“I’m going to call Kennedy’s friend Benji,” she said as her fingers flew over the keys to type a message. “Have him meet me at her apartment so I can dig around and see what the hell he’s up to.”

Paul grabbed her wrists, tight enough to stop her movements but tender enough to have electric currents heating her skin in response. “Hey, that’s enough for today,” he coaxed, pulling her device from her now limp fingers and tossing it on the bed behind her. “Why don’t we relax for a bit? I can run you a bubble bath, order some food . . .” His hands had moved to caress her arms and Deven’s body quivered with the ache. She knew it was risky having him here. But dammit, she was ready to risk it all.

Her lids fluttered closed, and she felt his face a taste away from hers, his rich, musky scent like an intoxicating spice that tantalized every sense at once. Her mouth tingled to feel his, even felt his cool breath stroking her lips and they parted with the invitation. Maybe she could—

“What the fuck is going on?”

The voice had Deven snatching back and nearly stumbling in her haste. Her eyes flew to the door, widening at the source of the interruption.

Justin stood in the doorway of the bedroom, slightly tousled from his flight and a rolling bag at his feet. Shock, anger, and jealousy cloaked his face as he shot eyes of pure hatred at Deven, then Paul. She didn’t even have time to react. Justin was across the room in two strides and threw Paul a punch to the face. The crack of knuckle on bone had Deven wincing, and she threw herself in front of him, her arms outstretched to keep her boyfriend at bay.

“Justin, stop!”

The gesture had Justin in a frenzy, and he looked at Deven with a deranged look she had never seen before.

“You really going to cheat on me with this dude and have the nerve to defend him?”

“Please, it’s not like that!”

“The fuck is it like, Deven?” He snatched away when she attempted to reach for his arm. “Nah, don’t fucking touch me!”

Calmly, Paul walked to the door without so much as a comment.

“Paul!” Deven cried.

He turned then, his eyes brimming with hope. But what could she say then? Don’t leave me? Please be my friend. I need you, all words that were caught in her throat. She didn’t know she was crying until the tears blurred her vision. But still through the haze she saw Paul’s figure disappear out of sight. Then the slam of the front door resonated like the exclamation point of his finality.