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Devon eventually glances over. “Does it ever make you feel small?”

“What? The sky?”

He shakes his head, exhaling a puff of cold air. “Space. The stars. Whatever's out there peeking through.”

“Ah.” My gaze swings back to the flickering dots overhead while I contemplate my answer. “Honestly, I never thought much about what's up there. I mean, obviously I feel like something is, but to me, it's more like… a vibe, I guess.”

“A vibe?”

“Yeah. Like we're all part of the same universe, even the stars. Energy you put out is the energy you get back, and all that shit. Golden rule, you know?”

He smiles, tilting his head back again. “I think I like that better. I’ve always needed something bigger than myself, and you make it sound less lonely. Like, even if nothing’s watching, we’re still connected to each other.”

I take another drag and flick ash into the snow. “Guess that’s why we work so well. I keep shit grounded while you're up in the clouds.”

Dev huffs out a quiet laugh. “So you're my anchor, hot shot?”

Glancing over at him, I meet his gaze in the starlight, warm enough to set my soul on fire. “Something like that.”

I'll be whatever you need me to be, for as long as you need it.

The cold finally starts to bite through my jacket, and I stub out the cigarette before pulling him against me. “Come on, Skywalker. It's freezing out here.”

“Holy shit. Was that a Star Wars joke?”

“Don't tell Logan,” I groan, tugging him toward the porch. “He'll think I actually enjoyed watching those fucking movies.”

Devon hugs me from behind as we step inside. “Should I tell him that you thought Kylo Ren was sexy?”

“Dude, I said he was built. Not sexy. Guy's tall and muscled like my—” I cut myself off, then decide to hell with it. “Like my boyfriend.”

The words hang there for half a second, then Dev's hold tightens around my waist. “Boyfriend?”

My heart leaps into my throat. “You gonna make this weird?”

“Nope. Just making sure I heard you right.” Before I can answer, he moves us to the couch, where he bends me over the back of it and presses his dick against my ass.

“Jesus,” I mutter, gripping the cushions. “That make you horny, pastelito? Being my boyfriend?”

“No, Kylo Ren's muscles do.”

Grinning broadly, I slam my ass back hard enough to set him off balance and spin around to switch our positions. When I have him bent over instead, I gently palm his throat from behind.

“Get ready, baby, because your boyfriend's about to fuck those muscles out of your brain.”

And he lets me, giving just as much as he takes.

CHAPTER FORTY-THREE

Devon

Aggressively cheerful Christmas music draws me from a peaceful sleep.

I squint one eye open, brain lagging ten steps behind. My body aches everywhere from cleaning trash off the side of the highway all morning. I'd barely made it home in time to kiss Christian out the door on his way to work before I crashed, intending to spend the rest of my day off unconscious.

And now someone is singing Jingle Bells in the living room.

Groaning, I slide off the bed and shuffle toward the door to peek out into the apartment. The first thing I see is a tree. A whole-ass Christmas tree, half-lit and leaning slightly to the left. Owen stands in front of it wearing pajamas, hair a mess, still singing as he wrestles with a string of lights.