Savior

Chapter 17

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Cate stretched her legs out across Derek's lap as he sat next to her on the couch. She swirled her wine in her glass, bracing herself for the conversation with Derek about Cole.

"I could tell you didn't want to say anything at dinner," he started. Derek softened his gaze as he turned to her.

The brunette bit her lip and shrugged. "I'm not dragging your coworkers into this too." She took a sip of her wine before placing the glass on the end table. "Cole was waiting for me in the parking lot for me after my appointment."

She held her breath, waiting for Derek to say something. "Why didn't you call me right away?" He tried to keep his voice level.

Cate was taken aback by his response, slightly expecting more of a reaction from him. "I needed the chance to talk to him myself. See if I can get him to leave me alone." Derek rubbed her feet as she shrugged. "So we'll see what he does."

Derek pursed his lips. Cate's independence scared him sometimes; she never truly saw the danger she put herself in. But he was proud of how strong she was. "Please let me know immediately if he does that again."

She nodded. "I will," she promised. Cate placed her head back on the cushion as he began to massage her feet. She could barely think about what else she wanted to talk to him as he helped her aching feet – damn heels, she thought. "So, I got an email today," she started, watching him carefully. Derek looked up at her, catching her blue orbs. "The lease at my condo is up in a month. I would normally renew my lease for the year at this point."

Cate let the statement linger in the air as a smile crossed Derek's face. "And you're not planning to renew are you?"

The brunette shrugged. "I love my condo."

"But" Derek urged to her continue as she trailed off.

"But," she reiterated. "I think I'm ready for something new." Her eyes lit up as the potential crossed her mind. She released her hair from the ponytail it was in and let her long brown waves fall over her shoulders.

Derek grinned. "And what did you have in mind?"

"I was hoping you would want to get our own place?" The excitement and optimism in her voice caused his heart to swell. His hands rubbed up and down her calves, his fingers working on her skin effortlessly.

He never stopped what he was doing, nor did he take his eyes off of the woman next to him. "Are you ready for that?" Cate's breath caught in her throat.

Nights spent at each other's places were a common occurrence when Derek was out of the field, but Cate would be lying if she said she didn't relish the nights she was home by herself. This was the first relationship where she was continually spending the night with the man she was dating, and it was a whole new world to her.

Cate nodded. "It's only been a few months," she mused and busied herself playing with her manicure. Derek placed a hand on top of hers, and she lifted her eyes to his. "Yes," she replied. "I'm ready for that. I don't think time is relevant when you feel so strongly about something."

Derek leaned across the couch and placed his lips to hers. She placed both hands on his shoulders and deepened the kiss. When the two were desperate for air, Derek pulled back and rested his forehead against hers. "Let's do it."

Cate beamed. She had been so nervous to bring it up to Derek; not knowing if she was overstepping boundaries or if he would think it was too quick.

"Move in here full time," he said as he planted a kiss to her forehead. "We can look for something of our own, but make this place our home in the meantime."

Cate blinked back the tears that threatened in the corner of her eyes. The black man wiped away the few that did fall. "I don't know how I got so lucky."

Derek grinned. "You're not the lucky one," he replied. "I love you, Cate, and I cannot wait to start this next chapter with you."

"It's a good thing you know a really good real estate agent," she laughed.

He chuckled. "Do you think your mom will help us find our perfect home?" Cates jaw dropped as he laughed again. "I'm kidding, baby. I know you're the best."

She rolled her eyes at him. "We can start our hunt tomorrow," she said as she picked up her glass of wine. "I'm happy enough to cuddle with my man after a very long week."

After she took a sip, she placed the glass back on the end table. "You are the most amazing thing that has ever happened to me." Derek took his wine glass from the coffee table and clinked glasses with his girlfriend.

His eyes dripped with such sincerity that Cate had to catch her breath. "For once in my life, I'm genuinely excited to see what the future has in store."

Her dark cloud seemed to have dissipated when Derek Morgan re-entered her life. She saw a future with the man across the couch from her that she never could have imagined.

Cate's only hope from this point on was that Cole would keep his distance and let her enjoy her newfound happiness. After all, he owed that much to her.

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