Oh, yes, she’s definitely getting warmed up now; the flush has spread across her collarbone. Not being strong enough to resist, I lean over and nip that sweet spot where her neck meets her shoulder and grin when I feel her shiver. Good to know she’s not as immune as she claims. “And three,” I’m kissing up her neck now… “Perky is annoying. Nobody is naturally perky all the time which means those girls that I date are fake. You’re real, Devyn. What you see is what you get and there is nothing sexier than a woman who’s not afraid to be herself.”
While I’m kissing her jawbone she pants, “Riley, what are you doing?”
I grin against her cheek. “I’m seducing you.”
She gasps. “Why?” She chuckles a little in an effort, I think, to conceal her obvious nervousness. “I’m a sure thing.”
I grab her face with both hands, forcing her to look at me. “Because you deserve to be seduced. And I’m talking full-scale seduction here. Never settle for anything less, Devyn. Before we do this, you have to promise me that. That you will never settle.”
Her eyes bulge slightly. “What did you just say?”
“Promise me that you’ll never settle, Devyn. Never sell yourself short and settle for someone out of comfort or obligation. Make sure that when you do settle down one day it’s with someone who knows your worth and makes you feel everything you’re supposed to feel with the person you spend the rest of your life with.”
“I promise,” she whispers.
RILEY
AFTER CARRYING SOME STUFF upstairs, I throw a backpack towards the floor by Devyn’s feet. “Pack anything you’ll need into the morning.”
“We’re not staying here?” she asks.
I look around her studio apartment. Her empty apartment with the exception of the few boxes we brought with us. “Dev, the furniture isn’t being delivered until tomorrow. Were you planning to sleep on the floor?”
She bites her bottom lip. “I honestly didn’t think about it. I guess I’ve had a lot on my mind.”
I smile. “Good thing I’ve made some plans, isn’t it?” I nod towards the bag. “Hurry up so we can make it to the Heathman in time for happy hour.”
“Like Ana and Christian’s Heathman?”
“Who the fuck are they?”
“Duh, Riley. Ana and Christian. From Fifty Shades? The Heathman is where they first kiss. It has quite a bit of significance in the book.”
I roll my eyes. “First of all, you really need to quit reading those novels. Secondly, they have a great happy hour menu and it’s close to our next item on the agenda. Purely coincidental.”
“What’s the next item on the agenda?”
“Nice try. You’ll just have to wait and see.”
After she packs her bag, we take the streetcar into the heart of downtown Portland. We walk along the sidewalks until we round a corner and land directly in front of the Heathman Hotel. We’re seated by a window in the bar and order some drinks with appetizers. Devyn nurses her Jack and Seven while we eat and make small talk. Out of nowhere, she gets a full body shiver that’s pretty hard to ignore.
“You cold?” I ask.
“What? Oh, uh…no. I just can’t believe I’m actually sitting in the Heathman right now.”
I lift an eyebrow. “The book again?”
“Uh, yeah!”
“Isn’t Fifty Shades that bondage book? You starting to change your mind about trying a little S&M?”
Devyn’s jaw drops. “No! And it is so much more than that! It’s a beautiful love story. She’s the healing balm for his shattered soul!”
I shake my head in disbelief. “Yeah, I’m sure the love story is why you enjoy it so much.”
She narrows her eyes at me. “Why else would I like it?”
“Oh, I don’t know…the dirty, dirty fucking maybe?”