I tuck my hands under my thighs, biting my lip. “It’s just. You’re alone up here. You don’t even go to your aunt and uncle’s. The Saints, right? I know Lucas is your cousin and I know they live here.”
“I do usually go to their place for dinner once or twice a week.” Devlin shifts, slinging an arm behind me on the rock wall. His fingertips graze my shoulder. “I’ve been declining their invitations to make sure you get something to eat.”
I freeze. It’s true, he’s made dinner most nights. Even when it’s just reheating some leftovers the housekeeper left. The corners of my mouth tug down.
“Have I kept you from seeing your family? That’s not right. You should—”
“It’s fine.” He guides me closer and I lean into his side. Devlin looks to the stars. “I’m not alone. You’re here.”
My throat thickens with emotion. I haven’t always been here. Jesus, my trailer with Mom is more of a home than the way Devlin’s been living.
“How long?”
Devlin hums inquisitively.
“How long have you pretty much lived on your own?” My voice is small.
His arm tightens around me. “Worried about what kind of monster it bred, angel?” He drops his voice lower to a gravelly tone as he kisses the top of my head. “It’s fine now.”
My heart fights to leap out of my chest. I think it wants to burst free to burrow into Devlin’s.
We’re quiet for a few minutes. It’s a comfortable sort of silence.
An idea begins to form in my head. One that makes the corners of my mouth twitch up and warmth spread. I’m going to surprise Devlin with something I always wanted. I’ll spruce up his sparse room in the way it deserves. Those string lights I’ve always coveted will be perfect.
I curl into Devlin’s side, picturing the kind shaped like stars. They’ll look great hanging over his bed.
Maybe Devlin will want to keep me. This. Us.
Devlin caresses my side as his lips feather over my cheek.
I haven’t quite acknowledged that we’ve crossed into the unknown, past the point of return. When this deal ends…I don’t know how I’ll go back to the way things were before I knew the devious way Devlin kisses. Heat pours through my limbs just thinking about Devlin kneeling on the shower floor, mouth hot and insistent, driving me crazy until I came.
My cheeks prickle and a bead of perspiration runs down my temple. Devlin’s tongue is there to catch it. He nibbles on my earlobe, calling on the pit of fire he’s set ablaze inside me. The bubbling water ripples as I gasp.
For now, I’m going to see where things go. Maybe I don’t have to lose this when the deal ends.
We match. Black hair. Blacker hearts, dark and frayed by circumstance.
But maybe we can heal our bruises together. Two broken souls finding solace and salvation in the depths of each other’s darkness.
“Come here.” Devlin pulls me into his lap and kisses the back of my neck. “I need you again.”
“Again?” My laugh turns into a moan as he finds a sensitive spot.
“Over and over. I can’t get enough of you.”
His hands wander over my body from behind, massaging my breasts and dipping lower, between my legs. My thighs part for him, spreading wide on either side of his legs as he wastes no time with teasing. With clever fingers, he rubs my clit.
“Why are you so good at…” A groan steals my words as I roll my hips against his hand.
Devlin plays me like his personal harp, masterfully plucking and creating harmonies with my body to bring me over the edge. I tip into a sea of pleasure that erupts inside my core.
“Ah!”
Devlin bites my neck with a pleased sound. He palms my thighs as he grinds his erection against my ass.
“Do you have a sexy cat burglar outfit in your closet or do I need to buy you one?” He pinches my nipples, twisting them until my back bows. His voice is a hot murmur in my ear. “I want to role play as the cop who catches you red handed.”