“I missed you this morning.”
Trying to stop him, I plant my feet right there in the middle of the sidewalk, causing other people who are not paying attention to bump into us and blurt obscenities.
“What’s going on, Devin?”
For being a small girl, he decided she probably could plant her feet with enough force to take down men twice her size.
“I’m not moving until you tell me what’s going on.”
“Let’s talk in the condo.”
“No. Talk here.”
“Condo. Come on.”
Why is he always so dramatic about things? No one is going to do anything to us on a crowded street in broad daylight, for Pete’s sake.
“Clara, I will carry you if I have to.”
Taking my hand again, he tries to drag me along the sidewalk toward the condo, only to be brought up short when I once again ground my feet into the cement.
“No! I want to know what’s going on.”
“You serious?”
“Yes.”
“Then let’s talk back at the condo.”
“Dammit, Devin!”
Not willing to wait and hear anything else, he simply lifts me in a fireman’s hold over his shoulder as he stalks down the street.
Frank just shakes his head as he opens the door to let us in.
“Put me down, Devin. I mean it! Put me down!”
“Behave, or you’ll embarrass yourself in our lobby.”
Then he swats my ass to keep me from squirming so much.
Our lobby. Aw, that’s the first time he’s referred to my place as our place.
And this is definitely the first time I’ve felt so pissed at him that I don’t want to continue thinking how sweet he can be.
Making our way into the elevator, he has to shift me to remove the keycard. I hear him fight the groan at my close proximity. I can tell it’s causing to his manhood to swell as I wiggle against him for release.
“God, honey. If you don’t stop that, we won’t make it off this elevator.”
“What?”
How dare he!
“You can’t be serious! You dragged me over your shoulder all across the city to our condo, to what? Have your caveman way with me?”
“Honey, you’re currently wiggling provocatively against me, with your sexy tush just inches from my face as I hold your gorgeous legs. It’s all just a bit distracting, to say the least.”
Blushing dark shades of crimson, I say, “Then put me down.”
He swats my behind again for good measure.
“No. Now that I have you where I want you, do you promise to behave until we get to our condo?”
“No.”
Smirking at him, I cup his tush in my hand, feeling it clench as I shake with laughter.
Finally he begins to lower me to the floor of the elevator.
“Bad girl.”
“You love it.”
Staring into his lust-filled eyes, I can’t help my racing heart as it pounds against my chest. When I lower my gaze to his chest, I realize that he’s breathing just as hard as me.
“You’re distracting me.” He shakes his head, trying to regain control. “And I really need to keep my head right about now, so stop that.”
I look down, noticing the tent forming in his pants.
He lifts my chin up to meet his eyes.
“Up here, honey.”
Smirking and laughing, we both feel the mood shift to one of want and desire. Electrical in its pull, each of us feels its potent draw.
I decide to submit to his serious tone—for now.
“Okay, I’ll behave. You want to tell me what’s going on?”
“No, not here, either. I want us safe in the condo before we discuss this.”
He pulls me to his side then, seemingly not comfortable that the heightened security of the building provides enough safety.
As we enter the condo, I realize that the familiar environment has become a haven for us both. Whatever has him this spooked needs to be said in a completely safe place. For now, this is that place. I’m not sure we will feel this way in the future.
“Someone broke into my house,” Devin says suddenly, holding nothing back. “They trashed my office and took several documents from my safe.”
My gasp fills the space between us and tears threaten to fall.
“God, Devin, did anyone get hurt?”
“No, the staff was off for the night, but that has me thinking that someone knew there would be no one at home.”
His brows draw together as he brings his hand to his chin, rubbing the stubble there.
“Why do you say that? It could be just a coincidence.”
“I don’t think so. They seemed to go straight to my office, like they knew what they were looking for. And the safe wasn’t broken into. They knew the combination.”
His expression mirrors my thoughts.
If someone he knows would do something like this, what does that mean for us? And our plan? Should we abandon it? Keep going?
An abundance of questions with no easy answers fly through my head.
“The police thought it was an inside job, too, which makes me wonder—who knew any of these things? I mean, everyone that knows anything about me knows I’ve been practically living here for weeks.”
I mentally note the word practically. Is that all this was—practically living here? Now isn’t the time to address it. Still though, practically?
“Also, the way they tossed the house seems odd. Only going for the shock and awe instead of actually taking anything. I mean, who does that?”
He throws his hands up in the air in frustration.
“And I don’t believe in coincidence.”
“Maybe you should stay here, make this more than a practical living arrangement.”
My body stiffens as I face him. I know he’ll understand that my annoyance goes beyond the shock of the break-in.
“That’s not what I meant.”
Tossing back his head, he angrily turns to face me.
“What did you mean?”
“Are we seriously doing this now? Don’t we have enough going on?”
“I think we need to do this now. So, let’s do this now.”
“You’re kidding me, right?”
“No! I’m not kidding you. What does practically living here mean, exactly?”
“Come on, it’s just a saying.”
“Yeah, it just rolls off your tongue. I practically live with you. I’m practically seeing you. I practically know you.”
“Come on! You’ve got to be kidding me! I’m upset by the fact that someone broke into my house, and I said ‘practically.’ I didn’t mean anything by it! But you’re pissing me off now, so let’s just talk this out.”
“Fuck you!”
“What did you just say to me?”
He goes to grab for my arm, but misses.
“I said, fuck you! You heard me!”
Exasperated and completely overtaken with fear, I somehow choose this moment to take a stand. Hopefully Devin won’t leave me because of it, but right now that’s the furthest from my mind as he gapes at me in shock.
“What the fuck is your problem? You want a fight? Okay, let’s fight.”
“Fine. Bring it.”
Without thinking about it, he just spits out the first thing that comes to his mind.
“I’m sick of staying here when I have a beautiful house just outside of town! But we stay here for you to feel safe, even though my house has much more security. It just doesn’t make sense to me.”
“Well, it looks like I was right to be concerned with your security, because someone just broke into your house.”
“Fuck, Clara, what do you want from me? I can’t control that!”
I don’t really know why I’m picking this moment to argue about our living arrangements, but I’m beyond scared, and I don’t know how to handle it. Fighting is the only way I can find some semblance of control ov
er an uncontrollable event.
I watch as he places his hands in front of him as a form of surrender. But it’s not enough. I pick up my foot to step away and take flight at the first opportune moment.
I hate that my instincts have kicked in against him. Him of all people, the man that wouldn’t hurt me for anything.
“Clar baby, I’m not going to argue with you,” he says in a calm voice, trying to reassure me. “I didn’t mean anything by saying practically. We haven’t decided yet where we will end up, and practically was just the first thing that came to mind. And that’s only because the options are still available to us to go to either place.”
Rambling isn’t something he’s used to doing, but right now I can tell he just wants to figure out a way to get me to understand.
“Please don’t run. Please, stay, and let’s figure this out together.”
Without saying a word, I turn my head to the side slightly. I often do this when I am taking in someone’s words, or when I’m really concentrating on something.
“You’re sure you didn’t mean anything by it?” I ask, after what seems like an eternity. “You don’t think our living together is a fleeting thing?”
“Fleeting? Are you serious? If I had it my way, I would rather we stay at my place just as often as we stay here, but I don’t want to force you to do something that you aren’t ready to do.”
I watch him as I turn toward the couch, settling into the cushions and dragging my pillow to my chest. I often do this as a way of protecting myself against the world.
“It’s okay, honey,” he says, soothing me as he speaks. “We’ll figure this out. We don’t need to worry about going to my place right now.”
“Maybe talking about this wasn’t such a good idea. I don’t want you keeping things from me. Especially now. I just need…”
He looks concerned, but he keeps his thoughts to himself as he waits for me to continue.
I need to be able to tell him what I not only want, but also what I need. This is an important step in our relationship.
“I need to know we are not fleeting. That you are as serious about us as I am.”
A broad smile instantly spreads across his face.
“Why are you smiling at me like that? It’s creeping me out.”
Laughing, he reaches over, pulls the pillow from my clutches, and lifts me into his lap, circling his arms around me in the security only his touch could provide.
“Thank you, honey. You just made me so happy.”
“You’re crazy, you know that, right?”
“You may be right with that assessment, sweetheart.”
“Do you even realize that you just told me what you need from me? Do you realize you told me how you felt, and how I could make us work through our argument?”
He kisses the top of my head, squeezing my body against his.
“With those words, you made me happier than any declaration of love could ever make me. By saying those words to me, you showed me the love you have for me. You weren’t just saying it, you showed it. We are not practically together. We are not practically a couple. We are together. We are a couple. I love you. And I know you love me.”
I feel my lip quiver, but my body relaxes into his embrace.
“We’re good, honey. Promise.” He continues to hold me as I straddle him.
I beam at him, feeling more secure than I’ve ever been in my entire life.
“Okay, please continue.”
“I think someone was watching the house. I think whoever was watching realized that the staff was off for the night, and knew enough about us to know that we weren’t coming back to the house.” He pauses as he rehashes the conversation he had with the police. “I also think they have been watching me for a while, since they knew the combination to my safe. I don’t use it very often, and haven’t for weeks—since I moved in with you here.”
Glancing at me, he lowers his eyes to meet mine, waiting to see my reaction.
When I just look back at him with concern, he continues.
“So, I know they didn’t know about us being here. If they did, they would have struck the house earlier than last night.”
It does seem like the most logical conclusion.
“That makes sense, but even though we know all of this, what can we do about it?”
“Well, if you’re game, I’d like to start by staying more at the house. I’d also like to upgrade the security at the house and add a security team to the premises for our safety and peace of mind. I’d like to consider using this place as our second residence, where we stay as often as we like, but I’d like to talk to management and get us a bigger place. Maybe the penthouse, or something even larger.”
“You don’t like my condo?”
“Baby, I love your condo, but the two of us have a lot of things we like to live with.”
“Such as?”
“Well, for starters, we need a bigger shower.”
I giggle and blush, but I know he’s right.
He then proceeds to explain in graphic detail the benefits of a bigger shower—just in case I didn’t see the merits before.
I hesitate just long enough to make a decision. Then I slowly trace my fingers along his erection, which is constrained behind the fabric of his pants and just one zip away from breaking free. Licking my lips, I watch as he inhales deeply, slowly stuttering out a breath as I lower myself on top of him. His engorged cock strains free once the zipper lowers for my exploration. I lick the moisture that’s seeping from the slip.
“Ah, baby…”
Devin’s head falls back as I take him into my mouth. The warmth encompasses his flesh, making his cock jump from the assault. Giving him no reprieve, I begin to suck as my hands grip his ass firmly so he can’t go anywhere.
“Fuck!”
They’re the only words he can get out before I take him to the back of my throat. His whimpering is replaced with moaning as I work his cock. His fingers grip my hair like a lifeline, keeping him grounded to the floor as the feeling of being weightless takes a toll and he moves closer to his release.
He pulls out of my mouth with a pop. My startled eyes meet his, but I can tell that he’s decided he’s had enough. This is not going to be enough—for either of us. Pulling me into his arms, he carries me to the bedroom, kicking the door closed. I giggle the entire way.
“Why’d you stop? I was enjoying that.”
I chuckle as he removes my jeans and panties, tossing them over his shoulder, not caring a bit where they might land.
“I know you were, but I want more… So much more.”
I am so wet, and my channel aches to have him inside me. Devin knows my body, and knows how much I’ll welcome what he is about to do.
“Please, Devin.”
“Soon, baby. Soon.”
Moaning, he lowers his head between my legs, his tongue gliding over my moisture as he begins to suck on the tight nub.
I instantly shout my release.
“Now, baby, watch me as I take you.”
Sitting up just enough, I watch as he enters me. His girth spreads my folds as he begins to thrust inside, working his way inch by glorious inch until he is fully seated.
My head falls back onto the pillow as my body shakes with the need for another release, but Devin won’t let me come yet. He wants to wipe away the anguish of the journey that lies ahead. He wants me to know he isn’t going anywhere, and the caveman inside him wants to make me his in every primal way possible.
Pinning my hands above my head and careful not to hurt me, he begins to thrust slowly, until the quivering inside my pussy breaks his concentration, making him thrust with wild abandon. Over and over he works my body until he feels me just about ready to explode. Then he releases one hand, lowering it between my legs to where our bodies meet.
Coating the digit with my juices, he first rubs my clit until he feels me tremble, then he eases my legs up until my ankles fall over his shoulder. Determined to show how ho
t it can be, Devin plays with my breasts as he rocks inside me, not allowing me to come until he is good and ready.
Groaning and shaking my head from side to side, I moan as he continues to punish my body, sustaining the inevitable as long as possible. When the tears fall from my eyes to the pillow, he knows I won’t be able to hold off much longer. Taking his finger, he collects my juice between two fingers to draw them back against my anus. The tight muscles quiver against his touch, but I am too far gone to notice until he works his finger in past the tight muscle.
I explode as soon as his finger presses into my ass. I scream his name as my body hammers its release, taking him with me along the way. His words of love and beauty are the last things I hear before I drift off to sleep.
***
I take in the sheer enormity of the two-story, twelve-thousand-square-foot house—correction—mansion. Devin’s place is huge!
I’m going to live here? Seriously?
My clothes just might take up a quarter of the master closet.
He just takes my hand and kisses me on the on the top of my head as he walks past me to open the door.
“Baby?”
But I say nothing as I scan the building, my gaze going higher and higher.
“Clar baby.” His tone becomes more serious, determined to draw my attention back toward him, but I am in a completely different state, and I barely hear him. “Baby.”
Then he decides to take another approach, placing my head between his hands and kissing me with all the love he can muster.
I try to deepen the kiss, but he pulls back, shaking his head.
“Better?”
I take a breath and blink several times before answering with a smile.
“Yes, much.”
Once I am able to get past the expanse of it all, I can see how much he wants me to love it. Like a kid showing off his toy collection, his face tells me everything with just one look.
“This place is huge! I can’t believe you settled for my condo over this.”
“So, you think it’s a huge, enormous, dismal, lonely place?”
His forlorn tone makes me take a step back.
“Aw, Dev, it’s beautiful. Seriously.”
This man is a contradiction in actions and responses. I would think that he’d be excited about his place, but he actually seems a little forlorn and uncertain. Not at all what I imagined.
Heart's Desire (Game of Hearts Series Book 2) Page 10
