is going on, but I don't want her to panic. If they catch us red-handed, we're both done for.

So I lead her downstairs as quietly as possible, going over my plan once again in my head. I left the car in the garage, where I’ll have to somehow sneak in Leighton. I have another car waiting at, ironically, the same parking lot where George and I caught Leighton sneaking up on us. It's abandoned, and there's not a lot of chance someone will see us switching cars there. I'll leave my car and take the other one, and let Colin deal with everything else.

We exit the house and I don't waste time, I lead her straight toward the garage with quick steps. I stop at the gate and turn around, looking at the house where I spent all my life, being, but not living. The only time I'm alive is when I'm with her.

“What are you doing?” she asks, confused, once we’re inside the garage.

I shush her with my hand and open the car door, motioning for her to get in. I didn’t lock it earlier or close it all the way for fear of alerting someone and having them check what’s going on. Wordlessly, she gets in the car. I round it and get in myself, starting the car and pulling out through the raised garage door.

I see two men by the gate. “Get down,” I tell her. She complies without a question. I turn on my headlights, hoping to blind them, and their heads snap in my direction, both of them squinting. One of them raises his hand when he sees it’s me. I pass by them without acknowledging them. It’s what I would usually do.

“Where are we going?” Her voice is taking on a panicky note and I decide to put her out of her misery.

“We're leaving, Leighton.” I glance down to the legroom space where she’s squished. “They were going to take you. I couldn't let that happen.”

“I know.” She touches my hand on the shift stick, her palm lingering on it. I glance at her, and then back to the road. “What about everything else? What about my family?”

“You can come up now,” I say once we’re safe, but really, I’m just buying some time. I hate that I have to tell her this. “It's out of my hands,” I tell her after a beat. “I don't think it ever was in my hands.”

I expect her to say more, but she just looks out the window.

Reaching the parking lot, I park the car and get out. I open the door for her and help her out as well. My old phone, my documents, everything, I’m leaving it all in the car. Earlier snowfall has turned into a blizzard, the cold snowflakes hitting my face sharply at all angles as I lead her to the other car. I get inside, taking the new prepaid phone I purchased earlier and checking to see if Colin or Justin have messaged me yet. There’s nothing.

After looking around the car to make sure we have everything we’ll need, I glance back at Leighton, her hair swirling in the wind, her cheeks slightly flushed. She makes eye contact, but something feels off in the way she looks at me.

Just a little longer and we'll both be free. I'll spend the rest of my life saying sorry for what I almost did, for what I can't stop.