“It’s…it’s…so much to take in.” I looked up at him. He placed a kiss on my forehead.
“But you haven’t heard most of it. Give me a chance to finish.” I nodded, still crying as he lifted my to my feet and lead me back into the living room. I sat in the corner of the couch again. Devlin sat next to me as he had before. This time the other man followed and sat across from us.
I looked at the man and then at Devlin. “So tell me. Who is he? What does he mean to you? What is going on?”
Devlin looked at him and then back at me. “Ally, this is Aiden. Aiden, Ally.” We nodded at each other, and Devlin continued. “Ally is my girlfriend and current sub. Aiden was a previous sub and boyfriend.”
I almost choked when he said that word. It wasn’t that I didn’t know about male subs, but the fact that Devlin was bisexual took me a bit by surprise. “Okay, so this relationship was sexual in nature?”
Both nodded.
“And now?”
“It’s complicated,” answered Devlin. “That was part of a past that I’ve worked for so long to forget about, move on from.”
I looked at Aiden and could see the hurt in his face. There was still something more about this relationship for him. I took a breath in and tried not to judge what I was being told. I wasn’t a judger, the opposite in fact. I needed to put into practice what I preached.
I looked at Aiden. “What’s your story?”
He looked at Devlin and then me. “Not sure I understand what you mean?”
“I mean,” I shifted on the couch, “what’s your side of the story? Why reach out to him after all these years? Do you still have feelings for him?”
I could tell he didn’t know how to answer. He shifted in his spot, rubbing his hands together before looking at me. “Yeah, there are still feelings. Unresolved questions, answers I still need. But as to why I called him, reached out. That wasn’t my idea, but he was the only person I could think of that could help.”
“What do you mean, ‘unresolved questions? Answers you still need?’” I watched as he looked again at Devlin.
“Devlin, or Devon as I knew him at the time, just walked out on us. Came into the apartment, packed a bag in front of us without a single word, and left. No goodbyes, no explanations. Nothing. Two weeks ago was the first time in five years that I’d seen him. Am I hurt? Yes. Angry? Of course. But I still care, and still want to know why?”
Devlin’s eyebrows were twitching, he was trying to remain in control, remain calm. “So, I’m not the only one that has unanswered questions? Now I have more. You changed your name?”
“I had to. I had to protect them. Protect myself.” He didn’t offer any more information, just stared at the floor.
“Why?” Aiden and I asked in unison. I didn’t know much about him, but I definitely felt his pain. The secrets were enough to drive anyone crazy.
“Because I had to. It was a decision that was made on the spot. It was to protect you and Caroline.” I knew he was talking to Aiden, but I asked anyway.
“What happened, Devlin? Now is the time to let it all out.”
“It’s not that easy, Pumpkin. Not that easy.” He rubbed his hands over his face. We waited as he took a few breaths. “There was an incident with Kelsey. She was drugged at the club one night, and I happened to be there as extra security.” Again, he was directing this to Aiden. I didn’t know who the fuck Kelsey was.
“What type of incident?” Aiden asked.
“A guy followed her outside and started to grope her, tearing at her clothes - positioning himself to fuck her. I found them in time, and he took a swing at me. All hell broke loose after that, I ended up beating him unconscious. I rushed to get Kelsey to the hospital. It wasn’t until afterwards that I realized I had actually killed him.”
“It was self-defense.” I offered up.
“I was high as a kite, pumpkin. No court would have looked at it that way. The reason she was even put into harm was because I went off to get high. A short while later, we found out it was actually one of Ashworth’s sons.”
I heard Aiden draw in a breath, and I watched as his face went white. “You killed him?”
“So they say. I don’t remember. I blacked out. Thornton had his men drive me home and get me out of the country. Said he would handle it all. No one would ever find out. Except in the six months I spent in Ireland afterwards, someone did find out.” Devlin sat there, hunched over.
I didn’t know what to say. Aiden looked as if he’d been shot and run over a few times. The quiet that resonated in the living room was nerve wracking. I placed my hands on Devlin’s arms and moved a little closer, placing a kiss on his arm. Taking the chance to tell us what had happened was a lot. Even though I was still feeling hurt, and unsure about some of the other information he had told me, like Aiden, I still felt deeply for him. The defeated way that he was sitting broke my heart. The silence was needed; allowing us time to process what he had just told us, what he had lived with.
“Sir, thank you.” I offered up, not knowing what else to say. I looked over at Aiden, who was still sitting in the same place, stunned.
Devlin looked at me. “I’m sorry I didn’t tell you sooner, Pumpkin.” I answered by kissing his shoulder. Devlin looked toward Aiden. “Now that you know, what are you thinking about?”
Aiden ran his hands over his face again. “I don’t know. What am I supposed to think? You left us.”
“To protect you,” Devlin added.
“Yeah, but it harmed us more. Do you even know what happened to her? Do you even care?” Aiden’s voice rose.
“I heard. I can’t take that back. I thought I was making the right choice at the time. I called Lucas and Marcus for help, got out of Ireland, got clean, and changed my name. Hoping it would afford you two some safety.” Devlin was staring at him. Aiden’s eyes locked with Devlin’s.
“It didn’t. Caroline ended up hurt anyway. I ended up working for the same man you vowed to protect us from. I had no choice. I needed to survive. Now look what’s happened? I’m running for my life, my sister is in hiding, and I took an innocent girl away from the only life she knew.” Aiden stood and walked over to the picture window. Devlin stood and followed him, placing a hand on Aiden’s shoulder. Aiden didn’t move, but I could see the emotions still lingering between them.
I walked over to them both, placing my arm around Devlin’s waist and my other hand on Aiden’s back. “Come on. We need to sit and process all of this. It’s been a lot to take in.”
I don’t know what changed my mind from an hour ago, when Devlin laid it all on the line for me about Aiden, the past relationship, their relationship. I still didn’t know how to feel about it, didn’t know what to feel about it. But a blind man could see the love and feelings still between them, and the gravity of the information we were just told together, left something to be said.
Devlin lowered his head and placed a kiss on my lips. I pulled away quickly. “I can’t right now. I still need to sort out what you told me.” I watched as he closed his eyes and walked back to the couch. I didn’t mean to hurt him. I just needed time to think.
Aiden sat back on the couch. We all sat in silence for what seemed like hours.
“Pumpkin, stay the night?” A question yet a statement. Devlin grabbed my hand.
“I can’t. I need time to think. Time to process.” I pulled away and walked toward the door. Seth had told me to text him if I needed him, which I did.
Devlin followed me into the foyer. “We still need to talk. I need to make sure you are safe when I go back. I need you here tomorrow.”
I nodded. As much as I didn’t want to leave now, I knew I had to. I needed to process what I had been told, how I felt. What I was going to do.
“One question?” I asked.
“Anything.”
“Do you still love him?” I needed to know.
There was a hesitation. “I still care about him, yes. But, Alexia, I love you.” I didn’t know wha
t to say, so instead I turned away and walked out the door. He had just told me he loved me, but did I love him? Who the fuck was I kidding, of course I loved him.
I watched as Ally walked out. No response to the fact that I had just told her that I loved her. I wished the first time I said it hadn’t been under these circumstances.
“So, she’s the one, huh?” I heard Aiden ask as I shut the door. Turning around, I faced him.
“Yeah, she’s the one. She’s the one that has set everything right in my world.” I walked into the living room and straight over to the bar. I poured Aiden and myself a glass of whisky. I let the amber liquid burn my throat as I took it in one gulp.
“What about us?” I heard him say behind me.
“I told you before, there isn’t any us. That was a long time ago.”
“Wasn’t that long ago. A few hours by my count.” His snippy voice irritated me as I spun around to correct his behavior, but stopped suddenly. He was right. I had let my guard down. I had let our encounter happen. I couldn’t deny where I had been hours before. And as much as Ally was my life, Aiden still had a presence in my heart. I poured myself another drink, reflecting on how much of an emotional ass wipe I’d become.
I walked by Aiden and proceeded to my office. I booted up the computer and checked my email, to see if anything had come through. Aiden followed, and sat in the chair again.
“I’m really not in the mood to talk,” I snapped.
“I know. I’m not talking. I’m sitting.”
“Your smart ass mouth hasn’t changed,” I said, looking up from the computer.
“Not much about has changed.” He paused. “So, think your girl is up for a little tag team action?”
I stood quickly out of my seat, the chair flying behind me. “Don’t you even think about it,” I growled.
Aiden through his hands up in the air. “Chill. I was trying to get some emotion out of you.”
“That did it. What do you want, Aiden?” I asked, sitting back in the chair.
“I just wanted to say I am sorry about not understanding.” The sincerity in his voice softened the roughness of my temper.
“How would you? I didn’t give you much choice in the matter. I know it wasn’t right just leaving, but it’s what I thought was the right decision at the time. Thornton didn’t give me much choice, either.”
“I get that. I do. But just something would have been better than nothing.”
“Aiden, I said I was sorry. I had to leave. Ashworth doesn’t let the law handle things. You, of all people, should know that. I didn’t think that you’d end up working for the dick - leaving was the best option to protect you and Caroline.” I sat back in my seat. I guess part of me thought that he’d forgive me and understand once I’d told him. But the look on his face, the hurt in his eyes, told me differently.
“I just don’t know what to say, Devlin.”
“Let’s get some sleep. We can talk more in the morning. Ally will hopefully be over, and we can talk about things. Maybe it would be safer for you guys to go away, instead of staying around here?” My voice trailed off. I stood and walked to the door, waiting for Aiden to follow.
“Night,” I said leaving the office.
“Night,” I heard him respond before I entered my bedroom.
∞ ∞ ∞ ∞ ∞ ∞
I awoke the next day around eleven. Thank God it was Saturday. I heard my phone go off in the office, and walked in to get it. Whoever it was, it could wait. I located the phone under a pile of papers, and saw a text from my contact in London.
Ty: man inside - come late - Ash is the color in beantown.
Me: Understood. French is good.
The code was established. I would fly in on Friday instead of Monday. Thornton had succeeded in getting a man inside the auction, and hopefully the rest of the plan to take Ashworth down would be good to go. With the exception that there was confirmed associates in Boston. I would have to get Aiden and Ally out of town for a while.
I sent a quick text to Marcus, even though he was across the hall, and another one to Ally, requesting she come over early afternoon. I wanted to hear what she had to say, what she thought.
I heard Aiden walking around in his room, and started a pot of coffee and pulled out some food to begin breakfast. Ten minutes later, Aiden was sitting at the breakfast bar, and I had just finished making eggs, bacon, bangers and pudding. He was dressed only in a pair of baggy jeans, ones that rode low on his hips. I took a few seconds to look over his body. The tattoos covered his arms and chest, very similar to mine. You could hop a quarter off of the definition of his muscles in his chest and abdomen. His hair was still black, longer and messed up from sleep. My outfit mimicked his; no shirt and jeans.
“A traditional Irish breakfast,” I said, sliding the plate in front of him.
“I haven’t had one in years,” he said, digging in to the black pudding.
“I don’t cook as much as I should.” I began to eat mine when the door opened. I didn’t immediately jump up or get on edge, as I knew the security downstairs would only allow certain people up, and only two people had a key. I moved my head to see Ally around the corner. She had her hair down, wore a pair of her tight jeans, and a black tank top covered in a Boston University zip up sweatshirt. She put her stuff on the bench I had in the foyer, and walked towards the kitchen.
“Good morning,” she said, coming to a stop when she saw Aiden and me in the kitchen.
“Morning, Pumpkin. I see you are early.” I moved to make her a cup of coffee.
“Yeah, well. I couldn’t sleep or think or, hell, I couldn’t do much of anything,” she said, taking the mug I extended to her. She looked at Aiden, who was still eating quietly, and back at me.
“Do you want something to eat? There’s enough,” I asked, carrying my plate to the sink.
“Um…no. Not hungry,” she said, gripping the mug a bit tighter. “So, what are we talking about now?”
“A few things, but I’m waiting for Marcus to get here,” I said, sitting on the breakfast bar stool I had pulled around the countertop. Ally was standing in the entryway of the kitchen, swaying back and forth, shifting her weight from one foot to the other.
“Oh…okay. Well, I can go sit in the living room until he gets here.” As she went to turn, I spoke up.
“Something making you uncomfortable, Pumpkin?”
She turned back and looked at me. “I’m not sure, Sir.” Sir! She said it. Fuck, there was still some hope. I watched her eye Aiden, and then shift her gaze back and forth between the two of us.
“Something on your mind?” Aiden said as he walked by her, brushing up against her. I watched as she shut her eyes at the contact, and her nipples hardened; Aiden turned her on. I could see it in her reaction to him as he walked by, the way her hair stood up on her arms.
“Um…no, nothing specific.” Her voice was strained, her breathing quicker than before. I caught Aiden’s eye and nodded in Ally’s direction. I know I had said no to him last night, but seeing her reaction…well, that changed things. Aiden walked by her again, this time purposely rubbing against her as he now positioned himself behind her, his mouth to her ear.
“That’s a shame,” he whispered. “I think you’re a little turned on right now.”
I watched her eyes lift from the tile floor to mine. They were dark, and she fidgeted in place. Aiden trailed his hands on her hips, grabbing each side as he led her closer to me. I stood and leaned against the counter, legs crossed, arms folded in front of me, just watching their interaction. Ally didn’t back away. She kept her eyes locked with mine as Aiden ran his hands up and down the sides of her abdomen. I could see the goose bumps form on her skin as his fingers grazed over her stomach, lifting the shirt slightly out of the way.
“Sir…” her voice caught as Aiden ran his hand over her breast, which was still held within its garment.
“Yes, pumpkin?” I asked, standing up and taking a stride toward her.
&nb
sp; “I…I…” Aiden began to press light kisses on her neck, his hands keeping her in place.
“What is it, pumpkin? You have something to say? Ask?” I placed my hands on the hem of her shirt, lifting it slightly above her breasts. A black lace bra separated me from what I wanted. Aiden was still holding her, nipping now at her shoulder. I ran a finger between the material and her flesh, pulling her breast out on the second swipe. Ally arched against Aiden, as I took her nipple into my mouth.
A moan escaped from her lips. Yeah, she was turned on. Just because I had told Aiden that I wouldn’t entertain the idea of what he’d hinted at last night, didn’t mean I wouldn’t allow this. The way her body betrayed her, the state of arousal she was in just from him brushing up against her, was undeniable. If I knew Ally, she had thought about every rational reason as to why this was wrong, yet when I made her pull her guard down, she opened herself up to her true wants and desires.
“Pumpkin, I am guessing that if I were to feel your pussy right now, I’d find it moist and dripping with how aroused you are. Am I wrong?” I asked as I pulled her other breast out of her bra and sucked on her nipple.
“Yes.”
“Yes, I’m wrong or yes, you’re wet?” I demanded.
“Yes, sir. I’m wet.”
“That’s my girl.”
Aiden had her head on his shoulder, and his hands were exploring her abdomen. I went to move toward the button of her jeans when I heard the door open.
“We’re here.” Marcus announced as I quickly pulled Ally into the corner of the kitchen to allow her to fix herself. Motioning to Aiden to go head them off. Ally let out a growl of frustration.
“Good things to those that wait, pumpkin.” I kissed her quickly and let her finish straightening out.
I greeted Marcus and Lucas in the foyer, Emma with them. “Let’s go to the living room.” I said, leading everyone there.
“Where’s Ally?” Emma asked as she sat on the couch.
Dominate Me: A Devoured Club Novel Page 11
