She had closed her eyes to focus on his soft touch when Devlin suddenly took his hand off her leg. She blinked slowly, confused by the lights around her.
“Kate,” Devlin whispered, touching her cheek. “The show’s over.”
“Oh,” she said very softly. “I didn’t notice.”
“It’s okay,” Devlin said, chuckling.
Kate’s friends waved to let her know they were heading to the lobby for drinks. She stayed right where she was … she needed to talk to Devlin, and this was the best time. He looked like he was full of words too.
“Did you enjoy the show?” he asked. “We can follow your friends if you like.”
Kate shook her head, reaching for his hand. “No, I want to stay right here with you. I barely noticed the show because all I could think about was you.”
“Me?” Devlin asked, a light of mischief dancing in his eyes.
“Yes, you,” she whispered, leaning in to kiss him. He returned the kiss, and the smile on his face touched Kate right into her soul.
“Devlin …”
“No, no,” he said, waving a hand. “I need to tell you something. I’ve talked about the mate bond, but I still don’t think you really understand it. I need you, Kate. I need you the way green growing things need the rain.”
Kate cradled his big hand in both of hers, caressing his palm with her fingertips. “And if the rain goes away, you’ll die?”
“Yes,” he answered, nodding slowly. “I might not die the way a flower can die. My body would stay strong. But my heart would die, my soul would perish. The panther within me might turn away from me for good.”
Kate was touched by his words. She reached out and stroked his cheek, letting herself fall into his eyes. “I’m not going away,” she whispered so softly. “I could never leave you. I was just so afraid that I was going to give my love and never know you.”
“What do you want to know?” he asked, giving her a quick, deep kiss.
“What do you love? What gives you pleasure?”
“You,” Devlin answered, laughing.
Kate giggled. “Obviously. But tell me things about you that no one knows.”
“Okay,” Devlin said, a cheeky grin on his face. “I’ve never told anyone this. I endorse a very fine restaurant in the business district, and my favorite meal is steak Diane with baked potatoes. But in fact, my favorite restaurant is a little dive of a diner calledGrease Monkeys,and I love their cheap, fatty cheeseburgers.”
Kate giggled. “Will you take me there?”
“Of course. They make their own desserts there and let me tell you, it’s like nothing anywhere else in the city. No finesse involved, just masses of fat and sugar.”
“Sounds incredible,” Kate said. “Why do you hide the fact that you like a little old diner?”
“Reputation,” he replied, a little dully. “I need to be seen in the right places to keep the respect of the public.”
“I don’t think that’s true, but at least you feel safe enough to tell your secrets to me.”
Devlin leaned in and brushed his fingertips across her cheek. It made Kate’s heart flutter in her chest. Now that he was opening up to her, the attraction she felt was growing into a monster that felt big enough and ravenous enough to devour all her good sense in one gulp.
“Officially, on my fan pages, my favorite color is blue. Most of my sports gear is blue and silver.”
“I noticed. It’s very refined,” Kate said. Devlin grinned.
“My favorite color is actually neon orange.”
“What the fuck?” Kate giggled. “No wonder you don’t have anything in your favorite color.”
“I have a suit jacket, actually,” he admitted. “I’ve just never been brave enough to wear it.”