“Do you want me?” She nodded with a gasp as I stroked her clit. Her eyes looked pained, but I knew they were anything but.
“Tell me.”
“I want you, Dev. Please.”
“Turn around, lean down, and hold on to the tub.”
Lyra turned, and I caressed the hot skin of her back as the stream of water continued to shower us both. Droplets bounced from her skin as I grabbed the condom from the side of the tub. Once I’d rolled it on, I found her clit again and stroked her gently, teasing her as she waited for me.
“Are you ready?”
“Yes,” she answered.
Slowly, I entered her, groaning as she consumed me. She felt like velvet and heaven and I couldn’t get enough of her. Taking my time, I continued to caress Lyra as I held on to her hip with my other hand, pumping in and out.
“Faster,” she urged me on.
Who am I to argue with that?
Increasing my pace, I could feel myself reaching my release. But I didn’t want to come without her.
“Lyra, are you—?”
“Oh my Gooooooddddd,” she cried out beneath me, her hips thrusting toward me, her clit pulsing beneath my fingertips. I could see her knuckles, white as snow as she clutched the sides of the porcelain tub. Feeling her come was enough to drive me over the edge. With one last thrust and a primal growl, I came apart inside her.
Slowly, she stood up straight and turned to face me, kissing me passionately as her hands threaded through my dripping hair. “That was… I have no words. Seriously.”
“Same,” I said.
“We should probably get clean now, huh?”
“I mean, we did dirty ourselves,” I said with a laugh. Lyra grabbed the bar of soap. “No, let me,” I said with a smile as I opened the door slightly to grab a fresh washcloth from the shelf above the toilet. She handed me the soap and I worked it up into a lather with the washcloth, gently massaging her shoulders and back before guiding her to turn and face me. Taking my time, I washed her breasts with the cloth. After the third time cleaning each one, she snickered.
“I think they’re pretty clean now, don’t you?”
“Maybe one more time,” I said with a smile before taking one nipple into my mouth and biting ever so softly, just enough to make her squirm. “Lift your leg up,” I touched her thigh gently as she placed her foot on the side of the tub. As gently as I could, I washed between her thighs. She squirmed again as I purposely teased her clit.
“I don’t have the strength,” she said, steadying herself with her hand on my shoulder. I took her hand in mine and kissed it.
Minutes later, we were both totally clean, satisfied and exhausted. With towels wrapped around our sopping wet hair, I grabbed another pair of boxer shorts and my Bears, Beets, Battlestar Galactica T-shirt for her to sleep in. We brushed our teeth in unison like an old married couple and went to bed.
We held hands while falling asleep, and I couldn’t remember a time when I’d ever been so happy. Or so in love.
I could only hope the ladies of my past would give it a rest so I could enjoy a future with the one woman I truly wanted. Because if they didn’t and I lost Lyra because of it, I would be a shell of the man I was at this very moment. The heartbreak I experienced with Trupti would be child’s play, a walk in the freaking park. In just a few weeks with Lyra, I’d managed to fall deeper in love than I did with Trupti after six years.
And it scared the bloody hell out of me.
Chapter 22
LYRA
Two weeks later…
The last couple of weeks since the engagement party had been fine… I’d seen Dev a handful of times and almost each time, he’d get a call from work. It was weighing on me, and I’d decided to finally bring it up tonight. All of us were going to Bennet’s for Monday Night Sports. It was the guys’ ritual, no matter what sport was in season, and every so often, they invited the girls along. Tonight was one of those nights. I figured after a couple of drinks, I could ask him about the calls and why he always went outside to answer them. And I couldn’t shake Craig’s words back at the resort…that Dev cheated on Trupti constantly with girls from work…
Was I a fool if I didn’t suspect he was doing the same to me?
I’d never been a jealous or possessive person. And I realized that most women liked to say that about themselves, but in this case it was true. I was always a confident woman who knew my worth and was determined to follow Jane Austen’s advice: Know your own happiness. My happiness was books, my friends, yoga, and my family. But with Dev entering the scene, I was feeling insecure in ways I’d never felt before. I wanted him. And I had zero intention of sharing him or being played a fool.
When he was with me, he gave me his full attention, treated me like a queen. Except for those calls…
While busy at work, my stomach growled. Loudly.
“Yikes, skip breakfast this morning?” Vern said as he placed a pile of dictionaries in front of me on the counter.
“Yep, I was running late.”
“Want to take lunch early?”
“Thanks,” I said, glancing down at my watch.
“Hey, beautiful,” I looked up to see my ex-boyfriend, and former professor, Hudson Arbendroth. With that chiseled chin and gorgeous hazel eyes, I was reminded of my original attraction to him.
Until I realized he was a pretentious douche. And not so great in bed. Still hot though… I always had a soft spot for anyone that resembled Paul Rudd.
“Hudson, wow, isn’t this a surprise,” I said, moving the pile of dictionaries.
“I had a meeting here with Vern, thought I’d say hello.”
“A meeting with Vern?”
“Yeah, the university is teaming up with you guys for a big conference regarding periodicals. Riveting stuff.”
I laughed. Hudson was pompous, yes, but he had a dry sense of humor that I enjoyed in small doses. “Vern was just here. Probably went to the bathroom. So, what’s new with you? Married again yet?” I teased. Hudson and I started dating when he was separated from his second wife.
“Actually, I’m still on the market. Know anyone who might be interested in that information?” He leaned over, cocking his head to the side. When he was my professor, that move used to get me all hot and bothered. Not anymore.
“Umm…” I began, not wanting to bruise his ego too much with my response.
“Hey,” I heard a familiar voice come from several feet away. I turned to see Dev, looking irritated. His brow was furrowed and his chin jutted out.
“Dev, hey,” I said, standing up straight, hoping he didn’t misread the situation.
“Thought I’d surprise you for lunch.”
“That’d be great. I was just about to go. Um, Dev this is Hudson. Hudson, this is my friend, Dev.”
“Ah, well, happy to meet any friend of Lyra’s.”
Dev shot me a look of contempt as he shook Hudson’s hand.
Shit.
“I’d better find Vern and get this show on the road,” Hudson said with a smile, placing his hand over mine. “Don’t be a stranger.”
Hudson dragged his hand across the circulation desk as he walked away. Dev didn’t move an inch as we locked eyes.
“Friend?”
“What are you doing here?” I asked, walking around the desk and greeting him with a chaste kiss on the lips.
“I wanted to surprise you, take you to lunch.”
“That’s so nice. I’m starving actually.”
“Friend?”
“Dev, look—”
“Who was that guy?”
“Well,” I said with a sigh. “Remember how you said my past was the silent killer?” I clenched my teeth.
“That dude was your ex? Wait, was that Professor Pretentious?”
“Shh,” I said, tugging on his elbow. “Not so loud.”
“Lyra, why do you give a shit what that dude thinks? And for the third time, why did you call me your friend?”
I g
lanced around the library, a few students were listening to our conversation. “Hey, this is my work. I need to stay professional.”
“Sorry.”
“Let’s go get some lunch. We can talk about everything, okay?”
“Fine,” he said, his voice still gruff and annoyed.
Grabbing my coat, I let one of the associates know I was taking my break, and Dev and I crossed the street to an Italian cafe called Ben’s Calzones. After placing our order at the counter, we found a table in the already crowded restaurant.
“Look, before you say anything, I think it’s really sweet you came to take me to lunch.”
“Don’t try to butter me up.”
“Dev, c’mon, it’s not like we’ve made things official or whatever.”
“What are you talking about? Are you still seeing other people?”
I took a sip of my sparkling water. “No.”
“So, then?”
“It’s just what people say—my friend. It makes things less awkward. And you really don’t have any room to talk.”
“Why not?”
“Did you tell Abby I was your girlfriend?”
“We hadn’t even had sex yet. We were literally on our first date. We didn’t even kiss until later that night.”
“And what about Malika?”
“I told Malika you were my girlfriend!”
“Bull-fucking-shit!” I said, exasperated, leaning forward in my chair. My voice was a harsh hiss. “In no way did that word ever come out of your mouth. And now, for the first time you get to feel what I felt with both of those girls, and it sucks, doesn’t it?”
“Okay, maybe I didn’t say it; some of that night is hazy. We had a lot to drink, but I’m pretty sure I was holding your hand as I talked to Malika. She got the message. Meanwhile Professor Plum over here is stroking your hand right in front of my face.”
“Stroking? Are you serious right now?”
He crossed his arms in front of his chest. “I’m telling you, that man was hitting on you and you were completely oblivious to it.”
“Well, isn’t that a good thing? That I’m so crazy about you that I don’t even notice my ex is still into me?”
“So you admit he’s still into you?”
I glared at him. “I’m not dignifying that with a response.”
Our food arrived and we stared at one another. I really didn’t want to fight with him. Sometimes it was fun and playful and it served as excellent foreplay. But fights like this…not so much. “This is so stupid.”
“Yeah, I know. Sorry,” Dev said, shaking his head as he picked at the ropy seam of his calzone. “So you’re crazy about me, huh?”
“Shut up,” I muttered, stirring my water with my straw and watching the bubbles rise to the top of the glass. Dev reached his hand across the table.
“Khaleesi…”
“What?”
“Truce?”
I narrowed my eyes at him. “I brought you pancakes. Twice. What do I get with this supposed truce?”
“Sausage-and-mushroom calzone?” he said, holding up his plate.
“Lame.”
He looked passed me to the counter. “Be right back.” He jumped to his feet and sprinted to the counter. A minute later, he returned with a chocolate chip cookie.
“Truce?”
Grabbing the cookie, the plastic wrapper crinkled at my touch. I shook it back and forth as I spoke. “Fine. But you’re better than this.”
“It’s all I could do on such short notice.”
“Hmmph,” I said, placing the cookie on the table before grabbing my fork and knife and cutting into the calzone. Steam enveloped the air between us.
“So, you wanna be my girlfriend, huh?” he asked, raising one flirtatious eyebrow.
“I’ll think about it,” I said with a dismissive shrug before taking a sip of my drink.
“Lyra, I’m being serious.”
I studied his face, his eyes ardent and vulnerable, drank me in, and I felt that familiar pull of Dev that I’d come to crave since that night playing that stupid unicorn game. When I was in his orbit, I was powerless, I was consumed. I wanted him more than I’d ever wanted anything in my life.
“Okay, fine,” I said, playing hard to get. “Yes, I do.”
A satisfied smile crossed his lips as he dug into his calzone.
“But first—”
“Aw, shit.” His head fell back as he looked up at the ceiling.
“You need to admit how shitty that felt today…seeing another man talking to me and then knowing we used to date. Admit it.”
“Fine, okay, yeah. It sucked ass, okay? Will you be my girlfriend now?”
“Yeah, yeah, stop begging,” I teased, popping a bite of calzone into my mouth as Dev laughed. The thought of officially being his girlfriend made me a little buzzy. Yes, he drove me crazy. Yes, we bickered and fought, but I was falling for him.
I was falling hard.
That night we had all assembled at Bennet’s at one of their large high-top tables, a television screen facing each of us as we nursed our drinks. The guys were bickering about whether or not the quarterback deserved to be played that night while Maren, Allison, and I talked about Maren’s spring line for her candle shop. She was planning an entire line of spring pie candles in mason jars.
“You’re having key lime, right?”
“Oh for sure. And lemon meringue.”
“Strawberry rhubarb,” Allison suggested.
“Ooh, I need a pen.” Maren dug through her purse, grabbing a pen and a pad of paper.
“Do you always carry that?” Dev asked, tearing his attention away from the game.
“Yep, you never know when an idea might strike.”
“Nice.” He smiled at her, then glanced at me, giving me a wink before fixing his attention back on the game and the commentary from the guys.
Maren looked up from her purse and paused for a second, lowering her voice and talking between her teeth as she leaned in close so only I could hear her. “Is that who I think it is?”
“Who?” I asked, looking past Dev out into the bar. There was a beautiful woman walking toward us. She was Indian and stunning.
“I’ve only seen pictures, but I think that’s—”
“Trupti?” Dev asked when she reached our table. He looked dumbfounded. “What are you doing here?”
Trupti. Holy shit. I never thought I’d actually meet her in person.
And following close behind her was, of all people, Craig from the ski resort. My bottom lip dropped as I took in the sight of him. He wrapped his arm around her and nodded to Dev.
“’Sup, man, good to see you up and about. Foot heal okay?”
Dev’s nostrils flared as he studied Craig standing with Trupti.
“Um, what’s this?” Dev asked, motioning between Craig and Trupti. Trupti flipped her hair behind her shoulder and leaned into Craig, who wrapped his arm around her.
“Oh, didn’t you know? Craig and I are seeing each other.”
“You’re joking,” Dev said, his lungs heaving. And my heart sank as I watched him, clearly jealous, get visibly upset at the sight of Trupti with someone else. I knew he didn’t like Craig, but this was much more of a reaction than I would have ever expected. I mean, he was with me, we were happy. He said he didn’t want to be with Trupti anymore…
“We reconnected a few weeks ago,” Trupti said, gloating.
“I was in the city a few weeks ago and I saw her across a crowded room, just like the movies,” Craig said, sounding like a total idiot.
“And you just happened to come here,” Dev said, his chest still heaving. He looked like steam was going to come out his ears. And the worst thing was, he wouldn’t look at me. His eyes never left Trupti. Maren could feel my stress and squeezed my leg. We looked at one another, and she pressed her lips into a thin line, offering me solidarity.
She knows how fucked up this is too.
And how embarrassing.
Fo
r a guy who literally just asked me to be his girlfriend earlier that day, he was awfully transfixed on his ex. That was, until his phone buzzed.
“It’s work; I have to take this,” he said, glaring at them before pressing the phone to his ear and walking outside.
“Oh my God, Lyra, it’s you!” Craig said, walking around the table to stand next to me. “I didn’t see you there. I forgot you know Dev.”
“Lyra?” Trupti said, her eyes like daggers before she turned to look toward the front door of the bar where Dev stood. “Ahh, the work calls. How I remember those.” She used finger quotation marks around the word work. “I have to use the restroom. Want to find a table, Craig?”
“Sure, babe. So, Lyra, how’s it going?” Craig asked.
“Fine,” I said, feeling haunted by Trupti’s reference to the work phone calls and remembering Craig’s insistence that Dev was a player. I felt like the walls were closing in on me as their words bounced around my brain. Maren could feel it too. She squeezed my leg again and interjected.
“Craig, I don’t think we’ve met. I’m Maren, Lyra’s best friend.”
“Oh, hey. Lyra and I met at the resort when Dev took a spill and broke his little ankle.”
“He sprained it,” Peter said, glaring at Craig. “And this place is filling up; you should probably find a table. It’d be a shame if you had to go somewhere else.”
“Or would it?” Scott muttered under his breath. And if I hadn’t been on the verge of a panic attack, I’d want to laugh and kiss them both. But I was too consumed by my own insecurities to pull myself out of my funk.
“Message received,” Craig said, shaking his head. “Have a good night.”
He walked away and Scott jumped to his feet. “I’m getting us another round. Maybe two.”
“Make that three,” I said with a sigh, staring at the door. Dev was still outside, only now he was no longer alone.
Trupti was there too.
Fuck me.
Chapter 23
Stuck With Me: A With Me in Seattle Universe Novel Page 22