Dev laughed, reaching across the table to take my hand in his. “Lyra, I’m crazy about you. It’s not awkward at all.”
“Thanks.”
“So, now that we know our parents aren’t racist…” he deadpanned, a devilish look on his face. “I guess it’s safe for us to continue with our date.”
“To our parents,” I said, raising my glass. We clinked glasses just as three servers arrived, carrying trays with all of our food. Dev and I made as much space as we could on the table and even then, everything barely fit. You couldn’t even see the peach-colored tablecloth below.
“Wow,” I said, looking at everything in awe. Steam rose from each of the plates, and the smells were captivating.
“Okay, try this first,” he said, placing a little fried pastry pocket on my plate. “And I guarantee you’ll want another one the second you finish.”
“Samosa?” I asked.
“Yep.”
“Aren’t you worried you might be overhyping this?”
“Nope.” He shook his head, his expression confident. “No way.”
“Okay,” I said with a smile, raising the samosa to my lips, blowing on it.
“Pull it apart a little to let out the steam. I don’t want you to burn your mouth.”
“Thanks for looking out for me.”
“Sure,” he said, his eyes locked on me as I opened my mouth.
“You can eat, too, you know.”
“Not until you have your first bite.”
“You’re crazy.” I shook my head before biting into the slightly crunchy pastry. The first thing to hit my senses was the rich, savory taste of potatoes and spice. “Mmmmm.”
“Right?”
“Oh my God,” I said after chewing the rest of the bite. I was hooked. It had just the right amount of spice to offset the comforting taste of cheese and potatoes. “We need to order more.”
“That’s what I’m saying! Okay, now you need to try tikka masala.”
“I’ve heard of this,” I said as he scooped a small serving onto my plate. Large chunks of chicken swam in a rich sauce that almost resembled pumpkin soup. I took a bite and my eyes rolled to the back of my head. “Oh…my….God. It’s sweet!”
“Yep.”
“Holy crap, how have I never had this before?”
“No idea, but I have a feeling you’ll be eating it often now,” Dev said, dabbing the corner of his mouth with a napkin. “And I’ll be happy to bring you here as often as you like.”
“Give me more. I want to try all the things!”
“Music to my ears,” Dev said, scooping another chicken dish onto each of our plates. With each bite, I was enjoying the spices, the flavors and the rich, creamy sauces. My taste buds were in heaven, and I was reveling in how Dev was treating me. As soon as I finished a dish, he served me again…and again…and again. Making sure to order drink refills and place naan triangles on my plate in case I wanted to dip in the sauces. He was romantic in his attentiveness. And I was enjoying every second of it.
“I could get used to this, you know,” I said between bites of rich butter chicken.
“Indian food.”
“No.” I shook my head slowly back and forth. “You.”
“Oh.” Dev’s mouth dropped open and he sat back in his chair, looking a little lost for words. I had to stifle a laugh.
“What?” he asked.
“I don’t think I’ve ever seen you speechless.”
He cleared his throat, looking sheepish but really happy. “It doesn’t happen often. But yeah, you got me. Well played, Khaleesi.”
I laughed, my cheeks growing hot at hearing that nickname. I didn’t realize how much I craved hearing him say it. “I say what I feel, and I take what I want.”
Dev leaned in, his elbows digging into the wooden table, his eyes burning through me. “It’s yours for the taking.”
“Do you still feel the need to throw an axe?” I asked, my voice husky and deep. I wanted nothing more than to get Dev back to my place. We’d had over a month of foreplay since our night at the resort and months of tension since we’d first met. I was tired of waiting.
He swallowed hard. “What else do you suggest?”
“Call an Uber.”
“To take us where?”
“My place.”
Grabbing his phone ridiculously quickly, Dev tap-tap-tapped his phone while simultaneously calling the waiter over for the check. I pressed my lips together to quiet my amusement. Anticipation built inside of me as Dev paid the bill.
“No axes necessary.” Dev jumped to his feet, reaching for my hand. “What are you waiting for? Let’s go!”
Thirty minutes later we were back at my apartment. After throwing our coats on the nearest chair, I pulled on Dev’s collar and pressed my lips to his.
“You sure?” he asked, between kisses, his voice soft.
“Absolutely,” I said with a smile. “That is, unless you’d rather throw an axe after all.”
He ran his hands through my hair. “Lyra, there’s literally nothing else I’d rather do.”
“I was hoping you’d say that,” I said, leaning in to kiss his neck.
Dev’s eyes turned dark as his gaze intensified. “Where’s your bedroom?”
My breath hitched. “Down the hall.”
With one swift movement, Dev hoisted me up, his hands gripping my ass, and I instinctively wrapped my legs around his waist. He pressed his hot tongue against my neck, and I moaned as he carried me to my room. He dropped me to the bed, and I yanked off my sweater.
“You’re the hottest thing I’ve ever seen,” he whispered, hovering over me, his fingers tracing over the seam of my lace bra. He cupped one breast and squeezed as he placed hot kisses against my eager skin. Every touch made me ache for him even more. Feeling the need to take control, I rolled him to his back and got right to work unbuttoning his shirt, straddling him. Once I eased his shirt off of him and tossed it to the floor, I planted kisses across his chest, gripping his muscles as I grinded gently against him. He closed his eyes and sighed heavily as he reached up to caress both of my breasts.
“Don’t tease me, Lyra.”
“Why not?” I asked, grinding against him again, watching for his reaction. Again, he closed his eyes and moaned.
He sat up, pulling me in closer. I wrapped my legs around him and he instinctively reached around to unhook my bra. He tossed it to the floor and licked his lips as he drank in the sight of me.
“I’m the luckiest fucking guy alive.”
His words were almost as sexy as the muscles that flexed in his shoulders as he leaned down to take one of my nipples into his mouth. The sensation awakened every nerve in my body, and I threw my head back, moaning.
“Ohhhh,” I murmured as he teased and sucked at one while caressing the other gently with the tips of his fingers. I thought I was going to come apart right then and there. “I want you, Dev. Don’t make me wait.”
He smiled, looking proud before flipping me to my back and lowering himself slowly, tugging on my jeans and pulling them off as he knelt between my legs. He traced the seams at the top of my panties, making me squirm with want.
“Dev,” I murmured again. “Don’t tease me.”
“Hmmm…” he said, looking up at me and licking his lips. “Turnabout’s fair play, isn’t it?”
Slowly, he inched my panties down, planting kisses down my thighs. Finally, when I thought I could barely handle the anticipation, he tossed them to the floor.
“Lay back,” he said, his voice gravely and sexy as hell. I did as I was told.
He kissed my inner thighs once more as his fingers danced across my abdomen. And then his lips pressed to my most sensitive spot. My back arched in response as he kissed and caressed me, sending shots of pleasure through me again and again. Never had a man touched me so expertly in this way.
“Oh my God,” I moaned. He gripped my thighs and persisted, driving me wild with every lick, every stroke, and every kiss.
He read my body so well, knowing exactly when to change the pace and when to continue. Pleasure built within me as I moved beneath him. We moved in sync with one another as I climbed toward orgasm. As I teetered at the edge, Dev pulled away.
“Why did you stop?” I asked, panting, pushing up on my elbows and locking eyes with him.
“Tell me what you want.”
“You,” I moaned. “Oh my God, you. Make me come, Dev. Please.”
He returned his attention to the apex of my thighs and that was all it took. Within seconds, I approached my release, and my fingers gripped his hair. I pulled…probably a bit too hard.
“Don’t stop, Dev. Holy helllllll!”
My orgasm ripped through me and I screamed, bucking against my bed, feeling like I was floating on a cloud. My breath was ragged as I came back to Earth…ever so slowly.
“Holy shit. I’m so sorry!”
Dev kissed his way up my bare belly before resurfacing. “Sorry for what?”
“For pulling your hair. Are you okay?”
“Are you kidding? That was the sexiest thing you’ve ever done. You’re aggressive. I like it.”
“I’ve never done that before. I just… I couldn’t help myself. You’re really, um…you’re really good at that. Like the best I’ve ever had.”
“Well, thanks,” he said, placing a gentle kiss on my lips. “I do my best.”
I wrapped my arms around his back, pulling him closer. “I want to make you feel as good as you made me feel.”
“I’m all yours, Khaleesi.”
That nickname was all it took to awaken the aggressive side of me. Pulling myself up, I pushed him down, so he was lying on the bed. Placing kisses against his muscular chest, I kissed my way down to just below his belly button before unbuttoning his pants, pulling them down to reveal his boxer briefs below. He hissed as I pulled off his pants and gripped him through the thin layer of cotton. I pulled at the waistband and yanked them off, tossing them on top of his jeans. He was hard, he was ready.
“Impressive,” I said, gripping him in my hand. Stroking him gently, I reached down to cup him, and he clenched his teeth, breathing in.
“Don’t stop.”
“Oh, don’t worry,” I said, leaning down to take him into my mouth.
“Oh shit,” he said as he gripped my hair with his hand. “Oh God, Lyra.”
Again and again, I stroked him as I massaged him with my other hand. And then, just like he did, I stopped. Only this time, he didn’t give me a chance to tease him. With a feral growl, he sat up, reaching for me and flipping me back to the mattress.
“You’re the sexiest woman alive,” he whispered before kissing me passionately. He kissed my lips, my cheeks, my neck. It felt like he wanted to consume every inch of my body.
“Do you have a condom?” I asked, ready for him and knowing he was ready too.
“Oh shit, I don’t.”
“Hold on,” I said, rolling to reach the drawer for my nightstand. Pulling a foil packet from the drawer, I held it out for him.
“Easy access, huh?”
“Do you really want to give me shit right now?”
Dev laughed. “Good point.”
Within seconds, Dev had ripped the packet open and I’d rolled it onto him. He shivered at my touch and kissed me hard. His tongue stroked mine as his fingers explored my breasts. My nipples rose to meet his soft fingertips. He pinched them slightly and stroked them gently. Arousal built within me once again.
“I want you,” I whispered. “Now.”
Dev eased himself into me and I moaned beneath him, wrapping my legs around his waist and thrusting myself toward him. His thrusts started slowly and picked up speed as we moved together, completely in sync as I matched his movements with my own. My hands clutched the strong muscles of his back as I pulled him closer. Dev’s breath was ragged as he kissed my neck, my lips, my shoulders.
Pleasure built within me once more as I felt myself climbing toward another orgasm. I thrust my hips against him, again and again until I fell apart, crying out into the warm air of my apartment. Dev pressed his forehead against mine as he found his release. He moaned loudly, then cried out my name.
“Holy shit,” he said. “I just…holy shit.”
“I know,” I said before kissing him gently. He cupped my face with his hands and deepen the kiss, his tongue stroking mine lovingly as he smoothed down my disheveled hair.
“That’s never happened, by the way.”
“What?” he asked, still in a daze as his eyes locked with mine.
“I’ve never had orgasms like that. Like, back to back,” I said with a shrug. “That’s new to me.”
“Really?”
“Yeah. I didn’t know it was possible, in fact.”
“Wow,” Dev said as he flipped to his back, staring up at the ceiling, still catching his breath. “I guess I bring out the best in you, huh? I mean, I knew I was good, but…”
I nudged him, rolling my eyes. “Don’t say another word. You’ll ruin it.”
“Whatever you say, Khaleesi.”
“That’s better.”
“At the risk of getting in trouble for speaking, I just need to tell you…”
“What?”
“That was amazing. You. You’re amazing.”
“Thank you.” I smiled.
“It’s how I always imagined it would be.”
“You imagined this?”
“C’mon, I’ve wanted you since we first met. You know that.” He swallowed hard, and I knew he was being vulnerable, showing me his heart. It was time for me to show him mine.
“It’s my fault we took so long to get here,” I said. “I’m a little stubborn…if you haven’t noticed.”
“Nope, never noticed that. Not ever.”
“You’re a smart man,” I said with a wink, pulling him in for another kiss.
“Some would say I’m brilliant,” he replied.
“Don’t push it.”
He leaned over and kissed me on my forehead, dragging the back of his hand down the side of my face as we gazed at each other. His gentle touch warmed my heart. I placed my arm on his chest and he took my hand in his. He lifted my hand to his mouth and kissed my palm before pressing it to his chest.
We fell asleep in each other’s arms.
Chapter 21
DEV
“What the hell are you listening to?” Peter asked, sitting at my breakfast bar. We’d just come back from our run and I was still streaming Keith Urban, even after five miles. I’d yanked out my headphones and his country twang bounced around the room.
It was the morning of Peter’s engagement party at Bennet’s, and I had several hours before I was set to help Lyra bring all the decorations to the bar and set up before everyone else showed up.
Ahh. Lyra. I couldn’t stop thinking about her. It was ridiculous how much time I spent texting her, thinking about her, and daydreaming about what I wanted to do to her after the party. We’d both had really busy weeks and hadn’t seen each other since we’d slept together at her apartment.
“It makes me think of Lyra,” I said, grabbing two bottles of water from the fridge and putting one in front of Peter. “Use the placemat.”
He rolled his eyes. “Neat freak.”
“Whatever. Rules of the house, respect them.”
“Keith Urban, huh?” He chuckled.
“Don’t start with me, Pete.”
“I’m just trying to think of how Keith Urban makes you think of Lyra?”
“She loves him, so when I couldn’t see her this week, I started listening and, I dunno, there’s just a few songs that really make me think of her now.”
“Oh man, you’ve got it bad.”
“Yeah, so what if I do?”
“It’s a good thing, man. Relax!”
“Oh,” I said, retracting my talons. “Sorry.”
“Lyra’s the best girl I know, aside from Maren, of course,” he said with a laugh. “I’m happy for you hones
tly.”
“Thanks.”
“But I’m still gonna give you shit. That’s what we do.”
“True,” I said with a nod before gulping down half the bottle.
“For God’s sake, you gave me so much shit when I started seeing Maren. Even tried to talk me out of getting so serious, if my memory’s correct.”
“Dude, that was during my Tinder days. You can’t trust me when I’m under the influence of casual sex.”
Peter leaned forward, putting his elbow on the placemat before taking a swig of his water. “So you’re not anymore?”
“Hell no. I’m crazy about her. Our sex is anything but casual.”
“So, I have to ask you an important question.”
“I may not answer.”
“Bullshit.”
“Fine, what is it?”
“Are your balls in her purse?”
I rolled me eyes, letting out a fake, sarcastic laugh. “You’re hilarious.”
“Well, are they?”
“I mean…no….but I dip them in there from time to time, move ’em around to mark my scent.” I stuck out my tongue at him, biting down with my teeth. Pete cracked up before draining the rest of his water and checking his phone.
“That’s Mare. I’d better get home.”
“Speaking of balls in a purse…”
“Hey, we’re engaged. That’s where they’re supposed to be.”
“If you say so, dude.”
Peter chuckled, shaking his head as he rose to his feet and walked to the door. “I’ll see you tonight.”
“Don’t be late. And keep in mind when you see alllll the decorations that Lyra did that part. I picked the booze package.”
“Nice.” He rolled his eyes. “See you tonight.”
I grabbed my phone, turning Keith up all the way and remembering Lyra dancing in the kitchen listening to “Put you In a Song,” of which I now knew every word. Every last one. I wasn’t a creative guy, and I was the first person to fully admit that. But if I was… Man, if I was, this was the song I’d want to write about her. I’d wanted her for so long, and for so long she was completely out of my reach.
But not anymore. Now she was mine. Or at least, it sure felt like it. We hadn’t made any proclamations of exclusivity, but I had zero interest in any other girls. No one, I repeat, no one could possibly turn my ahead away from Lyra Castillo, the sexiest and smartest woman I’d ever known. No, I was in this for the long haul. I didn’t say that to Pete, knowing he’d tease me about diving in headfirst so quickly. But I knew in my gut she was it for me.
Stuck With Me: A With Me in Seattle Universe Novel Page 20