“Oh my God,” I laugh. “That tickles.”
Devin smiles and I lean up on my elbows as I watch him. He places the can on the island next to me and dips his head down, licking the whipped cream slowly off my inner thigh.
“Apologies don't start with teasin’. This is makin’ me not wanna forgive you,” I groan.
He licks my center and I slam my mouth shut.
“Mmm so sweet darlin’. This might be my new favorite flavor.”
I continue to watch him lick the whipped cream off my lips, my clit, and lower towards my ass. His gaze is locked on mine, watching me, watch him devour my pussy and fuck it's so hot. This is the most intimate moment we've ever had and I reach down, running my hands through his hair as I lean up higher on my elbow, to get a better view.
“You like this darlin’?”
“Yes,” I pant. “I love it.”
“I love watchin’ your face. You're so fuckin’ beautiful.”
His lips press against my pussy as he talks, and I groan pulling his face closer to me.
“Close Devin, please don't stop.”
He licks one last spot clean against my hole and then slips his tongue inside, stroking my walls as his hand roams up to my chest. He finds my nipple easily through my tshirt and bra and pinches it. I squeeze my walls around his tongue as his teeth graze my clit and I throw my head back, moaning his name.
He smiles against my center, kissing my clit.
“One of many darlin’. I will get on my knees for you anytime, anyplace.”
I shake my head, sitting up.
“Just because you're good at eatin’ pussy, don't mean that's grounds for forgiveness cowboy. Thank you, but you still got a long way to go.”
I pat him on his bare shoulder, and he stands, turning his body and giving me his back.
“I totally agree. Now hop on darlin’.”
“Devin…” I protest.
“Just lean on the right side. I wanna carry my woman to bed darlin’. Please let me do that.”
I hear the frustration in his voice and sigh. For a man that is so used to doing things for everyone else, now he is so reliant on others. I know this kills him, being home all day, not out playing ball, not being able to do simple things around his house, and it hurts me to watch him hurting.
“Okay,” I say softly putting a hand on his back. “You tell me if it’s too much though, and don't you dare tell Bella. As your physical therapist this is very against all my protocols.”
He laughs and reaches down with his right arm hooking my right leg up around his waist as I grab his right shoulder and wrap my other leg around him.
“Okay?” I ask.
“Perfect.”
He walks us slowly up the stairs to the master bedroom and sits me on the bed, taking my t shirt off my body and presses on my chest to lay me down. I lean back in bed, getting under the covers as he walks around to the other side of the bed, taking his boxers off, sliding under the sheets.
“You're gettin’ that fine, naked ass into bed and expect me to behave?” I say turning towards him.
“You've been pushin’ it Normani, don't think I didn't notice that you're still limpin’,” he says running a finger down my cheek.
“I...it’s just takin’ a little longer than I thought it would.”
“Sleep darlin’. Ignore the massive boner and close your eyes.”
I laugh against his lips as he kisses me and pulls me up on his chest. His hand starts playing with my hair, my arm draped across his chest and I feel his left arm move down and wrap around my forearm.
“Devin, your arm…”
“Is stayin’ here Doc. Don't tell me otherwise. I ain't dead liftin’, I wanna hold you. Sleep now darlin’, just sleep.”
His large hands running through my hair tests the fight of my eyelids, but his hands win and I drift off to sleep.
“Mama!” a little girl cries from next to me and runs past me to a woman on my left.
I watch as the woman lifts up the little girl and hugs her close.
“My beautiful Normani. My little queen. You are stronger than anything that tries to bring you down. Remember that, always.”
My mother.
She's standing.
“Mama,” I whisper.
The woman looks at me. She can hear me.
“Normani?”
“Mama!”
I run to her and wrap her in my arms, the little girl disappearing.
“I miss you so much, Mama,” I cry into her hair.
Vanilla, she still smells the same.
“My little queen. You have grown into such a beautiful woman.”
She runs a finger down my cheek across my scar and I do the same. She's real, she's right here.
“Your man is quite handsome,” my mama giggles.
“He's the best Mama. He makes me so strong and I love him so, so much.”
“Oh my little queen. Beautiful, fierce but still so silly. You made yourself strong. You are still here, standing tall, living your dreams because of you. No doubt that boy helps, but remember to stand tall alone, so that you can stand taller by his side.”
“I know Mama. I...I wish you were still here. To watch me get married someday, watch me become a mama… you're… you're gonna miss all that,” I sob starting to cry into her shoulder.
“I won't baby, I promise you that. I'll be right here watchin’ it all. I ain't gonna miss a front row seat to watchin’ your little girl sass you as hard as you used to sass me,” she laughs.
“A little girl, huh? What if I have a son?”
“Well funny thing about heaven...nah, I'll let you figure out that one on your own.”
She winks and hugs me, kissing my forehead.
“Remember what I've told you Normani. Everyone has their own struggles, just because they aren't the same as yours…”
“Don't mean they're not as hard to overcome. I know Mama, I know. I love you.”
“I love you too my little queen.”
She cups my cheek and I lean into her touch, her strength.
“Go on now, your man is waitin’ for you. Forgive him and live that beautiful life together. You're free baby, we're both free.”
She slowly walks away from me smiling and I want to go after her, hold her a little longer.
“Mama wait…”
She disappears and I run after her, trying to figure out where she went, how I can touch her one more time.
“Mama please...come back.”
“Darlin’, you're just dreamin’. It's okay, I'm right here, I'm right here.”
I open my eyes jumping as Devin hugs me closer to him.
“Oh Devin...I miss her so much,” I cry into his bare chest.
“I know darlin’, I know. She’s here though,” he says putting his big hand on my chest. “She's right there, always.”
I cry harder into his chest, his hand running up and down my back, soothing me, calming me.
“I'm sorry I'm snottin’ all over you,” I say lifting my face and reaching behind me for the box of tissues.
“Normani you've been so strong these past few weeks, strong enough for the both of us. Let me take the reins tonight. That's the thing about love darlin’, give and take.”
I lay my head back on his chest and hug his body closer to mine, feeling his strength seeping into me.
“I love you Devin.”
“I love you too Normani.”
Chapter 20
Normani
“Just swing your leg up on over like I taught you, come on darlin’ we both know you know how to straddle big things.”
“Devin!”
Avery giggles as she sits astride Buttercup, Devin’s horse, with Devin behind her, protectively wrapping his good arm around her little waist.
“She doesn’t understand,” he laughs.
“This is not a good idea. Your arm is not even close to 100%. If Buttercup tries to buck y'all off-”
“She’s trained darli
n’, and so is Cookie. She won’t hurt you, now get on up there, we have a picnic to eat.”
I let out a growl and put my foot in the stirrup, gripping the reins as I hop up and straddle Cookie.
“Oh my God, I did it!” I exclaim.
“Good job Mani!” Avery squeals.
Devin pats Buttercup’s side as she starts to walk towards the lake in the back of his property and Cookie follows. I grip the reins like my life depends on it and move my hips with Cookie's rhythm.
“You’re a pro darlin’, see, not so scary right?”
“No, it’s okay. I mean, don’t make her go faster though,” I say nervously.
Both horses slowly gallop towards the lake and Devin commands them to stop, jumping off effortlessly, reaching up for Avery and setting her down. He wraps the reins around the nearby tree and comes over towards me.
“Come on darlin’, foot in the stirrup, lift your leg.”
I do as he says, and I feel a strong hand on my ass, helping me off the saddle.
“Smooth Gavinwood,” I murmur.
“Just makin’ sure my woman doesn’t bust her butt. I happen to love it very much and have big plans for it tonight,” he growls in my ear.
“Y’all better not do no more kissin’, I’m openin’ my eyes,” Avery chastises coming closer to us.
Her little hands are covering her eyes and I run over to her, picking her up and spinning her in the air.
“Only kissin’ we’re gonna do is on you, cutie,” I laugh.
I put her down and grab her hand, walking down towards the lake, Devin behind us with our blanket and basket of goodies.
“Can we skip rocks first Ducky?” Avery asks turning towards Devin.
“Let’s eat first boo boo, then we’ll skip rocks. If Mama finds out I let you play first, I’ll get a timeout.”
Avery giggles and nods her head, helping Devin open the blanket on the grass.
He takes out sandwiches from the basket and a juice box for Avery, handing it to each of us. He woke me up this morning, telling me he has a surprise and my heart melted when I found out it was this.
It’s hard to believe this was the same man from the hospital, the same man that was quickly going to spiral out of control but took his situation and turned it around. I can’t imagine what working so hard all your life for something, but then possibly losing it, can do to a person. He’s getting so much better though, his therapy has been improving each and every time, even if it isn’t happening as fast as he wants it to.
“Alright, fair is fair. You finished. Go on and practice your skip. Let me talk to Normani for a second, okay boo boo?”
Avery nods and runs towards the lake, searching around for some rocks.
“Thank you for spending the afternoon with us. I promised Avery a ride on Buttercup awhile back but then everything happened, and it got pushed to the back burner.”
I move closer to him on the blanket and lock my hands with his.
“You’re the sweetest man, you know that?”
“I wouldn’t say that darlin’,” he says his voice solemn.
“Oh, come on, what’s the matter?”
“I just...every day I wake up next to you, I can’t shake the memory of your face, the look I put there. I don’t think I’m ever gonna feel like I deserve you, deserve your forgiveness.”
“Devin,” I say cupping his cheek. “You didn’t remember what happened. I mean you saw me try to seduce another man right in front of your eyes. If the roles were reversed, that poor girl wouldn’t have even been able to take a step before her nose was broken,” I laugh.
Devin smiles and shakes his head.
“It’s different Normani. Your life...you’ve had to endure things I couldn’t even begin to imagine. I threw what I knew back in your face. I should have trusted it was part of a plan, even if I couldn’t remember it. I...I let that and my anger about my shoulder hurt you. I promised I would never hurt you. You deserve so much more than me.”
He looks out at Avery, his gaze never faltering from her, protective brother mode in full swing and my heart flips.
“Devin stop it,” I say my voice laced with panic. “I don’t wanna hear any of this. I’m with you and that’s it. I don’t want anyone else.”
“A man should never treat you like I treated you Normani.”
“Stop!” I say a little too loudly.
Avery looks over to us and I wave smiling.
“We’ll be over in a second boo boo,” Devin yells.
“Devin, stop talkin’ like you’re gonna leave me so I find someone better than you because I’ll drag your ass back to the ring and pound some sense into you. You’re my man and that’s that. I’m your woman. You had a moment of weakness, you dealt with a big obstacle. I’m used to my father and his games, that was new for you and it ripped away somethin’ precious in your life. Yes, what you said was shitty and hurt me more than you can imagine, but I forgive you. You accept all of me and I accept all of you, asshole and all,” I smirk. “We need to move past this and start fresh, away from everything else...okay?”
He nods slowly and takes my hand kissing the top.
“I don’t care what you say Normani Jameson, but you will always be too good for me and I will continue to spoil you every single day. This is a lifetime apology tour darlin’. Every. Damn. Day.”
“And I don’t care what you say Devin Gavinwood, but I am yours no matter what you do, no matter what you say. Except if you cheat on me. Then you'll just be dead. Seriously. I'll probably kill you.”
Devin laughs and stands, putting his hand out for me and I grab it, getting to my feet.
“Noted darlin’. I'll hand ya the shotgun myself,” he winks. “Alright boo boo, loser buys ice cream,” Devin yells.
Avery jumps up and down squealing as she takes a rock and hands it to Devin.
“Hope ya brought some money’s Ducky, I want three scoops.”
Devin laughs and takes the rock, skipping it across the lake expertly. Avery laughs as she takes the rock and skips it just as far.
“Holy shit,” I gasp.
“Uh oh, Mani said a bad word.”
Devin and I laugh, and Avery shakes her head, giving me a rock to skip. I watch Devin bend down, showing Avery a new technique to throw and smile.
This is the man I love. This is my Devin.
Devin
I groan lifting my arm with the ten-pound weight and feel myself shaking. I drop my arm and grit my teeth.
“Dammit!”
“You're gettin’ better, that was a full five seconds! Why are you so pissed?” Normani says clapping her hands.
“Because it's ten fuckin’ pounds darlin’. I could curl more than that with my dick.”
“Devin!” she chastises.
“Just sayin’,” I shrug.
“Let's take a break. Want me to order lunch?”
“Sure.”
She kisses my cheek and walks towards her office and I look around for Bella. I spot her in the corner by the weights, reaching for a kettlebell.
“Don't you dare Bella June,” I chide.
“Oh God, not you too. I can't even lift my damn tooth brush at home! I'm not even kiddin’, Damon literally brushes my teeth,” she says throwing her hands in the air.
“Good man. You shouldn't be liftin’ a finger. You got my nieces in there,” I say taking the kettlebell from the floor.
“It could be two nephews. Or one of each.”
“Well I'm two girls in the baby pool. But listen, can Normani have Friday off? I don't wanna leave you short, but I wanna do somethin’ to surprise her for the weekend, leavin’ Friday mornin’. I still feel like a bag of dicks and I need to really make it up to her.”
“We're honestly pretty slow Friday, anyway, might end up closin’ shop early.”
“You're the best,” I say kissing the top of her head.
“I'm proud of you Dev. Thought for a second I was gonna have to murder you in your sleep a couple weeks b
ack. She’ll really love that though. Y’all deserve a nice weekend together.”
Changeup (Double Play Series Book 4) Page 20
