The Professional Lover II (18+) | [Complete]

29 : Surrendering It

"Maggie!" Deven greets me the way he always does. The look on his face is one of worry rather than his normal smile.

"Hi," I squeak, my anger now tamed to sadness. The minute I walked out, something inside me screamed that I shouldn't have left. But I couldn't stay with him. I was still too mad, still too hurt to process anything.

Deven wraps me into his thin arms. "Are you okay? I was so worried by the way you sounded on the phone."

"I'm ... I'm fine now. Don't worry," I say, the hesitation betraying my words.

"What happened?"

I sniffle, though I'm not crying. "Things fell through with Daniel and I can't go home right now."

"You can't go home? Why not?"

I shake my head, not knowing what to tell him. Because Remy won't leave, I think to myself, and then suddenly tears start to come out. "I just can't," I whimper. I wipe my cheek and he gives me a pout. I'm sure he'd prefer I tell him more, but I've learned my lesson. "Can I stay here for the night?"

"Of course you can." He runs his hand up and down my back. "You're shivering. Can I make you some tea?"

I let him go. "I'd really like that. Thank you."

He takes a few steps into his kitchen, giving me an encouraging smile. "I'm so sorry all this is happening to you," he says as he pours the hot water. "I wish I could help more."

"You've helped more than you think." I climb up to sit on his countertop and then hug myself for warmth.

He hands me the steaming mug. As I let it warm my hands, he runs his hands over my thighs and calves, letting them come to a rest at the back of my knees. My shivering calms under his warm touch, though most of it isn't due to temperature.

As I wait for the tea to cool, I take a real look at him and see he's more dressed up than usual. A slim, dark shirt hanging over a very well-fitting pair of trousers, the perfect wave of his hair styled back and out of his face. He's a step up from his usual carefree, professor chic. "You have plans tonight," I say rather than asking.

He looks hesitant. "I did ... But I will cancel."

There's a pang in my chest at the thought of him leaving. "No, no, you should go. Have fun before your trip back home."

His mouth twists with reluctance. He absent-mindedly glances towards a paper hanging from his refrigerator. I look over and find they are his clean STD results. He's trying to get laid. "I feel as if I should stay," he says.

"No, I'll be fine. Really," I assure him. "Go."

Dev's smile returns. "Alright."

"But I am going to sleep in your bed," I warn him. "So, tell your date to take you back to his place. I'm not in the mood for a threesome tonight."