Tempting Devil: Sinners and Saints Book 2

by Eden, Veronica

  Sean fist bumps Devlin as he flips the skewers. He winks at me, taking in my suit. “Looking good, Davis. You should hang with us more often. My parents have a boat we take out in the summer. You’re definitely invited if you wear that.”

  Devlin grunts, snaking his arm tighter around me so I’m pressed against his side. I place a hand on his abdomen to keep my balance.

  “Are you going to do the race with the guys?” Bailey asks Devlin.

  He grants her a smile that’s totally fake, the construction a precise facet of his mask. The shift is subtle from how he was when we were by the blanket alone. It’s odd, but I can tell the difference.

  “I don’t know why they bother. They all know I’ll win. I’m the fastest swimmer.”

  Devlin’s muscles ripple beneath my hand as he puts on a show of flexing, falling into his usual arrogant persona. I’m tempted to pinch him again to bring back the real Devlin, the one that cooked me breakfast and accused me of cheating because I’m a faster runner.

  “What about you, Blair?” Sean asks. It’s the first time someone from his crowd has ever used my name. I blink at his perfect gleaming smile. His eyes drop to my chest. “Will you join the girls in cheering us on? You’re so good at boosting the team morale.” Sean drags his teeth over his lip. “I’d so want you to get me to the finish line.”

  Heavy innuendo laces his tone. Is he…flirting with me right now? What bizarre world have I woken up in where the popular guys want me around for more than someone to laugh at?

  Narrowing my eyes, I smirk. “Hell no. I’d join the race and show you all up.” I bump my hip against Devlin’s. “Tell them how I beat you this morning in our race through the wooded trail.”

  This bikini is like a magic charm, instilling confidence I haven’t used before. I’ve never cared to engage with these people, but something about Sean implying I’m only worth his time in a cheer uniform or a bikini lights a stubborn fire in me.

  Glancing at Devlin, I find a proud, matching smirk on his face.

  “You’re a speedy little demon,” he confirms. “You owe me a rematch before we go to bed tonight.”

  My lips part. Devlin might as well have told them I’m living with him. Even Bishop pointed out Devlin doesn’t do girls in his bed, let alone allow them into his house.

  Not that I’ve seen his bedroom. Yet.

  Sean’s eyes widen more as Devlin’s hand glides down to rest scant inches above my ass. Devlin’s smallest finger tucks into the band of my bikini bottoms. He claims me in front of his teammate with that single gesture. Other nearby guys from the soccer team and people from Nina’s friend group glance our way with surprise etched in their expressions.

  Devlin might flirt openly with girls at school, but he never makes a public gesture that screams this is my girl, back off.

  Warmth floods my chest and pours through my body.

  “Come on, let’s take a walk.” Devlin threads his fingers with mine.

  He leads me away from the others, taking us to the wet sand where a passing speedboat creates a ripple of waves that rush over our feet. Devlin keeps holding my hand.

  Ahead of us, Gemma has her camera out, taking photos of the party and the landscape. Lucas stalks up and she snaps the shutter. His predatory grin spreads right before he scoops her into his arms. Gemma’s shoulders shake with amusement as Lucas’ hands roam her body. They kiss, their lips connecting lazily.

  “I should buy you an engagement ring,” Devlin says. “It’ll beat back the other guys who think they can touch what’s mine.”

  I sputter. “Sorry—what?”

  Things just went from zero to sixty.

  “What?” Devlin smirks. “They already suspect I must be fucking you if you’re here.”

  My eyes narrow. That escalated quickly. He was so sweet all morning, but this taste of the viper lurking beneath Devlin’s mask reminds me I shouldn’t trust him.

  “First of all, fuck you. I’m not wearing a fake engagement ring. We’re eighteen. That’s insane.” I pull my hand from his. The corners of his mouth tighten, but it serves him right. “If you buy a ring, I’ll hock it at a pawn show for the cash the first chance I get.”

  Leaving Devlin with my snarky retort, I find a secluded spot far down the beach, away from the bustle of the party. I sit on the sand, sticking my feet in the water. From this distance, I can watch whatever goes on.

  Trent and Sean attack each other with neon water guns, then turn on the girls, squirting Nina’s big boobs. She pouts, then gets all the guys howling like coyotes for her as she piles her long wet hair on her head, showing off her curves.

  Someone turns the music on and a dance party starts up. Devlin hovers around the edge of it for a while, a plastic red cup dangling in his grip. Bailey and Nina both approach him. I hold my breath, digging my toes into the sand.

  He’s not yours, I remind myself. He might want to claim me as his territory so none of the other boys come onto me, but Devlin isn’t my boyfriend.

  I expect him to hook up with Nina. She flashes her bedroom eyes at every guy here.

  But Devlin walks off to stand with his feet in the water, surprising me.

  Still. He’s not mine.

  I stamp out the happy bubble that has no right to exist.

  Twenty-Six

  Blair

  For a while I watch the clouds drift by. The sun warms my skin and the sand. I could fall asleep like this.

  Gemma’s yelp draws my attention. She’s running toward me, splashing through the water’s edge. Lucas chases her and Devlin follows close behind.

  “Come on, B!” Gemma calls as she approaches.

  Gemma and Lucas cut through the water. Devlin reaches me, grabbing my hand. He hauls me to my feet with a secret smile playing on his lips, bringing out his dimples.

  “What’s happening?” I gasp.

  “War,” Devlin says, mouth pressed to my ear from behind. His arms lock around my waist and he carts me deeper into the water, heading for Lucas and Gemma. The lake is chilly and refreshing as it licks at my hips. “We’re playing chicken. I need you for this. You’re on my team against Lucas and Gem.”

  Before I can answer, Devlin dives under the water, hoisting me onto his shoulders. I shriek, nearly losing my balance as he stands. He secures his hands around my legs, wading deeper into the water.

  “Wait—Devlin!” My only choice is to hold on tight while his splayed palms burn into my skin like iron brands. “I don’t know how to play chicken.”

  Instead of pool parties in the summer, I rode a bike around Ridgeview looking for cans to take to the recycling center. I’d do anything when I first noticed how much Mom watched our funds.

  While other kids had a regular childhood playing games, I spent most of mine forgetting about idealistic dreams and learning harsh realities.

  “It’s easy. You wrestle Gemma. Lucas and I are the support. You win when you knock Gemma off her cocky steed.”

  “I heard that,” Lucas snarks.

  Devlin laughs.

  I have no idea where to put my hands, so I hold on to his hair. The wet strands glide through my fingers. “She’s stronger than me. What if she knocks me down first?”

  Devlin squeezes my thighs. “You’re scrappy. You can do it.”

  The resolute confidence in his tone pierces into my heart, putting a crack in the stone wall I keep around it. Devlin believes in me.

  “Okay.”

  “Bring it on!” Gemma crows.

  “We’re taking you down,” Lucas promises.

  Devlin slides his fingers higher up my legs, tickling the inside of my thighs. “Ready to fight for it?”

  My breath shudders out of me at his distracting touch. “Yeah. Let’s do it.”

  The four of us circle each other. Water laps at Lucas and Devlin’s stomachs, though we’re pretty far out from the shore. Gemma comes at me once we’re in range. We clasp hands, pushing and pulling to win the battle.

  A laugh breaks free as I t
ry different tactics to throw her off her game.

  “Come on,” Devlin heckles, throwing his own distractions. He moves us forward and back, creating an unwavering base of support so I don’t feel like I’m falling. “You stop playing football and all of your footwork goes to shit.”

  “Shut up, you little dick.” Lucas grins, swiping at Devlin. “Damn it! You can do it, babe.”

  Gemma squirms for better leverage. I lock my shins against Devlin’s back, giving a good push. Lucas wobbles, but finds his balance again. We back up a few paces, luring our opponents into deeper water.

  Devlin’s fingers creep higher, tearing a gasp from my throat.

  “What are you doing?” I hiss. He keeps going, teasing the sensitive skin of my inner thighs. “Devlin!”

  Heat pools between my legs. I shift to relieve the building pressure, but it only gives Devlin room to graze his fingertips against the edge of my pussy. I bite down on the sound threatening to escape.

  “You’re crazy.”

  “You make me this way,” Devlin murmurs, his touch teasing in a way that makes me want more. “Is your pussy soaking wet again?”

  “Focus on the game, you heathen.” I yank on his hair. My eyes flutter in surprise when he groans quietly. I squeeze my thighs to trap his hand. “Let’s win this.”

  “Fuck, yes, angel. Once we win, you’re all mine.”

  I gulp at the filthy hint underneath his promise. My cheeks are on fire, embarrassed and turned on. The thrill of the stolen moment climbs my spine like the flash of lightning.

  “Quit flirting over there and fight us!” Lucas calls, closing in on our position.

  My stomach swoops. Are we that obvious?

  “Show everyone what a fighter you are, Blair.” Devlin tilts his head, squinting at me with one eye closed against the sunshine. “They’re all watching you.”

  Glancing to the shoreline, I see we’ve drawn a crowd.

  Gemma lets out a wild yell as she and Lucas rush us. I throw my hands up as we crash together. We both grunt and giggle as we fight for victory. Gemma’s smile is infectious. The happy bubble I crushed earlier expands and pops inside.

  This is fun. It feels nice to sit on Devlin’s shoulders, to feel his steady grip on my legs as my best friend laughs with me.

  “Ah!”

  Gemma gives me a look of surprise when I twist her hands to the side. She tips over Lucas’s shoulders, taking him down with her because her legs are twined around his chest.

  “Winners!” Devlin pumps his fists in the air, spinning in place.

  He leans back and we crash into the water. I splutter as he pulls me to the surface with a sure grip. Water clings to my lashes and clumps his inky black ones, creating tiny spikes around his eyes. Droplets of water dot his lips. He can touch the bottom of the lake, but it’s too deep for me to reach without treading water.

  “We won.” Pinning me with his gaze, Devlin grips under my thighs and wraps my legs around his waist.

  Under the water, I feel his abs between my thighs, pressed against my pussy. Devlin drops his rapt attention to my lips.

  I’m trapped by the tether tugging between us.

  There’s nowhere to go. Nowhere I want to go. I’m right where I should be.

  Devlin takes my chin between his thumb and forefinger. My breath catches as he meets my gaze. There’s a silent question in his eyes. One I need to answer.

  This time there’s no promise of payment.

  It’s different. And I want it.

  I lean forward a fraction, pleading without words. Devlin releases a rough sound and swoops in, sealing his lips over mine. I close my eyes as we come together in a rush of lips and tongues.

  Devlin’s kiss is like a black hole. It swallows me up, and I’m diving in head first, desperate for more.

  If Devlin staked his claim over me in front of everyone earlier with one small gesture, he devours me with his kiss, branding me from the inside out. His tongue puts me under a spell as his strong arm keeps me in place against his hard body.

  We’re so absorbed in kissing, we don’t hear the others until someone drives us apart with a loud coyote howl—the universal Silver Lake High call. It’s Bishop.

  Gemma and Lucas are on the other side of us with matching expressions, seeming pleasantly surprised by this development between Devlin and I.

  I touch my lips. I can’t believe I kissed Devlin, and the world didn’t end in fury and hellfire.

  Devlin squeezes me and grumbles under his breath. “Goddamn cockblockers.”

  “You can make out later,” Bishop says slyly.

  He splashes us and I gasp, clinging to Devlin.

  “Oh, it’s on, Bishop,” Lucas says, joining in with his own splash attack.

  “Hold on.” Devlin maneuvers me around to hang from his back, piggybacking me to free his hands for retaliation. I snort at his flailing attacks. “Are you just going to sit back there like a damn barnacle?”

  “I don’t know.” I lean up, affecting a regal tone. “I think I like this throne.”

  Devlin reaches back to hike me higher, taking the opening to squeeze my ass. “Fight back with me, angel.”

  A wide grin stretches my mouth.

  Fight with Devlin. Not against him.

  Gemma joins the fray with an unbridled laugh, ducking behind Lucas when I direct a wave of water her way. The five of us horse around, flinging water in every direction.

  It has me laughing so hard my sides hurt. I lean heavily on Devlin to catch my breath. He shoots me a charming smile over his shoulder, whipping us around without warning so I have to hang onto his shoulders while he sends water flying.

  A yell builds in my chest and I release it, tipping my head back to the sky.

  My heart is happy and full for the first time in a really long while.

  Twenty-Seven

  Devlin

  A few weeks pass and Blair settles into living at my house. Such a simple thing shouldn’t make me as happy as it does. The house isn’t so still with her there.

  Blair’s vanilla scent lingers in the rooms, in the hallway between our bedrooms, in the bathroom. I don’t care that much for sweets, but I would gorge on her. I’ve become an unhinged madman, hunting it down when she disappears with a paperback.

  Whenever she isn’t visiting her mom, I’ve found her sitting with her feet in the natural rock-edged hot tub on the lower level of the teak deck out back with her nose in a beat up paperback and her toes splashing in the heated water. She’s also claimed the low cushioned ledge in the open layout lounge area, sprawling on her stomach beneath the large window.

  It’s become a new game, prowling the house to find the spots she hides in.

  Our joint runs quickly becoming a routine on the weekends. Soccer practice isn’t enough to tire out my thoughts, so I train with additional runs to keep out of my head. Blair likes running, too. I think it’s the same for her. There’s something about the burn in your legs and the rhythm of your breathing while you push yourself that is an addictive form of therapy.

  Our runs are filled with bursts of sprints where we race each other. The competition flirts on tipping into something else. Blair makes me want to chase her until I catch her.

  I’ve ducked a couple of invitations from Aunt Lottie and Uncle Ed to come across the lake to their house for dinner. I think they’re picking up on the change in my habits, since I’ve had dinner with them at least once a week since the start of senior year.

  At school, I keep Blair close. The idiotic puppets accept the change easily enough, because they defer to my rules. If I turned on Blair again, they’d spin a tale about how it was my plan all along. But no matter how much I remind myself of the original objective, Blair turns my goals inside out. I search for an ounce of hate for her, but it’s a dried up well.

  The only thing left is the need to kiss those pouty lips.

  It’s an urge that bleeds into all of my actions.

  In our English class, I partner with her
instead of Bishop for paired reading work. He’s too busy giving into his new obsession with Thea anyway. Blair takes this in stride with minimal sass.

  The stubborn fight in her rears its head when I pull her to my center table in the cafeteria. I buy her lunch, but she still tries to use her food account, stirring my annoyance. This is one way of apologizing for being a dick up to this point, but she remains suspicious when I pay for the nicer lunch options available to the students that can afford to eat off the standard menu—something almost no one at this school eats from except for Blair.

  Macy’s condition has stabilized. Uncle Craig couldn’t tell me much, but I overheard his phone call with Blair. She visits her mom every other day after school.

  When she goes to visit, I follow her and watch from the car—one from Dad’s collection that doesn’t get much use so she doesn’t notice me tailing her junker. Macy’s corner room window provides the perfect view to see Blair’s tender smile as she spends time with her mom.

  I grip the wheel whenever I watch. The jealousy of her relationship with her mom is still there, but when it swirls through my chest on these stakeouts there’s something new. An emotion I don’t understand, but whenever I look at Blair it’s present. Unavoidable.

  The feeling entwines with the whisper in my head to stop being an ass.

  Nothing has happened since the kiss at the beach party the weekend she moved in. Not for lack of trying on my part. I want more. All the time. I’m like one of Pavlov’s dogs, attuned to her quick and subtle movements, turned on by every little move she makes.

  Blair isn’t like the other girls I’ve fucked, though. I need to work out a better way to seduce my little thief so I have her falling apart in my arms. My cock grows hard simply picturing it.

  If I can’t have her yet, I’ll have her in my fantasies when I jerk off.

  * * *

  An instinct has been bubbling in me for a few days. It nearly jumps out of my mouth when I come across Blair putting together a snack, one of her paperbacks open and turned over on the kitchen counter to save her place.