Devious

by Suzannah Daniels

  Pale pink rose petals dotted the patio stones, and a small decorative table, made of glass and black swirls of iron, boasted a vase filled with at least two dozen roses, their rosy color contrasting with the white of the baby’s breath.

  Besides the gorgeous, overflowing vase of roses, the table held what appeared to be a wine bottle nestled in a silver ice bucket and two, glass champagne flutes.

  “It’s beautiful,” I whispered, filled with awe.

  “And yet it still can’t compare to you.” His fingers brushed across my shoulder, sending tiny jolts of excitement through my body.

  He released me, and instantly, I missed the heat of his hands.

  “I’ll be right back,” he promised.

  I nodded, turning my gaze to the setting sun. Soft music replaced the silence, and I was relieved when I felt his hands on my shoulders, my back brushing against his chest. “Since it’s our prom, we’ll only have slow dances,” he whispered in my ear. His soft lips kissed the tender flesh of my neck, and I trembled beneath his gentle touch.

  He gently turned me around and pulled me into his arms as we swayed to the music. I felt safer at this moment than I had since Granny’s death. Everything about being in Stone’s arms felt right.

  I laid my head against his shoulder, breathing deeply of his cologne. Snaking my arms under his jacket and around his waist, I pulled him closer to me, wanting to feel the security of his body against mine.

  His palm pressed against the back of my head as if he, too, wanted us to be closer. Resting his chin on top of my head, he hugged me to him. His arms wrapped around me like I was something precious to be cherished. “I love you, Dara.”

  He had spoken four simple words, and I’d heard them from him many times before. But in this one moment, they nearly brought me to my knees with their power, their meaning. Everyone needed to be loved, and I was no different. Maybe it was the beauty of this moment or the loss of Granny or magic emanating from the moon as it ascended to the sky, but at this moment, even more than needing to be loved, I needed to be loved by Stone.

  Stone

  “I love you, too,” she whispered, her soft voice flowing over me.

  Damn, she was so sweet in my arms. When she nuzzled into my neck, I wanted nothing more than to hold her like this forever, to protect her, to cherish her, to love her. She stirred emotions within me that I’d never experienced, and I wanted to be everything to her.

  My fingers splayed across her hips, and I kissed her temple, raining kisses along the side of her face until she tilted towards me, offering me her lips. I started out gently, my tongue teasing her warm, supple lips. When she opened to me, I deepened the kiss and devoured her, unable to resist the temptation.

  When I finally pulled back, we were both gasping for air. I removed my jacket and flung it in a nearby chair. Unbuttoning my sleeves, I rolled them up until they fell midway on my forearm. The sun had vacated the sky, replaced by the silvery glow of the moon and a million, twinkling stars.

  The moonlight glinted off the silver embellishments on her gown, and I felt the overwhelming need to have her in my arms again. I motioned for her to come to me, and she stepped into my embrace. Her tiny hands clung to me, pulling me toward her. Cradling her in my arms, I held her close while we danced across the strewn rose petals in the enchanting glow of the moon.

  When the song ended, I led her to the small table.

  “Are you thirsty?”

  “A little bit,” she whispered, and I detected a hint of nervousness in her voice.

  I opened the bottle of sparkling grape juice and filled the champagne flutes. We chatted as we sipped, and when both of our glasses were empty, I placed them back on the table.

  Sitting on a chaise lounge, I motioned for her to join me as I leaned against the back, my legs straddling the lounger. Dara slipped off her shoes and slid back against my chest, her legs stretched out in front of her amid the flowing skirts of her gown.

  She was nestled in my arms, my fingers interlocked as my palms rested against her lower abdomen.

  “So how’s it going with your mom?” I asked.

  “It’s going great. She’s excited about starting at the bookstore on Monday.” She rested her hands on top of mine.

  “Are you going to keep Emma?”

  “Yeah. I’m excited, too! It’s so hard to believe. After all these years, my mom’s back and I have a sister. I’m still pinching myself.”

  I gave her a little squeeze. “I’m glad that things are going well for you. You deserve it.”

  She leaned her head back against my chest. “And I’ve got you to thank for it.”

  “I’m sure she would’ve called when she got the chance.”

  “Maybe. But you still found her and helped her when she had no one else, and I appreciate that.”

  “I did it for you.” I kissed her on the temple and was rewarded with a sigh of pleasure.

  “I read the book review,” she said softly. “You don’t feel lonely anymore?”

  I tightened my hold on her. “Not as long as I have you.”

  “You’re the one that’s saving me from loneliness, Stone, especially now that Granny’s gone.”

  I closed my eyes, savoring her words. I wanted to be everything to her. I relished the feeling of her in my arms, wanting to capture this euphoric moment and remember it forever.

  She squirmed in her chair until her side was against my torso, her knees pulled up near my thigh. She tilted her head upward and kissed me along my jawline as her hand reached up and cupped the opposite cheek. Soft music flowed to the outdoor patio, seeping into the gentle night.

  She cuddled against my chest, her palm sliding downward until she rested it over my heart.

  “I wish Granny could’ve seen me graduate,” she whispered.

  “I know.”

  “There’re so many things she won’t be able to see now.”

  “I like to think that she and Luke aren’t missing anything. They just have a little different view now.” I reached up and took her hand in mine, lowering them to her lap.

  “That’s a good way of looking at it,” she said quietly.

  We sat in silence for a while, aglow in the moonlight, the soft music being the only sound. I marveled at the contentment I felt with Dara in my arms, and I knew that in the year that I had known her, she’d changed me.

  I leaned down and kissed her, and she sat up on her knees, pulling her skirt up around her, so that she could sit facing me, straddling my body.

  Her hands roamed over my face and my chest, and damn, if I didn’t want her right now. I kissed her more forcefully. Sliding my hands beneath her dress, I slid my palms up the smooth skin of her legs, kneading the flesh of her inner thigh with my thumbs.

  She scrambled out of my lap and stood up, her chest heaving in the glow of the moon. I smiled, knowing that she was affected by my touch.

  “Where’re you going, babe?”

  She curved her palm around the nape of her neck. “I just needed…a break.”

  I swung my leg over the lounger and pushed myself into a standing position. Placing my palm over her heart, I whispered, “That’s my little hummingbird.” I gently kissed her lips.

  Then, I grabbed her hand and tugged it, indicating for her to follow me in the house.

  I flipped on the light switch and crossed the living room with Dara in tow.

  “I’m not going to your bedroom,” she murmured.

  I laughed. “It’s a good thing because I’m not taking you to my bedroom. Of course, I could probably be persuaded to change my mind.” I winked at her.

  “Then where are we going?”

  “You said you wanted to take a break. I thought you might be hungry for something besides me.”

  “I am not hungry for you.”

  “Yeah. Okay.” Despite her words, I knew that I scared her. Her body told me that she wanted me in ways that her mouth never would. Not yet, anyway. But where Dara was concerned, I was a patient ma
n. I’d wait for her no matter how long it took.

  I pulled her into the kitchen and watched as her eyes grew wide with surprise.

  “Oh, my gosh, Stone! That’s a lot of food!”

  In my efforts to make this a memorable night for Dara, I’d catered a wide variety of food: mini club sandwiches, quiche, an assortment of pinwheels, a fresh fruit and vegetable tray, doughnuts, crème horns, thumbprint cookies, cinnamon rolls, key lime pie, lemon-strawberry punch, and miscellaneous other items. A centerpiece of pink roses adorned the table, along with two place settings of my mother’s fine china.

  “I didn’t want you to go hungry.”

  “You could feed the entire senior class with this spread,” she said, exaggerating.

  “You can take some back home to your mom, and we could take some to Mr. Milton tomorrow. And of course, Dylan will be home later to suck some down. But right now, it’s all about you.” I winked at her, and she offered me a shy smile in return.

  I added a sampling of everything on my plate, filling it until it was piled high. With all the running around that I’d done today, I hadn’t eaten as much as normal, and I was famished. I set my plate down at the table, lit a couple of rose-colored candles, and dimmed the lights. Dara set her sparsely-filled plate down next to mine. I pulled her chair out, assisting her as she sat down, and I took the seat next to her.

  “So how do you think Dylan and Scarlet’s date is going?” she asked. She took a bite of a crème horn while she waited for me to answer.

  “Well, he hasn’t come busting back through the door yet, so hopefully, it’s going better than we expected.”

  “You do know that she likes brains over brawn, don’t you?”

  “Much like me, Dylan’s the total package.” I grinned as I took a bite of ham and cheese on wheat.

  “So two total asshats under one roof? Your poor mother.”

  I laughed. “Lucky for her, we’re not home much.”

  We bantered our way through the meal, and it felt good to laugh with her. As much as I enjoyed her company, I found myself wanting to touch her skin, to hold her in my arms. I needed to be close to her.

  I stood and cleared our dishes. Offering her my hand, I asked, “May I have this dance?”

  She placed her small hand in mine, and her fingers were cool to the touch. “Yes, you may.” She shot me a dazzling smile, and I knew that once I had her in my arms, I wouldn’t want to let go.

  I led her back to the stone patio, her bare feet pattering across the hardwood floor in the living room. Once we stepped outside, the gentle fragrance of roses hung in the air. Pulling her against my chest, I locked my fingers at the small of her back. Her silky hair glinted silver in the moonlight, and I couldn’t resist skimming my fingers across her soft curls. When she glanced up at me, I jumped on the opportunity to press my lips to hers. Responding to my desire, I deepened the kiss, my fingers sliding over her back to the gentle curve of her ass. As I kneaded her flesh, the soft fabric of her gown gathered in my hands.

  She wove her arms around my neck, brushing my hair with her fingertips. As my tongue explored the sweetness of her mouth, she released a tiny gasp of pleasure, sending me into a near frenzy.

  I broke away from the kiss, my lips following the curve of her neck to her bare shoulder. Trying to control my urges, I pulled away and studied her face in the moonlight. Her eyes were hooded, and I knew that she wanted me, just as much as I wanted her.

  Candlelight shimmered off her dangling, crystal earrings, and I had difficulty taking my eyes off her astounding beauty. Not only was she sexy, but she was sensitive and caring. I drank in her appearance as if I wanted to memorize every detail of her face as she gazed at me.

  “What are you thinking about, Stone?” she asked, her voice as soft as the moonlight.

  “I’m thinking that I love to hear you say my name, to feel you touch me.” I reached out and placed my palm over her heart. “To know how your body responds to me.” I cupped her face in my hands, my thumbs skimming her cheekbones. “I love you, Dara.”

  “I love you, too.” She placed a gentle kiss on my lips, and whispered, “I’ve been Stoned. I’m not talking about getting high or being pelted with large rocks. I’m talking about you, Stone Hamilton. You’ve infused yourself in every part of my being. You’re the breath in my lungs, the blood in my veins, and I don’t want to live without you.”

  “You don’t have to,” I whispered, reaching for the ring in my pocket.

  “Let me finish,” she said. “I don’t want to live without you…and it scares me to death because I don’t know if I should give you that much power over me. With one touch, one word, you can give me the greatest feeling of euphoria or the worst kind of devastation.”

  “Dara, you mean everything to me, and I want to prove it to you.”

  My fingers closed around the ring. I’d thought long and hard, and I knew some people would think me teetering on the brink of insanity. But the truth was, I didn’t give a damn what anyone else thought. Nearly losing her made me realize that I wanted to be with her forever.

  Clasping her left hand, I pulled the ring from my pocket and bent down on one knee.

  I could tell the moment that she realized my intention, the twinkling lights providing enough illumination for me to read her expression as she inhaled sharply in surprise.

  “In the past year, you’ve given me more than I deserve. Not only have you given me your love, but you’ve brought me happiness at a time in my life when I would’ve thought it was impossible. I don’t want to live another day without knowing that you’ll be by my side. I know we’re young, and if you want a long engagement, then that’s fine with me, as long as I can know that one day you’ll be my wife. Dara Golding, will you marry me?”

  “Yes,” she whispered without hesitation, her voice as soft as the flutter of butterfly wings. Her tears glistened in the moonlight. “Finally, one of my birthday wishes is going to come true.”

  “You’re going to be a princess?”

  She laughed and squeezed my hand. “No.”

  “Well, your mother did come back for you.”

  She scoffed. “Yeah, but I was hoping that wish would come true before my seventh birthday, so that one doesn’t count.” Her voice softened. “The wish I made on my eighteenth birthday was that one day, we would get married.”

  I bent low over her hand, brushing a kiss across her knuckles. Gently, I placed the princess cut diamond ring on her finger, and she flung her arms around my neck, nearly knocking me off-balance. “That’s what I do,” I said while struggling to keep us upright, “make your wishes come true.”

  Standing, I wrapped my arms around her, crushing her against my body, and clung to her. “You’ve just made me a very happy man. I love you, Dara,” I said softly. Pulling back to gaze upon her face, my fingertips tilted her chin upward and I kissed her slowly, sensually.

  She trembled beneath my touch. “You really do love me, don’t you?” she whispered.

  “More than motorcycles and mud pies.”

  Other Books

  by

  Suzannah Daniels

  Young Adult

  Ghostly Encounter (Ghostly Series-Book One)

  Dangerous (Dangerous #1)

  Adult

  Viking’s Embrace

  Excerpt from Ghostly Encounter

  Seventeen-year-old Mia Randall longed for someone to take her mind off her heartrending breakup with her first real boyfriend.

  Benjamin Alexander Richards did exactly that.

  There was only one problem.

  He was a ghost.

  __________________________

  He continued to walk along the path. She noticed that his Rebel uniform seemed much more tattered than Josh’s. “Have you been reenacting for a long time?”

  He stopped then and turned to look at her. A slow, sad smile spread across his handsome face. He studied her with those beautiful eyes. “Far too long.”

  She watched as he
pursed his lips, and she wondered what it would be like to be kissed by him. “You sound as if you don’t enjoy it. Why do you do it?”

  He clenched his jaw and looked away.

  “I’m sorry if I said something to upset you.” She went to touch his arm reassuringly and then she stared in frozen horror, her body locked in position as she gaped at him. Her hand had gone right through him as if there was nothing before her but the very air she breathed.

  “Don’t be frightened,” he whispered.

  She backed away.

  “Please don’t go,” he pleaded, begging her with those brilliant, azure eyes. “I beseech you to stay with me, if only for a while.”

  About the Author

  Suzannah Daniels has had an affinity for words for as long as she can remember. She grew up in North Georgia with four brothers, so she learned at an early age to admire snakes and motorcycles. When she wasn’t pestering her brothers, she could usually be found reading or writing.

  Currently, she lives in Chattanooga, Tennessee with her husband and teenage daughter. Her son lives nearby. The family pets include a black Lab mix, a Basset Hound, a Shih Tzu, and a sweet, little kitty.

  She is the author of Viking’s Embrace, an adult historical romance, Ghostly Encounter, Book One of the Ghostly series, a young adult, paranormal romance/adventure and Dangerous, a young adult, contemporary romance.

  She loves to hear from her readers. Contact her:

  Website: www.SuzannahDaniels.com

  Email: SuzannahDaniels@epbfi.com

  Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/pages/Suzannah-Daniels/366971616695887?ref=hl

  Twitter: https://twitter.com/SuzannahDaniels

  Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/suzannahdaniels/

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