by A D Holland
Samuel was her best friend, the one person she could talk to and not fear judgment. He was light where Devin was dark; he was warm where Devin was cold and ruthless. But when Elizabeth went to compare her feelings for both men, her love for Devin surpassed her feelings for Samuel. She looked at Devin. She was suddenly very frightened of the fact that this man had stepped in and stolen her heart without her realizing it. His image would burn in her mind forever. But she would not let him know that. She would not give him a chance to stomp on her heart with disgust. If he wanted a cold bitch, he would get a cold bitch. But she would also make him see that it was only in his company that she became this cold-hearted woman; unaffected by him in anyway. She quickly put her plan to the test.
“I do have Samuel,” a smile touched her lips, soft with her feelings for him. Through her lashes, she watched for Devin’s reaction at the mention of Samuel’s name. There was none, until he spoke.
“Who is Samuel?” the question was asked through tight lips. He crossed his arms over his chest and spread his feet apart. Devin tried to give the appearance of polite interest, but Elizabeth knew that there was more to it. The muscle twitching in his jaw gave him away. A twinge of excitement went through her.
“He is my stepbrother, Edward’s son.” she stood and walked slowly toward Devin. “He has been my best friend since I met him. He is so kind and never judges me. He always looks at me with such love and tenderness,” she stopped a few feet in front of Devin. “I guess you can say that I have always had a crush on him.” She blushed prettily and stepped a little closer. “He is the only man I have ever found myself attracted to.” The twitch became more pronounced. She could tell that she was having an effect on him.
“So I guess Detective that it is just you who feels that I am cold, because when I am with Samuel,” Elizabeth leaned closer to Devin, lowering her voice to a husky whisper. “I burn up.”
She was quite pleased with the effect she had on him as she watched him visibly flinch at her words. What was he thinking behind those lowered lids of his? Elizabeth pondered this question and then stepped back away from him. The heat radiating from his body was almost suffocating. She was going to have a hard time playing this game with him if all she kept thinking about was jumping his bones. She had to remain cold. Taking a deep reassuring breath, Elizabeth stepped closer to him again.
He was holding himself rigid, with his arms crossed over that chest. He looked like he was battling with Hell. For a moment she caught sight of his eyes, the shutters guarding against his emotions were gone and what she saw there made her pause. Smoldering, black with passion they burned her. Then he lowered his lids and she was unable to delve deeper into those beautiful eyes. Maybe she did not repel him. Maybe he was attracted to her. That is a crazy thought. Why would he want you? Why wouldn’t he? This thought brought a flush to her cheeks. Maybe she should test this theory. Before she changed her mind, Elizabeth quickly decided to put the test to task and dropped her hands and pulled them behind her back.
This action caused her wrapper to fall open and her breast to spring forward. She held her breath waiting for his reaction. Devin’s eyes dropped from her face and stared at her body; the muscle in his jaw twitching beyond control; his breathing was ragged. Elizabeth suddenly felt all-powerful with the effect she had on him. The heady sensation she was getting from causing this reaction from Devin pushed her over the edge.
“I suddenly feel the need for a nice cool shower, what with all this talk of burning up,” before she turned away, Elizabeth very subtly leaned forward and brushed her breast against his arm. She felt her nipples harden as they came into contact with him. Devin’s head jerked up exposing his taunt face. His reaction was almost her undoing, but she held on long enough to turn away, slowly dropping the wrapper from her shoulders leaving her back exposed.
Devin’s control snapped as he lunged forward and took hold of her arm, swinging her around bringing her in direct contact with his hard, burning body. She struggled in his embrace, but he over powered her, trapping both her fists in his right hand behind her back causing her to arch her breasts forward smashing them against his bare chest. His left hand tangled in her hair, holding her head in place. Elizabeth was shocked at the raw sexual need reflected in his eyes. Then she felt her body melt and stopped her struggling. His mouth was inches away from hers. She could feel his hot breath on her face.
“You are playing too close to the flame, my haughty little ice princess. You’re liable to get that lovely, creamy flesh of yours scorched if you’re not careful.” His voice was smooth as silk and licked at the flames of desire burning in her.
“Let go of me this instant,” Elizabeth gritted her teeth to hide her fright. If he kissed her she would be doomed. She had to fight while she still could. “I will not have you touching me in this way. You are disgusting.” The tears that reflected in her eyes were not of anger as Devin interpreted. They came from the hurt she was experiencing at having to say these things to him.
“Now, now Princess, if I am going to be labeled a bastard, I had better live up to it, hadn’t I?” Devin took her mouth in a brutal assault.
There was no tenderness, no passion, only abuse as his hard uncompromising lips tortured her soft pliant ones. Elizabeth felt the tears flow from her closed eyes. She had pushed him too far. If he had felt attracted to her before it was gone now. All he felt for her was anger and a need to lash out at her. She told herself that it was good, that in the end his cruelty would drown out any feelings of love she had for him. Giving up to the onslaught of his brutal mouth, Elizabeth stopped her struggle and went limp in Devin’s embrace. She would not fight him, she could not fight him.
Devin nipped at her lips roughly with his teeth causing her to open her mouth at the pain. Then he was inside, exploring, tasting and quite suddenly the kiss went from hard rage to soft seduction. He plundered her mouth like a man obsessed. Drinking in her sweetness, his tongue coaxed a response from deep down in her. Devin released her hands and she wrapped her arms around his neck. She felt his right hand needing the bare flesh covering her spine while the grip in her hair relaxed and he spread his left hand to cup her head gently. Elizabeth moaned and opened her mouth wider, tentatively touching her tongue to his, curious at first and then bolder until she matched him in his passionate exploration. This brought a groan from Devin as he picked her up and carried her to the bed without removing his lips from her mouth.
Elizabeth felt the cool sheets on her back soothing her burning flesh. His hands cupped her face as he settled his body between her legs. He tortured her with his lips and tongue delving into her mouth deeper and deeper. As he trailed his hands down her throat his lips followed placing kisses all over her neck and shoulders until finally his head hovered over breasts. She felt his hot breath through the satin of the nightgown causing her nipple to grow taut with need. Slowly, he untied the ribbons and pulled back the material to expose one large dark nipple. She watched as he lowered his head and took the hardened nub in his mouth, flicking it with his tongue.
“Devin,” she ran her hands through his dark silky hair, not wanting him to stop. He lifted his mouth and Elizabeth moaned her objection until she felt him settle his lips on her other breast. She whimpered, feeling a fire that had started in her breasts and had now traveled to the spot between her legs growing, spreading throughout out her body like liquid molten lava.
Devin’s hand traveled lower over her stomach pausing at the point where Elizabeth burned out of control. He cupped her warmth and she arched to meet his hand. Unconscious of her wild wanton display, Elizabeth begged Devin to quench this need burning in her. He parted her and inserted one single finger into her wet burning tunnel.
“Devin!” Elizabeth cried his name and gripped his shoulders. His face was hovering over hers, watching with deep black eyes her reaction to his touch.
“Do you want me?” he asked her in a husky voice.
“Yes!” she cried.
“Do y
ou want me princess?” All along he taunted her with his fingers slipping in and out of her smoothly. The friction growing there was almost unbearable making Elizabeth feel like she was being taken to the edge and then pulled back before she could experience the unknown. All she knew was that she wanted Devin with every fiber of her being and if she did not have him she would surely explode into tiny bits of pieces. She opened her eyes and looked directly into his face. She was sure that he would see her love for him spilling from her eyes but she did not care. She reached up to touch the twitching muscle in his jaw reflecting what control he was maintaining.
“Yes, Devin, I want you.” She placed a kiss on his jaw. “I want you to love me now and promise not to stop.” She kissed his mouth softly, running her tongue along his parted lips.
Devin moaned his promise as he stood to remove his clothing. Elizabeth could not turn her gaze away. She watched him as he undressed and stood in front of her in all his male glory. Her eyes moved over the smooth chest across the taunt belly and down into that dark patch of hair that covered his stomach and thighs. Elizabeth’s eyes grew warm as her gaze rested on Devin’s arousal. She felt a twinge of fright when she thought of that entering her, but Devin was beside her again before she could voice a protest.
He kissed her deeply, moving his body over hers, resting between her thighs. Very slowly, Elizabeth felt Devin enter her and then stop letting her body adjust to him. He repeated this while kissing her mouth, his tongue imitating the actions of his body. Elizabeth gripped his shoulders tightly. He raised his head to look into her eyes as he pushed past the last barrier. The pain was slight causing her to dig her nails into his back and cry out.
“Did I hurt you?” his voice was thick with passion and his body was strained under his control. Elizabeth looked into his eyes, seeing worry in the depths she rushed to reassure him.
“Don’t stop Devin. You promised that you would not stop.” The pain had turned to something deeper burning her to the core filling her with a need of fulfillment. She moved her hips impatiently underneath him, flexing her muscles.
“If you keep that up I’ll be finished before we even get started,” his voice was intense and his eyes searched her face as he slowly began the climb, moving in and out of her with soft smooth strokes. Little noises of eagerness and wonderment escaped her throat. Unable to control herself, Elizabeth moved in wild abandon underneath him, wrapping her legs around his waist bringing him into her deeper and deeper. And then she felt it; the explosion and then the sense of falling. It was the most wonderful out of control feeling she had ever experienced. With one last lunge Devin buried himself deep in her, crying her name he exploded filling her with his seed, so warm and wonderful. His kiss was so deep that Elizabeth thought that she would succumb to him. He traced his finger along across her cheek and along her jaw raising his head to stare into her face. It was a searching look, probing deep into her eyes.
“Are you all right?” it was a gentle question and the expression on his face was full of tenderness.
“Perfectly wonderful,” she smiled, glowing at him. He shifted to lie on his back, pulling her with him as if he was unable to bear their separating yet. Devin stroked her back with one hand while the other rested on her waist. It was a protective touch, which filled Elizabeth with love. In all of her days she would never regret what had happened just now. Never; He was the kindest, gentlest of lovers and Elizabeth knew that she would never find another to take his place in her heart.
Elizabeth ran her hand along his chest, in a slow appreciative manner. His skin glistened with sweat as his chest moved with his breathing. She laid her head against his heart hearing the erratic beat. For the first time Elizabeth wondered what effect their making love had on Devin. Did he experience as much pleasure as she had or was it just another sexual encounter for him? She raised her eyes to his hoping to see an answer there, but they were closed. He had stopped stroking her back and his breathing had become steady as if he were sleeping.
She moved, trying to separate their bodies without waking him and was stunned when she felt him grow hard inside her. She looked up, startled to see him staring at her.
“I didn’t mean to wake you,” she spoke softly; her eyes troubled uncertain what to do next.
“I wasn’t sleeping, princess,” Devin placed his hands on her waist and raised her up to where she was straddling him. She rested her hands on his chest for balance. Her hair fell down around her face like a curtain as she looked down into his face. Slowly he lifted her with his hands and then released the pressure, making her slide down on him.
“What are you doing?” her question was a squeak.
“I am teaching you how to make love to me. See?” He raised her again and then sat her back down. Elizabeth felt him grow even harder and saw the passionate look in his eyes.
“Turnabout is fair play princess. Or can’t you handle it?” he smiled at her knowingly. Spurred on by the challenge, Elizabeth took Devin’s hands and placed them on her breast as she began to move up and down in a rhythmic motion. He closed his eyes and groaned her name. After a few more strokes Elizabeth paused, feeling the power she held over him at that moment, making her passion even deeper.
“I think the question detective is if you can handle it?” When she didn’t move, Devin rose up and wrapped his arms around her; he pushed her back into the bed and drove three powerful strokes into her before they both exploded.
Elizabeth held Devin, cradling his head against her breast; she ran her fingers through his hair. It was surprising how his weight lying on top of her was so comforting. She smiled as she remembered the look of astonishment on his face when she uttered that question so sweetly. He had well and truly lost control and it was because of her. She felt a giggle escape.
Devin turned his head to look at her. His face flushed and his eyes still full of passion.
“I hope that you are not giggling at my performance princess?” the look of wounded pride was impaired by the impish grin on his face. She met his look with one of her own haughty ones, adding a bit of southern drawl for good measure.
“Why detective, I would never be so vulgar as to laugh at a man’s endowments while he was still in the bed,” she could not keep the giggle in as Devin rose up and stared at her in disbelief followed by the most beautiful smile Elizabeth had ever seen. He looked younger and more relaxed when he smiled and it melted her heart to think that she had never seen him do that until this moment.
Chapter 9
Elizabeth woke to a loud knock at the door. She was wrapped in Devin’s arms, her back pressed against his body.
“Devin, did you hear that?” she whispered.
“Yes,” He squeezed her tightly burying his face in her hair. He felt her stiffen with fear as the knock sounded again, only louder.
“Who do you think it could be?” she squeaked. Rolling over she looked at him with huge worried eyes. When Devin smiled down at her, Elizabeth felt her heart flip flop. He cupped her face and placed soft kisses across her nose and cheeks ending up at her mouth, parting her lips in slow, sensual exploration. Elizabeth felt her insides melt. It was amazing how one touch from this man could arouse her passion. They had made love several times that afternoon, only ending when exhaustion took over and then he had cradled her in his arms with such care that Elizabeth was sure that he had to feel something for her; something more than pure lust.
When another loud knock reverberated through the quiet room, Devin raised his lips and swore quietly as he left the bed. She watched him pull on his jeans, not bothering to button them up before he walked to the door.
“Who is it?” Devin barked the question. He was really very upset about being pulled out bed and this pleased Elizabeth immensely.
“I know she’s in there Kane so let me in.”
That was Samuel’s voice. Oh no, what had she done? She had completely forgotten about her phone conversation with him. And now he was standing outside their door, fixing to come in. S
he scrambled from the bed pulling the sheet as she went. She couldn’t let him find her like this. It would be too embarrassing. She wrapped the sheet around her body and started running to the bathroom without tripping.
“Who the hell is this?” Devin’s voice was hard, and when Elizabeth heard him speak, she froze.
“I’m Samuel Lindsey, Elizabeth’s stepbrother.”
Devin looked at Elizabeth, pinning her to the spot with those hard blue eyes. Before she could do or say anything, Devin turned the knob and swung open the door.
“By all means, Lindsey, do come in,” Devin stood back for Samuel to pass. Elizabeth stood frozen to the spot, with only the sheet to cover her.
“I don’t appreciate being made to wait out there like that,” Samuel scowled as he walked in. He was wearing the ever-present dark suit and tie, with his hair combed perfectly. Elizabeth caught herself comparing the two men standing so close to each other.
Samuel was tall and golden with his blonde hair and perfect tan, but Devin dwarfed him by a good 5 inches. Samuel’s stance was tense and he gave the air of cold snobbery with his perfect nose tilted up.
“I have been knocking for a good five minutes. What were you doing that I had to beat the door down to get an answer?” Samuel directed his question to Devin, not yet spotting Elizabeth. She tried to take advantage of this and make her escape, but Devin’s voice stilled her.
“I’ll let Elizabeth fill you in,” Devin looked at Elizabeth, his face devoid of any emotion, his eyes guarded by heavy lids.
Samuel turned to look at her. She squirmed under his scrutiny as he took in the rumpled bed sheet covering her naked body. She saw shock in his eyes, but for a moment she also thought she had glimpsed disgust before he turned to glare at Devin. He took in the mussed hair, bare chest, and undone jeans. She watched as Samuel raised his hands, forming fists as if he would strike out at Devin. Elizabeth took a step forward in fear, noticing the dark look Devin was wearing and the way his body tensed.
