Devouring the SECRET (Corrigan & Co. Book 2)

by Crystal Perkins

  “Well, we could…”

  “No, Gavin. We cannot,” she tells me as she whacks me with her spatula, making my eyes darken. “Don’t even think about it.”

  “What?” I try to look innocent as I ask.

  “I’m not into kink. Lots and lots of sex, but no kink.”

  “Lots and lots?”

  “As if you didn’t already know that.”

  “I know it. I just like to hear you say it.”

  “Say what?” Now she’s the one acting innocent.

  I move so I’m behind her and whisper in her ear. “I love hearing about how much you like my cock in your pussy.”

  “Don’t forget your fingers, mouth, tongue, and teeth. I’m a fan of those, too. A big fan.”

  “Big is the word I like to hear you say.”

  “You don’t need me to tell you.”

  “I know I’m working with some nice equipment, but hearing you say it is even hotter. And I like your teeth too,” I tell her as I point to my neck.

  “Oh, God. I’m so sorry.” She reaches out to touch the spot where she marked me.

  “I’m not. I love that I got you so out of control. Now, back to work or we’ll never eat.”

  We work in silence for a few minutes—her on the breakfast potatoes and biscuits, me on the eggs and bacon. When we’re done, we make plates for ourselves and grab some juice before heading to her big couch in the living room. We cuddle up as we eat. I’m about to ask Faith what she’d like to do today when I hear her breathing steady out. I look down to see her eyes closed, and a sweet smile on her lips. I hope she’s dreaming of me.

  Chapter 4

  Gavin

  The weekend was beyond words. We spent most of it making love, but we also talked, watched movies, and, of course, cooked. Nothing fancy, just simple comfort food that kept us both sated and content. I’ve never felt so comfortable around someone else, male or female. It’s so easy to talk to Faith, and it’s getting harder and harder to believe what Elizabeth told me about her and her friends. I’ve seen proof with my own eyes, though, so I know it’s true.

  I don’t know what I’m going to do about all of this. I set myself on a path, and although I’ve ended things with Elizabeth, I’m not sure that I’m ready to abandon the rest of it. People say love is blind, but that’s not how I’m feeling. I can still see clearly how what Faith and her friends have done is wrong. Am I strong enough to stay the course, though? I realize that if I want to be with Faith—truly be with her—then I have to follow through. It’s the only way to save us both.

  She told me she had a few errands to run this morning, so she just dropped me at the house. She promised that she’d be back by lunchtime so she can help with dinner. I’m glad for the time alone since it will give me a chance to go over everything with Elizabeth—and hopefully her boss—and see what I need to do next. It’s weird that her boss doesn’t seem to want to meet me since I’m playing such a big part in everything. I can’t dwell on that right now.

  I walk into the pool house, knowing they’ll be able to tell I’m home with all the surveillance equipment they’ve installed in here. Sure enough, before I can even sit on the couch, my big screen TV comes to life. Elizabeth, along with another woman’s face, fill the screen.

  “Hello, Gavin. I’m Selene Todd. Elizabeth’s boss, and in a way, yours as well. Although, from what I’ve seen and heard, your loyalty is in question.”

  “I’m still committed to taking down the ‘Society’ as you call it. That kind of evil can’t be allowed to flourish in the world.”

  “Then why are you pursuing a relationship with Faith?”

  “She’s a good person. I can tell. I think she’s just been misled about what the people she works for are doing. I know I can make her see reason.”

  “While you fuck her?”

  “Enough, Elizabeth. I’ve trained you better. Lovers move on. Get over it and channel your anger into the matter at hand.”

  “But she’s so common.”

  “I said I’ve had enough of your childish fixation. Does Gavin have some kind of magic dick? Because if that’s the case, maybe I need a taste of it as well.”

  “No.”

  “Excuse me?”

  “I said no. I’m in on this plan with you because I believe it’s the right thing to do, but you aren’t getting familiar with any part of my anatomy. Neither one of you is.”

  “Pity. I could show you some new tricks.”

  “Listen, lady. I’m getting tired of being talked about like I’m a plaything. I said no, and I mean no. Either talk about our business arrangement, or go the fuck away.”

  “I like your fire, Gavin. If you insist on business, then business it is.”

  I wait with my arms crossed for her to continue. Why the hell did I get myself into this? Oh yeah, because a bunch of bitches were about to take my mother down. I’m not sure what they thought they’d find since she’s clean as a whistle, but they were going after her anyway. I may not have liked who she’d become, but I still loved her, and wouldn’t let anyone hurt her.

  “You’ve failed so far in our first directive, Gavin. You were supposed to get Faith out of her clothes so we could film her in here. The first night, she ran out on you. And then after the dinner party, you went to her place. That was a simple task. How did you screw it up?”

  “I didn’t screw up anything. The first night, her friend needed her. Then, at the party, Elizabeth talked about being in my bed. So Faith refused to come back here with me.”

  “Are you a complete idiot?” she asks as she turns to Elizabeth, who looks like she’s cowering a little.

  “No. I was just…um, well…jealous. Gavin was into me until he got a taste of her.”

  “For the last time, this is not about your love life. We have an organization to take down. Start acting like a professional, or I’ll assign someone else.”

  “Yes, Selene. I’m sorry. It won’t happen again. I’ll act all business in front of Faith and Gavin.”

  A sinister smile crosses Selene’s face, and I feel a chill down my spine. Whatever she’s thinking can’t be good. I know it before she even opens her mouth. When she does, I fight her on what she’s saying. What she’s demanding I do. I even threaten to back out of our deal, telling her I can’t do what she’s asking. In the end, I agree, because I know I need to protect my mom. Just like I always have and always will.

  * * *

  Faith

  I went straight to Corrigan & Co. after dropping Gavin off at home. The beautiful building, designed by Ryan Griffin, houses one of the most successful companies in the world. Matt Corrigan has his hand in pretty much every industry you can think of and it’s his grandmother’s foundation that I’m heading for. That part of the building houses the “Society” as we jokingly call it. What we do isn’t a joke, though. Saving women and children around the world is something all of us take seriously.

  I smile at Alex Griffin as I walk through the Foundation lobby. She’s on the phone, but smiles back at me as she waves. All ten of us women have a pool going on when her last name will change from Griffin to Corrigan. We all know Miles is going to put a ring on her finger. The only question is when. I briefly think about Gavin giving me a ring, but then put that thought aside. Romantic thoughts aren’t going to help me here. Especially because I need to tell my friends to start investigating him more thoroughly.

  I walk into one of the smaller conference rooms to see Jane Corrigan, Cyndi, Reina, Tegan, Ainsley, and Matt waiting for me. I smile at them and take a seat.

  “Thanks for meeting with me, everyone.”

  “Of course, Faith. You said you have some news.”

  “I do, Jane. I’m sure Ainsley has told you about how my phone sensors went crazy when I walked into Gavin’s pool house last week. Well, the next night at the party I sensed a strange vibe between him and his ex, Elizabeth. It felt like more than just a failed love affair.”

  “Did you hear them say anything?�
�

  “He kept telling her it was over, but she kept saying they were drawn together by more than sex. It was just…odd. I don’t like suspecting the guy I’m falling for, but I can’t overlook how I feel.”

  “Falling for? You’re in it to win it with Gavin?”

  “Yes, Matt.”

  “Well, damn. Match.com’s got nothing on you, Gram.”

  “Really, Matt? We do how many missions with no one falling in love, and you’re going to focus on the two where Ainsley and Faith did?” Reina asks him.

  “You gotta admit, it’s pretty crazy, Princess.”

  “I don’t have to admit anything to you.”

  Reina looks like she may lose it. I exchange looks with Ainsley and Tegan. We know why. She was hoping Matt would admit that more than two people have fallen in love on missions. Damn him for hurting her.

  “You’re an asshole, Matt.”

  “I’ve done nothing to you, Faith.”

  “Do something to one of us, and you have to face all of us. That’s just the way it is.”

  His eyes narrow on Reina. “What the fuck have you been telling people?”

  “Don’t speak to me like that, Matt. I’ll tell my friends whatever I want to tell them. Right now, I’d like to finish this meeting, so I’m not late for my lunch date.”

  “Oh, is this with the guy you’ve been dating for the last couple of weeks?” Tegan asks.

  “Yeah. He’s pretty great.”

  “When do we get to meet him?”

  “I don’t know yet. I wouldn’t want any of you to scare him off.”

  “No. We wouldn’t want that at all, Princess. So let’s finish up the meeting like you asked.”

  Matt’s saying the words calmly, but he looks like he is seconds away from losing it. In fact, I think the glass of water in his hand may shatter any second. Ainsley pulls it from his hand, giving him a sad smile in the process. I quickly jump back into my suspicions to try and detract from the huge elephant in the room. When we’re done, Reina practically runs from the room while Matt drops his head in his hands.

  “One of these days you’re going to lose her for good, Matthew.”

  “She deserves so much better than me, Gram. If this guy can make her happy, then that’s what I want. That’s all I want. For her to be happy.” He raises his head then. “But if he hurts her—in any way—I will take him down like a rabid dog. Make no mistake about that.”

  He walks out after kissing his grandma on the forehead and squeezing Cyndi’s shoulder. We all just sit there for a minute, trying to process how two people who are so obviously in love with each other keep fighting it at every turn. Well, one of them is fighting it. Reina would drop this other guy in a second if she thought Matt would have a relationship with her.

  “Is there nothing you can do, Jane? They need each other.”

  “He needs to realize that he’s good enough for her on his own. Nothing I, nor anyone else, can say will change that. He was wounded deeply by the war. Not to mention after finding out what his father did to Miles and Alex.”

  “There’s something you can do, Jane,” Cyndi tells her.

  “Not yet, my friend. Soon maybe, but not quite yet. Neither one of them is ready for that, and I fear it would cause more harm than good.”

  “But soon. You all need it to happen.”

  “Um, are the two of you going to fill us in on what you’re talking about?”

  “No, Tegan. When it’s time, you’ll all know.”

  “I knew you were going to say that. I’ll get to work then. If there’s any kind of paper trail, I’ll find it.”

  “I’m already trying to track where the surveillance is coming from. Whoever set it up is good. I may need to ask Scott for help.”

  “Do whatever you have to. In the meantime, be very careful Faith. We thought this was going to be an easy assignment, but it feels like something else it at play here.”

  “I will. I’ll talk to you all soon. The full staff is arriving today, so I’m hoping to get a good feel for all of them.”

  “No risks, Faith. I know you’re careful, but there’s more on the line for you now than anyone anticipated.”

  “I won’t do anything crazy, Cyndi.”

  Besides falling in love, of course. Other than taking Gavin home that first night, falling for him is the craziest thing I’ve ever done. Now I just have to hope that he’s not involved in the selling of state secrets. Because if he is, I’ll have to bring him down; even as it breaks my heart.

  * * *

  Gavin

  I can tell when Faith enters the kitchen. Not because I hear her, which I don’t, but because I’m so attuned to her and her presence. I don’t turn around from washing produce in the sink. I can’t face her when I do what I have to do. I’ve resigned myself to having to break her, but it doesn’t mean my heart isn’t fighting me at every step.

  “Hi,” she says as she wraps her arms around me and nuzzles her cheek into the middle of my back.

  “The menu for tonight is on the island.”

  “Okay. I just want to cuddle for a minute if that’s alright.”

  “It’s not.”

  I feel her stiffen before she lets me go and steps back. I know that she’s turned around, and I hear her pick up the tablet I use to keep track of everything. I don’t hear her move to the refrigerator, or stove. She’s just standing there, and I feel like the biggest asshole in the world. I almost give up the plan. Almost. Thoughts of my mom, and her being framed for something she didn’t do, overpower my need to comfort Faith.

  “This weekend was great.”

  “Yeah. It was.”

  “I think we’ve run our course in that regard. You know, gotten it out of our system. No hard feelings, right?”

  “A few hours ago you were telling me you couldn’t wait to spend every second you could with me. You said that you were falling for me. And now, you’re blowing me off like some random fuck? The feelings are hard, Gavin. Really hard.”

  I can hear her voice shake, and I want to turn and pull her into my arms. I force myself to grip the sink instead. I’m fighting back my own tears. I calm my breathing before I speak.

  “I’d like you to stay here. Your ideas and recipes elevate my own. Will you be able to do that?”

  It is taking her so long to answer, I’m beginning to wonder if she even will. “I’ll stay,” she finally says in a small voice.

  I could lie and say that I’m relieved, but I’m not. We need her here for the plan to work, but having to see her every day is going to kill me as much as I think it’ll kill her. Especially when Elizabeth starts showing up again, which should be any minute now.

  “Aww, Gavin told you didn’t he?” The she-devil has indeed arrived.

  “Told me? Oh my God, are you back with her? Is that why you said we can’t see each other again?”

  “Yes. We’re together. I told you we would eventually be. I warned you.”

  Faith ignores her as she pulls on my arm. “Look at me, Gavin. Look. At. Me. Damn you.”

  I force a smirk I’m not feeling onto my face as I turn to her. “Like I said, we had fun. But Elizabeth really is a better match for me.”

  I look up to meet her eyes, and it takes every ounce of strength in me—and then some—to not stagger back. I expected hurt, but it’s the anger I see that’s more upsetting. Her eyes are the coldest I’ve ever seen on a person, and she’s the one smirking now.

  “I hope you two are happy together. Now I need to work on this menu.”

  She moves away from me as Elizabeth invades my personal space. I have to stand there and let her kiss and touch me. It goes on all afternoon. I don’t reciprocate unless Faith is turned towards us. When she grabs my crotch while Faith’s looking the other way, I pull her hand off of me and give her a death glare. She just smiles and winks. Bitch. I have no room to talk since I’m the king of all bastards.

  Once dinner’s almost ready, my mom comes into the kitchen. She stops s
hort when she sees Elizabeth draped over me and Faith working alone on the other end of the kitchen.

  “What the hell is going on?”

  “Gavin and I are back together. Isn’t it wonderful?”

  “Gav?”

  “I realized Elizabeth’s the one for me. Faith understands.”

  My mom gives me a skeptical look before walking over to Faith. They have a whispered conversation, which I know the bugs in here will pick up, before they walk out together. I open my mouth to say something, but my mom silences me with another look. This one’s full of venom. Ironic that she’s protecting a woman who’s out to destroy her. But I can’t say anything. Not yet.

  I finish the rest on my own while Elizabeth keeps up her own brand of torturing me. I go to the pool house to change quickly before dinner. My mom’s staff is finally here, and I need to look my best. At least I won’t need to see Faith since she obviously left. I can’t wait for the talk I’m sure my mom is going to insist on having with me. Fun times ahead. Not.

  My night drops into the further regions of Hell when I walk into the great room to see that Faith is back. And she’s not alone. There’s a guy next to her with his hand on her waist, casually stroking the hair under his fingers as they talk to some of my mom’s staffers. He’s about 6’5” with dark hair and muscles that are threatening to bulge right out of his suit jacket. There’s an air of danger around him that makes its way towards me as he turns to meet my eyes. His eyes are brown and pinning me like lasers. I can almost feel the pain he wants to cause me as his mouth curves up into a sneer.

  Instead of coming towards me, he glides his hand through Faith’s hair—my hair, dammit—and moves it aside to place a kiss on her neck, still looking me in the eye. She’s in a short black sleeveless dress that has a halter neck dipping lower on one side. As he continues kissing her, Faith moves her hand up to run it through his short hair. No. This asshole cannot just come in here and claim my woman in front of me.

  I start to move towards them when Elizabeth steps into my path. “Don’t even think about it.”

  I know she’s right. I know it. And the guy seems to know it too as he turns Faith to him and kisses her on the mouth. Her arms go around his neck as she returns the kiss.