"I know," I admit. "And when that time comes, I'll make the right choice. But right now, all I need to know is whether you're willing to accept my love, even with all the complications that come with it. I'm working on the solution, but I have to be patient with Chief Harrison. Are you willing to keep my secret?"
She's quiet for so long that I start to think she's going to tell me no, that this is where we end. But then she nods, and the relief is so overwhelming I have to fight to stay standing.
"Yes," she whispers. "I'm willing to keep your secret. And Allison will too. I told her everything, and she promised she wouldn't say anything to anyone."
"You told her?" Part of me wants to be angry that she shared my secret without asking, but I understand why she did it. She needed someone to talk to, someone who could help her make sense of everything.
"I had to talk to someone, Devil. I was drowning in all of this, and she's the only person I trust completely. But she won't betray us. She loves me too much to do anything that would hurt me."
I nod, accepting her explanation. "Okay. I trust your judgment."
"Good." She reaches up, her fingers tracing the line of my jaw. "Because I need you to know that I'm all in, Devil. Despite everything, despite how complicated this is, I'm choosing you. I'm choosing us."
The words are like a balm to my soul. I lean down, pressing my forehead against hers. "I love you, Dani. More than I've ever loved anyone or anything in my life."
"I love you too," she whispers back. "So much it terrifies me."
I can't hold back anymore. I capture her lips with mine, pouring all of my love and desperation and relief into the kiss. She responds immediately, her arms winding around my neck as she presses herself against me. The kiss is hungry, desperate, filled with all the emotion we've been holding back.
When we finally break apart, we're both breathing hard. I rest my hands on her hips, holding her close.
"Come inside with me," I murmur against her ear. "Let me show you how much I love you."
She pulls back to look at me, her eyes dark with desire. "Yes."
I take her hand, leading her up the porch steps and into the house. The moment the door closes behind us, she's in my arms again, her mouth finding mine in another searing kiss. I back her against the door, my hands tangling in her hair as I deepen the kiss.
"I missed you," I growl against her lips. "This fuckin' day has felt like a lifetime."
"I missed you too," she breathes, her hands working at the buttons of my shirt. "I tried to convince myself I could walk away from you, but I can't. I don't want to."
I help her with my shirt, shrugging it off and letting it fall to the floor. Her hands are immediately on my chest, her touch sending fire through my veins. I capture her hands in mine, bringing them to my lips to press kisses to her palms.
"Are you sure about this?" I ask, searching her eyes. "Are you sure you want to be with me, knowing what you know now?"
"I've never been more sure of anything in my life," she says without hesitation. "I love you, Devil. All of you. The good, the bad, and the complicated."
That's all I need to hear. I lift her into my arms, her legs wrapping around my waist as I carry her toward the bedroom. She's kissing my neck, her teeth grazing my skin in a way that makes me groan.
"You're going to be the death of me, woman," I mutter, and she laughs; the first real laugh I've heard from her since she found out the truth.
"Good," she teases. "I like having that effect on you."
I lay her down on the bed gently, taking a moment to just look at her. She's so beautiful it takes my breath away, and the fact that she's here, that she's choosing to be with me despite everything, still feels like a miracle.
"What are you thinking about?" she asks, reaching up to cup my face.
"Just how lucky I am," I tell her honestly. "How grateful I am that you came back to me."
"I'll always come back to you," she promises. "No matter what happens, no matter how complicated things get, I'll always find my way back to you."
The promise breaks something open inside me, and I lean down to kiss her again, slower this time, savoring the taste of her, the feel of her beneath me. We take our time, relearning each other's bodies, whispering words of love and promises for the future.
Later, as we lie tangled in the sheets, her head on my chest and my fingers running through her hair, I feel more at peace than I have in years. The situation with my undercover work isn't resolved, and I know there are difficult days ahead, but for now, we have this. We have each other.
"Devil?" she murmurs sleepily.
"Yeah, baby?"
