by Brooks, Tori
“Uh-huh.” Kenny’s doubt was obvious. Dev hoped he wouldn’t push it.
“Did they say when I could get out of here?”
“They’ll want to check you now that you’re awake, obviously.”
“What time is it?” Dev closed his eyes again. It felt late.
“Three a.m.”
“Great. I’ve been out a while then. That’s unexpected.”
“I was told you came around briefly in the ambulance. Then again as they poked and prodded and moved you around. Years ago, I remember you telling me the attacks kind of knocked you out. And I remember seeing how tired the mild ones used to make you, back when it was just from cold air. The doctor thought you just needed rest.” Kenny paused for a moment and Dev waited, knowing his friend had something else on his mind. “Dev, I’ve seen you have asthma attacks over the years, lots of times. I’ve never seen you lose consciousness before.”
“Not used to actually passing out. I did a few times as a kid, I guess. It’s just been a long time. I slept a lot then too.”
“What changed? You did as a kid, then grew out of it? Now it’s back?” Kenny sounded concerned.
Dev wasn’t sure what to tell him. Not the truth. Kenny knew Dev’s asthma had triggers, but Dev didn’t think Kenny knew stress could compound them. Did he? He read up on psychology all the time, did he ever read up on asthma? It wouldn’t have surprised Dev either way.
“Trying to decide what to tell me?” Kenny asked.
The nurse arrived with a tray and doctor in tow, sparing Dev the need to answer. Dev was starving, he downed the sandwich before the doctor finished checking him over. He probably could have pushed to be released, but the doctor wanted to wait until morning, and Dev didn’t want to wake Lindsay. It looked like she’d been through a lot. Besides, he could sleep here as well as at the hotel so there was no reason to fuss. Dev rolled over and went back to sleep as Kenny sat there watching.
Chapter Fifteen
Lindsay was still at his side when Dev woke again a few hours later. Her eyes brimmed with tears and she opened her mouth when he looked over at her, but no words came.
Dev smiled gently and lifted a hand to caress her face. “I’m fine, Lin, don’t worry. I’m just a little tired.” He tried to sound reassuring, but the anxiety refused to leave Lindsay’s face.
“I woke up earlier this morning, but I didn’t want to disturb you. You looked like you needed the rest,” Dev tried again. “Kenny was here. I hope he didn’t give you a hard time.”
Lindsay bit her bottom lip and she flinched at the mention of Kenny’s name.
“It wasn’t your fault, baby, and I told him that,” Dev tried to reassure her. “I miscalculated.” Lindsay burst out in tears, he leaned over and stroked her hair as she buried her face in the thin coverlet over him. Dev nearly swore as he saw Kenny come back. He held up a hand to stop him from commenting on Lindsay’s state of dismay.
“Whatever.” Kenny sighed, closing the door behind him. “If you’re up to it, we have a small window of opportunity to sneak out without the paparazzi surrounding you. Bit undignified, sneaking out the back, but the administration said they’d allow it.”
“If it’ll keep this out of the papers, I’ll climb out a basement window or whatever they’ll allow.” Dev sat up and realized he still had an IV in his arm. He reached over and pressed the call button for a nurse. “Grab my clothes, will you?” Dev asked Kenny.
“I brought a freshly pressed set back from the hotel.” Kenny stepped into the bathroom and pulled a garment bag off the hook on the wall. “The clothes they took off you were pretty wrinkled.”
“Thanks. It’ll help if someone manages to get a picture.” Dev nodded.
Kenny pulled a small bag out of the bottom of the garment bag and tossed it on the bathroom counter. Dev realized he hadn’t brushed his hair or teeth or even washed his face. He ran his fingers through his hair self-consciously.
“You’re fine,” Kenny assured him. “Anyway, nothing in the papers on this little incident, at least not that I could see. It did make the Internet.”
“Do I even want to know?”
“When the medics carry you out of your hotel room with a pretty young blond in tow, it was bound to raise eyebrows. At least it should end the rumors that you’re gay.”
“A simple ‘no’ would have sufficed.”
“Speculations are varied, creative, and almost entirely sexually explicit.”
“How explicit are we talking about?” Dev looked at Kenny in alarm. The nurse walked in and he held up his arm. “I’m checking out, can I get this removed please?”
Kenny watched the nurse pick her way around Lindsay and lean over to pull the IV out of Dev’s arm, a small smile played across his face. Dev noticed and raised a questioning eyebrow.
“Explicit enough that your popularity has soared. Just leave the safe search feature on if you look up your own name.”
“You know I don’t do that,” Dev scoffed.
“Now isn’t the time to start. You’ll end up here again.” Kenny grinned.
“Great.”
“The doctor will be in shortly to go over a few things and sign the release. You can go ahead and change, if you’d like,” the nurse told him.
He nodded his thanks and shooed Kenny back as he bent forward and kissed Lindsay’s forehead. Slipping out of bed, Dev grabbed the garment bag from Kenny and went into the bathroom to change. After washing up, and in a clean suit, Dev felt normal again. Almost normal. He was tired, which was amazing considering how much sleep he’d already had. Too much maybe.
The doctor stressed taking it easy for a while and Dev signed the forms to send the medical details to his regular doctor. He got a rescue inhaler for Lindsay to carry in her purse, in case he couldn’t find his.
They walked out a cafeteria service exit with minimal fuss to a waiting cab. At the hotel, Kenny let Dev take Lindsay upstairs to his room without a significant glance or comment.
Lindsay broke down as soon as the door closed behind them. “I’m not good for you. I almost . . . Dev, you could have died.”
“But I didn’t and I don’t blame you. Lin, you gave me a surprise, I overreacted. What’s important is that you kept your head and did what you needed to. Thank you.” He put his arms around her, willing her to drop it.
“But it was my fault.”
“No.”
“It was. You’ve been clear, I know how you feel. I . . . I don’t know what I was thinking.”
“I do. I thought about it last night. You were asleep and –”
“You don’t want me anymore.”
“No, baby, I do. I love you. I thought you knew that.” Dev sighed, holding her close, wanting to take a step back to see her, but afraid to let her go too.
“Lindsay, don’t say anything for a moment, just listen.” He rested his cheek against the top of her head as he spoke, keeping her securely in his arms. Dev took it slow, choosing his words with care and his voice soft.
“What happened yesterday is in the past. I shouldn’t have driven you to that. It demonstrates an appalling lack of understanding on my part. I know that now, so we can move past it. This little fiasco is over. We don’t need to dwell on it, or necessarily even talk about it again. It’s just a pebble in our path that caused a bit of a stumble and it’s behind us now. Clear?”
“But –”
“Right. Moving beyond that, the important thing for you to know is that I love you. I’ve told you that for a long time, but I haven’t done enough to show you. I thought I had. I buy you things, make romantic gestures, and tell how much you mean to me, but I wasn’t showing you in the way that’s important and meaningful to you.”
“Dev –”
“If I’d stopped to think about it, really think about it instead of cling to an admittedly old-fashioned idea, I would have realized it. Or at least heard what you’ve been trying to tell me for a few years now.”
“Dev –”
Dev loosened his hold and looked at her as she lifted her eyes to him. She shook her head, eyes wide, as if unable to comprehend what she was hearing.
“You win, Lindsay. Let’s face it, you’re always going to win. I’ve known that for a long time. I don’t know why I bothered to fight you on this. I don’t want to fight you anymore. I don’t want to lose you. You want to share my bed? Have patience and tell me what you want me to do to.”
Dev leaned down and covered Lindsay’s mouth with his own, pulling her close. She was hesitant initially before returning his kiss with increasing passion, then urgency, as the meaning of his words sunk in. Dev shrugged off his suit jacket and tossed it aside on a chair, then untied his tie. Lindsay started unbuttoning his shirt, pulling it from his waistband and pushing it off his shoulders. Finally they separated for a moment as Dev pulled his undershirt off.
Lindsay’s hands ran across his bare chest, leaving paths that lingered in the wake of her touch. Dev ran a hand down her back, surprised to find her shirt was gone as well, as were her jeans. Stopping his kisses long enough to confirm what he was feeling, Lindsay wore only delicate pink panties and a bra. Dev pushed down his slacks in that momentary pause.
He stepped out of his shoes and slacks, scooping Lindsay into his arms. Kicking off his socks clumsily as he went, he carried her to the bedroom. Suddenly his tendency to get two room suites seemed bothersome as he fumbled to get the door open. He didn’t worry about closing it behind him in his effort to get Lindsay to the bed. She threw back the covers as soon as Dev lowered her to her feet.
“You’re breathing heavy,” Lindsay whispered.
“Yeah. I think that’s pretty normal right now,” Dev answered, sliding one hand up along her bare side to cup a breast. Lindsay reached back to unfasten the bra, letting it drop to the floor. Her nipples blushed against her creamy skin, capturing Dev’s attention. He ran his thumb around the hard nipple, then leaned down and pulled it into his mouth, giving in to his impulse to taste the delicate bud. Lindsay leaned back with a sigh and he eased her back onto the bed.
With both hands free now, he sucked first on one nipple, then the other, experimenting with sucking hard or teasing her with his tongue. At the same time, Dev let his hands wander down her smooth stomach and thighs. Her panties were wet in the crotch, which he hadn’t really expected, and warm. Lindsay pushed her panties down with her fingertips, then wriggled to get them free. Dev helpfully pulled them off her, then continued let his hands run along the outside of her waist, hip, and thigh before moving back up the inside.
Moving his body back up hers, Dev kissed the hollow of Lindsay’s neck. Following the delicate line of her collarbones, he worked diligently at the areas he knew were stimulating for her. Sensitive areas he’d tried to avoid for over a year, but Dev focused on them now and he didn’t care about leaving marks. He sucked on one small spot after another and Lindsay moaned appreciatively, holding him close with her appreciation of the attention.
Still curious, Dev let one hand return to the moist warmth between her legs where no panties now stopped his exploring. Lindsay was clean shaven and smooth, which he knew in principle, but found delightful now to experience. Her skin was so soft he loved the feel of her against the palm of his hand.
A finger slid almost accidentally into the groove between her labia and Lindsay shuddered as Dev found her clitoris. He repeated the maneuver, then made a note of the location before letting the finger slide experimentally down and inside her. It was warm and wet, and Lindsay moaned again, writhing and grinding against him.
Dev kissed her mouth, knowing he was getting her hot and feeling much the same reaction himself. He pulled the finger out and pushed it in deeper this time, trying to judge her reaction.
Whatever it was doing to her didn’t compare to what it was doing to him. Dev was almost paralyzed with the stimulus his mind was trying to process, but Lindsay was in motion. She kissed him, then rolled Dev onto his back, pinning his arms to the side and straddling him in one motion. Her breasts pressed against Dev’s chest, a sensation that distracted him from realizing his hands were free while Lindsay pulled down his briefs.
“First things first, honey,” she whispered then kissed him passionately. Her warm slit was positioned over his stiff cock, teasing him, but only briefly. Lindsay slid down his body and took him into her mouth before he realized what she planned to do.
“Lin, baby, you win. You don’t have to . . . Oh, God!” Dev’s eyes flew wide as her warm mouth drew him in and sucked on the sensitive head of his penis. Lindsay gave him another couple of strokes before releasing him.
“I know. I want to taste you. Now, while you’re innocent and pure.”
“Not that pure. Mom would still say this is a sin.”
“Don’t fuss, it’s all relative.”
“I’m going to marry you, you know.”
“I know. Now relax.” Her hair tickled his thighs briefly before Lindsay let Dev’s cock slip through the perfect ‘o’ her lips made. Her tongue cradled the underside of his penis and the sensuous warmth of her mouth flooded his whole body. Her tongue probed the hole at the tip of his penis gently and suggestively. He thought the sensation might kill him and he froze under the bombardment, almost afraid to breathe. Then Lindsay’s mouth slid down the length of his shaft, letting the head rest against the roof of her mouth. It fit so beautifully, like it was meant to be there. How was that possible?
She cupped his sensitive balls in her hand and cradled them, squeezing them, and making them come alive in her fingers. Dev wanted to cry out with the joy of it. It seemed barely any time had passed, yet an eternity had as well when Dev came, moaning with the release. He couldn’t have fought it if he’d tried.
Dev barely noticed Lindsay chewing up a mint from the nightstand as she snuggled next to him. A pleasant haze filled his mind. He was warm, satisfied, and he would have bet on glowing if he had the words to speak. Gradually, his mind cleared, and he realized Lindsay’s hands caressed his body, her soft lips nipping at his ear. He lifted a hand and cupped it around her small waist.
Touching Lindsay’s soft skin stirred something in Dev. Suddenly he was awake, alert, and aroused. Rolling Lindsay onto her back, Dev sought her lips and kissed her. He let his body cover hers, delighting in her gentle curves. Letting a hand slide down her thigh, he pulled the leg up and away, positioning himself. Lindsay pulled both legs up, opening herself to him and cradling his hips between her knees. The movement brought her hot wetness against Dev’s sensitive head and shaft. Without hesitation, he plunged into her for the first time. His eyes opened wide at the new sensation and he gasped despite himself.
Dev liked the blow job. Lindsay’s perfect pink lips left masturbation in the dust like a race car stalled at the starting line. Still, Dev was unprepared for the intense feeling he experienced now. Lindsay wrapped her legs around him, making it difficult for Dev to withdraw far before driving it home again and again. He was being clumsy, he knew it. He should be paying more attention to Lindsay’s needs. Dev tried to slow himself, to find some clue of what she wanted.
Her nails raked the back of his ribs as she urged him onward. The sensation bordered on painful, yet it excited him and he didn’t know why. Dev didn’t stop to analyze the dichotomy and took the hint. Besides, he didn’t need more motivation than that. He pushed into her again and felt the familiar release, only a hundred times stronger. He tried to stifle a cry as he came, driving deeper into the slight woman beneath him.
Dev didn’t remember withdrawing, or rolling off of Lindsay. He felt as if he’d been dropped off a cliff, yet somehow floated in space. His mind told him some small amount of time had passed when reality started to intrude. Dev realized he was holding Lindsay, kissing her again, and she was on top of him.
“Basking are you?” she whispered in his ear, just a hint of teasing.
“It’s all happening too fast. Like a time anomaly.”
“Oh, physics. Stop. The romantic pillow ta
lk may kill me,” Lindsay giggled.
“Sorry. True though.” He rolled on top of her again, kissing and caressing her body. Her touch was already eliciting a notable physical response from him.
“Well, that’s not a problem. We’ll just try this a few more times. You know, repeat the experiment. Maybe change some variables. Experiments are fun.”
Dev realized Lindsay would probably do anything he wanted right now and felt gypped he couldn’t think of anything to suggest. Running his fingers through her long blond hair to smooth it, Dev realized that he would do anything for her as well.
“Teach me, Lin,” Dev whispered as he kissed her neck. “Show me how to be what you need me to be.”
○ ○ ○
“Show me how to be what you need me to be.” Dev’s whispered invitation to be whatever she needed touched Lindsay on a level she never dreamed of. She loved this man. The guilt she felt earlier for pushing him into this threatened to overwhelm her, but just looking at his face let her set the self-destructive feelings aside. Dev was happy. He glowed. She may have pushed, but he was genuinely okay with it. He understood.
Lindsay wrapped her legs around him, pushing against his body in a provocative way she knew would elicit an immediate response. She wanted him in every way conceivable. Tonight, she was going to show him a world he’d never forget. She’d build a foundation, then introduce him to new things, layering his understanding and mastery of the art of sex. She wanted more. She wanted him in the most basic, animalistic way.
But first, she had to get him ready again. He was young, it wouldn’t take too long. Letting her body slide against his, Lindsay breathed heavily in Dev’s ear as she sucked suggestively on his earlobe. One hand wandered slowly down his body, its destination clear. Her other hand lingered behind Dev’s neck, keeping him from pulling away as she kissed, sucked, and nipped at the sensitive ear in her range.
He played along with her agenda, his hands teasing her nipples. They were harder than he was and it distracted Lindsay. She was about ready to demand he suck on them, but she didn’t want to take the time.