by Sarah Bale
She set down her phone and gritted her teeth. Leave it to Johnny to take a wonderful day and make her feel like shit about it. But he was right about one thing. If she wanted to keep Dev safe, she was going to have to keep doing what she had been doing all day.
Chapter Twenty-One
Dev stretched in the bed as his alarm screamed to life. He reached over and turned it off before the volume reached its maximum level. This was the second day in a row he had awoken to Shannon wrapped around him like a vine. She smiled sleepily at him.
“Do you really have to go?” She pouted with full lips. “Can’t you just stay here with me?”
God, her small plea was so fucking tempting. All he had to do was turn off his phone and slide back into bed with her. His cock was already half hard at the thought. She must have noticed his aroused condition because she pulled back the sheets, revealing her naked body.
“I need to make this training session, Shan.”
“You said last night that all the people you needed to impress would be at the party tonight.”
He had said that but he needed to go…
“I can’t. We can play later, I promise.”
He reached for his boxers and slid them on. Shannon sat up and reached for him.
“You could stay here with me and get some more rest.” At his laugh she amended. “Look at it this way. You will still be getting exercise. This will just be the fun kind.”
His cock stood hard now and he grabbed his pants.
“Oh? Like what?”
The question left his mouth before he could stop it. He needed to go but he also wanted to hear what she had on her mind.
“There are so many different things we could do. I saw some clamps in your bag that look fun…”
He debated his choices for about a second before diving into the bed, causing Shannon to giggle excitedly.
“What the hell. I can always train tomorrow.”
He shut off his cell phone to ensure they weren’t interrupted. Shannon opened her arms, inviting him in. Always one to oblige, he grinned.
“Now…about those nipple clamps…”
* * * * *
Shannon stepped out of the shower and Dev handed her a towel. Her muscles ached in protest as she briskly dried off. Good lord, she was so tender even simple movements were difficult.
“Are you sure you’re up for this?”
She laughed. “I’ll be fine, Dev. Well as long as no one wants to dance.”
He wrapped his arms around her. “Not even a slow dance?”
She kissed his cheek. “Only if it’s with you.”
They walked into the bedroom. A black suit lay on the freshly made bed. Her face flamed in embarrassment. Anyone who saw the bed would know what they had been doing. Hell, anyone who stepped into the room would be able to tell.
“I see housekeeping stopped by,” she commented.
Dev slipped into a pair of black briefs. “Actually it was probably Marco and Katie.”
She took a moment to take in the view before her eyes before his words registered.
“Marco and Katie! Oh my god, I am dying here!”
Dev looked at her quizzically.
“I don’t want your best friend and his…well, whatever she is…to know what we have been doing all day.”
“Babe, I’m pretty sure Marco got the hint when I didn’t show up at the gym this morning. As for Katie, well, she’s down.”
What in the heck did that mean? Before she could ask he continued.
“Katie is waiting for you in the guestroom. I think she brought a dress for you to wear.”
She still couldn’t get over the fact that a hotel suite had a guestroom. She shook her head and grabbed the white robe provided by the hotel. After tying the belt and giving Dev a quick kiss, she went to the spare room.
Sure enough Katie was waiting with three dresses laid out.
“Well look what the cat dragged in,” Katie said with a wink.
“Sorry. I didn’t know you were waiting on me.”
Shannon shouldn’t have been surprised though. After Katie found the perfect dress for Shannon to wear to the Cirque show she was glad to have Katie’s help.
“Have you ever been to one of these parties?” Shannon asked.
Katie nodded. “I went to a few when I was still seeing Marco. In fact he invited my husband and me to stop by tonight.”
Katie’s cheeks turned pink. Shannon thought it best not to say anything but she did have to wonder… Hmm, what is going on with Katie and Marco…and Katie’s husband?
She shook her head, pushing the thought aside. “How are these parties usually?”
“Boring, if you’re just the arm candy. Dev and Marco will have a blast though. There will be people literally fawning over them, women trying just about anything to get into bed with them. Old men making bad jokes. You know…things that go with their lifestyle.”
“Wow, sounds as if I’m going to have a fabulous time,” she said with a frown.
Katie grinned. “We’ll just have to make sure you look so good Dev can’t keep his eyes off you now won’t we?”
“I like the way your mind works.” Shannon laughed.
Katie pointed to the bed. “I brought three dresses I thought you would like. My personal favorite is the red Gucci with the eight-inch Carrelli Studio heels. Aren’t those red bows just to die for?”
The Gucci dress was made out of a silky material and reached the floor. Shannon thought the cut was a bit boring except for the slit that ran up one side. If she wore the dress, the gown would show off her fit legs.
And those shoes…oh god, those shoes were the stuff dreams were made of. The stiletto heel looked almost impossible to walk on but the challenge would be half the fun. A red bow graced each ankle and kept the shoes from falling off.
Katie pointed out the next gown in line. “The black Prada gown with the gold Sergio Rossi crystal cutout bootie would look stunning as well.”
The Prada gown was completely different than the Gucci. The material was cut longer in the back and shorter in the front, reminding her of a Spanish dancer’s dress. The front even had ruffles along the hem that would look great while dancing.
Shannon picked up one of the shoes. The intricate pattern cut out on the shoe looked like fine lace. The thin line left behind was sprinkled with crystals. Oh my. She liked those shoes a lot.
“Um, can I keep these even if I don’t wear the dress?” she asked with a grin.
“Sure. Dev told me to bill him for everything so it’s not a problem.”
“How much do the shoes cost?”
Katie chuckled. “My mama once told me if you have to ask, you can’t afford it.” She then pointed to the last dress. “The teal one is by an up-and-coming design team called House of Boosef. They have some really amazing concepts. I brought some Manolo Blahnik heels to match.”
The floor-length, strapless teal dress had caught Shannon’s eye when she first walked into the room. The most important thing? The gown’s material looked comfortable—she could move around. The hand-sewn design reminded her of something from the Middle East and made her heart ache, in a good way.
“I’m really leaning toward the House of Boosef one. What do you think?”
Katie’s opinion mattered—she dressed people for a living.
“I actually thought of you when I saw it. If we pulled your hair into a high ponytail and play up your eye makeup, I think we can make a statement.”
Shannon smiled. “That sounds great.” She gazed at the other shoes. “And I want to keep both pairs of shoes.”
“Oh, girl…if you like shoes, then I know we are going to be great friends!”
She laughed. “That’s what I was hoping for. I don’t have many friends.”
“I find that hard to believe.”
“It’s just that I’ve been working two jobs and that doesn’t leave too much time for socializing.”
Katie nodded. “I know how that goes
. It’s a good thing you and Dev are back together then. Now you can pamper yourself all you want. And a mani/pedi to go with your outfit is just what the doctor ordered!”
Katie picked up her cell and made a call. Shannon halfway listened as Katie told someone to head up to the suite and set up the pedicure station.
Her chest hurt thinking that people assumed she and Dev were back together. Of course that also meant she was playing her part well. When the month was over though, she would be forgotten.
She sighed and waited for Katie to get off the phone.
* * * * *
Dev stood in the living room with Marco. He adjusted the black Louis Vuitton tie at his neck. God, he hated wearing ties but they were better than a bowtie.
“Calm?” Marco asked.
Dev finished his drink. “Yeah. You?”
“Yeah. Just remember what we talked about.”
While Dev had been getting ready, Marco had reminded him over and over of how important this party was. By the end of Marco’s speech Dev’s jaw had clenched and his eyes were rolling.
“Did you find out if Arizona is going to be there?”
Arizona had a tendency to blow off the events before a fight, which could work out in Dev’s favor.
“I haven’t heard yet.”
Dev cracked his knuckles. “Let’s hope he doesn’t show.”
He was about to pour another drink when he heard the soft clinking of heels headed his way. A quick glance at his watch made him smile. Shannon was always on time. Katie entered the room first and he smiled at her.
“Thanks for doing this, Katie,” he said.
“Not a problem, Dev.” She turned to Marco. “See you later tonight.”
That was interesting. Marco hadn’t said anything about inviting her to the party, not that Dev cared one way or the other.
Katie let herself out of the suite just as Shannon walked into the room. The air left his lungs in a whoosh. She looked…damn, she looked stunning.
She smiled shyly up at him. “Hey.”
“Hey,” he said back. “You look great, Shan.”
She twirled in her dress and he caught a glimpse of her shoes. Fuck, even her shoes were sexy.
“You look pretty darn good yourself, Mr. James,” she replied. You look nice too, Marco.”
Marco laughed. “Thanks. I think. Well, if you two are done ogling each other, we need to head out.”
Dev held out his arm and Shannon took it. For a moment he was reminded of their senior prom night but he pushed the memory away. He wasn’t going to let their past ruin their night together. Not when things had been going so well.
They made their way to the rooftop of the hotel. He took in a deep breath. Game time.
As the doors opened they were greeted with bright flashes from a multitude of cameras. Shannon held onto his arm and he looked down at her with a smile. She was getting the hang of posing for photos.
Two grinning men in suits made their way toward Dev.
“Devlin James, in the flesh. Why we weren’t sure you would show up after missing your practice the other day.”
Dev held out his hand. “Nice to see you again, Mr. Sanders.”
Walter Sanders was one of his main sponsors. The older man reminded him a lot of Shannon’s dad, which he wasn’t sure was a good thing. But he had the money that drew other sponsors so Dev tolerated him.
Walter turned to Shannon. “And we can only assume this lovely creature is the reason you missed your training.”
Shannon blushed amid a round of rowdy laughter. Dev unhooked his arm from hers and then snaked it around her waist. He wanted her to know he was there, protecting her. She smiled as she leaned in toward him.
“Walter, I’d like you to meet Shannon Bray. Shan, this is Walter Sanders, my sponsor.”
Walter eyed them and whistled. “Damn, son. I’ve never seen you so smitten over a gal before. Where did you meet this one?”
Marco stepped up. “Dev and Shan are actually high-school sweethearts.”
“No shit?” He turned to Shannon. “Was he a hell raiser back then?”
She laughed. “The biggest our town had ever seen.”
Everyone who had gathered around them laughed. The men were eyeing Shannon with appreciative glances. Dev felt a pull of jealousy that urged him to stake his claim on her.
He kissed her cheek and said, “Well if I was the devil, then Shannon was my guardian angel.”
This comment drew dreamy sighs from the ladies who were within earshot. Dev wasn’t lying though. She had been his angel back then. The only good thing in his life.
Walter cleared his throat. “Well it’s good to see you settling down. It’s about time someone tamed you.” He nodded toward his left. “Come. There are some new investors I would like you to meet.”
When Walter gave an order everyone obeyed. Respect was one of the things Walter and Dev had in common. Shannon started to pull away but Dev tightened his hold around her waist. No, he wanted her to stay with him. She smiled and they both followed Walter to the buffet table.
A group of men stood around talking but one in particular caught Dev’s attention. The man looked so much like Dev they could be related.
Walter said, “Dev, I’d like you to meet John Ice. Johnny here is going to become your best friend by the end of the night.”
The man who looked like Dev’s brother smiled and held out his hand. “It’s a pleasure to meet you.”
Chapter Twenty-Two
If Dev’s arm hadn’t been around her waist supporting her, Shannon was positive she would have passed out. Johnny smiled at Dev with no sincerity.
“Pleasure to meet you.” Dev shook Johnny’s hand. “This is my friend, Shannon Bray.”
Johnny turned his eyes to her and smiled. “Nice to meet you, Ms. Bray.”
He held out his hand and she gritted her teeth. Ignoring him would be rude, so she reached out. But instead of shaking her hand, he kissed it. The feeling of his lips against her skin made her want to scream in protest.
He held onto her a moment longer before releasing her. If Dev thought the gesture was strange, he didn’t let on.
“So, Mr. Ice, what business are you in?”
Johnny grinned at Dev. “I own some nightclubs here and there but my main income comes from stocks.”
She knew he was lying. If he did trade stocks, then it was illegal. Johnny hadn’t earned an honest dollar in his entire life.
He went on. “There is just something about MMA that I find so…intriguing though. I find myself wanting to be involved.”
“Understandable. A lot of people are intrigued by the sport.”
Johnny shook his head. “I’m not intrigued by the sport. I’m fascinated with the hand-to-hand combat aspect. The ass kicking.”
A moment of awkward silence passed and then Dev replied smoothly, “Well that is a part of it, I suppose.”
Johnny laughed loudly, causing others to look their way. “I won’t hold you up, Dev. I can call you Dev, right?” Without waiting for an answer he went on. “Enjoy the party and we can talk shop later.” He turned to Shannon and bowed. “Enjoy yourself too, my lovely lady.”
Shannon did roll her eyes this time and he must have seen her because his eyes narrowed for a moment before the scowl left his face. He knew how to play the game and she needed to remember that he could outplay her.
Dev led her toward another group of people, whom he obviously knew. Just as Katie predicted there were a lot of bad jokes being tossed around. And the single women at the party made several attempts to get Dev’s attention but he ignored them.
Seeing the model-type women walking away with their heads hung in defeat boosted Shannon’s ego. She was a nobody compared to them and yet he’d picked her.
At one point Dev leaned over and whispered into her ear, “Having fun?”
She nodded. “Yes. There are so many different types of people here to watch.”
People watching had always been one
of her hobbies. He stroked her lower back and she shivered.
“We could always leave, if you want. Find other ways to amuse ourselves.”
She peered up at him through her lashes and saw dark desire staring back at her.
Before she could answer Marco came up to them. “I know that look, Dev. Don’t go running off just yet. There are still some more people you need to talk to.”
Dev cursed and Shannon laughed.
“Poor baby,” she whispered. “I’ll make it up to you later.”
He grinned. “I’m going to hold you to that.”
Marco tapped his arm and the two men walked toward another group of people, leaving Shannon alone for the first time that evening. She didn’t see Johnny and she prayed he was gone. As she reached the refreshment table a hand went around her waist. She leaned in, expecting to see Dev, but she wasn’t that lucky.
“Ah, Shannon. Playing your part so well.”
She pulled away. “What in the fuck do you think you are doing? Don’t ever put your hands on me again!”
Johnny watched her for a moment and then said, “It didn’t bother you in the past now did it?” Without letting her reply he continued, “Make sure Dev leaves the party by midnight.”
“What happens at midnight?”
His eyes narrowed and she took a step back. No one around them even seemed to notice what was going on and that scared her. He fit in too well…
“Your job isn’t to ask questions, you bitch. It’s to keep your boy distracted, which you are doing well so far. He can barely keep his hands off you.” He looked her up and down. “Your erect nipples are probably driving him crazy. I know I’ve wanted to sample them.”
She lifted her hand to slap him across the face but he caught her arm and then held onto her hand as if he was caressing it.
“Watch it, bitch. I could still ruin this for you. Remember I know all your secrets.” He let her hand go and straightened his tie. “Midnight and not a second later.”
He called out to a man and woman who were passing and joined their group with a huge smile planted on his face. When he was gone she hugged herself and shuddered. What in the fuck was she doing? She shouldn’t be here, lying to Dev. She should be working two jobs, trying to survive.
