Forever Devotion (Forever Safe Romance Series Book 10)

by Samantha Rose

  “Congratulations, I'm really happy for you. An office job, and your own place. That's pretty impressive!” I smiled shyly.

  He beamed a heart stopping smile back at me. I could literally feel my heart skip a beat inside my chest.

  “Thanks, Jamie. My office job pays well. I work for the local hospital in the management department. It's enjoyable. I started my first semester a few months ago — I go to school three days a week for a few hours and then to work. If I get swamped at my job, I can do all my missed classes online.”

  “You don't get into trouble with the school?”

  He shook his head. “Everyone here knows me well enough, and they know that I work hard. They're pretty lenient if you call ahead to let them know what's going on.”

  The more we spoke the more I was drawn to him. He was everything I wanted in a guy. Those guys you dream about when you're thinking about a happily ever after, Princess style. Smart, nice, someone who worked hard and always achieved their goals. He seemed to have the whole package.

  “So, this is the first floor. I know Mrs. Green likely already told you about the renovations, but I thought it would be cool to show you to your future room.” He held open one of the main doors on the bottom floor for me.

  Walking into what looked like a lobby area of an old hotel, I didn't see anyone else around. It was cluttered with work equipment. Compared to the outside world, this place was dead, not even the workers were around.

  “Um, where is everyone?”

  “The construction workers are on break and the students are settling in elsewhere. Those of us that have been here a little longer are trying to help out as much as possible to make everything run smoothly,” he replied casually.

  I nodded; that sounded like something I'd likely do too. If I was going to be an art major, then I needed to study hard and work even harder.

  An open doorway led to a set of stairs. Climbing them, we walked side by side up to the second floor.

  “There are only four floors to this building, but don't be fooled it's a huge place, and watch your step,” he joked lightly. “You got lucky. One of the graduates from last semester moved, so you get to take over room 3B on the second floor. It has one of the best views of the whole campus!”

  That was lucky. I had yet to see an elevator, so lugging bags up four flights of stairs sounded a bit miserable.

  He handed me a worn key and ring with a yellow tag attached; that said building one and my room number. Unlocking my new room, I stepped into my home away from home.

  Everything looked nice, it was dusty, some of the flooring was missing, but the walls had been repaired, and repainted. I could still smell the faint trace of the fumes from the new paint permeating the air.

  I could feel David walking close behind me. He stayed at a respectful distance, which made me kind of sad. Was it wrong of me to want him closer?

  Get ahold of yourself…

  Shoving down my inner desire I continued to observe my dorm room. It had everything a one-bedroom apartment would hold which was nice. I couldn't complain about my awesome set up. Well I could a little since I couldn’t move in just yet.

  I was so completely consumed in exploring my surroundings that I practically jumped out of my skin when David touched my hand.

  “Would you like to come over to my place for dinner tomorrow?”

  Butterflies danced around inside my stomach. Was he asking me out on a date? Gazing up into his baby blue eyes, I gulped. I'd never been on a date before, if that was what he was asking for.

  “Really, are you sure?”

  The pink of his cheeks returned. “Yes. Will you have dinner with me, Jamie?”

  I swallowed hard, and my hands started to tremble as he rubbed small circles along my skin with his thumb.

  “Yes. I'd love to, David.”

  Three

  Jamie

  Before David left, we'd agreed on a six o'clock mealtime the next day—after which I grabbed his address and phone number feeling a bit giddy. Today was that day! To preoccupy my remaining time, I went to the front desk of the hotel to pay for another night. They knew what was going on at the campus and had been more than happy to offer me a discount on my day to day stay.

  I spent a short amount of time unpacking, and I started settling in. Maybe I was being a little OCD on how things were placed, but I'd managed to go from relaxing to fixing things up around my new temporary place in a hurry.

  The hotel I was staying in was fully furnished. It could have been its own dorm room, so I didn't have to buy anything except for the food I wanted to place in the mini kitchen. They had a free breakfast, and room service until ten pm, and the limited bathroom essentials, plus bedding and towels.

  I was loving this.

  My phone beeped letting me know I had to start getting ready for my dinner date or I'd be late, and I didn’t want that to happen. Placing the last of my wardrobe in the small closet, I rushed to the bathroom to fix my hair.

  Part of me wanted to pull my hair up, but then the other half said to keep it casual. I didn't want to overdo things; I didn't even know if he was interested in me in that way. I mean, we were just friends after all. I sighed. What am I doing? I needed to calm the heck down and just be me. Nothing over the top fancy, that wasn’t who I was.

  Picking up my brush, I brushed my hair and left the long brown strands to sway over my shoulders. My makeup case sat on the small countertop near the sink. I snagged my mascara to help make my green eyes stand out a little more, and applied my lip gloss for the finishing shine.

  It was time to pick out something to wear because, looking down at what I had on, I knew it wouldn't do.

  Peeking inside my small closet I examined what I had brought with me. There were some nice jeans and shorts, but maybe that was too casual. Hmm, a few skirts, but I wasn't feeling like wearing one tonight. My eyes scanned the row of clothing until I stopped on a cute white spaghetti strap dress with little wildflowers. It was full length, light for the hot weather and cute — this was the one that I'd wear tonight.

  My dirty and worn dress was tossed into the hamper I had brought with me, I glanced down at myself. The lacy bra set I had on was perfect. I slipped on the dress that I'd picked out, then slid on a pair of strappy brown sandals.

  A smile tilted my lips as I did a quick spin. I couldn't believe I was going to see David again. I wonder what he'd been up to besides working hard. Did he think of me, as I had him? It was something to ponder over.

  Walking out into the kitchen I grabbed my keys, wallet, and my phone, just as it started to beep again. My alarm was going off for the second time to tell me it was time to leave.

  I forced down my nervousness and left my hotel room.

  The whole way to my car was like an episode to nervous land and I was the main character. Pep talking myself just wasn't helping. I wasn't even sure what I was so nervous about. David and I had been friends for years! Okay, so we'd had a short break, but that didn't mean we couldn't start where we left off.

  My phone buzzed again startling me out of my dazed walk to my car. The flashing light had me flipping open the screen to see who could be texting me, and to my surprise it was him.

  My smile grew. He was checking in on me, how sweet!

  After sending him a short reply; letting him know that I was on my way, I unlocked my car and started it up. I placed everything on the seat beside me and took deep, calming breaths while gripping the steering wheel for added measure. I could do this. It was but a simple dinner date with my old pal, who I thought was completely dreamy. No big deal.

  As I eased out of my parking spot, I carefully drove the short distance to a nice, quiet neighborhood. It surprised me at how nice it was. It was one of those gated communities with a sliding fence.

  I pressed the button on the speaker box that would allow me to enter. As soon as the gate pushed to the side, I maneuvered the car in, looking at all the numbers along the side of the buildings as I passed. I drove
at a slow pace, keeping a sharp eye out until I spotted his number. And then froze like a chicken caught by a fox.

  I can do this. Just think about something funny. Like the time David fell into the lake during one of our hiking adventures.

  I chuckled to myself. Man, I had loved those times. Now that we were together again, maybe he'd like to go on another hike?

  Thinking about that really put a bounce in my step.

  Grabbing everything I needed from my car, which wasn't much -- just my wallet, phone and keys, I headed to his door. Before I could so much as knock it swung open, revealing David in all his male glory.

  “I'm glad you could make it, Jamie. You look stunning,” he blurted in a rush of words.

  I sucked my lips in between my teeth to stop the large smile from consuming my face, and I waited outside the doors entrance that he blocked.

  “Oh, sorry. Come in. Please…” A nervous quiver vibrated his voice.

  Swaying my hips, I gave a little extra oomph as I walked by making sure my shoulder brushed along his chest as I went.

  The first thing that caught my attention when stepping into his domain was that his place was well decorated. For a young man, he had good taste. I was pleasantly surprised, and a bit taken aback.

  “You have a lovely place.” I wanted to smack myself at the small talk. This was David, my David. We had done everything together for years. What was with me acting like this now?

  “Um, yeah, you see… My mom actually did all this,” he muttered. “She wanted to help me set up my place because honestly, I had no idea what I was doing.”

  We both chuckled together.

  “Well I think it's really nice! You both did a great job.”

  “You really do look lovely today,” he whispered from behind me.

  A tingle traveled down my spine, and I closed my eyes briefly as I shivered. His words pierced my heart with a lover’s arrow. Slowly I spun around to face him and looked up into his eyes. I could swear he was staring deep into my soul.

  “I think you look handsome too...”

  Moments passed as I waited for him to reply, to give me a single strand of words, something to carry within my heart.

  But he didn't say another word, instead, he showed me with his actions.

  Closing the distance between us his arms wrapped around my waist, and he tugged me into his hard chest. As he bent toward me, my eyes closed of their own accord. After years of spending time with him stuck in the friend zone, fantasizing about being with him, I was finally going to get my first taste of him.

  When his forehead pressed against mine and nothing else happened, my eyes reopened, and I frowned.

  This was when he was supposed to kiss me. I was sure of it, or at least I thought so, anyway. That was how it always worked out with other people. Who cared if we weren’t a couple? We could be. I sighed. I was getting ahead of myself. This was a friendly get together between two friends and he had held me like this; many times, back when we were in high school. I didn't even know if he felt the same way.

  When I was starting to let my fears get to me, his hand cupped the side of my face and his thumb brushed over my right cheek.

  I leaned into his soft touch, allowing his warmth to soothe me.

  “May I kiss you?”

  My heart skipped a beat. Could he kiss me? The answer to that was yes!

  Before he could change his mind, I flung my arms around his neck and climbed up his tall frame like some wild girl out of a romance movie. My dress rode up my hips, baring the underside of my bottom as my legs wound around his waist.

  It was sloppy, and very unladylike, but to heck with all train of thought — that went out the window as soon as he asked me for a kiss. That was, until I felt my balance shift back and forth as he walked us into another room, and then my eyes opened a crack to observe.

  As he sat us down onto a wide brown couch, I hovered over him, straddling his legs. The coolness from the old worn leather pressed against my skin. Everything about this had made me hyper aware of each little thing. I quickly looked into his lust filled eyes as his hands firmly grasped me under my backside, holding me in place so I wouldn't fall. Leaning into him, I smashed my mouth over his in a rush of lips, teeth, and tongue. This was my first-time kissing. It might not be the best kiss — a movie worthy kiss — but it was ours to share. That was what made it the best.

  Four

  Jamie

  The wet smacking sounds of our unskilled kiss echoed in my ears.

  The firm flicks of his tongue over mine made me careless. I tightened my legs around him, pressing my center over the obvious bulge hidden behind his clothing.

  His hand snaked its way up to my nape. My hair flowed over his hand allowing him easy access to grab. Fisting my hair, David pulled my head back from his, tilting it to give him extra room to place light kisses along my neck.

  I groaned at how amazing it felt. The softness of his lips on my skin was like a feather lightly brushing over me.

  “Do you like that?” he murmured, trailing his lips farther down to my shoulder.

  I couldn't help but moan in response.

  “I've always wanted to do this with you,” David groaned deeply, lightly biting at my skin on my shoulder in a playful gesture.

  I shivered in his grasp. I had wanted all this too. Now that I had it, I didn't want to let it go. This new feeling was incredible.

  “I want to kiss you again, to taste you again, David.”

  “Don’t say things you can't take back,” he growled next to my ear.

  My breathing increased. “I've wanted to be with you since I met you…”

  The light butterfly kisses stopped, and his face became level with mine.

  He stared at me, searching my face for something. Maybe to find truth within my words, and if that was what he was looking for, I'd make sure he found it.

  “I mean what I say, David. I've wanted to be with you for so long… but then you moved away and... I've missed you,” I said shyly, looking away from his intense gaze. “I've thought about you every day.”

  “I've thought about you too, Jamie. You were the first person I've ever connected with on all levels; you understand me completely.” He sighed. “I'm sorry I didn't message you or keep in contact. It weighed on my mind daily. My parents were really strict when it came to school, and I tried to please them a little too much. In the end, I should have been there for you, but I was afraid that if I’d contacted you, I wouldn’t be able to stay away — now that you're here, I don't plan to go anywhere.”

  My heart pounded inside my chest. “Do you mean that?”

  “Yes, why would I leave you again? I know deep inside that I just can't let you go again. My heart won't allow it.”

  I didn't know what to say. I wasn't expecting this, any of this, to happen. The fact that he had opened up to me with pure honesty so soon, it was my dream come true!

  Oh, my aching heart. He had occupied the space from day one. No one had ever been able to take his place, and I had not bothered to try.

  With someone as socially awkward as I was, not many people took notice, yet he had right from the beginning.

  “Tell me what you want, Jamie.” A slight crease formed between his eyes.

  I couldn't seem to answer him. I had to think over everything. I didn't just want one night, I wanted forever.

  David's throat bobbed. “You don't have to, if you don't want to…” His lips became a firm line. “I didn't mean to —”

  “No,” I rushed. “Yes! I mean. Not no, I want things with you that are hard for me to say. I've never done anything like this before.”

  I shifted over his lap, tucking my knees under me for better leverage.

  He gave me a weak, shy smile that had my insides dancing. “I've never done this before either, believe it or not.”

  “That is truly hard to believe!” I laughed out loud to myself. He was an overly attractive man. There was no way!

  “It's the t
ruth, I swear it to you.” He blushed and let go of my ass. Smoothing his hands down my hips and over my thighs, his fingers left a burning trail that left me tingling between my thighs.

  “Why?” You'd think asking him this question would have been easy, but it wasn't. It was probably the hardest question I had asked yet. Why? Because I feared his answer. I knew there were many gorgeous girls around campus, so why had he waited?

  “No one else could replace you, and I didn’t want anyone else. I’m stuck on you — you were all I could think about, I'm glad for that because destiny brought me you. You're all I need and you're the perfect half to my soul,” he voiced, sounding like the boy I used to know.

  I wanted to skip this whole dinner and say to heck with it! I only wanted to spend time with him.

  “Can we just hang out like we used to?”

  His gorgeous smile gave me such a thrill and his deep sexy laugh only made me more aware of how we were sitting.

  “It's like you were reading my mind, gorgeous. God, I've missed you, Jamie. You make me feel at home.”

  “I could almost say the same, except I've felt this way for a long time,” I admitted. My face grew hot, and the air around me felt warm. I knew I was blushing because I had admitted to a deep secret I had carried within for so long, but it felt good to let it out. To be carefree.

  “How about a movie?”

  I nodded at him in agreement. A movie sounded pleasant. “I hope you hadn't prepared something; I'd feel horrible if —”

  One of his fingers pressed against my lips halting me from speaking.

  “Hush, Jamie, I was going to order us takeout, and I still plan to. Right now, though, I plan to get you comfortable.” He ran hands up until they were placed over my hips. “You don't look comfortable sitting over me like this.”

  Oh, I was more than all right where I was, but I wanted to savor this time with him.